About St Patrick · Iowa City, Iowa
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish of roughly 900 households in Iowa City, Iowa, within the Diocese of Davenport. Founded in 1872 by Irish Catholics in the area, it is the second-oldest parish in Iowa City and is today a bilingual community offering Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish welcomes visitors to its current campus on the east side of town at 4330 St. Patrick Drive, where weekend Masses, a perpetual Adoration chapel, faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach to those in need continue a long tradition of service begun in the 19th century.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. Troy Richmond
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Patrick offers the rhythms of a historic parish — perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament seven days a week, daily Mass, and a robust schedule of confessions — alongside the life of a multicultural, bilingual community that worships in both English and Spanish. Active parishioners serve on commissions for Liturgy, Church Life, Buildings & Grounds, and Evangelization & Stewardship, and there are ministries for youth, women, and outreach. With a pastor and parochial vicar, a Director of Formation & Evangelization, a director of sacramental preparation, and a parish council that meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm, new families are welcomed into a community that is rooted in 150 years of Iowa City history and still building for its future.
Mass times at St Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 7:00 – 7:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 – 8:15 am
- Saturday: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
- First Saturday: 8:00 – 8:15 am
- Sunday: 7:00 – 7:15 am
- Or by appointment: 319-337-2856
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:00 – 7:30 pm (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Friday: following the 8:30 am Mass, for half an hour
- Seven days a week, 6:00 am to midnight, in the Sacred Heart Chapel (access past 9 pm restricted to those with a key card)
Parish History
St. Patrick traces its origin to 1872, when Irish Catholics in Iowa City and the surrounding countryside organized to form a new parish. The first Mass was offered by Rev. M. V. Rice on March 23, 1873 in a remodeled former Episcopal church on Dubuque Street. The cornerstone for the long-time Court and Linn Streets church was laid on June 13, 1878, and the first Mass in that Gothic Revival building was celebrated on February 2, 1879.
- Founded 1872 by Irish Catholics; first Mass March 23, 1873 (Rev. M. V. Rice)
- Court and Linn Streets property acquired August 31, 1876
- Cornerstone laid June 13, 1878; first Mass in new church February 2, 1879; cost $18,000
- Rectory built 1908; convent (BVM sisters) built 1910
- Church formally dedicated by Bishop Davis, January 29, 1916
- New grade/high school building completed 1922 for $150,000
- 100th anniversary celebrated November 19, 1972
- St. Brendan's Hall dedicated and school capacity doubled, 1996
- Spanish Mass added regularly beginning in 2004 (Fr. Bob Brownfield, then Fr. Rudy Juarez)
- April 13, 2006 tornado damages church and rectory on Holy Thursday evening
- 14-acre east-side site purchased; groundbreaking August 2, 2008
- New campus at 4330 St. Patrick Drive dedicated by Bishop Martin Amos, November 29, 2009
- Marian Prayer Garden dedicated 2018; Italian statues and new stained-glass windows installed 2019
- Plenary Indulgence granted by Pope Francis for 150th anniversary Jubilee Year (Nov 28, 2021 – Nov 20, 2022)
- St. Patrick named one of five Diocese of Davenport parishes for pilgrimage or pious visits
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, supported by a deacon and a lay staff team responsible for faith formation, youth ministry, business operations, facilities, and parish events.
- Fr. Troy Richmond — Pastor (ext. 101)
- Fr. Alfonso Pizano — Parochial Vicar; ordained June 6, 2026 for the Diocese of Davenport; also sacramental minister at St. Joseph, West Liberty and St. Joseph, Columbus Junction
- Deacon Angel Hernandez — Director of Sacramental Preparation & Director of Catechesis
- Kimberly Cronk — Director of Formation & Evangelization (since Aug 3)
- Sofia Livorsi — Youth Groups / Adult Discipleship
- Cheryl Schropp — Events Coordinator (ext. 103)
- Brenda Barnhart — Business Manager (ext. 102)
- John Madsen — Facilities
Parish Council & Commissions
The Parish Council assists in the pastoral work of the Church in the parish and serves as a structure for dialogue and cooperation among clergy, religious, and laity. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Social Hall, and parishioners are welcome to attend. Four commissions carry out the work of the council.
