About St. John the Baptist · Peosta, Iowa
St. John the Baptist is a Catholic parish in Peosta, Iowa, founded in 1874 as the parish of the Vernon and Center Township Catholics. Originally established in Centralia, the parish was moved to Peosta in 1923 at the direction of Archbishop James J. Keane when the railroad came through the area. Today it is one of five parishes in the St. Elizabeth Pastorate within the Archdiocese of Dubuque and is currently served by Fr. Steve Garner. The parish offers Sunday Mass, weekday adoration, and confession, and remains home to a community that also cares for the historic St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Centralia.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Steve Garner
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist in Peosta is a welcoming rural Catholic community with deep roots stretching back to 1874 and a current identity as part of the St. Elizabeth Pastorate serving Dubuque County. Parishioners can attend Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM, spend time in weekday adoration (Monday and Wednesday), and gather for active parish committees — Liturgy, Finance, Cemetery Board, and Parish Council — that shape parish life. With its active cemetery ministry, hall rental, and shared pastorate resources, the parish offers both small-town warmth and the stability of belonging to a six-church cluster.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mondays – 8:30 am at St. John the Baptist, Peosta
Adoration times
- Mondays – 8:30 am – 8:00 pm at St. John the Baptist, Peosta; 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (Family Adoration)
- Wednesdays – 7:00 am – 12:00 pm at St. John the Baptist, Peosta
History of St. John the Baptist Parish
The parish traces its roots to July 14, 1874, when Bishop John Hennessy of Dubuque granted the Vernon and Center Township Catholics permission to build a church at Centralia, ten miles west of Dubuque. The cornerstone was laid in the fall of 1874, the brick church was completed in 1875, and the Rev. George W. Heer became the parish's first pastor on September 1, 1875. The parish opened a school in 1878 and added a convent, with Franciscan Sisters teaching until 1913. In 1923, under Archbishop James J. Keane, the parish was moved from Centralia to Peosta when the railroad came through; the original cemetery remains in Centralia. In 1989, the parish dedicated a new church building in Peosta.
- 1874 – Bishop Hennessy grants permission to build in Centralia
- 1875 – Rev. George W. Heer appointed first pastor
- 1878 – Parish school opens
- 1913 – Franciscan Sisters conclude their teaching ministry
- 1923 – Parish relocated from Centralia to Peosta
- 1989 – New church building dedicated in Peosta
St. John the Baptist Cemetery (Centralia)
The historic parish cemetery remains at Centralia even though the parish itself moved to Peosta in 1923. Plots are available for purchase, with rates increasing on March 1, 2024 — $450 for a single plot for a parishioner and $650 for a non-parishioner. Inquiries about purchasing a plot before the new rate took effect can be directed to Ray Stephan (563-588-2288) or Tom McAndrew (563-556-5974).
- Single plot rate (parishioner): $450 (effective March 1, 2024)
- Single plot rate (non-parishioner): $650 (effective March 1, 2024)
- Contacts: Ray Stephan 563-588-2288; Tom McAndrew 563-556-5974
Liturgy & Worship
Sunday Mass at St. John the Baptist in Peosta is celebrated at 9:00 AM, with an additional 9:00 AM Saturday Mass on the first Saturday of the month. The parish is part of a broader pastorate-wide liturgy committee that helps plan worship across the cluster.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Saturday Mass: 9:00 AM (1st Saturday of the month only)
- Liturgy Committee members: Diane Fasselius, Karen Hoeger, Deacon Jim Koetz, Kim Koetz, Jen Lembezeder, Linda Maas, Beth McCoy, Karen Snyder
Parish Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Steve Garner as Pastor of the St. Elizabeth Pastorate, with support from parish and finance councils, a cemetery board, and a liturgy committee.
- Pastor: Fr. Steve Garner
- Parish phone: (563) 876-5540
- Parish Council members (terms ending 2025): Dave Schueller, Rick Runde, Steve Hoeger, Jayme Kluesner
- Finance Committee: Tom Bechen (Chair, reinstated 2022), Lindsey Krapfl (Vice Chair, new 2022), Theresa Elgin (new 2023), Tim Lehmann (new 2022), Tony Richard (new 2023), Zach Little (new 2024), Tyler Jones (new 2024)
Cemetery Board
The Cemetery Board oversees the care and stewardship of the historic Centralia cemetery, including plot sales and inquiries.
- Contacts: Tom McAndrew 563-556-5974 / 563-663-8703; Ray Stephan 563-588-2288 / 563-599-9941
- Office: St. Elizabeth Pastorate 563-876-5540
Hall Rental
Parish facilities are available for rental. Inquiries can be directed to Lynne McDermott at the St. Elizabeth Pastorate office.
- Contact: Lynne McDermott, St. Elizabeth Pastorate, 563-876-5540
St. Elizabeth Pastorate
St. John the Baptist is one of six Catholic worship sites that make up the St. Elizabeth Pastorate in northern Dubuque County, Iowa, within the Archdiocese of Dubuque. All sites share the same pastor and a single pastorate office.
- St. Joseph, Farley
- St. Patrick, Epworth (pastorate mailing address)
- St. John the Baptist, Peosta
- St. John the Evangelist, Placid
- St. Clement, Bankston
- Oratory of the Annunciation, Graf
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through the St. Elizabeth Pastorate office. The church sits on Peosta Street in the heart of Peosta, Iowa.
- Church Address: 241 Peosta Street, Peosta, Iowa 52068
- Mailing Address: St. Elizabeth Pastorate, P.O. Box 286, Epworth, Iowa 52045-0286
- Phone: (563) 876-5540
- Email: contact listed on the pastorate website contact page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George W. Heer1875 – first pastor
First pastor of the parish, appointed Sept. 1, 1875; lived without a proper rectory until one was built in 1877.
- Father Joseph C. Nacke
Succeeded Father Heer at Centralia.
- Father Joseph Kuemper
Built the Sister house and a parochial brick school; paid off many old and new debts.
- Father Hermengilde Rottler
Had the briefest pastorate — only 12 days.
- Father H.J. Hemesath
Served zealously for 10 years, improving the church and cemetery and reducing the parish debt.
- Father Bauemler
Excellent pastor for 10 months.
- Rev. P.A.R. Tierney1898 – 1914
Appointed October 1898; also served mission church at Lattnerville; resigned 1914 due to ill health; completely reduced the parish debt and dedicated the church.
- Father Luke Donlon1914 – (past 1923)
Worked hard for his flock at Centralia; oversaw the 1923 move of the parish from Centralia to Peosta.