About St Peter · Oxford, Iowa
St. Peter Catholic Church is a rural parish serving Cosgrove, Iowa (mailing address Oxford, IA 52322) in the Diocese of Davenport. The parish traces its origins to 1861, when the first St. Peter Church was built a few miles south in the village of Windham, and it has been rooted in farming country ever since. Today the parish is clustered with St. Mary in Oxford and St. Mary in Williamsburg under Father Francis Mensah, who serves the three communities as pastor. With more than 175 registered families, it remains a tight-knit country parish centered on the Eucharist, faith formation for children and adults, and the rural traditions — like the annual Pork Day fundraiser — that hold the community together.
- Established
- 1861
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle, in honor of missionary Father Peter Sullivan)
- Rector
- Father Francis Mensah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Peter's is a country Catholic parish that takes its mission statement — "To Know, Love, and Serve the Lord" — literally: Sunday and weekday Mass, CCD for the children, an Altar & Rosary Society that keeps the church beautifully prepared, and a Social Justice chair that lives out the corporal works. The 2016 Waldschmidt Hall, dedicated by Bishop Amos, gives the 175+ registered families a true community center for faith formation, wedding receptions, the Pork Days festival and parish gatherings — a place where multiple generations of the same rural families still know each other by name.
Mass times at St Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Mission and Identity
St. Peter Catholic Church of Cosgrove, Iowa publishes a simple mission statement on its website: 'To Know, Love, and Serve the Lord.' The parish is one of three in a pastoral cluster administered from the Diocese of Davenport — St. Peter-Cosgrove, St. Mary-Oxford and St. Mary-Williamsburg — and the three communities coordinate their Mass and confession schedules together, rotating Sunday/Saturday times every six months to share Father Mensah across the cluster.
- Parish Mission Statement: 'To Know, Love, and Serve the Lord.'
- Cluster: St. Peter-Cosgrove, St. Mary-Oxford, St. Mary-Williamsburg
- Diocese of Davenport, Rite: Roman-Latin
History of St. Peter's
St. Peter's was founded in 1861 in the village of Windham, a few miles south of today's Cosgrove location, and was named for the missionary Father Peter Sullivan. Its first resident pastor was Father James Davis, later Bishop of Davenport. By 1893 the parish had outgrown the Windham church and relocated north to the new town of Cosgrove (named for Bishop Cosgrove). A school and convent were added in 1901–1903, staffed by the Sisters of Humility of Mary from Ottumwa. Bishop Martin Amos celebrated the parish's 150th anniversary Mass on August 7, 2011.
- 1861 — first church built in Windham, IA; named for Father Peter Sullivan
- 1878 — parish grows to 71 families; Father James Davis (future Bishop of Davenport) named first resident pastor
- 1893 — parish relocates to Cosgrove; new cemetery blessed; first burial May 1893
- 1901 — St. Peter School built (two classrooms plus upstairs hall)
- 1903 — St. Angela Convent; first Sisters of Humility arrive
- 1907 — first high school graduation
- 1912 — sanctuary winched southward to add ten pews
- 1935 — Garden of Gethsemane mural and alcove paintings added
- 1967 — complete church remodel (altars, pews, carpeting, Stations)
- 1968 — current rectory built
- 1977 — original Waldschmidt Hall dedicated
- 1987 — cry room added
- 1999 — church re-carpeted, kneelers removed, Stations repainted
- 2011 — 150th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Amos
- 2016 — new Waldschmidt Hall dedicated by Bishop Amos (main room named for Father Dunn)
- 2018 — new stained-glass windows installed
- 2019 — foundation project and bell-system repairs completed
Clergy and Staff
St. Peter's is staffed by a pastor who also serves St. Mary-Oxford and St. Mary-Williamsburg, two active deacons, and a team of lay ministry leaders covering faith formation, the Altar & Rosary Society, social justice, the parish and finance councils, the bulletin, and the parish's social-media presence.
- Pastor: Fr. Francis Mensah — (563) 895-0600, [email protected]
- Deacon David Montgomery — (563) 349-1814 (office) / (319) 828-8190 (home)
- Deacon Joseph Rohret (retired)
- Director of Religious Education: Jennifer Ness — (515) 460-7055, [email protected]
- Altar & Rosary: Stacie Neuzil (319) 330-5407 and Janet Volk (319) 530-1769
- Parish Council President: Bryce Jackman; Secretary: Melinda Malloy
- Finance Council: Jim Seelman, Greg Downes, Dean Stockman, Todd Helle
- Lay Directors: Mike Pitlick, Janet Lewis
- Social Justice Chair: Tammy Rohret
- Cemetery Burials: Randy Steckly (319) 828-4358
- Hall Rental: Jodi Suther (319) 430-6738
- Mass Intentions: Jeanne Goldsmith (319) 545-1022 (3-week notice requested)
Mass and Worship Schedule
Mass times at St. Peter-Cosgrove and St. Mary-Oxford rotate every six months so that Father Mensah can cover all three cluster parishes. The schedule posted on the parish website for the 2025–2026 year is below; weekday Mass at St. Peter is celebrated on Wednesdays.
