About St. Patrick Catholic Church · Watkins, Iowa
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small rural parish in the community of Watkins, Iowa, in Benton County. Founded in the late 19th century to serve the area's Irish Catholic settlers, it is one of five parishes in the Queen of Saints Cluster, alongside Immaculate Conception (Van Horne), St. John (Blairstown), St. Michael (Norway), and St. Paul (Newhall). The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Dubuque and is currently served by Rev. Jacob A. Dunne. With about 72 registered families (138 people as of 2010) and a worship space seating roughly 200, St. Patrick holds weekend Mass on alternating Sundays and is supported by an active Altar & Rosary Society, parish council, youth faith formation, and the tradition of a special St. Patrick's Day Mass and potluck each March 17.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Patrick of Ireland
- Rector
- Rev. Jacob A. Dunne
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dubuque), Cedar Rapids Deanery
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a small, multigenerational rural parish where everyone knows each other and faith is woven into the rhythm of farm and family life. Parishioners gather for weekend Mass on alternating Sundays (with weekday Mass offered as well), the annual St. Patrick's Day Mass and potluck on March 17, an active Altar & Rosary Society with Spring and Fall Card Parties, and youth faith formation for the cluster's children. As part of the Queen of Saints Cluster of five Benton County parishes, St. Patrick's combines the warmth of a tight-knit country church with the ministries and stability of a shared pastoral team.
Mass times at St. Patrick Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick's has served the Irish Catholic community around Watkins since 1880. After the first frame church burned in 1906, a replacement was built in 1907, and the first resident pastor, Rev. Alfred P. Meyer, arrived in 1912. The parish grew from five founding families to 118 by 1963 and continues today as part of a five-parish rural cluster.
- 1880 – First frame church built for Irish settlers
- 1906 – Original church destroyed by fire
- 1907 – Fr. Patrick Reynolds (Fairfax) buys property and builds a new frame church
- 1912 – Rev. Alfred P. Meyer appointed first resident pastor
- 1914 – Fr. Meyer organizes Newhall as an out-mission
- 1918 – Rear addition doubles church seating
- 1924 – Altar & Rosary Society founded
- 1948 – Parish basement dug out and refinished
- 1963 – Fr. Dorrance Noonan appointed; parish serves 118 families
- 1991 – Carved statue of St. Patrick installed above the organ
Queen of Saints Cluster
St. Patrick is one of five parishes in the Queen of Saints Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, all located in Benton County, Iowa. The cluster shares a pastor, parish staff, faith formation, and many ministries, while each parish keeps its own parish council and distinctive identity. The other parishes are Immaculate Conception in Van Horne, St. John in Blairstown, St. Michael in Norway, and St. Paul in Newhall.
- Immaculate Conception, Van Horne
- St. John, Blairstown
- St. Michael, Norway
- St. Paul, Newhall
- St. Patrick, Watkins
- Cluster Pastor: Rev. Jacob A. Dunne (since 2023)
- Cluster Office: 405 4th Avenue, Van Horne, IA 52346
Parish Staff
The cluster pastor and staff serve all five parishes of the Queen of Saints Cluster, including St. Patrick. The parish office is staffed Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed Friday).
- Rev. Jacob A. Dunne — Pastor (ext. #303; cell 319-389-2202; residence 319-227-7169)
- Deacon Robb Pailthorpe — phone (319) 439-5327
- Jaci — Business Manager / Webmaster (ext. #305)
- Kellee Jurgens — Secretary / Bulletin Editor
- Mark & Ann Frese — OCIA Coordinators
Parish Council
The St. Patrick Parish Council leads the lay governance of the parish. Members serve staggered three-year terms.
- John Kuester (appointed)
- Jim Oberreuter (term ends 2026)
- Jolene Walter (term ends 2026)
- Kelsey Brecht (term ends 2026)
- Tanner Brecht (term ends 2027)
- Al Walter (term ends 2027)
- Dennis Kimm (term ends 2028)
Mass & Worship
St. Patrick celebrates Mass on alternating weekends and on selected Wednesdays, sharing the cluster's overall schedule. Because the schedule alternates with St. John in Blairstown, parishioners should consult the online calendar for the next Mass at St. Patrick.
