About St. Gabriel · Reinbeck, Iowa
St. Gabriel Catholic Church is the southern worship site of Holy Family Catholic Parish, a consolidated rural parish of the Archdiocese of Dubuque serving Catholics in Grundy, Butler, Black Hawk, and Tama counties in northeast Iowa. The church, built in 2007-2008 and dedicated in February 2009, sits on U Avenue in rural Reinbeck and was created as a single, centrally located worship facility to replace three older parish churches (Sacred Heart in Grundy Center, St. Mary in Dike, and Queen of Heaven in Reinbeck). Today, Holy Family Parish unites the St. Gabriel church in the south with St. Patrick Church in Parkersburg in the north, sharing one pastor and staff. The parish mission emphasizes worship, proclamation of the Gospel, community, and service to those in need.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis Miller
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Gabriel offers a strong Catholic community deeply rooted in rural northeast Iowa, gathering Catholics from across Grundy, Butler, Black Hawk, and Tama counties into one worshipping parish. The parish runs active faith formation, Knights of Columbus, RCIA, Bible study, MOMS, music, prayer chain, and ecumenical ministries, and its members reach out through Meals on Wheels, Catholic Worker House, Birthright, food pantries, layettes for mothers in Nicaragua, and blankets for the Marshalltown veterans' home. With a brand-new church dedicated in 2009, daily and weekend Mass in English, and a parish office on-site, St. Gabriel welcomes anyone seeking reverent liturgy, sacramental life, and small-town fellowship.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
About Holy Family Parish and St. Gabriel Church
Holy Family Parish unites Catholics in Grundy, Tama, and Butler counties to worship, to proclaim the Gospel, and to build community. Rooted in a rural culture, the parish accepts its responsibility 'to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to console the suffering through the power of the Holy Spirit.' The parish mission statement continues: 'By the grace of God, we prepare faithful and moral leaders in the Catholic tradition to bring the light of Jesus Christ to others in word and deed. We rejoice in the gift of our youth and support their desire for holiness. With the participation and ministry of our parishioners we look forward to continued growth. Through the intercession of the Holy Family may we continue to bring the light of Christ to those in darkness.' The parish office is located on-site at St. Gabriel Church in rural Reinbeck.
- Current churches: St. Gabriel (Reinbeck) and St. Patrick (Parkersburg)
- Former churches: St. Mary (Dike), Sacred Heart (Grundy Center), Queen of Heaven (Reinbeck)
- Part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Serving Grundy, Butler, Black Hawk, and Tama counties
History of the Parish
Catholic families began settling the Grundy and Butler County areas of Iowa in the 1860s, when visiting priests celebrated Mass in homes and schoolhouses. Through the 20th century four distinct parishes emerged — Sacred Heart in Grundy Center, St. Mary in Dike, Queen of Heaven in Reinbeck, and St. Patrick in Parkersburg — eventually forming the Holy Family Cluster in 1999 under Father Douglas Loecke.
- 1999 — Queen of Heaven, Sacred Heart, and St. Mary form the Holy Family Cluster under Father Douglas Loecke
- 2000 — Father Dennis Quint takes over as pastor; St. Patrick (Parkersburg) joins the cluster
- 2004 — Four parishes formally consolidate into Holy Family Catholic Parish on July 1; Archbishop Hanus installs Father Quint on August 7-8
- 2010 — Father David G. Kucera succeeds Father Quint as pastor in July
Building St. Gabriel Church
In spring 2005, a new church project committee was formed to study building a centrally located facility to serve the southern portion of the parish. Archbishop Hanus personally approved the name 'St. Gabriel' from among 34 submissions, citing the Archangel's scriptural role in announcing the Good News to Mary. Construction began in 2007, and the $4.6 million St. Gabriel church was dedicated in February 2009. The building stands at the intersection of County Roads D-35 and T-55 and serves approximately 300 families from Grundy Center, Dike, and Reinbeck.
- Construction began: 2007
- Cost: $4.6 million
- Dedicated: February 2009 by Archbishop Jerome Hanus
- Families served: ~300
- Location: Intersection of County Roads D-35 and T-55
Parish Staff and Leadership
Holy Family Parish is led by a pastor and supported by a deacon, a director of faith formation, and a secretary/bookkeeper. The parish council, finance council, and various committees coordinate the life of the parish.
