About St Joseph · North English, Iowa
St. Joseph Parish is a small Roman Catholic community in North English, Iowa, within the Diocese of Davenport. Serving approximately 120 families across the North English, South English, Kinross, Webster and Millersburg communities, the parish is clustered with the Marengo and Williamsburg parishes and presently pastored by Father David Wilkening. The parish worships in a modern red-brick church dedicated in 1963 on the west side of town, set across from English Valley High School, and is named for St. Joseph in honor of its founding pastor, Father Joseph McCarville.
- Established
- 1900s (early 1900s, by Father Joseph McCarville)
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father David Wilkening
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, family-oriented parish where roughly 120 families from North English, South English, Kinross, Webster and Millersburg worship together. Visitors are welcomed into a handicap-accessible church with a modern sanctuary, a beloved stone grotto to the Blessed Mother on the grounds, and a clustered-pastoral team that links the parish with neighboring Marengo and Williamsburg communities. Devotions to St. Joseph are a living part of parish life, including the annual March 19 patronal feast day potluck and recent consecrations to St. Joseph by the men of the parish.
Mass times at St Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Parish is a small Roman Catholic community of roughly 120 households serving North English and surrounding communities, including South English, Kinross, Webster and Millersburg. It is one of three clustered parishes in the Diocese of Davenport's Marengo-Williamsburg-North English grouping, currently pastored by Father David Wilkening.
- ~120 registered families
- Clustered with Marengo and Williamsburg parishes
- Pastored by Father David Wilkening
- Diocese of Davenport
History of the Parish
Catholic life in the North English area traces back to the decades following the Civil War, when three small churches — Immaculate Conception (Armah), St. Bernard (Millersburg) and St. Joseph (North English) — served an Irish farm population. The original North English church was built in the early 1900s under Father Joseph McCarville, after whom the parish is named.
- Three 19th-century congregations: Immaculate Conception of Armah, St. Bernard of Millersburg, St. Joseph of North English
- Original North English church built in the early 1900s by Father Joseph McCarville
- Shared rectory moved from rural Armah to North English in 1914 after the Armah house burned
- 1959: under Father Ray Pacha, the three parishes decided to build a shared church
- November 1963: dedication of the present-day red-brick church on the west side of North English
Devotion to St. Joseph
The parish's patron saint is honored publicly each year on March 19 with a parish potluck traditionally called the 'Oasis in the Desert of Lent.' During the universal Year of St. Joseph (2020–2021), the men of the parish undertook a 33-day preparation using Father Donald Calloway's book 'Consecration to St. Joseph,' culminating in a consecration Mass on March 19, 2021.
- Feast day celebration on March 19 with parish potluck (paused during COVID-19)
- 33-day 'Consecration to St. Joseph' using Fr. Donald Calloway's book
- Men's consecration Mass on March 19, 2021
Parish Campus & Accessibility
The 1963 red-brick church sits on the west side of North English across from English Valley High School. Its modern design includes a sanctuary with a massive marble altar and an outdoor stone grotto to the Blessed Mother. The building is handicap accessible and offers a drive-thru lane so parishioners can be dropped off at the front doors.
- Red brick exterior, modern design (dedicated 1963)
- Large marble altar in the sanctuary
- Stone grotto dedicated to the Blessed Mother on the grounds
- Handicap accessible with drive-thru drop-off lane
- Located across from English Valley High School
Cluster Parishes
St. Joseph North English is one of three parishes sharing pastoral ministry in this rural cluster within the Diocese of Davenport.
- St. Joseph — North English (this parish)
- Parish in Marengo
- Parish in Williamsburg
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph McCarvilleearly 1900s
Built the original North English Catholic church; parish named for him as 'St. Joseph'.
- Father Ray Pacha1959 onward
Led the planning for the three parishes (Armah, Millersburg, North English) to build a shared new church and rectory; dedication occurred in November 1963.
- Father David Wilkeningas of 2021
Pastor serving St. Joseph and the cluster parishes of Marengo and Williamsburg.