About St. Mary · Ackley, Iowa
St. Mary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Ackley, Iowa, part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. It is one of four linked parishes in the Franklin-Hardin Catholic cluster, which also includes St. Mary in Eldora, St. Mark in Iowa Falls, and St. Patrick in Hampton. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and for weekday Masses on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 8:30 AM, and is currently served by Fr. Kevin Earleywine, pastor of the cluster. The parish's mission statement reads: 'We, the Roman Catholic community of Saint Mary, are to be witnesses of God's plan of salvation. Through the teachings of Jesus Christ, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we strive to be stewards of our faith.'
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Kevin Earleywine
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Mary, Ackley offers a close-knit rural Catholic community rooted in faith since the 1860s, with weekly Sunday Mass, weekday Masses twice a week, a faith-formation program for children, and connections to the broader four-parish Franklin-Hardin cluster — including a Spanish-language Sunday Mass at St. Patrick in Hampton. Parishioners enjoy personal attention from their pastor, communal Reconciliation services during Lent, and the chance to live out a simple mission: to be witnesses of God's salvation and stewards of the faith through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Communal Reconciliation Services during Lent (announced in bulletin; recent examples: Wed. April 2, 2025 – 7:00 PM at St. Mary's, Ackley; Wed. March 25 – 4:30 PM–5:30 PM at St. Mary's, Ackley; Wed. April 9, 2025 – 6:30 PM at St. Patrick's, Hampton)
About St. Mary, Ackley
St. Mary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Ackley, Iowa, in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The parish's stated mission is: 'We, the Roman Catholic community of Saint Mary, are to be witnesses of God's plan of salvation. Through the teachings of Jesus Christ, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we strive to be stewards of our faith.' It is one of four linked parishes in the Franklin-Hardin Catholic cluster and shares Sunday and weekday Mass coverage with its partner parishes in Eldora, Iowa Falls, and Hampton.
- Address: 611 Sherman Avenue, P.O. Box 2, Ackley, IA 50601
- Phone: (641) 847-2329
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Dubuque
History of the Parish
Catholic life in the Ackley area dates to the 1860s. According to a Parish Profile by Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt (The Witness, January 10, 1988), missionary priest Fr. Joseph Butler wrote and signed the earliest parish record — a marriage and nine baptisms on September 23, 1866. Father Peter O'Dowd arrived as the first resident pastor in January 1870, overseeing a wide-ranging parish that would eventually spin off eight additional parishes. During his tenure, Sacred Heart Academy was built in 1877 and staffed by two Dubuque Presentation Sisters and two lay women.
- Earliest recorded sacramental acts: marriage and nine baptisms, September 23, 1866 (Fr. Joseph Butler)
- First resident pastor: Fr. Peter O'Dowd, January 1870
- Sacred Heart Academy built 1877 (staffed by Dubuque Presentation Sisters)
- 1991 Jubilee booklet: 'St. Mary's Catholic Church; 1891–1991; Ackley, Iowa'
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mary, Ackley is pastored as part of the Franklin-Hardin cluster. Fr. Kevin Earleywine serves as pastor of St. Patrick (Hampton) and St. Mary (Ackley) and was officially installed as pastor of all four cluster parishes by Archbishop Michael Jackels on September 17. Fr. Rod Allers pastors St. Mark (Iowa Falls) and St. Mary (Eldora).
- Pastor: Fr. Kevin Earleywine — [email protected]
- Pastor (cluster): Fr. Rod Allers — [email protected]
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Jangill (from Haiti, assigned for one year of formation)
- Director of Religious Education: Jolene Harms — [email protected]
- Secretary / Bookkeeper: Barb Keninger — [email protected]
- Maintenance: Robert Harms
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Mary, Ackley is coordinated by Director of Religious Education Jolene Harms. The program supports catechesis for the parish's children and connects to broader Archdiocese of Dubuque 'Journey in Faith' resources.
- Director of Religious Education: Jolene Harms
- Phone: (641) 847-2329
- Email: [email protected]
- Archdiocesan resource: dbqjourneyinfaith.org (FAQs about JIF)
The Franklin-Hardin Catholic Cluster
St. Mary, Ackley is one of four parishes that share ministry, staff, and Mass coverage under the Franklin-Hardin Catholic umbrella. Fr. Kevin Earleywine is pastor of all four parishes, installed by Archbishop Michael Jackels. The cluster rotates weekend Mass assignments every four months and offers a Spanish-language Sunday Mass at St. Patrick, Hampton.
- St. Mary, Ackley — Sunday 8:00 AM
- St. Mary, Eldora — Sunday 10:30 AM
- St. Mark, Iowa Falls — Saturday 5:00 PM vigil / Sunday 8:00 AM
- St. Patrick, Hampton — Sunday 10:30 AM (English) and 5:30 PM (Spanish)
Spanish-Language Ministry
Spanish-language Mass is celebrated at St. Patrick, Hampton at 5:30 PM on Sundays as part of the cluster's outreach. The Associate Pastor (Fr. Jangill) has helped support Spanish catechesis, Spanish marriage paperwork and preparation, and Bible studies within the cluster.
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 5:30 PM at St. Patrick, Hampton
- Spanish Catechesis supported by Associate Pastor
- Spanish marriage preparation available through the cluster
Live Stream & Online Resources
The cluster maintains a live-stream of Masses via its YouTube channel, with bulletins posted to franklinhardincatholic.org. Parishioners who cannot attend in person are encouraged to follow the live stream and to check the online Mass Calendar for the most current schedule.
- Live Stream Mass — YouTube channel (linked from franklinhardincatholic.org)
- Online Mass Calendar: franklinhardincatholic.org/calendars-news-events/mass-calendar/
- Daily Mass Schedule: franklinhardincatholic.org/calendars-news-events/mass-calendar/daily-mass-schedule/
- Weekly bulletin (PDF) posted to the cluster website
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary, Ackley at the parish office by phone, email, or in person. The cluster also maintains a general contact page for the four parishes.
- Parish address: 611 Sherman Avenue, Ackley, IA 50601
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 2, Ackley, IA 50601
- Phone: (641) 847-2329
- Email: [email protected]
- Cluster website: franklinhardincatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Butlerpre-1870 (missionary)
Wrote and signed the earliest parish record — a marriage and nine baptisms on Sept. 23, 1866.
- Fr. Peter O'DowdJanuary 1870 –
First resident pastor. Oversaw a wide-ranging parish and built Sacred Heart Academy in 1877.