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 AM (alternating weekends)
- Wednesday Mass — 9:00 AM (every other week)
- Cluster Wednesday 5:30 PM Mass (see calendar for location)
- Confession — not currently published on the site; call the parish office
- Adoration — not currently published on the site; call the parish office
Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration
Every year around March 17 — the feast of the parish's patron — St. Patrick's holds a special Mass in his honor, followed by a parish potluck. It is one of the most beloved traditions of this Irish-named rural parish.
- Special Mass in honor of St. Patrick
- Parish potluck following Mass
- Held annually around March 17
Altar & Rosary Society
The Altar & Rosary Society is the parish's oldest lay organization, founded in 1924 with Mrs. John Boddicker as its first president, Mrs. Henry Schmuecker as the first secretary/treasurer, and Mrs. J. D. Delaney as the first organist. Until the parish basement was finished in 1948, meetings were always held in members' homes, with each member taking her turn hosting.
- Founded 1924
- Hosts Spring Card Party and Fall Card Party
- President Irene Kahle has led the society on and off since 1969
- Coordinates care of altar and church needs
Youth Faith Formation
Religious education for the parish's young people is provided at the cluster level, alongside St. John, St. Paul, St. Michael, and Immaculate Conception. The cluster also maintains a Traditional Faith Formation Facebook page for ongoing community and updates.
- Cluster-wide Youth Faith Formation program
- Traditional Faith Formation Facebook page
- Contact the parish office to enroll children
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through the Queen of Saints Cluster office in Van Horne. A parish Prayer Chain is also available for prayer requests, staffed by several volunteers from across the cluster.
- Address: 109 2nd St., Watkins, IA 52354
- Mailing: PO Box 250, Van Horne, IA 52346
- Phone: (319) 228-8131
- Fax: (310) 228-8800
- Worship capacity: 200
- Prayer Chain: Sandy Kaiser (319) 560-8074, Winifred Nolan (319) 228-8256, Darlene Ohlen (319) 454-6275, Karen Schulte (319) 227-7294, Alice Stramer (319) 227-7858, Rozella Lauterwasser (319) 223-2117
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed Friday)
Sacraments
St. Patrick's celebrates the sacraments in conjunction with the other Queen of Saints parishes. To arrange a baptism, wedding, anointing of the sick, or funeral, contact the parish office at (319) 228-8131.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — call the parish office to begin preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — for the homebound or hospitalized, call the parish
- Funerals — coordinated with the parish and Funeral Circles ministry
- OCIA (RCIA) — coordinated cluster-wide by Mark & Ann Frese
Getting Involved
Like most small parishes, St. Patrick's runs on the hands of its parishioners. There are many ways to participate — from serving on Parish Council, to joining the Altar & Rosary Society, to volunteering as a lector, helping with the Prayer Line, joining a Funeral Circle, or signing up for the cleaning rotation.
- Parish Council — open to discerned members
- Altar & Rosary Society — Spring & Fall Card Parties
- Lector Ministry
- Prayer Line
- Funeral Circles
- Cleaning List
- Youth Faith Formation volunteers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Reynolds1907 (and earlier visiting)
Fairfax pastor who, after the 1906 fire, bought property in Watkins and built a small frame church there.
- Rev. Alfred P. Meyer1912–
First resident pastor of Watkins; built the rectory; organized Newhall as an out-mission in 1914 for 18 years.
- Father N. U. Keffeler1938
Listed as pastor of St. Patrick's in February 1938 (Benton County cemetery records).
- Dorrance T. Noonan1963–1975
Founding resident pastor of the modern era under the cluster system; served 118 families.
- Albert J. Hoffmann1975–1978
- Everett J. Frese1978–1986
- Vincent J. Hatt1986–1987
- William C. Michael1986–1989
- Richard J. Ament1989–1993
Commissioned the carved St. Patrick statue from Dyersville artist Jack Becker, installed 1991.
- James L. Miller1993–1994
- Walter J. Kleinfehn1993–2003
- Paul C. Baldwin2003–2005
- Keith L. Birch2005–2007
- Jack H. McClure, C.PP.S.2007–2010
Member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
- Brian Dellaert2010–2012
- Craig E. Steimel2012–2023
- Jacob A. Dunne2023–present
Current pastor of the Queen of Saints Cluster; also serves as chaplain of Xavier High School, Cedar Rapids.