About St. Mary · Albia, Iowa
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albia, Iowa, is a Roman-Latin rite parish of the Diocese of Davenport that has served Catholic families in Monroe County since 1874. The parish is clustered with two neighboring mission parishes — St. Patrick in Georgetown and St. Peter in Lovilia — sharing one priest across the three communities. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in Albia, with additional weekend Masses alternating between Georgetown and Lovilia on the other Sundays of the month.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Isaac Essel (parochial administrator, effective July 1, 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small-town Iowa parish with deep roots — Catholic life in Albia dates back to 1866 — and a warm, multi-generational feel. Worshippers can attend Mass several times a week in Albia, Lovilia, or Georgetown, take advantage of weekly Saturday confessions and First Friday adoration, and stay connected through the parish bulletin, online calendar, daily readings, and a Senior Scholarship program for graduating parishioners.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m. (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (First Fridays only)
About St. Mary's Catholic Church
St. Mary's is a Roman-Latin rite parish in Albia, Iowa, in the Diocese of Davenport. The parish traces its origins to 1874 and today is clustered with two neighboring mission parishes — St. Patrick in Georgetown and St. Peter in Lovilia — sharing a single priest who rotates through the three communities. The parish office is at 730 Benton Ave W, Albia, and contact is via phone (641-932-5130) or email at [email protected].
Parish History
Catholic life in Albia began in 1866 or 1867 when Father McMenomy said the first Mass in the home of James Pheney, and Mass was also offered in the old Monroe County courthouse. In 1874, Father Harrison, traveling from Georgetown, gathered the early Catholic families — Pheney, O'Hara, Murphy, Morrison, Gorman, Horrigan, Conway, Higgins, Sexton, Hopkins, Guinn, McElroy and others — to purchase the local Episcopal building for $1,200 and remodel it for Catholic worship; it was dedicated early in 1875. From 1877 onward Albia was served as an out-mission from Centerville by Fathers King, Daly, Quinn, Fitzsimmons, Nolan, Ade, and McCarville in turn.
- 1874 — Parish founded; first church (former Episcopal building) bought and remodeled for $1,200
- 1875 — First church dedicated early in the year
- 1877 — Albia becomes a mission of Centerville
- 1903 — Cornerstone of the new church laid October 1 by Dean Hoffman of Ottumwa
- 1904 — First Mass in the new church on Easter Sunday (altars improvised from dry-goods boxes)
- 1904 — Church formally dedicated June 5
- 1911 — Father Guinan transferred to Washington; Rev. J. M. Walsh succeeds him
- 1980 — Present church built (per Diocese of Davenport list of churches)
- 2024 — Father Mark V. Yates, C.PP.S., reassigned out of the diocese; Father Isaac Essel named parochial administrator of the cluster effective July 1, 2024
Building the 1904 Church
On May 16, 1903, the parish opened a subscription list for a new, larger church and appointed a building committee of thirteen parishioners led by Rev. W. J. Guinan. The completed building — with pews, altars, Stations of the Cross, and a fully fitted sanctuary — cost $17,000, and the adjoining residence bought and remodeled for the priests cost another $6,000. Up to July 1911, $26,000 had passed through St. Mary's parish bank account, including $2,000 spent on four years of lecture courses for the community.
- Building committee (1903): Rev. W. J. Guinan, M. C. Falvey, Jno. F. Morrissy, L. T. Richmoud, Jno. L. Sullivan, W. T. Morrissey, Faley Hines, Mark Greely, Jno. Brooks, Wm. McDonald, Thos. Dougherty, Pierce Cullinane, Dan O'Hara
- Church cost (1904): $17,000 including furnishings
- Rectory cost: $6,000
- Total parish receipts through July 1911: $26,000
Clergy & Leadership
Father Isaac Essel serves as parochial administrator of the three-parish cluster — St. Mary Albia, St. Patrick Georgetown, and St. Peter Lovilia — effective July 1, 2024. The appointment was announced that April by Diocesan Administrator Father Ken Kuntz as part of a larger set of 17 priest and 2 deacon assignments in the Diocese of Davenport. Father Essel succeeded Father Mark V. Yates, C.PP.S., a member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood who was reassigned outside the diocese by his religious community in 2024.
- Father Isaac Essel — Parochial Administrator (effective July 1, 2024)
- Father Mark V. Yates, C.PP.S. — previous pastor; reassigned in 2024
Parish Cluster
St. Mary's is served together with two nearby parishes so that one priest can offer Mass and the sacraments across the rural Monroe County area. The Albia parish handles scheduling and shared communications for the three worship sites.
- St. Patrick's, Georgetown — 1st & 3rd Sundays 8:30 a.m.; Thursday 5:15 p.m.
- St. Peter's, Lovilia — 2nd & 4th Sundays 8:30 a.m.; Tuesday 9:00 a.m.; phone 641-946-8298; email [email protected]
- St. Mary's, Albia — Saturday vigil 5:10 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.; Wed/Fri 9:00 a.m.
Parish Life, Ministries & Programs
The parish website links to a parish bulletin, calendar, daily readings, an online giving/donate page, and a 2024 Senior Scholarship application, indicating active engagement with parish families and young people. A Strategic Planning Committee has been convened to look at the future direction of the cluster.
- Parish bulletin (linked from the website)
- Parish calendar
- Daily Readings link
- Online giving / DONATE page
- 2024 Senior Scholarship Application
- Strategic Planning Committee
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Mary's is located on Benton Avenue West in Albia, the county seat of Monroe County. Visitors coming from the north on Highway 5 turn right at the first stop light onto Benton Avenue and continue west; the church is on the right-hand side. Office messages and inquiries can be directed to the parish office by phone or email.
- Address: 730 Benton Ave W, P.O. Box 365, Albia, IA 52531
- Phone: 641-932-5130
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmarysalbia.org
- Directions: From Hwy 5 north, turn right at first stop light onto Benton Ave W; church is on the right
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father McMenomy1866 or 1867
Said the first Mass in Albia at the home of James Pheney
- Father Harrison1874–c.1877
Traveled from Georgetown; led the purchase and remodeling of the Episcopal church that became the first St. Mary's, dedicated early 1875
- Father King1877–early 1878
Pastor at Centerville with Albia as out-mission
- Father Dalyearly 1878–c.1886
Succeeded Father King; served Albia from Centerville for about eight years
- Father Quinnc.1886–c.1889
Three-year pastor out of Centerville
- Father Fitzsimmonsc.1889–c.1890
One-year pastor out of Centerville
- Fathers Nolan, Ade, and McCarville
Each served as pastor at Centerville and came to Albia while located there
- Rev. W. J. Guinanuntil July 1911
Built the present 1904 church and rectory; transferred to Washington, Iowa, in July 1911
- Rev. J. M. Walshfrom July 1911
Came to Albia from Washington, Iowa, with the parish still growing at the time of the 1914 history
- Father Mark V. Yates, C.PP.S.until mid-2024
Missionary of the Precious Blood; pastor of the Albia/Georgetown/Lovilia cluster; reassigned outside the diocese in 2024
- Father Isaac Esseleffective July 1, 2024
Appointed parochial administrator of the three-parish cluster by Diocesan Administrator Father Ken Kuntz