About St. Paul Catholic Church · Newhall, Iowa
St. Paul Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in Newhall, Iowa, founded in 1914 as a mission of St. Patrick Parish in nearby Watkins. It belongs to the Queen of Saints Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, sharing pastoral care with the Catholic parishes in Watkins, Norway, Blairstown, and Van Horne. The present church, built in 1960 to replace the original 1915 structure, continues to serve the rural Benton County farming community that has sustained it for more than a century. The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Jacob Dunne, who oversees the cluster from the shared parish offices in Van Horne/Newhall.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Jacob Dunne
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Paul's in Newhall is a century-old faith community with deep roots in the Benton County countryside, founded in 1914 by German and Irish farm families and now part of the five-parish Queen of Saints Cluster. A small parish can be a gift: parishioners know each other by name, the Wednesday evening and Saturday vigil Masses are easy to fit into a working family's week, and confession is offered before the vigil Mass. The parish offers faith formation for young people through its traditional and summer programs, OCIA for adults entering the Church, online giving, and a parish bulletin that keeps everyone connected across the cluster.
Mass times at St. Paul Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (before vigil Mass)
- Communal Penance Services held during Advent and Lent (cluster-wide)
History of St. Paul Parish, Newhall
St. Paul's began in 1914 when Father Alfred P. Meyer, then pastor of St. Patrick in Watkins, wrote to Archbishop James J. Keane asking permission to found a new parish in Newhall. Father Meyer chose St. Paul as patron so that the new parish would grow under the patronage of the great missionary Apostle. Land was bought in November 1914 for $1,300 and Jacob Kimm was contracted to build the church for $5,212; it was finished in spring 1915 and the debt finally cleared in 1930. The parish had no resident priest until Fr. Joseph N. Weber arrived in the spring of 1948; he also shepherded St. John in Blairstown during the construction of that church and built the Newhall rectory. By 1959 the parish numbered more than 100 families. Additional ground was acquired in 1953, the present church built in 1960, the cornerstone blessed on November 6, 1960, and the new church dedicated on August 6, 1961.
- Founded 1914 (mother parish: St. Patrick, Watkins)
- First church built 1915 by Jacob Kimm ($5,212); debt paid 1930
- First resident pastor: Fr. Joseph N. Weber (spring 1948)
- Rectory built in Newhall under Fr. Weber
- Present church built 1960; cornerstone Nov. 6, 1960; dedication Aug. 6, 1961
- One parishioner entered the Franciscan Sisters in Dubuque; another was ordained a priest
Queen of Saints Cluster
St. Paul is one of five parishes that together form the Queen of Saints Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, all located in small Benton County communities. The parishes share a pastor, office staff, and faith-formation programming, which allows each small congregation to maintain a Catholic presence in its town. The cluster website is queenofsaints.dbqarch.org.
- St. Paul — Newhall
- St. Patrick — Watkins
- St. Michael — Norway
- St. John — Blairstown
- Immaculate Conception — Van Horne
Clergy, Staff & Contact
The Queen of Saints Cluster is led by Fr. Jacob Dunne, pastor, who can be reached at the parish rectory (319) 227-7169 or cell (319) 389-2202, with cluster office number (319) 228-8131. The office is staffed by Jaci Chambers (Business Manager / Webmaster, ext. #305) and Kellee Jurgens (Secretary / Bulletin Editor). Deacon Robb Pailthorpe assists the cluster, and Mark & Ann Frese coordinate OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults preparing to enter the Church.
- Rev. Jacob Dunne — Pastor
- Deacon Robb Pailthorpe
- Jaci Chambers — Business Manager / Webmaster
- Kellee Jurgens — Secretary / Bulletin Editor
- Mark & Ann Frese — OCIA Coordinators
- Cluster office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed Friday)
Faith Formation & OCIA
Faith formation for the parish's young people is offered through both a traditional classroom program and a summer faith-formation option, each with its own Facebook page run by the cluster. Adult initiation into the Catholic Church is handled through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA), coordinated for the cluster by Mark and Ann Frese (319-899-0468, [email protected]).
- Youth Faith Formation
- Traditional Faith Formation (Facebook page)
- Summer Faith Formation (Facebook page)
- OCIA for adults — Mark & Ann Frese
Parish Life, Giving & Communication
Parishioners keep in touch through a regular printed bulletin, a parish calendar, and online giving via the St. Paul Online Giving link on the cluster website. A cluster-wide Prayer Chain (with contacts across Newhall, Van Horne, Blairstown and other towns) responds to parishioners' prayer requests. The parish also maintains active Parish Councils and Committees; the FaithStreet listing notes contemporary and traditional hymn worship and the presence of a children's ministry and youth group.
- Weekly parish bulletin (editor: Kellee Jurgens)
- Online giving through St. Paul Online Giving
- Cluster Prayer Chain (Sandy Kaiser, Winifred Nolan, Darlene Ohlen, Karen Schulte, Alice Stramer, Rozella Lauterwasser)
- Parish Councils and Committees
- Children's ministry and youth group
Visiting & Location
St. Paul Church sits at 303 3rd Avenue in Newhall, Iowa, in the heart of small-town Benton County. Mailing for the cluster goes to PO Box 250, Van Horne, IA 52346. The shared Queen of Saints parish office phone line is (319) 228-8131, and the Mass/Confession recording is on extension #306. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, closed on Fridays.
- Address: 303 3rd Ave., Newhall, IA 52315
- Cluster mailing: PO Box 250, Van Horne, IA 52346
- Phone: (319) 228-8131 (Mass/confession line ext. #306)
- Pastor residence: (319) 227-7169; cell (319) 389-2202
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed Friday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alfred P. Meyerfounded 1914
Pastor of St. Patrick, Watkins; wrote to Archbishop Keane asking permission to start the Newhall parish and chose St. Paul as patron.
- Fr. Joseph N. Weber1948–
First resident pastor of St. Paul; also served St. John, Blairstown during the construction of their church; oversaw construction of the Newhall rectory.