About St. Mary · Williams, Iowa
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Williams, Iowa, clustered with St. Thomas Aquinas Church in nearby Webster City and forming part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The parish serves roughly 80 families drawn from Williams and the surrounding communities of Alden, Dows, Ellsworth, Story City, Radcliffe, and Webster City. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 AM at the Williams church, with an additional Thursday morning Mass during the week, and the parish is led by Fr. Francis Anane who pastors both St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Mary.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Francis Anane
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Mary offers rural north-central Iowa Catholic families a steady sacramental rhythm — Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, a weekday Thursday Mass, Sunday-morning Reconciliation, and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration — within a small, multi-generational community where many current parishioners are fifth and sixth generation descendants of the original Irish and German settlers. As a clustered parish of St. Thomas Aquinas in nearby Webster City, it gives members access to a broad slate of lay ministries, from faith formation and RCIA to the Knights of Columbus, Social Justice outreach, choir, lectors, and hospitality, while keeping the close-knit, family-sized feel of a country church.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM at St. Mary, Williams (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Parish Identity and Mission
St. Mary Catholic Church sits at 404 4th Street in Williams, Iowa, a small Hamilton County community in north-central Iowa. It is clustered with St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Webster City, and together the two parishes are led by a single pastor within the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The parish extends its ministry to about 80 families who live in Williams and in surrounding communities such as Alden, Dows, Ellsworth, Story City, Radcliffe, and Webster City.
- Clustered parish with St. Thomas Aquinas, Webster City
- Part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Approximately 80 registered families
- Located in Hamilton County, north-central Iowa
History of St. Mary
The Catholic community in Williams traces its roots to 1869 and the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad. Irish and German Catholic families settled along the line between Iowa Falls and Fort Dodge, and in May 1869 the first Mass in Hamilton County was offered in the Bernard Kelly home in Webster City by a Father Butler from Fort Dodge. Mass was also said in the farm home of Andrew and Mary Smith on the stage-coach route between Williams and Blairsburg.
- First Mass in Hamilton County: May 1869, Bernard Kelly home, Webster City
- First frame church in Williams: 1875, built by Irish and German families on an acre donated by Lawrence and Ann McCue
- Became an out-mission of Webster City: 1881
- Windstorm (likely cyclone) leveled the frame church: 1895
- New, larger church built 1895 under Fr. Jacob A. Kurz
- First baptism in new church: Teresa Caroline Holdgrafer, September 1895
- First funeral: Michael Brady, April 1896
- First wedding: Mary Brady to Frank Murphy, May 1896
- Re-clustered with Webster City in 2000
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
St. Mary's is currently pastored by Fr. Francis Anane, who also serves St. Thomas Aquinas in Webster City. He is assisted by Deacon Dan Hurt. The parish's website and current committee rosters reflect Fr. Anane's role across the clustered parishes' Faith Formation Commission, Stewardship Committee, Social Justice Committee, and Finance Council.
- Fr. Francis Anane — Pastor
- Deacon Dan Hurt — Parish Representative
- Pastoral coordination with St. Thomas Aquinas, Webster City
Sacraments
Parishioners are encouraged to phone the parish office to register for Baptism or to begin preparation for Matrimony. Adult sacramental preparation is available through the parish's RCIA program, and Faith Formation covers ongoing catechesis for children and families.
- Baptism — call 515-832-1190 to register
- Matrimony — call 515-832-1190 for preparation
- Reconciliation — Sundays at 7:30 AM or by appointment
- RCIA for adult initiation
- First Communion and Confirmation through Faith Formation
- Anointing of the Sick by appointment with the pastor
Parish Councils and Committees
Lay leadership at St. Mary is organized around several standing committees that support the pastor's stewardship of parish life, finances, formation, and outreach. The St. Mary Finance Council and St. Mary Pastoral Council representative (Dave Trask) participate alongside the clustered parish's broader committees.
- Finance Council — Chair: Keith Bowden; Vice Chair: Bob Keane; Secretary: Wayne Greufe
- Pastoral Council — St. Mary Rep: Dave Trask
- Faith Formation Commission
- Stewardship Committee
- Liturgical Ministry Committee
- Parish Life Committee
- Cluster Committee
- Social Justice Committee
- Maintenance Committee
Ministries and Volunteer Opportunities
The parish's Commitment Card lists a wide range of active ministries and openings for new volunteers across liturgy, formation, hospitality, and outreach. Members may mark themselves 'Currently Involved' or 'Interested in Joining' for any listed ministry.
- Liturgy & Worship: Lectors, Communion Ministers, Sacristans/Altar Preparation, Vocal Choir or Cantor
- Formation & Education: Catechists & Substitute Catechists, RCIA, Vacation Bible School
- Parish Life: Hospitality/Ushers/Greeters, Funeral Lunch Servers
- Outreach: Communion to the Homebound, Transportation or Errands, Prayer Chain
- Parish Administration: Finance Council, Pastoral Council, Stewardship Committee, Money Counters
- Parish Operations: Maintenance Workers
- Knights of Columbus
- Eucharistic Adoration
Social Justice and Outreach
The Social Justice Committee, chaired by Janet Adams and supported by Deacon Dan Hurt, financially supports local charity services benefiting those living in Hamilton County, plus one non-local entity each year. Funds are collected on the third Sunday of each month, and the committee meets on the first Friday of the month at 10:00 AM in the Finucan Room (summer months excepted).
- Collection on the 3rd Sunday of each month
- First Friday of the month at 10:00 AM meetings (Finucan Room)
- Support for Hamilton County charities and one non-local entity annually
Faith Formation
The Faith Formation Commission, led by the pastor alongside parish representatives from both clustered parishes, plans lifelong faith formation for adults, young adults, adolescents, children, families, persons with disabilities, and the marginalized, in accordance with Archdiocesan catechetical directives.
- Faith Formation Commission — St. Mary Rep: Dave Trask
- Catechists and Substitute Catechists
- Vacation Bible School
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Contact and Visiting
The parish shares a single office with St. Thomas Aquinas in Webster City. Visitors and parishioners are invited to register by phone or by submitting the online registration form available through the website.
- Address: 404 4th Street, Williams, Iowa 50271
- Phone: (515) 832-1190
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stthomaswc.org/
- Parish office located with St. Thomas Aquinas, 1000 Des Moines Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595
- Parish registration available by phone, email, or online form
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter J. O'Dowd1870-1880
First resident pastor at Ackley; ministered to Williams Catholics and a vast territory including Parkersburg, Hampton, Eldora, Iowa Falls, Belmond, Eagle Grove, and Webster City.
- Rev. Eugene O'Keefe1881-?
First resident pastor at Webster City; also served Williams and Belmond after St. Mary's became an out-mission in 1881.
- Rev. Thomas Mulvehill
Succeeded O'Keefe at Webster City; also ministered to Williams.
- Rev. James Brennan?-1895
Served until the 1895 windstorm leveled the small frame church (1852-1904).
- Rev. Jacob A. Kurz1895-1897
St. Mary's first resident pastor; native of Dubuque who oversaw construction of the larger church and rectory (1863-1898).
- Fr. John R. (Jack) Flaherty2000-2006
Re-assigned to the clustered parishes of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Mary's in July 2000.
- Fr. Scott Boone2006-?
Assigned July 2006; shared pastoral duties between St. Thomas Aquinas in Webster City and St. Mary in Williams.