About St. Patrick Parish (Irish Settlement) · Cumming, Iowa
St. Patrick Catholic Church at Irish Settlement is a small rural parish in the Diocese of Des Moines, located southwest of the town of Cumming in Madison County, Iowa. Founded in 1852 by missionary Father Timothy Mullen at the behest of Bishop Mathias Loras of Dubuque, it is recognized as the Mother Church of the Diocese of Des Moines and one of the earliest Irish Catholic colonies in central Iowa. The present wood-frame church, built in 1868 to replace an earlier log structure, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was honored by a visit from Pope John Paul II on October 4, 1979. Today the parish of roughly forty farming families is pastored from nearby St. Joseph Parish in Winterset and gathers for Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. in a setting of stained glass, harvest-time hospitality, and deep Irish-Iowan heritage.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Father Thomas Dooley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Patrick's at Irish Settlement is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Des Moines — a small, historic rural parish where Mass is still celebrated in a wood-frame church built by Irish immigrant farmers in 1868. About forty farm and country families form a tight-knit congregation that gathers on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m., shares coffee and rolls together on the first Sunday of each month, and supports a Religious Education program for First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Visitors step into a heritage site on the National Register of Historic Places that welcomed Pope John Paul II in 1979, while remaining a working parish with active music ministry, a cemetery, the Parish Outreach Program for the Catholic Council for Social Concern, and the annual St. Patrick's Dinner Dance.
Mass times at St. Patrick Parish (Irish Settlement)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM (or by appointment with Father Tom Dooley)
Adoration times
- Thursday 4:30–5:00 PM (Eucharistic Holy Hour)
History of St. Patrick's Irish Settlement
St. Patrick's Irish Settlement was established in 1852 by Father Timothy Mullen, a missionary priest sent by Bishop Mathias Loras of Dubuque to found an Irish Catholic colony in central Iowa. The first forty acres were purchased in 1855 and registered in Bishop Loras's name. A log church followed in 1856, and by the 1860s Irish Settlement spanned four townships across two counties, with forty families in Madison County growing to sixty-three by 1870. The original 1956 parish history, compiled by Father John Hart (transcribed by Delila Duffy), remains the central source on the early decades of the community. St. Patrick's is recognized as the Mother Church of the Diocese of Des Moines and was transferred with the region from Dubuque to Davenport in 1881 and to Des Moines in 1911.
- Parish founded 1852 by Father Timothy Mullen
- First log church built 1856
- Cemetery fire in 1857 destroyed many early graves
- First resident pastor: Rev. Francis McCormick (1857)
- Present wood-frame church built 1868 under Rev. John Brazill
- Parish divided in 1884 at the North River; Churchville formed
- Daughter parishes: St. Mary's, Sacred Heart (Valley Junction, 1893), St. Joseph (Winterset), parts of St. Boniface (Waukee)
Architecture and the 1868 Church
The present St. Patrick's Church is a wood-frame structure built in 1868 to replace the original log worship center that had been outgrown by the congregation. It underwent a major renovation in 1968 ahead of its centennial celebration, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1978 (reference #9). The interior is anchored by stained-glass windows and a distinctive medallion window above the altar that filters warm sunlight down over the crucifix. A bust of Pope John Paul II, one of four sculpted by an Irish artist, is mounted inside the entry.
- Built 1868 to replace the 1856 log church
- Renovated 1968 for the centennial
- Stained glass windows and altar medallion window
- Bust of Pope John Paul II in the entry
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (December 12, 1978)
Pope John Paul II's 1979 Visit
On September 18, 1979, the parish learned that Pope John Paul II would visit St. Patrick's Irish Settlement on October 4, 1979, as part of his first pastoral pilgrimage to the United States. The idea originated with Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, who brought Des Moines Bishop Maurice Dingman to see the rural church during trip planning. With the parish without a pastor at the time, Bishop Dingman appointed the recently ordained Father John Richter, who led days of evening devotions, weekday Masses, and an hour of personal prayer in the church for each parishioner in preparation. On the afternoon of October 4, amid corn shocks and pumpkins, the Holy Father stepped from a helicopter with an entourage of secret service and media, led a prayer service for some 200 parishioners, and reflected on the Acts of the Apostles and 'the breaking of the bread and prayers.' He then celebrated Mass at Living History Farms near Des Moines.
