About St. Joseph /Spires of Faith cluster · Earlville, Iowa
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earlville, Iowa, is a small-town Catholic parish that is one of five member parishes of the Spires of Faith Cluster, a pastoral grouping within the Archdiocese of Dubuque that also includes the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, St. Boniface in New Vienna, SS. Peter & Paul in Petersburg, and St. Paul in Worthington. Founded in 1886 when Earlville had just four Catholic families and built largely through the sponsorship of non-Catholics hoping to attract residents, the parish is served by a shared clergy and staff team that ministers across all five churches and the cluster's two Catholic schools (Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier Elementary). Today St. Joseph offers Sunday and weekday Mass, faith formation, parish council, liturgical ministries, and a warm community connection rooted in more than 140 years of Catholic presence in Delaware County, Iowa.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. David Schatz (current pastor of the Spires of Faith Cluster; the parish's own council page also references Fr. Chris Podhajsky, who was pastor 2022–c.2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Joseph, Earlville, is a small, tight-knit rural Catholic parish in the heart of Iowa farmland, ideal for worshippers who want a close community and the beauty of the historic 1939/40 church. Members benefit from being part of the broader Spires of Faith Cluster, which shares clergy, faith formation (including Wednesday evening classes in Earlville), sacramental preparation, RCIA-type adult confirmation classes, youth ministry, a high-school prayer group, a men's 'Brothers' fellowship, and liturgical ministries with four other parishes in the Dyersville area — including the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis Xavier.
Mass times at St. Joseph /Spires of Faith cluster
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 am (before Sunday Mass) — at St. Joseph, Earlville
- By appointment: call the parish office at (563) 875-7325
Adoration times
- Cluster-wide Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered each week across the cluster churches (specific St. Joseph day/time not separately published; see cluster bulletin)
About St. Joseph, Earlville
St. Joseph is one of five parishes in the Spires of Faith Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The parish serves the small farming community of Earlville in Delaware County, Iowa, and shares priests, staff, faith formation, and sacramental preparation with the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, St. Boniface in New Vienna, SS. Peter & Paul in Petersburg, and St. Paul in Worthington. Cluster office is at 104 3rd St. SW, Dyersville, IA 52040, open Monday–Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, (563) 875-7325.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 am
- Weekday Mass: Thursday and Friday 8:00 am
- Confession: Sundays 7:30 am (before Mass) and by appointment
- Church open daily 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Parish Council: Fr. Chris Podhajsky, Margaret Hogan, Becky Offerman, Nancy Smith, Dean Knipper, Deacon Jim Steger
- Secretary: Jane Knipper
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Church was founded in 1886 when Earlville had only four Catholic families. The first little frame church was built that year for $3,500 — sponsored mainly by non-Catholics who believed a Catholic church would bring more people and business to town — and was dedicated January 12, 1887, by Bishop Hennessey of Dubuque. In 1911 Father Henry Dunkel, pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, began caring for St. Joseph regularly; he was officially placed in charge in 1921 and became the parish's first resident pastor. Work on the present church began in 1939; the new $35,000, 416-seat church was completed in 1940, with Father Dunkel's funeral on February 12, 1940, the first liturgy held there.
- 1886: Parish founded; original frame church built for $3,500
- January 12, 1887: Original church dedicated by Bishop Hennessey
- 1911: Fr. Henry Dunkel begins regular care of St. Joseph
- 1921: Fr. Dunkel becomes first resident pastor
- 1939: Construction begins on present church
- 1940: Current church completed at $35,000; seats 416
- February 12, 1940: Fr. Dunkel's funeral — first liturgy in the new church
- 2000s onward: Joined the Spires of Faith Cluster
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Joseph is pastored by the Spires of Faith Cluster pastoral team, currently led by Fr. David Schatz as pastor of the cluster. Fr. Chris Podhajsky served as pastor from July 2022 until the recent transition, and Fr. Dennis J. Quint led the cluster for about twelve years across two terms before his 2022 reassignment. The parish secretary for St. Joseph (along with SS. Peter & Paul and St. Boniface) is Jane Knipper.
- Rev. David Schatz — Pastor
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Podhajsky — Pastor 2022–c.2025
- Rev. Dennis J. Quint — Pastor (two terms, c.2010–2022)
- Deacon Jim Steger — Parish Council member and longtime deacon
- Deacon Roger Riesberg
- Deacon Keith McCarraher — Lenten speaker
- Jane Knipper — Secretary
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for students in grades 1–10 meets Wednesday evenings in Earlville during the school year, with a two-week summer option offered at the Dyersville site as an alternative. The Totus Tuus summer Catholic program is held for grades 1–12. Confirmation preparation, both for teens and for adults who were not confirmed in high school, is offered cluster-wide, as are Generations of Faith monthly family sessions and a High School Scripture Study and Prayer Group.
