About St. John the Apostle · Norwalk, Iowa
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Des Moines located at 720 Orchard Hills Drive in Norwalk, Iowa. The parish was founded in 1892 as St. John Parish in the nearby community of Cumming, and its current church in Norwalk was dedicated in 2005 when the parish adopted its present name. Today the parish serves the Norwalk and Cumming communities as well as the historic Shrine of the Assumption in Churchville, offering weekend and weekday Masses, faith formation for all ages, OCIA, the Knights of Columbus, Altar & Rosary, and outreach to the homeless through the Connection Café. The parish describes itself as a community that 'strives to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love, and is a voice of hope to our community and the world.'
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Rev. Daniel (Dan) Kirby
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. John the Apostle offers a full sacramental and community life for Catholics in Norwalk and the surrounding Warren County area, with two Sunday Masses, a Saturday vigil, weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, and Confession every Saturday afternoon. The parish invests deeply in lifelong faith formation — including Parish Family Nights for the whole parish, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for young children, EDGE for middle schoolers, a High School Youth Group, Confirmation preparation taught with Father Kirby, and OCIA for adults — so every age has a place to grow. Members also serve the wider community through the Knights of Columbus, the Altar & Rosary Society, SoulCore (returning in Lent), and the Connection Café meals program for the less fortunate at the parish.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 to 4:30 PM (or anytime by appointment)
Adoration times
- Thursday 3:00 PM (Our Lady of Ephesus Chapel)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church describes its mission with four short phrases: 'Faithful in Christ, Rooted in Tradition, Loving in community, Hopeful for the world.' The parish welcomes all to be part of its community and explicitly aims to be 'a church that lives by faith, is known by love, and is a voice of hope to our community and the world.' The parish is part of the Diocese of Des Moines and is closely tied to the historic Catholic communities of Cumming and Churchville, where the parish had earlier roots and where it still ministers today through the Shrine of the Assumption.
- Mission: Faithful in Christ, Rooted in Tradition, Loving in community, Hopeful for the world
- Diocese of Des Moines parish
- Affiliated with the Cumming/Norwalk Catholic community and the Shrine of the Assumption in Churchville
History of the Parish
St. John the Apostle was founded in 1892 as St. John Parish in Cumming, Iowa. More than a century later, in 2005, the parish moved to a new worship space in Norwalk and adopted its current name. The building project was led by Father John Ludwig, who stayed as pastor until his retirement in 2018. Since then the parish has continued to grow, and in 2024 Bishop William Joensen extended Father Dan Kirby's assignment by six years; Father Kirby was named Dean of the Norwalk Deanery in 2025.
- Founded 1892 in Cumming as St. John Parish
- Current Norwalk church dedicated 2005; parish renamed St. John the Apostle
- Father John Ludwig served 2005–2018 (retirement)
- Father Dan Kirby extended for six years in 2024; named Dean, Norwalk Deanery, 2025
Worship Space & Recent Renovations
The current St. John the Apostle church building in Norwalk was dedicated in 2005. In 2024 Father Kirby led a series of enhancements to lift the eye and heart to a sense of the sacred. Two matching tapestries with wheat and five pods (representing the five wounds of Christ) were hung on the sanctuary wall behind the altar, a new suspended crucifix matching the altar, chair, and ambo was installed above the altar under the round window, and an icon of the crucifixion with St. John the Apostle was added near the baptismal font with a candle bank before it. Sanctuary lighting was also upgraded in November 2024.
- Tapestries with wheat-and-five-pods motif (five wounds of Christ)
- Suspended crucifix above the altar
- Icon of the crucifixion with St. John the Apostle near the baptismal font
- Updated sanctuary lighting (November 2024)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Very Rev. Daniel (Dan) Kirby, who was born in Des Moines on February 21, 1966, graduated from Dowling High School in 1984 and Conception Seminary College in 1990, received his MDiv from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in 1994, and was ordained on June 24, 1994 at St. Ambrose Cathedral. He has served parishes in Council Bluffs, Elkhart, Neola, and Winterset, and in 2025 was named Dean of the Norwalk Deanery. He is assisted by four deacons and a lay staff.