- Visit announced September 18, 1979
- Took place October 4, 1979
- Approximately 200 parishioners attended the prayer service
- Pastoral theme drawn from Acts of the Apostles
- Pope celebrated Mass afterward at Living History Farms
Meet Our Staff
St. Patrick's is pastored jointly with St. Joseph Parish in Winterset, and day-to-day parish life is shared by a small staff and many volunteer ministers. Father Thomas Dooley serves as pastor. Pat Glassell is the Religious Education Coordinator. Music is led by Justin O'Neal, Katie O'Neal, and Maryellyn Krantz. Angela Hasbrouck serves as bookkeeper, Maryellyn Krantz as secretary, and Dave Sullivan as bulletin editor. Liturgy is supported by Jody Watts and Carol Banks, pastoral care by Patricia Barker, and the physical plant by Patrick Lynch and Dan Hanrahan. Tom Connor and others assist with Parish Life, and the cemetery is maintained by parish volunteers (515-689-3699).
- Pastor: Fr. Thomas Dooley — 515-462-5701
- Religious Education Coordinator: Pat Glassell — 515-250-4671
- Music Ministers: Justin O'Neal, Katie O'Neal, Maryellyn Krantz
- Bookkeeper: Angela Hasbrouck
- Secretary: Maryellyn Krantz — 515-462-1083
- Bulletin Editor: Dave Sullivan — 515-462-1083
- Liturgy: Jody Watts, Carol Banks
- Pastoral Care: Patricia Barker
- Maintenance: Patrick Lynch (515-681-4619), Dan Hanrahan (515-468-3536)
- Parish Life: Tom Connor
- Cemetery contact: 515-689-3699
Father Thomas Dooley, Pastor
Father Thomas Dooley currently pastors St. Patrick's Irish Settlement together with St. Joseph Parish in Winterset. He was ordained and assigned early in his priesthood as Parochial Vicar at St. Theresa's in Des Moines and then St. Joseph's, also in Des Moines. He has since served as pastor of St. Brendan's in Leon, St. Joseph's in Mount Ayr, Immaculate Conception in Maloy, St. Bernard's in Osceola, St. Patrick's in Grand River, St. Mary's in Avoca, and St. Patrick's in Walnut, before taking on the Winterset/Cumming grouping. He is a 4th-degree Knight of Columbus and has twice served as Iowa State Chaplain. Father Dooley's own Irish family roots go back to St. Patrick's Irish Settlement in the 1860s, giving him a personal tie to the parish he now serves.
- Also pastors St. Joseph Parish, Winterset
- Prior assignments include Leon, Mount Ayr, Maloy, Osceola, Grand River, Avoca, and Walnut
- 4th-degree Knight of Columbus; twice Iowa State Chaplain
- Family ties to Irish Settlement in the 1860s
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Patrick's offers year-round Religious Education classes for the parish's children, with preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Classes are coordinated by Pat Glassell and meet in the Parish House, with volunteer families providing snacks and drinks on a rotating basis. Adult religious education classes also meet in the converted lower level of the rectory, which serves as the parish's main hall for faith formation, socials, and some winter and Holy Day Masses.
- First Communion preparation
- First Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation preparation (annual schedule published)
- Adult religious education classes
- Classes meet in the Parish House / lower rectory hall
Music Ministry and Liturgy
Music at St. Patrick's is led by a team of three music ministers — Justin O'Neal, Katie O'Neal, and Maryellyn Krantz — supported by a Liturgy committee chaired by Jody Watts with Carol Banks. Together they prepare the music and liturgical environment for the parish's two weekly Masses, holy days, and special celebrations such as the annual St. Patrick's Dinner Dance.
