St. Patrick

About St. Patrick Parish

St. Patrick Catholic Church is one of the parishes of the Circle of Saints Cluster in east-central Iowa, sharing ministry and staff with St. Joseph in Chelsea, St. Michael in Belle Plaine, and (historically) St. Boniface in Garwin. The parish serves a bilingual community — weekend Mass is offered in English at 10:30 AM and a Spanish Mass follows at noon. The cluster office and St. Patrick Parish Office operate out of a single building at 900 Park Street, Tama. As of mid-2025 the Circle of Saints Cluster has joined the Marshalltown Area Pastorate under the Archdiocese of Dubuque's 'Journey in Faith' initiative, with an interim Mass schedule in effect from July through January.

History of the Parish

Catholic life in Tama County began in 1859, when Fr. William Emonds, pastor of St. Mary's in Iowa City, said the first Mass in the area at the home of William Rodericks of Toledo. Home Masses continued until 1864, when Fr. Emonds built St. Boniface Church in Toledo — the first Catholic church in the county, costing $1,000. The greatest era of growth for St. Patrick's came under Fr. Patrick J. Carroll (1887–1912), who built St. Mary's Academy (1894, staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Clinton), the Oswego Street rectory, and in 1900 the present St. Patrick's Church. The parish later helped pioneer parish clustering in the archdiocese: in July 1998, Fr. Birch was named pastor of both St. Patrick's Tama and St. Boniface Garwin, launching the 'Circle of Saints' collaboration with St. Michael (Belle Plaine) and St. Joseph (Chelsea).

• 1859 — Fr. William Emonds celebrates first Mass in Tama County at William Rodericks' home, Toledo.
• 1864 — St. Boniface Church built in Toledo (Ross & Main), first Catholic church in the county ($1,000).
• 1887–1912 — Pastorate of Fr. Patrick J. Carroll.
• 1894 — St. Mary's Academy opens, staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Clinton.
• 1900 — Present St. Patrick's Church built.
• July 1998 — St. Patrick (Tama) and St. Boniface (Garwin) linked under Fr. Birch; Circle of Saints clustering begins.
• 2025 — Circle of Saints joins Marshalltown Area Pastorate (Archdiocese of Dubuque, 'Journey in Faith').

Parish Staff & Clergy

Day-to-day parish administration rests with Deacon Stan Upah, who serves as Parish Administrator. Cluster priests include Fr. Michael McAndrew (Español, currently on sabbatical), Fr. Alan Dietzenbach (Español, Spanish support), Fr. Peter Jia (Parochial Vicar), and Fr. Jim Secora (Priest Supervisor). Pastoral and administrative support for St. Patrick is provided by Betty Hayek (Pastoral Minister), Lisandra Ordaz (Secretary, Bulletin, Cluster Admin, Español), and Cynthia Guadiana (Hispanic Ministry, Sacramental Prep, Faith Formation Admin, Español).

• Deacon Stan Upah — Deacon, Parish Administrator
• Fr. Michael McAndrew (Español) — Priest on Sabbatical
• Fr. Alan Dietzenbach (Español) — Priest, Spanish Support
• Fr. Peter Jia — Parochial Vicar
• Fr. Jim Secora — Priest Supervisor
• Betty Hayek — St. Patrick Pastoral Minister
• Lisandra Ordaz (Español) — Secretary, Bulletin, Cluster Admin
• Cynthia Guadiana (Español) — Hispanic Ministry, Sacramental Prep, Faith Formation Admin

Faith Formation & Sacrament Preparation

Faith formation for PreK through 12th grade is offered Wednesdays 6:45–8:00 PM at St. Patrick, Tama (doors open at 6:30 PM; classes begin Sept 17). The program focuses on prayer, Scripture, and Catholic identity, and is run by Cynthia Guadiana (Español). Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation & First Communion, and for Confirmation — which, per Archdiocese of Dubuque policy, must be received in 9th grade. Confirmation sessions meet one Sunday per month, 3:00–6:00 PM at St. Patrick, with a Kickoff Retreat on Oct. 26 and a Closing Retreat in the spring.

• Faith Formation PreK–12 — Wednesdays 6:45–8:00 PM, St. Patrick Tama
• First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
• Confirmation preparation — Sundays 3:00–6:00 PM at St. Patrick (Archdiocese of Dubuque 9th-grade program)
• OCIA / RCIA — fall Becoming Catholic classes

Becoming Catholic & Adult Faith

Adults who have not yet received all their sacraments, or who wish to enter the Church, are invited to the parish's OCIA/RCIA program each fall. The program completes Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation for adults. Catechumens and candidates meet on Mondays at 6:00 PM at the St. Patrick Office (September through April). Returning Catholics are encouraged to reconnect through Confession, Sunday Mass, Adoration, and a conversation with a priest or deacon.

• OCIA / RCIA — Mondays 6:00 PM, St. Patrick Office (Sept.–April)
• First class typically begins Sept. 9
• Contact: parish office (641) 484-3039

Bible Studies & Devotional Life

An adult Bible Study meets at the St. Patrick Office. The parish also runs a summer Totus Tuus youth program (Elementary Day Camp plus Jr/Sr High Evening Youth Group). Combined with weekday Adoration, Healing Prayer, and the cluster-wide rosary and devotional rhythm, the parish offers multiple ways for adults, teens, and children to grow in prayer.

• Adult Bible Study — contact the office at (641) 484-3039
• Totus Tuus Summer Youth Program (June 7–12)
• Tuesday Healing Prayer ministry (6:00–8:00 PM)

Cluster Life & Marshalltown Pastorate

Since 1998, St. Patrick has shared staff and resources with neighboring parishes under the 'Circle of Saints' banner. As part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque's 'Journey in Faith' reorganization, the cluster joined the Marshalltown Area Pastorate in 2025, with an interim Mass schedule from July through January. St. Patrick's bilingual character (English and Spanish Mass, Spanish-speaking staff, and Hispanic Ministry led by Cynthia Guadiana) is one of its defining features.

• Cluster office: 900 Park Street, Tama — (641) 484-3039
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
• Part of Marshalltown Area Pastorate (since 2025)