- Deacon: Greg Lievens
- Director of Faith Formation: Colleen North
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Sara Vandenberg
- 2025-26 Parish Council: Ben Dall (Chair), Diane Stephan (Vice Chair), Julie Merfeld (Secretary), Rod Brockett (EO Finance), Tony Dunn, Rita Schmidt, Zach Scholl
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish runs a broad range of ministries spanning worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach. Parishioners assist with delivery of meals to homebound residents in Grundy Center and Parkersburg, and the Holy Family Circle uses fundraiser events to support service projects.
- Knights of Columbus (Council 8018, est. 2001; ~40 members; meets last Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at St. Gabriel)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Music Ministry
- Bible Study (HFP Bible Study)
- MOMS (mothers' group meeting monthly)
- Prayer Chain (contact: Deacon Greg Lievens at [email protected] or Judy Martens at 641-751-1452)
- Sponsor Couples
- Parish Council, Finance Council, Building & Grounds
- Parish Life Committee
- Social Concerns Committee
- Spiritual Growth and Liturgy Committee
- Liturgy Committee
Outreach and Social Concerns
Through its Social Concerns Committee and the Holy Family Circle, the parish reaches out locally and beyond. Fundraisers support Catholic Worker House, Birthright, supplies for layettes for new mothers in Nicaragua, blankets for the veterans home in Marshalltown, and food supplies for pantries in Grundy Center, Reinbeck, and Parkersburg. Parishioners also assist with delivery of meals to homebound residents in Grundy Center and Parkersburg through Meals on Wheels.
- Catholic Worker House — meal service
- Birthright — support
- Layette supplies for new mothers in Nicaragua
- Blankets for Marshalltown Veterans Home
- Food pantry support — Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Parkersburg
- Meals on Wheels — Grundy Center, Parkersburg
- Interfaith Visitation to Grundy Care Center and Grundy County Hospital long-term care unit
- Ecumenical Ministry with churches in Dike, Grundy Center, Parkersburg, and Reinbeck
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and offers sacramental preparation programs for children and adults. Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism — Infant Baptism celebrated approximately ten times a year at weekend Masses; preparation provided by the Infant Baptism Team
- Eucharist (First Communion) — preparation for children ages 7 and up, involving both children and parents; celebrated in May
- Reconciliation (First Confession) — celebrated during Lent
- Confirmation — Youth Confirmation journey including monthly sessions, retreat, and ministry/service hours; Adult Confirmation offered through the Reconnect program
- Matrimony — Marriage preparation program; couples asked to contact the parish six months prior to intended date
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- RCIA for Adults, Children, and Teens
Prayer and Devotional Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains prayer through the Prayer Chain ministry and the Book of Prayers at each church. Prayer intentions are mentioned in a generic manner to protect privacy, and the prayer concerns are lifted up at every Mass.
- Prayer Chain — contact Deacon Greg Lievens ([email protected]) or Judy Martens (641-751-1452)
- Book of Prayers at each church by the votive candles
- Mass Intentions prayed at each Mass
Visiting St. Gabriel Church
St. Gabriel Church is in rural Reinbeck at 21275 U Avenue, with the parish office on-site. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call the parish office at 319-345-2006 for the most current schedule of Masses, confession, and parish events.
- Address: 21275 U Avenue, Reinbeck, IA 50669
- Phone: (319) 345-2006
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Parish office located on-site at St. Gabriel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Douglas Loecke1999-2000
Formed the Holy Family Cluster in 1999 from Queen of Heaven (Reinbeck), Sacred Heart (Grundy Center), and St. Mary (Dike).
- Father Dennis Quint2000-2010
Added St. Patrick (Parkersburg) to the cluster in 2000; installed as pastor of the consolidated Holy Family Parish in August 2004 by Archbishop Hanus; oversaw planning and construction of St. Gabriel Church (dedicated February 2009).
- Father David G. Kucera2010-?
Succeeded Father Quint as pastor in July 2010.
- Rick Nilles (pastorate)
Current pastor of Holy Family Parish.