- Music Ministers: Justin O'Neal, Katie O'Neal, Maryellyn Krantz
- Liturgy lead: Jody Watts
- Liturgy team member: Carol Banks
- Supports Sunday 8:00 AM and Thursday 5:45 PM Masses
Parish Life and Outreach
Community life is at the heart of St. Patrick's. The first Sunday of each month is set aside for a social hour after Mass with coffee and rolls, and adult and youth religious education classes meet in the recently converted lower level of the rectory. The Parish Outreach Program, begun after a parish Mission challenged the congregation to 'do something for someone as a community,' channels a children's first-Sunday collection to the Catholic Council for Social Concern, with feedback reports back to the parish. The annual St. Patrick's Dinner Dance is a longtime fundraiser, and the parish also offers the St. Patrick Settlement Scholarship program. Parish Life is coordinated by Tom Connor.
- First-Sunday social hour with coffee and rolls
- Parish Outreach Program (Catholic Council for Social Concern)
- Annual St. Patrick's Dinner Dance
- St. Patrick Settlement Scholarship program
- Parish Life coordinator: Tom Connor
Cemetery
The parish cemetery sits adjacent to the church and is the resting place of many of Irish Settlement's earliest families. A fire in 1857 destroyed many of its earliest graves and markers, but the surviving headstones still offer a glimpse of the names and tragedies of the first generation of Irish settlers. A monument in the cemetery also commemorates the site of the original 1856 log church. Cemetery inquiries are directed to 515-689-3699.
- Located adjacent to the church
- 1857 fire destroyed earliest graves
- Monument marks the site of the original 1856 log church
- Cemetery contact: 515-689-3699
Visitor and Contact Information
Visitors are welcome to tour the church grounds and cemetery year-round. The church stands at 3396 155th St., Cumming, IA 50061; the parish's mailing address and offices are at St. Joseph Parish, 1026 N. 8th Ave., Winterset, IA 50273. Office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM. The Rectory can be reached at 515-462-5701 and the Office at 515-462-1083 (fax 515-462-2378). Online giving is available through Parishsoft.
- Church: 3396 155th St., Cumming, IA 50061
- Mailing/Office: 1026 N. 8th Ave., Winterset, IA 50273
- Rectory: 515-462-5701
- Office: 515-462-1083 / Fax: 515-462-2378
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue–Fri 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM (at St. Joseph, Winterset)
- Parishsoft Online Giving available
- Bulletins, newsletters, and scholarship forms published on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Timothy Mullen1852–
Missionary priest sent by Bishop Mathias Loras of Dubuque to found the parish and establish the Irish colony in central Iowa.
- Rev. John Kreckel
Completed the first log church begun by Father Mullen.
- Rev. Francis McCormick1857–
First resident pastor of St. Patrick's.
- Rev. John Brazill
Pastor of St. Ambrose in Des Moines; had the present frame church built in 1868 to replace the log structure.
- Father Beeson
Departed St. Patrick's to become religious education coordinator for the city of Council Bluffs.
- Father Bergman
Moved on to become pastor at Churchville.
- Father Michael O'Reilly
Appointed pastor after Father Bergman.
- Father Bognannothrough 1978
Left St. Patrick's in 1978 after a five-year pastorate.
- Father Joseph Schulte1978–1979
Served one year between Father Bognanno and Father Richter.
- Father John Richter1979–
Recently ordained when Bishop Maurice Dingman appointed him to prepare the parish for the papal visit; hosted Pope John Paul II on October 4, 1979.
- Father Thomas Dooleycurrent
Current pastor; also pastors St. Joseph Parish in Winterset. A 4th-degree Knight of Columbus and former Iowa State Chaplain, with family roots in St. Patrick's Irish Settlement dating to the 1860s.