- Liturgy Commission — Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Sacristans, Lectors, Hospitality/Welcome, Environment & Flowers
- Church Life Commission — Funeral Luncheons, God's Helping Hands, St. Anne's Helpers, Senior Epiphany Party, St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Diversity Committee, Noah's Nursery, Holy Week special events (Chair: Cheryl Schropp)
- Buildings & Grounds Commission — maintenance, landscaping, snow removal, gardens; contact Tim Schwager
- Evangelization & Stewardship Commission — annual stewardship renewal, new-family welcome, parish newsletter
Faith Formation, Youth & Discipleship
Faith formation at St. Patrick is led by the Director of Formation & Evangelization (Kimberly Cronk), with sacramental preparation directed by Deacon Angel Hernandez. Youth ministry and adult discipleship are coordinated by Sofia Livorsi, and adults gather for an Our Lady of Good Counsel Women's Bible Study on Thursday mornings at the parish.
- Director of Formation & Evangelization — Kimberly Cronk
- Director of Sacramental Preparation & Catechesis — Deacon Angel Hernandez
- Youth Groups / Adult Discipleship — Sofia Livorsi
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Women's Bible Study — Thursday mornings
- RCIA-style sacramental preparation (contact parish office)
Facilities & Campus
The 14-acre east-side campus at 4330 St. Patrick Drive was dedicated by Bishop Martin Amos on November 29, 2009 after the original Gothic Revival church on Court and Linn Streets was destroyed by the 2006 tornado. The worship space incorporates stained-glass windows from the old church in the Daily Mass Chapel (now the Sacred Heart Chapel), along with new stained-glass windows and statues of saints imported from Italy (2019). The Marian Prayer Garden on the north end of the campus was dedicated in 2018. St. Brendan's Hall serves as the parish hall and hosts Parish Council meetings and social events.
- Main Church — daily and weekend Masses; Italian-imported statues and new stained-glass installed 2019
- Sacred Heart Chapel — home of Perpetual Adoration; refurbished stained-glass from the original church
- Marian Prayer Garden — dedicated 2018 on the north end of campus
- Social Hall / St. Brendan's Hall — Parish Council, Rosary Potluck, funeral luncheons, receptions
- Buildings & Grounds Commission oversees maintenance, landscaping, and gardens
Getting Involved
St. Patrick invites parishioners to take part in liturgical, social, and outreach ministries, to attend the monthly Parish Council meeting, and to join one of the four commissions. New parishioners are welcomed through the Evangelization & Stewardship Commission, and volunteers are routinely needed for everything from Adoration key-card holders to funeral luncheons and God's Helping Hands.
- Attend Parish Council on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Social Hall
- Sign up as an Adoration key-card holder to access the chapel past 9:00 pm
- Join a Liturgy ministry (Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, Sacristan, Welcome, Environment)
- Volunteer with Church Life (Funeral Luncheons, St. Anne's Helpers, Noah's Nursery, Diversity Committee)
- Help maintain the campus through Buildings & Grounds (planting, snow removal, gardens)
Parish Life & Events
Beyond the sacraments, St. Patrick's parish life is marked by regular fellowship and seasonal celebrations: the monthly Rosary Potluck, the weekly Women's Bible Study, the St. Patrick's Day Celebration, the Senior Epiphany Party, Lenten and Holy Week activities, the Parish Directory, and periodic communal Penance Services.
- Rosary Potluck — third Saturday of each month, 5:30 pm, Social Hall
- OLGC Women's Bible Study — Thursday mornings
- St. Patrick's Day Celebration
- Senior Epiphany Party
- Holy Week special events and Lenten Penance Service
- Parish Directory (photo and contact collection)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Patrick Catholic Church by phone at (319) 337-2856 or by visiting the parish office at 4330 St. Patrick Drive, Iowa City, IA 52240. Adoration visitors should enter the Sacred Heart Chapel through the northwest door; key-card access is required past 9:00 pm.
- Address: 4330 St. Patrick Drive, Iowa City, IA 52240
- Phone: (319) 337-2856
- Adoration entrance: northwest door of the Sacred Heart Chapel
- After-hours Adoration access: key card (request through the parish office)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M. V. Rice1873
Offered the first Mass for the parish in the remodeled former Trinity Episcopal Church on March 23, 1873.
- Fr. Joseph Sia
Pastor who led the parish into its 150th anniversary Jubilee Year (2021–2022) and partnered with Bishop Zinkula at the opening Mass on November 28, 2021.
- Fr. Bob Brownfield2004
First priest to preside regularly at the parish's Spanish Mass when it began in 2004.
- Fr. Rudy Juarezafter 2004
Succeeded Fr. Brownfield presiding over the parish's regular Spanish Mass.
- Fr. Alfonso Pizano2026–
Ordained June 6, 2026; assigned as parochial vicar at St. Patrick's and sacramental minister at St. Joseph, West Liberty and St. Joseph, Columbus Junction.