About St. Joseph - Ellendale · Merrill, Iowa
St. Joseph Church-Ellendale is a Catholic parish in rural Merrill, Iowa, in the western part of Plymouth County. Founded by German and Irish Catholic settlers in the 1860s-1870s who moved up the Big Sioux River valley, it has been served as a mission of Merrill (and later Le Mars) for most of its life. Today it is one of two worship sites of All Saints Parish (alongside St. James in Le Mars) in the Diocese of Sioux City, with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM, a Sunday Mass at 9:30 AM, and weekday Masses celebrated in the St. Joseph Chapel. The present brick church — the fourth building to house the parish — was built in 1925-1926 under Father A. J. Foerster and dedicated by Bishop Edmund Heelan on April 28, 1926, and still stands at 23533 K-22 outside Merrill.
- Established
- 1860s-1870s (parish organized); first church built shortly after 1880; present church cornerstone laid 1925, dedicated 1926
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Doug Klein (pastor of All Saints Parish, which includes St. Joseph-Ellendale and St. James-Le Mars)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
St. Joseph-Ellendale offers a faithful Catholic community in a peaceful rural setting seven miles west of Merrill, with two weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 9:30 AM) and weekday Masses in the St. Joseph Chapel. As part of All Saints Parish it shares in a wider family of ministries — faith formation for children and youth, parish committees, faith-based budgeting and stewardship, and connection to Gehlen Catholic School. The historic 1926 brick church continues to host funerals, special services, and CCD classes, making it a living landmark for four generations of Catholic families in western Plymouth County.
Mass times at St. Joseph - Ellendale
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (per DiscoverMass listing)
History of St. Joseph Parish — Ellendale
St. Joseph Parish, popularly known as 'Ellendale,' lies in the western part of Plymouth County, Iowa. Its roots reach back to the 1860s-1870s, when Irish and German Catholic settlers pushed up the Big Sioux River and its feeder streams in search of new land. Early pastoral care came from Father Jeremiah Tracy of St. John (now Jackson, Nebraska), Father B. C. Lenehan of Sioux City, and Father Herman Meis, the first pastor of Le Mars (from 1875), who gathered the few local Catholics — about 20 families — into the semblance of a parish. The first parish church was built near the cemetery shortly after 1880, most likely by Father Joseph Meis of Le Mars.
- First church (post-1880): destroyed by windstorm in 1885
- Second church (on same site): destroyed in 1887 (windstorm or lightning)
- Father John Gerleman of St. Boniface, Sioux City, rode horseback to minister to Ellendale Catholics for about five years after 1887, saying Mass in homes and the Hauswald School
- Third church (c. 1891): built about two miles south of the cemetery, on land donated by Patrick Gorman and his son James
- First resident pastor at Merrill/Ellendale: Father John W. Toohill, appointed January 1894; followed by Fathers P. J. Connolly and George Hickey
- Rev. Robert McClintock became pastor in October 1972; Rev. Donald Smith appointed in March 1976
- Ellendale attached to Merrill as a mission from 1894, then merged into All Saints Parish (Le Mars) in the Diocese of Sioux City
The Present Church — Built 1925-1926
By the early 1920s the parish had outgrown its third church, with about 75 families now in the community. Rather than enlarge the old building, the parishioners chose to build a fourth, more spacious and beautiful house of God. Under the capable supervision of Father A. J. Foerster — appointed to Merrill and St. Joseph's Mission in January 1924 — plans were drawn up, the parishioners dug the basement in the spring of 1925, and on September 20, 1925 Rt. Rev. Msgr. W. A. Pape of Le Mars laid the cornerstone, with Rev. J. A. Gerleman of Granville preaching the sermon. About 700 people attended the ceremony, with fifteen clergymen officiating.
