About St. John the Baptist · Mount Vernon, Iowa
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish in Mount Vernon, Iowa, serving the communities of Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Ely, and rural Cedar Rapids in Linn County. A member of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, the parish traces its roots to 1859 when Irish immigrant pioneers built their first church in Lisbon, and today worships at its current Mount Vernon site with about 300 households (approximately 750 souls). The parish is led by Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah and offers Sunday and weekday Mass, perpetual-style Adoration, sacramental preparation, and a full slate of parish commissions.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. John's is a Eucharist-centered Catholic community of about 300 households that gathers in the heart of the Lisbon–Mount Vernon corridor, with Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Members form one parish family across two Linn County towns, supporting a K–12 faith formation program, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, weekday Adoration, and a working network of parish commissions (Parish Council, Finance Council, Faith Formation, Liturgy, Stewardship, Social Justice, and Evangelization). It is the kind of mid-sized parish where most parishioners know each other by name and the same 1927 brass bell still calls them to prayer.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30–8:00 am (before Mass)
- Monday 5:30–6:30 pm
- 1st Wednesday during Adoration, 7:00–9:00 pm
Adoration times
- First and Third Wednesday of the month, 7:00–9:00 pm (Silent Adoration)
- First Friday of the month, 9:00–9:30 am (following 8:30 am Mass)
- Ss. Monica & Anthony Holy Hour each Monday, 5:30–7:00 pm
Our Parish & Mission
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church describes itself as a 'growing and thriving' Eucharist-centered community in Mount Vernon–Lisbon, IA, part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The parish serves Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Ely, and rural Cedar Rapids with a membership of about 300 households — roughly 750 souls. Its stated mission is to gather as a community to worship, live, and share the word of God in holiness; to be committed to lifelong faith formation; and to serve all of God's creation through acts of mercy, justice, and stewardship.
- Approximately 300 households / 750 souls
- Serves Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Ely, and rural Cedar Rapids
- Part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (www.dbqarch.org)
- Sunday Mass at 8:00 am; weekday Mass Wed & Fri at 8:30 am
Parish History
Catholic life here dates to 1843, when Irish families from Maryland settled in Bertram and between Lisbon and Mechanicsville. They received sporadic Mass from Iowa City priests; the Bertram group eventually moved away, but the Irish east of Mount Vernon endured and became the parish's founding core. Father William Emmonds offered the first local Mass in 1857; the original church in Lisbon was built in 1859. Father Clement Lowrey became the first regular priest in 1867, and Father William Daley — once a New York newspaper columnist — took over the cluster of missions in 1870 from Mechanicsville.
- 1843: first Catholic families (Irish from Maryland) settle in the area
- 1857: Father William Emmonds offers first Mass locally
- 1859: pioneers build original Lisbon church dedicated to St. John the Baptist
- 1867: Father Clement Lowrey begins regular service from Cedar Rapids
- 1870: Father William Daley named pastor, residing in Mechanicsville
- 1891–1921: monthly Mass supplied from Marion
- 1905: 40 Bohemian families join, settling along the Cedar River
Growth, the 1927 Bell, and the 1966 Rebuilding
The parish's first resident pastor, Father Henry Manternach, arrived in fall 1921. By 1927 the community had grown so much that the church had to be lengthened 50 feet to seat 200 — funded alongside the purchase of a brass bell that still hangs in the present bell tower. After WWII, Father J.R. Goodman launched a Parish Improvement Fund; in 1966 the parish used that seed money to rebuild on land in Mount Vernon donated by the Joseph Verba family. On December 1, 1968, Archbishop James J. Byrne blessed the new rectory, educational building, and church basement during the pastorate of Father William Kunsch, in front of 189 registered families.
- 1921: Father Henry Manternach becomes first resident pastor
- 1927: church lengthened 50 feet (200-seat capacity, $16,000); brass bell installed
- Post-WWII: Father J.R. Goodman launches Parish Improvement Fund (~$15,000 from 90 parishioners)
- 1966: rebuilding campaign launched on Joseph Verba family land in Mount Vernon
- Dec. 1, 1968: Archbishop James J. Byrne blesses new rectory, education building, and basement
- 189 registered families present for the 1968 blessing
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a small, dedicated team led by its resident pastor, with ministry support from a deacon, a faith formation director, a music and liturgy coordinator, and parish staff.
- Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah — Pastor (in office Tuesdays and Fridays, or by appointment)
- Deacon Mark Sandersfeld — Pastoral Associate for Confirmation and Adult Faith Formation; (319) 743-5008
- Marcy McElroy — Director of K–12 Faith Formation; (319) 895-6758; [email protected]
- Theresa Sundstrom — Coordinator of Music and Liturgy; (563) 451-2054; [email protected]
- Trevor Gretten — Secretary / Bookkeeper
- Denise Brannaman — Part-Time General Custodian
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Faith Formation at St. John's is offered during the school year for students in PreK through 12, under the direction of Marcy McElroy. Confirmation and adult faith formation are coordinated by Deacon Mark Sandersfeld. The Faith Formation Commission — co-chaired by Heidi Ryan and Tracey Louwagie — sets goals and objectives to meet the educational needs of the total parish community.
- PreK–12 Faith Formation program (school-year calendar)
- Confirmation preparation via Deacon Mark Sandersfeld
- Adult Faith Formation offerings
- Faith Formation Commission with parish leadership
Parish Commissions & Ministries
Parish life at St. John's is organized through a number of working commissions and committees, each with its own officers and parish-council liaison. Together they handle the spiritual, financial, and community life of the parish — from worship and formation to stewardship, social justice, and evangelization.
- Parish Council — Heidi Ryan (Co-Chair), Tracey Louwagie (Co-Chair), John Henik (Vice Chair), Bridget Curtis (Secretary), with members Charley Liberko, Katie Hartelt, Ruth Clark, and Barb Pederson (Parish Council Rep.)
- Finance Council — Tim Keegan (Chair), David McElroy, John Baker
- Faith Formation Commission — see above
- Liturgy Committee — Judy [last name truncated] (Chair & Secretary), Brett Kimm, Erin Moeller (Children and Youth Masses), Theresa Sundstrom, Chuck Murray (Outside Environment), Tracey Louwagie (Environment)
- Stewardship Committee — Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah, Troy Louwagie (Chair), Lisa Thuerauf (Vice Chair), Bernadette Lane, John Rife, Brian Doyle, Tim Manternach, John Rhomberg, Samantha Phillips
- Social Justice
- Evangelization Team
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music and worship environment at St. John's are coordinated by Theresa Sundstrom, with the Liturgy Committee supporting Children's and Youth Masses and the broader worship environment of the church.
- Coordinator of Music and Liturgy: Theresa Sundstrom
- Children and Youth Masses led by Liturgy Committee member Erin Moeller
- Environment and Outside Environment subcommittees support worship spaces
Contact, Office, and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Baptist by phone, email, or in person at the parish office on 7th Street SE in Mount Vernon. The main office is staffed by Secretary/Bookkeeper Trevor Gretten; the office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Fr. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah is in the office at St. John's on Tuesdays and Fridays, or by appointment. Those interested in joining the parish can contact the office or fill out a registration form via the parish website.
- Address: 212 – 7th St SE, Mount Vernon, IA 52314
- Phone: (319) 895-6246
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 am–4 pm; Fri 8 am–2 pm
- Registration form available on stjohnmv.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Clement Lowrey1867–
First regular priest for St. John's, based in Cedar Rapids; also served Bertram, Solon, Clarence, Stone City, Anamosa, Fairfax, Norway, Marengo, Belle Plaine, and Marshalltown.
- Father William Daley1870–
Former New York newspaper columnist; appointed pastor of Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Mechanicsville, Clarence, and Tipton; resided at Mechanicsville.
- Father Henry Manternach1921–
First resident pastor of Lisbon and Mount Vernon; oversaw the 1927 50-foot church lengthening and the brass bell that still rings today.
- Father J.R. Goodman
Pastor during the post-WWII era who launched the Parish Improvement Fund that seeded the 1966 rebuilding.
- Father William Kunsch–1968+
Pastor during the 1966–1968 rebuilding campaign that produced the present rectory, educational building, and church basement, blessed by Archbishop James J. Byrne on December 1, 1968.
- Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah2019–present
Installed July 14, 2019 as current resident pastor.