About St. Matthias · Cascade, Iowa
St. Matthias Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Cascade, Iowa, part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and the hub of the four-church St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate (along with St. Patrick, Garryowen; St. Peter, Temple Hill; and Sacred Heart, Fillmore). The parish's roots go back to 1848, when the Rev. John Perrodin built the first Catholic church in Cascade under the name St. Matthias. Today's parish was formed in 1995 when Cascade's two older parishes — St. Mary and St. Martin — merged and reclaimed the original St. Matthias name. The church stands at 410 3rd Avenue NW and shares faith formation with the regional Aquin School System.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- St. Matthias (the Apostle chosen to replace Judas)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Matthias offers a faithful weekly rhythm rooted in more than 175 years of Catholic life in Cascade — daily Mass, two Sunday Masses (8:00 and 10:00 AM), and weekly adoration and confession on Wednesdays. The parish is part of the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate, which means Catholics of Cascade, Garryowen, Temple Hill, and Fillmore worship together and share ministries like Behold Your Child (a bereavement support for families who have lost a child), Pick 7 Food Distribution, and a pastorate disability-advocacy team. Families also have access to faith formation through the Aquin School System and a lively parish life that includes an annual Fun Fest & Auction.
Mass times at St. Matthias
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM–6:00 PM at St. Matthias (Cascade)
- Saturday 3:30 PM–4:00 PM (prior to the 4:00 PM Mass)
- Saturday 6:30 PM–7:00 PM (immediately following the 5:30 PM Mass)
- Every other Wednesday 7:00 PM–7:30 PM at St. Peter Parish, Temple Hill (see bulletin for dates)
- By appointment — call 563-852-3524
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:30 AM–12:00 PM at St. Matthias, Cascade
- Friday 7:30 AM–12:00 PM at St. Matthias, Cascade
Parish Identity & Pastorate
St. Matthias Parish in Cascade, Iowa is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and serves as the hub church of the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate, a cluster of four parishes that also includes St. Patrick in Garryowen, St. Peter in Temple Hill, and Sacred Heart in Fillmore. The pastorate's shared office is located at 408 3rd Ave NW, PO Box 699, Cascade IA 52033-0699, and can be reached at (563) 852-3524.
- Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Pastorate: St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate
- Partner parishes: St. Patrick (Garryowen), St. Peter (Temple Hill), Sacred Heart (Fillmore)
- School affiliation: Aquin School System
History of Catholic Cascade
Catholic life in Cascade began with Irish and German settlers in the 1830s. Mass was originally offered in a log home by Rev. John Perrodin of Garryowen, who in about 1848 built the town's first Catholic church, St. Matthias. That first church burned after only four years; from it sprang St. Martin Parish (1853, Irish) and St. Mary Parish (1857, German), each only a few blocks apart. St. Martin's present stone church was built in 1882.
- 1848 — Rev. John Perrodin builds first St. Matthias church in Cascade
- 1852 — original St. Matthias destroyed by fire
- 1853 — St. Martin Parish established
- 1857 — St. Mary Parish established for German-speaking Catholics
- Christmas 1859 — first Mass offered in new stone St. Mary's church
- 1882 — present St. Martin's stone church erected (Dubuque County Township Quarry stone)
- July 1991 — St. Mary and St. Martin linked with one pastor
- July 1995 — parishes merge and adopt the original name St. Matthias
2013 Renovation & Rededication
Many renovations over the years have maintained and enhanced the beauty of the church building. The most recent was a major renovation, inside and out, completed in late fall 2013; a rededication Mass was held in December of that same year.
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Matthias runs and supports a range of ministries that serve the parish and the wider Cascade community. The pastorate site highlights several signature programs, including a sensitive bereavement ministry for parents and a monthly food distribution.
- Behold Your Child Ministry — for families who have experienced life-limiting prenatal diagnosis, miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death; team includes Deb Redmond, Janice Kurt, Cathy Knuth, Hillary Leibold, Barb Otting, and Patty Decker; trained through the Archdiocese of Dubuque and Catholic Charities
- Pick 7 Food Distribution — monthly Saturday give-away in the parish hall (10:00 AM–12:00 PM), 'no judgment, no negative stigma, just joyful giving'
- Pastorate Disability Advocates — Kathy Weber (563-542-1416, [email protected]) and Peggy Gaul (563-543-7931, [email protected])
- FORMED — online Catholic content for all ages
- Dynamic Catholic
- That Man Is You (men's faith program)
- Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW)
- Annual Fun Fest & Auction fundraiser
Clergy & Staff
The Rev. Mark Osterhaus served as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate until his retirement on July 6, 2025, after 40 years as an ordained priest. He and his wife have moved back to Maquoketa to be closer to family. A successor was not named in the materials I could verify online.
- Rev. Mark Osterhaus — Pastor (retired July 6, 2025)
- Behold Your Child Ministry team: Deb Redmond, Janice Kurt, Cathy Knuth, Hillary Leibold, Barb Otting, Patty Decker
- Pastorate Disability Advocates: Kathy Weber, Peggy Gaul
School: Aquin School System
St. Matthias Parish is part of the Aquin School System, the regional Catholic school network that serves the families of the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate and the surrounding parishes.
Spiritual Resources & Links
The pastorate website curates a number of prayer aids and links to wider Catholic organizations for ongoing formation beyond the parish walls.
- The Surrender Novena
- An Act of Spiritual Communion
- Livestream Mass
- FORMED, Dynamic Catholic, That Man Is You
- Archdiocese of Dubuque, ArchdioceseOne, Ascension, USCCB
- Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW)
Visit & Contact
St. Matthias Catholic Church is at 410 3rd Ave NW, Cascade, Iowa. The pastorate office (at 408 3rd Ave NW) can be reached by phone at (563) 852-3524 for appointments, anointing of the sick, or questions about sacraments, and the parish keeps an active Facebook presence under 'St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church' for current announcements.
- Address: 410 3rd Ave NW, Cascade, Iowa 52046
- Mailing: PO Box 699, Cascade, IA 52033-0699
- Phone: (563) 852-3524
- Website: http://www.stapastorate.org/
- Facebook: St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark Osterhausto July 2025
Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate (St. Matthias, Cascade; Sacred Heart, Fillmore; St. Peter, Temple Hill; St. Patrick, Garryowen); ordained 40 years; retired July 6, 2025, moving back to Maquoketa.