- Very Rev. Daniel (Dan) Kirby — Pastor; Dean of the Norwalk Deanery; Director of Junior and New International Priests
- Rev. Mr. Michael Huntsman — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Eric Pugh — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Kelly Stone — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. David L. Miller — Deacon (Retired); Coordinator of Connection Café meals for the homeless
- Monica Pugh — Faith Formation Director (Catechetical Leader / OCIA)
- Jessica Pudenz — Accountant / Youth Minister
- Jacque Mahoney — Business Manager
- Alayne Pieper — Secretary/Receptionist
- Bryan Stout — Facilities Coordinator
- Ned Kluever — Custodian
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers a layered formation program that begins in infancy and continues through high school and into adulthood. Parish Family Nights bring the whole parish together for a meal and teaching 1–2 times a month, with adult lessons and parallel programming for children in different parts of the church. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-based program, is offered as a supplement for children ages 12 months through 5th grade. EDGE serves middle-schoolers in grades 6–8, the High School Youth Group meets twice a month on Sunday evenings (and is required for 9th graders as Year 1 of Confirmation), and Confirmation (CY2) for 10th-graders-and-up is taught by a team including Father Kirby with monthly meetings and a retreat.
- Parish Family Nights — PreK through 5th grade, whole-parish catechesis
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — Montessori-based, ages 12 months to 5th grade
- EDGE — grades 6–8
- High School Youth Group (HSYG) — grades 9–12, twice monthly Sunday evenings
- Confirmation (CY2) — grades 10+, monthly with retreat, taught with Father Dan
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — 2nd grade, 12 sessions offered twice weekly
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is the parish's communal process for adults who wish to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. OCIA is a return to the formation practice of the earliest members of the Church and includes study, faith-sharing, ritual steps such as the Rite of Election, and reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. An OCIA team of sponsors walks with each inquirer. Contact Director of Faith Formation Monica Pugh at [email protected] or 515-981-4855.
- For unbaptized adults and baptized Christians seeking full communion
- Process follows Pre-Catechumenate, Catechumenate, Rite of Election, and Sacraments at Easter Vigil
- OCIA team of sponsors guides each inquirer
- Contact: Monica Pugh, [email protected], 515-981-4855
Parish Organizations & Community Life
Beyond faith formation, the parish supports a number of lay-led organizations that gather for service, devotion, and fellowship. The Knights of Columbus Council meets the first Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. The Altar & Rosary Society meets the second Sunday of the month at 10:15 AM. SoulCore returns during Lent. The Connection Café prepares and serves meals to the less fortunate on site, an effort coordinated by Deacon David Miller and supported by parish volunteers. The Music Ministry, under Music Minister Michele Miller, serves the liturgies throughout the year.
- Knights of Columbus — first Monday, 7:00 PM
- Altar & Rosary Society — second Sunday, 10:15 AM
- SoulCore — Lent
- Connection Café — meals for the less fortunate, coordinated by Deacon David Miller
- Music Ministry — Michele Miller, Music Minister
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Parents expecting their first child must take the Baptism Class (call or email the parish office to register); baptisms are scheduled through the office. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are received in 2nd grade. Confirmation is a two-year process (HSYG in 9th grade, then CY2). OCIA prepares adults for Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist. Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation, and the parish visits the sick and homebound for Anointing and Communion on request.
- Baptism — Baptism Class required for first child
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — two-year process beginning in 9th grade
- OCIA — adults seeking full initiation
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion for the homebound — on request
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John LudwigUntil 2018
Oversaw construction of the new St. John the Apostle Church in Norwalk, which was dedicated in 2005; previously oversaw construction of the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center at the Newman Center at Drake University; ordained in 1974; served the diocesan Tribunal from 1978.
- Very Rev. Daniel (Dan) Kirby2018–present (six-year extension granted July 2024)
Ordained June 24, 1994; named Dean of the Norwalk Deanery in 2025; also serves as Administrator of the Shrine of the Assumption in Churchville and Director of Junior Priests for the diocese.