- Brick edifice 92 feet by 37 feet, red variegated brick with white trimmings
- Impressive bell tower as its façade; bell donated by Father Gerleman
- Construction cost over $25,000
- Basement houses a parish hall with a stage and a kitchen with serving rooms
- Formally dedicated by Bishop Edmund Heelan on April 28, 1926
- Sermon at the dedication delivered by Rev. T. J. McCarthy of Sioux City
- 100th anniversary of the cornerstone commemorated September 20, 2025 with Bishop John Keehner presiding
Mass & Worship Schedule
As part of All Saints Parish, St. Joseph-Ellendale is one of two worship sites serving the greater Le Mars area. Weekend Masses at the Ellendale church are a Saturday Vigil at 4:30 PM and a Sunday Mass at 9:30 AM. Weekday Masses are celebrated in the St. Joseph Chapel — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:45 AM, and Tuesday at 5:30 PM. The parish also livestreams the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass each week for parishioners who are ill, infirm, in military service, or college students away from home.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:30 PM (English, St. Joseph church)
- Sunday — 9:30 AM (English, St. Joseph church)
- Monday — 8:45 AM (English, St. Joseph Chapel)
- Tuesday — 5:30 PM (English, St. Joseph Chapel)
- Wednesday — 8:45 AM (English, St. Joseph Chapel)
- Friday — 8:45 AM (English, St. Joseph Chapel)
- Wednesday confessions 5:00-6:00 PM (per DiscoverMass)
- Spanish Mass — Sundays 11:30 AM at St. James, Le Mars
Faith Formation & Religious Education
All Saints Parish assists parents in their primary role as their children's first teachers of the faith. Faith Formation classes — including CCD instruction — are held weekly Wednesday nights from 6:45 to 8:00 PM at Gehlen Catholic School, and the Ellendale church continues to be used for CCD classes. Parents and children also gather together one Wednesday each month for Family Sessions, with early (4:30-5:45 PM) or late (6:45-8:00 PM) options at St. Joseph Church and Gehlen School. Families cover one lesson in class each month and receive one or two additional Faith Story lessons to review at home.
- Weekly CCD classes on Wednesday evenings at Gehlen School
- CCD classes also conducted at St. Joseph-Ellendale
- Monthly Family Sessions at St. Joseph Church and Gehlen School
- Home lesson component (1-2 Faith Story lessons per month)
Parish Committees & Leadership
St. Joseph-Ellendale shares parish governance with St. James-Le Mars through the All Saints Parish committees. The parish is led by Rev. Doug Klein as pastor, with lay leadership on the Finance, Endowment, and Cemetery Boards. The Gehlen Catholic School Board includes both Fr. Klein and Fr. Dan Greving alongside All Saints parishioners and representatives from the feeder parishes.
- All Saints Finance Committee — Rev. Doug Klein, Tom Rohe, Mark Vonnahme, Dick Ahlers, Mike Clarey, Steve DeRocher, Kelly Puhl, Debra Ahlers, Margie Augustine, Mark Theisen, Nancy Schlichte, Janelle Johnson
- All Saints Endowment Committee — Rev. Doug Klein, Jim Klein, Kelly Puhl, Kim Clarey, Alice Ruhland, Russ Holzman, Matt Washburn
- Cemetery Board — Steve DeRocher, Paula Langel, Mike Clarey, Chad Ruhland, Robin Klemme, Tom Schlesser, Mike VanderMolen, Jim Tentinger
- Gehlen School Board — Rev. Doug Klein, Rev. Dan Greving, Peggy Sitzmann, Nikki Conger, Todd Ellensohn, Kelsey Langel, Jose Munoz, Joshua Sievers, Kathryn Langel, Doug Klein (Granville), Bryan Paulson (Principal), Amanda Anderson (President)
About St. Joseph, the Patron
Scripture tells us Joseph loved Jesus — his one concern was for the safety of the child entrusted to him. He left his home to protect Jesus and, on his return, settled in the obscure town of Nazareth out of fear. He searched with Mary for three days when Jesus stayed in the Temple. We also know Joseph respected God, following His commands in handling the situation with Mary and taking the family to Jerusalem every year for Passover. Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, death, or resurrection, many historians believe he died before Jesus' public ministry — which is why he is the patron of the dying, of the universal Church, of fathers, of carpenters, and of social justice. All Saints Parish celebrates two feast days for Joseph: March 19 (Joseph, Husband of Mary) and May 1 (Joseph the Worker).
