About St Mary · Oxford, Iowa
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small, historic Catholic parish in the rural community of Oxford, Iowa (Johnson County), belonging to the Diocese of Davenport. Founded in 1859/1860, it has served the farming families of the area for more than 160 years and today worships in the striking red-brick, Romanesque-style church built in 1912–1913. The parish is currently tended by Father Francis Mensah, who also pastors nearby St. Peter, Cosgrove, and St. Mary, Williamsburg, and is supported by a network of parish ministries, faith-formation programs, and an active Altar & Rosary Society.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Francis Mensah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in the heart of rural Johnson County, with a historic 1913 Romanesque-style brick church that generations of Oxford-area families have filled with prayer. Parishioners gather for weekend and weekday Mass, seasonal faith formation, Altar & Rosary devotion, and outreach through the cluster parishes, and the parish welcomes visitors to join in worship or call the pastor with any need.
Mass times at St Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. Mary's was organized in 1860 by the Floerchinger, Reynolds, McGillicuddy, Dalton and other Catholic families of northern Johnson County. A first frame church was built in 1862; a second frame church followed in 1878 and was dedicated in 1882 by Bishop McMullen, along with a pastor's residence. The present red-brick Romanesque-style church was begun in 1912 under Rev. Renihan, with Bishop James Davis — himself a former Oxford pastor — laying the cornerstone on December 4, 1912 and the first Mass being celebrated on July 13, 1913.
- Organized 1860 (Diocese of Davenport founding date 1859).
- First frame church: 1862.
- Second frame church: 1878, dedicated 1882 by Bishop McMullen.
- Current brick church: cornerstone Dec. 4, 1912; first Mass July 13, 1913.
- Building: 115 × 50 ft, red pressed brick, stone trim, tile roof, Romanesque interior, stained glass, frescoed walls, waxed-oak woodwork.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports faith formation for all ages as part of the Oxford/Cosgrove/Williamsburg cluster. Religious Education supplements what children learn at home, preparing them to participate fully in weekend Mass. Youth Ministry walks middle- and high-school teens through discipleship and growth, and Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in 9th grade, culminating with the bishop in the spring.
- Religious Education (Pre-K through elementary).
- Youth Ministry for middle school.
- Confirmation preparation: two-year program starting in 9th grade.
- RCIA for unbaptized adults, those entering full communion, and baptized Catholics seeking Eucharist/Confirmation.
- Adult Bible Study and Faith Sharing groups.
Parish Life & Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, St. Mary is sustained by an active network of lay ministries and councils. The Altar & Rosary Society gathers parishioners in Marian devotion; the Parish Council and Finance Council guide the temporal life of the parish; and Social Justice outreach extends the parish's care into the wider community.
- Altar & Rosary Society.
- Parish Council & Finance Council.
- Social Justice outreach.
- Bulletin and communications team.
- Liturgical ministries (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, sacristans).
Sacraments
Father Mensah prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick and Funeral rites, and oversees burials in the parish cemetery. Baptisms require pre-Baptism registration; weddings must be scheduled at least six months in advance; adults seeking Confirmation are welcomed through the parish office or the RCIA process.
- Baptism — pre-Baptism registration required.
- Confirmation — two-year prep, celebrated with the bishop in spring.
- Marriage — contact Father Mensah ≥ 6 months in advance.
- Anointing of the Sick & visits to the hospitalized and homebound.
- Funerals and cemetery burials.
- RCIA for adult initiation.
Cluster Parishes & Pastoral Team
Since 2023, Father Francis Mensah has served as pastor of a three-parish cluster in northern Johnson County: St. Mary, Oxford; St. Peter, Cosgrove; and St. Mary, Williamsburg. He is assisted by Deacon David Montgomery, retired Deacon Joseph Rohret, and retired diocesan priest Father David Wilkening. Office hours rotate among the parishes, and the cluster shares a combined bulletin, religious-education team and communications list.
- Father Francis Mensah — pastor.
- Deacon David Montgomery — active deacon.
- Deacon Joseph Rohret — retired deacon.
- Father David Wilkening — retired priest assisting.
- Parish administrator and staff (Kathy Brack and others) handle bulletin, facilities, and faith-formation coordination.
Visiting & Getting Involved
St. Mary's invites visitors and newcomers to worship with the parish and to reach out to the pastor or ministry leaders with questions. Weekend and weekday Mass schedules, weather-related cancellations, and parish news are shared through the weekly bulletin, the e-bulletin email list, and the parish Google Site.
- Office phone: (319) 828-4180.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: sites.google.com/site/stmaryoxford/.
- Sign up for the e-bulletin via Kathy Brack (828-4412).
- Sign the parish online guest book via the parish website.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. W. Emmonds
Early pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Rev. F. Welch
Early pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Rev. Hardin
Early pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Rev. Rice
Early pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Rev. A. T. Maynihan
Early pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Rev. Sullivan
Early pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Rev. James Davispre-1884
Served Oxford about four years; later became Bishop of Davenport (cornerstone layer of the 1912 church).
- Rev. F. J. Leonarduntil 1903
Predecessor of Rev. Renihan.
- Rev. Renihan1903–1913+
Built the present brick church; cornerstone laid Dec. 4, 1912; first Mass July 13, 1913.
- Rev. H. F. Finfield
Later pastor listed in 1926 parish history.
- Father Francis Mensah2023–present
Current pastor; assigned 2023 to cluster of St. Mary Oxford, St. Peter Cosgrove and St. Mary Williamsburg.