About St. Patrick · Cedar Rapids, Iowa
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, founded in 1886 to serve the west-side families of the Cedar River. Belonging to the Archdiocese of Dubuque, the parish worships in a historic 1891–1892 stone church at the corner of First Avenue and Fifth Street NW, and today offers daily and Sunday Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Divine Mercy Chapel, and a robust slate of faith-formation, youth, music, and outreach ministries. The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Dennis Miller and supported by two deacons, a director of faith formation, a director of music, youth ministers, and parish staff.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. Dennis Miller
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Patrick is a faith-filled, thriving parish where rich liturgical worship, daily and perpetual Adoration, and warm community life come together. Members can attend Mass seven days a week, spend time in the Divine Mercy Chapel (open daily 9:00 AM–9:00 PM), grow in faith through OCIA (RCIA), faith formation, and youth ministry, and live missionary discipleship through parish evangelization and outreach to organizations such as Metro Catholic Outreach. It is also a deeply historic parish — a Cedar Rapids landmark whose 1892 stone church has anchored the city's west-side Irish Catholic community for more than 130 years.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday–Friday: 7:45 AM – 8:15 AM, in the Confessional behind the St. Padre Pio Shrine in the church
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM, in the Confessional behind the St. Padre Pio Shrine in the church
- By appointment — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Divine Mercy Chapel: daily, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, seven days a week (access code/information available from the Parish Office)
Parish History
St. Patrick Parish was organized in 1886 by Bishop John Hennessy of the Diocese of Dubuque, who commissioned Fr. Thomas Richardson of Fairfax to care for Catholic families on the west side of the Cedar River. A small frame church was dedicated July 21, 1886, at Second Avenue and Seventh Street West. Fr. Richardson died in 1888, was followed briefly by Fr. M.J. Quirk, and then by Fr. Thomas Sullivan — who led the parish for about 25 years and built the present stone church at First Avenue and Fifth Street NW. The cornerstone was laid on October 18, 1891, the building was completed by February 1, 1892, and dedicated August 28, 1892. Stone was quarried at Stone City, Iowa, and stonework was overseen by Edwin Whitfield of Maquoketa. The parish ran a school from 1892 until 2001 (when it consolidated into Holy Family Schools); the old school was demolished in 2003 to make way for a new parish center completed in 2005. The interior of the church was rebuilt by parishioner William L. Lightner and rededicated November 27, 1951. The parish — and its 2005 parish center — also required major restoration after the devastating 2008 Cedar Rapids flood, work overseen for 11 years by Fr. Ivan Nienhaus before his 2021 transfer to St. Patrick's in Cedar Falls.
- Founded 1886; official baptism/marriage registries began April 14, 1886
- Frame church dedicated July 21, 1886 (Second Avenue and Seventh Street West)
- Cornerstone of stone church laid October 18, 1891
- Stone church dedicated August 28, 1892; interior completed 1893
- Stone quarried at Stone City, Iowa; stonework by Edwin Whitfield of Maquoketa
- Rectory built 1924
- New school building opened fall 1929 (ground broken March 13, 1929)
- Interior remodel and rededication November 27, 1951, by William L. Lightner
- School closed 2001 (consolidated as Holy Family Schools)
- Old school demolished 2003; new parish center completed spring 2005
- Major restoration after the 2008 Cedar Rapids flood
Architecture & Heritage
The present St. Patrick church is a Romanesque Revival–inspired stone building with a prominent corner tower, designed by Chicago architect J. J. Egan, who designed many Catholic churches throughout the Midwest. Most of the original stone — quarried at Stone City, Iowa — remains intact. The 1951 interior rebuild by parishioner and local contractor William L. Lightner (who also worked on buildings at Mount Mercy College) was given a theological program: the sanctuary portrays the Divine Nature of Christ, while the nave (main body of the church) portrays the Human Nature. Visitors are encouraged to see the church's art in person via the parish's Heritage page.
- Architect: J. J. Egan of Chicago
- Style: Romanesque Revival with corner tower
- Stone source: Stone City, Iowa
- Interior rebuilt 1951 by William L. Lightner
- Iconography: Divine Nature (sanctuary); Human Nature (nave)
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
St. Patrick is currently pastored by Fr. Dennis Miller, supported by two deacons and a full parish staff including a director of faith formation, director of music & liturgist, youth ministers, business manager, bookkeeper, secretary/volunteer coordinator, parish visitor/building manager/director of evangelization, and maintenance staff.
