About St. Michael · Harlan, Iowa
St. Michael Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the city of Harlan, the county seat of Shelby County in west-central Iowa. The parish is part of the Diocese of Des Moines and gathers under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with daily weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, regular opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and first-Friday Eucharistic Adoration. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Augustine Clement Owusu, St. Michael is supported by a parish secretary, a faith formation director, a music and liturgy coordinator, and an active Council of Catholic Women.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Augustine Clement Owusu
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Michael is a welcoming west-central Iowa parish that makes it easy to plug into parish life: weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekday Masses four days a week, and a clear schedule for confession before each weekend Mass. The parish invests in the next generation through a monthly Family Faith Formation program for children in grades K-6 and gathers the community around traditions like Donut Sundays, first-Friday Adoration, and food drives for local families. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, a returning parishioner, or new to Harlan, St. Michael offers a simple path to believe, belong, and become a disciple of Christ.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About St. Michael Parish
St. Michael Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Harlan, Iowa, serving the Catholic faithful of Harlan and Shelby County under the Diocese of Des Moines. The parish describes itself as 'a place to believe, belong, and become' — a fellowship of disciples called to share the Good News through learning, listening, praying, and working together.
History of the Parish
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church of Harlan was formally incorporated as a non-profit religious corporation in the State of Iowa on December 18, 1912. Since that time the parish has been the spiritual home of Catholic families in Harlan and the surrounding Shelby County farming communities. Today it continues to serve under the Diocese of Des Moines with a full schedule of weekend, weekday, and Holy Day Masses, along with regular opportunities for the Sacraments.
- Incorporated December 18, 1912 as 'St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church of Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa'
- Part of the Diocese of Des Moines
- Located at 2001 College Place, Harlan, IA 51537
Clergy and Staff
St. Michael is served by a pastor and supported by a parish secretary, an office assistant, a faith formation director, a music and liturgy coordinator, and the leadership of the Council of Catholic Women. The current pastor is Fr. Augustine Clement Owusu, who also serves the wider Harlan Catholic community.
- Pastor: Rev. Augustine Clement Owusu ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary: Brenda Blum ([email protected])
- Office Assistant: Cindy Marcin ([email protected])
- Faith Formation Director: Angela Buman — (712) 755-5366, [email protected]
- Liturgy Coordinator / Music Minister: John Rosman, 1020 Hazel Road, Harlan, IA
- Council of Catholic Women: Julie Thraen — (712) 755-5356, [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Michael's faith formation program is a family-based model: parents and children in grades K through 6 gather once a month at the parish and then work with the formation material together at home for the rest of the month. The parish uses the 'Family Formation' curriculum (Church of St. Paul) and the 'Word of Life' program, supplemented by digital resources through FORMED. Sessions are held on Wednesday evenings.
- Family Faith Formation for grades K-6
- Monthly parish gathering, then home-based work the rest of the month
- Wednesday sessions, 6:30 – 7:15 PM
- Curriculum: Family Formation (Church of St. Paul) and Word of Life
- Digital resources: FORMED
- Faith Formation Director: Angela Buman ([email protected], 712-755-5366)
Parish Life and Fellowship
Beyond the sacraments, St. Michael has a strong culture of parish fellowship and outreach. Monthly Donut Sundays draw the community together after Mass, first-Friday Adoration deepens the parish's prayer life, and a recurring food drive supports local families in need. The Welcome Retreat is a free parish-sponsored weekend experience designed to be transformative for parishioners seeking a deeper encounter with Christ and the community.
- Donut Sundays (monthly)
- First-weekend food drives for local families
- The Welcome Retreat (free parish weekend retreat)
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
Liturgy and Music
Liturgy at St. Michael is supported by a dedicated Liturgy Coordinator and Music Minister who plans the parish's weekend and weekday Masses, coordinates music ministries, and trains liturgical volunteers. The parish celebrates the Mass in the Roman Rite in English.
- Roman Rite / Latin Rite, celebrated in English
- Liturgy Coordinator / Music Minister: John Rosman
- Volunteer opportunities for lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and musicians
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic Sacraments, including Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation. Parents seeking Baptism, couples preparing for marriage, and the homebound or sick are encouraged to contact the parish office for personal pastoral support.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Eucharist & Confirmation — through Family Faith Formation
- Matrimony — contact parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM, Sunday 8:30–9:00 AM, and by appointment
Contact and Location
The church building is located on College Place in Harlan, while the parish office operates from the 18th Street address. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone, email, or fax during regular office hours, and connect with the parish community through its official Facebook page.
- Church: 2001 College Place, Harlan, IA 51537
- Mailing / Parish Office: 1912 18th Street, Harlan, IA 51537
- Phone: (712) 755-5244
- Fax: (712) 755-2604
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmichaelparish.com/
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmichaeldefenders/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Frost
Listed as a previous pastor of St. Michael Parish on third-party directory sites