- Wednesday evening Faith Formation (grades 1–10), St. Joseph, Earlville
- Summer two-week Faith Formation option (grades 1–10), Dyersville site
- Totus Tuus (grades 1–12), late June
- Confirmation preparation — parent/student meetings
- Adult Confirmation classes
- Generations of Faith — monthly Sunday/Wednesday family sessions
- High School Scripture Study (Thursday 3:30 pm)
- High School Prayer Group (Wednesday 7:00 pm)
Sacraments
All seven Catholic sacraments are made available to St. Joseph parishioners through the cluster's pastoral team. Baptism preparation classes are required for first-time parents (Baptism 2.0 is offered for parents of subsequent children). Confirmation, First Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage preparation, and Funerals are coordinated through the cluster office.
- Baptism — preparation class required
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation (youth and adult)
- Confession (Sunday 7:30 am and by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (preparation required)
- Holy Orders (vocations support)
- Funerals and Catholic burial
Ministries, Devotions & Community Life
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, St. Joseph parishioners take part in a wide range of cluster-wide ministries. A men's fellowship called 'The Brothers' meets Saturdays in summer for faith and fellowship. That Man is You! is offered for men's spirituality. The cluster choir rehearses weekly in the Basilica choir loft. Lenten faith-sharing with the pastor, parish missions, retreats, and special Scripture study series round out the spiritual calendar.
- The Brothers — men's fellowship, Saturdays 7:00 am in summer
- That Man is You! men's program
- Cluster Choir (Tuesday rehearsals)
- Lenten Faith Sharing with the pastor (Wednesdays)
- Parish missions at the Basilica (e.g., 'Return to the Virtues: Faith, Hope and Love')
- Catholic Sharing Appeal fundraising
- Parish Council and Faith Formation Commission
Cluster Schools
St. Joseph families have access to two Catholic schools in the Spires of Faith Cluster: Beckman Catholic High School in Dyersville and St. Francis Xavier Elementary School in Dyersville. The pastor of the Spires of Faith Cluster also serves as the Pastoral Coordinator of both schools. The Archdiocese of Dubuque has long supported these as the cluster's main educational apostolate.
- Beckman Catholic High School, Dyersville — (563) 875-7188
- St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, Dyersville — 1325 9th St SE
- St. Joseph Childcare Center
Visiting & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Joseph. The church is open every day from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm for private prayer, and visitors may call the cluster office at (563) 875-7325 to schedule a guided tour. The parish is at 321 Mary St, Earlville, IA 52041, with a parish line at (563) 923-2068. The cluster Facebook page keeps parishioners and visitors informed of schedules, devotions, and special events.
- Address: 321 Mary St, Earlville, IA 52041
- Parish phone: (563) 923-2068
- Cluster office: (563) 875-7325, 104 3rd St. SW, Dyersville, IA 52040
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Daily church access: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Facebook: St. Joseph Catholic Church, Earlville, IA
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Henry Dunkel1921–1940
First resident pastor; had been pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville and began caring for St. Joseph in 1911; died February 12, 1940; his funeral was the first liturgy in the current church.
- Father John O'Connor
Listed as Pastor on the cluster bulletin for November 27, 2016.
- Father Dennis J. Quintc.2010–2022 (served two terms)
Pastor of Spires of Faith Cluster including St. Joseph Earlville; also Dean of the Dyersville Deanery and Pastoral Coordinator of Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier School; reassigned July 2022 to St. Raphael Cathedral and St. Patrick parishes in Dubuque.
- Father Jeffrey A. Dolec.2016–2017
Associate Pastor of the Spires of Faith Cluster (transition noted in summer 2017 bulletin).
- Father Tyler Raymondc.2020–2022
Associate Pastor; reassigned July 2022 as Pastor of the LaSalle Pastorate.
- Father Gabriel Oduro Mensah2022
Associate Pastor (from Ghana); joined the Spires of Faith Cluster in 2022.
- Father Philip Agyei2022
Associate Pastor (from Ghana); joined the Spires of Faith Cluster in 2022.
- Father Christopher (Chris) Podhajsky2022–c.2025
Pastor of the Spires of Faith Cluster from July 12, 2022; previously pastor of St. Mary, McGregor; St. Patrick, Monona; and St. Bridget, Postville; also served as Pastoral Coordinator of St. Francis Xavier School and Beckman Catholic.
- Father David Schatzc.2025–present
Current pastor of the Spires of Faith Cluster; leads parish reflections and appears on current parish leadership pages.