- Patron of the dying, the universal Church, fathers, carpenters, and social justice
- March 19 — St. Joseph, Husband of Mary
- May 1 — St. Joseph the Worker
- Parish prayer invokes Joseph as 'man of prayer,' 'husband of Mary,' 'guardian of the Holy Family,' 'protector of the Holy Family,' 'devoted to the child Jesus,' 'the carpenter,' 'compassionate provider,' 'comfort of the troubled,' 'chaste spouse,' and 'faithful to God's call'
Sacraments at All Saints Parish
All Saints Parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and others. Wedding reservations are taken through the parish office; the wedding fee is $300 for registered, active, financially supporting members and $500 for those living elsewhere or inactive with no record of parish support, with cancellation refunds available only if the reservation is cancelled at least seven months before the wedding. The Ellendale church continues to host funerals and special services.
- Baptism — preparation through parish office
- Marriage — wedding reservations and policies listed on the parish website
- Funerals — the Ellendale church is used for funeral liturgies
- Diocese of Sioux City policy: sacramental records are restricted from public viewing until 100 years after the date of the sacrament
St. Joseph-Ellendale Cemetery
The original two churches of St. Joseph-Ellendale were built near the parish cemetery, and the burial ground remains part of the parish's historic fabric. Cemetery care today is overseen by the All Saints Parish Cemetery Board.
- Original church sites were located by the cemetery (first two churches, 1880s)
- Third and fourth churches built about two miles south of the cemetery
- Cemetery Board oversees ongoing care (Steve DeRocher, Paula Langel, Mike Clarey, Chad Ruhland, Robin Klemme, Tom Schlesser, Mike VanderMolen, Jim Tentinger)
Visiting & Connecting with the Parish
Parishioners and visitors can stay connected through the All Saints Parish website, the 'I'm New' page, the parish bulletin, and a livestream of the Sunday 9:30 AM Mass. The 9:30 AM Mass can be watched live or as a rebroadcast online for those unable to attend in person. Sacramental records for the historic parish are now maintained through the All Saints parish office; because records are restricted from public viewing until 100 years after the date of the sacrament, requests for older records are coordinated through the parish office per Diocese of Sioux City policy.
- Website: allsaintslemars.org
- Parish office phone: (712) 546-5223
- Email pastor: [email protected]
- Live Mass: Sundays at 9:30 AM (St. Joseph)
- Sunday bulletin available on the parish website
- myParish App for updates
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jeremiah Tracyc. 1865-1870
Of St. John (now Jackson, Nebraska); first known to minister to early Catholic settlers in the Ellendale area
- Father Herman Meisfrom 1875
First pastor of Le Mars; formally gathered the few local Catholics into the semblance of a parish (about 20 families)
- Father B. C. Lenehanfrom 1872
Pastor of Sioux City; his mission field included all of Iowa between the Big and Little Sioux rivers
- Father Joseph Meis (of Le Mars)shortly after 1880
Most likely the builder of the first parish church near the cemetery
- Father John Gerleman1887-1891 (approximately)
Of St. Boniface, Sioux City; rode horseback from Sioux City to minister to Ellendale Catholics after the second church was destroyed
- Father John W. ToohillJanuary 1894
First resident pastor of Assumption Parish, Merrill; Ellendale attached to Merrill as a mission
- Father P. J. Connollyafter Toohill
Succeeded Toohill at Merrill/Ellendale
- Father George Hickeyafter Connolly
Succeeded Toohill and Connolly at Merrill/Ellendale
- Rev. A. J. FoersterJanuary 1924
Appointed to Assumption Parish, Merrill, and St. Joseph's Mission; led building of the present fourth church (cornerstone 1925, dedicated 1926)
- Rev. Robert McClintockOctober 1972
Became pastor of Merrill/Ellendale
- Rev. Donald SmithMarch 1976
Appointed pastor of Merrill/Ellendale