- Pastor: Fr. Dennis Miller
- Deacon Dan Hoeger
- Deacon Dan Rouse
- Director of Faith Formation & CGS: Geralyn Ward (also Administrative Support & Wedding Coordinator)
- Director of Music & Liturgist: Connor Miller
- Youth & Young Adult Ministers: Jacob and Anna Stewart
- Business Manager: Lynn Ties
- Secretary & Volunteer Coordinator: Shannon Bear
- Bookkeeper: Julie Kruser (also Parish Visitor)
- Parish Visitor / Building Manager / Director of Evangelization: Steve Stefani
- Maintenance / Custodian: Tony Philips
Faith Formation, OCIA & Youth Ministry
Faith formation at St. Patrick is directed by Geralyn Ward, who oversees the parish's Faith Formation program (including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) and sacramental preparation. The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA) for adults seeking to become Catholic or enter into full communion, as well as RCIA for Children adapted for kids preparing to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. Youth and young adult ministry is led by Jacob and Anna Stewart, while the Friends in Faith women's book study gathers weekly at 9:00–10:00 AM in the Celtic Grounds Coffee Shop.
- Director of Faith Formation & CGS: Geralyn Ward
- OCIA (RCIA) for adults
- RCIA for Children
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
- Baptism Preparation Sessions (e.g., Sunday afternoon sessions in the Adult Education Room)
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry — Jacob and Anna Stewart
- Friends in Faith women's book study (weekly 9:00–10:00 AM, Celtic Grounds Coffee Shop)
Sacraments
St. Patrick prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven sacraments. Families expecting or adopting a child are encouraged to contact Deacon Dan Rouse about infant baptism; children age 3 and older and adults are directed to Geralyn Ward. Couples are asked to contact the parish office at least six months before their intended wedding date. The parish also ministers to the homebound with the Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, and Confession on request.
- Baptism (infant): Deacon Dan Rouse — [email protected]
- Baptism (children 3+ and adults): Geralyn Ward — [email protected]
- Reconciliation: Tue–Fri 7:45–8:15 AM; Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM; by appointment
- First Communion and Confirmation: via Faith Formation and OCIA
- Marriage: contact parish office at least six months in advance; Wedding Coordinator Geralyn Ward
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion for the homebound: contact the Parish Office
Music, Liturgy & Devotions
Liturgy and music are led by Director of Music & Liturgist Connor Miller. The parish gathers for the daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00 PM in the Divine Mercy Chapel, and spends time in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in daily Eucharistic Adoration (9:00 AM–9:00 PM). The church's interior art, installed during the 1951 rebuild, ties the architecture to the parish's theological vision of Christ.
- Director of Music & Liturgist: Connor Miller
- Daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00 PM in the Divine Mercy Chapel
- Daily Eucharistic Adoration, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Interior iconography: sanctuary = Divine Nature of Christ; nave = Human Nature
Evangelization & Outreach
St. Patrick takes seriously its baptismal call to share the Gospel. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin column, Reach + Evangelize + IGNITE, coordinated by Director of Evangelization Steve Stefani, offering practical tips for missionary discipleship. The parish is also a partner in Metro Catholic Outreach (MCO), a collaborative Cedar Rapids effort linking multiple parishes in service to those in need; Fr. Dennis Miller serves as MCO's Pastoral Coordinator, and St. Patrick parishionets Andy and Julie McIntosh serve as parish representatives.
- Reach + Evangelize + IGNITE — weekly bulletin column
- Director of Evangelization: Steve Stefani
- Metro Catholic Outreach (MCO) partner parish
- MCO Pastoral Coordinator: Fr. Dennis Miller
- Parish Representatives to MCO: Andy and Julie McIntosh
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Patrick's parish office sits at 120 Fifth Street NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405, while the church building itself stands at 510 First Avenue NW (at the corner of First Avenue and Fifth Street NW), about five blocks from the Cedar River on the city's west side. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM (or after Daily Mass) to 4:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM (or after Daily Mass) to 12:00 PM. Phone 319.362.7966. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin, runs a FlockNote/WeAdoreHim portal, and offers parish access to Formed.org for faith formation at home.
- Parish Office: 120 Fifth Street NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
- Church Building: 510 First Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
- Phone: 319.362.7966
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- FlockNote / WeAdoreHim: stpatrickscr.weadorehim.com
- Formed: stpatrickscr.org/formed
- Facebook: facebook.com/stpatrickcr
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Richardson1886–1888
First pastor; commissioned by Bishop Hennessy to organize a parish on the west side of the Cedar River. Also serving Fairfax.
- Rev. M.J. Quirk1888–1889
Succeeded Fr. Richardson after his death in September 1888.
- Rev. Thomas Sullivan1889–c.1914
Came from Sheldon, Iowa; served ~25 years; led fundraising and construction of the present stone church (cornerstone 1891, dedicated 1892).
- Rev. Ivan Nienhausc.2010–September 2021
Spent 11 years leading post-2008-flood restoration of the church and parish center before moving to St. Patrick's in Cedar Falls.
- Rev. Dennis Miller2021–present
Current pastor; succeeded Fr. Nienhaus.