- St. Peter, Cosgrove — Sundays 8:30 am (Oct 5, 2025 – Mar 29, 2026)
- St. Peter, Cosgrove — Saturdays 5:00 pm (Apr 4 – Sep 26, 2026)
- St. Peter, Cosgrove — Weekday Mass, Wednesdays 5:00 pm
- St. Mary, Oxford — Saturdays 5:00 pm (Oct 4, 2025 – Mar 28, 2026) / Sundays 8:30 am (Apr 5 – Sep 27, 2026); Weekday Mass Thursdays 9:00 am
- St. Mary, Williamsburg — Sundays 10:00 am; Weekday Mass Tuesdays & Fridays 9:00 am
Faith Formation and Youth
Faith Formation (CCD / Sunday School) at St. Peter's is led by Director of Religious Education Jennifer Ness. Classes are held on Sundays from 9:30 to 10:30 am, running from September through Palm Sunday each year. Registration is required, and a 'Donuts and Fellowship' gathering in the parish hall follows Sunday Mass on most Sundays during the school year.
- Director of Religious Education: Jennifer Ness — (515) 460-7055, [email protected]
- CCD classes: Sundays 9:30–10:30 am, September through Palm Sunday
- Registration forms sent to prior registered families; in-person registration after Mass
- Donuts and Fellowship in the parish hall on most Sundays during the school year
Altar and Rosary Society
The St. Peter Altar & Rosary Society is the parish's women's service and fellowship organization. It cares for the altar linens and the church environment, gathers for regular meetings, and runs fundraisers — including the popular A&R Cookbook (a second printing of the parish's original cookbook), which makes a frequent appearance as a birthday, wedding-shower or Christmas gift.
- President / Vice President: Stacie Neuzil and Janet Volk
- Cookbook fundraiser — $15, checks payable to 'St. Peter Altar & Rosary'
- Next meeting: TBD (check the parish bulletin)
Parish Life, Outreach and Fundraisers
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Peter's is a community-centered parish. Its biggest annual event is Pork Day, held each August at the Cosgrove Institute, which brings hundreds of people to town and depends on the labor of many parish volunteers. A Social Justice committee, chaired by Tammy Rohret, coordinates the parish's outreach and corporal-works-of-mercy efforts. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and runs an active Facebook presence.
- Pork Day — annual community fundraiser each August at the Cosgrove Institute; includes an auction and a children's tractor pull
- Social Justice Chair: Tammy Rohret
- Parish bulletin — emailed weekly; submissions to [email protected]
- Parish Facebook — coordinated by Melinda Malloy (319) 330-9034
Sacraments
All sacramental preparation at St. Peter's goes through Father Mensah. Baptisms require Pre-Baptism registration, weddings should be arranged at least six months ahead, and funerals and cemetery burials are coordinated through the parish office or the parish cemetery contact.
- Baptism — Pre-Baptism registration required; contact Father Mensah
- Marriage — contact Father Mensah at least 6 months in advance
- Funerals — contact Father Mensah
- Cemetery burials — Father Mensah or Randy Steckly (319) 828-4358
Facilities: Waldschmidt Hall
The parish's community center is the Waldschmidt Hall across the street from the church. After a $1.3 million capital campaign, the new 6,000-square-foot hall was blessed by Bishop Martin Amos in 2016; the main room (seating about 270) is named after Father Ed Dunn and is flanked by a covered patio that can host about 170 more, a large kitchen, multi-stall restrooms and a meeting room. It is used for religious-education events, wedding receptions, meetings, the Pork Days festival, and visitations.
- Waldschmidt Hall — dedicated by Bishop Martin Amos in 2016
- Main space (named for Father Dunn) seats ~270; covered patio seats ~170
- Large kitchen, multi-stall restrooms, meeting room
- Hall Rental — Jodi Suther (319) 430-6738
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Peter's through the rectory (with a voicemail line), the parish email, and the weekly bulletin. Father Mensah keeps regular office hours at both St. Peter-Cosgrove and St. Mary-Oxford for those who wish to schedule sacraments or simply stop in.
- Rectory phone: (319) 545-2077 (leave message)
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stpetercosgrove.weebly.com/
- Father Mensah's office hours at St. Peter: Mondays 10 am – noon; Thursdays 3 pm – 5 pm (or by appointment)
- Office hours at St. Mary, Oxford: Wednesdays 9:30 am – 12:30 pm (or by appointment)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Peter SullivanMissionary priest, c. 1840s–1850s
Walked from Holbrook to Windham; the parish was named St. Peter in his honor.
- Father James DavisFirst resident pastor of Windham, late 19th century
Later became the third Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport.
- Father Francis Kelley1941
During his tenure the parish hall was renovated into a one-story building with basement kitchen and restrooms.
- Father WaldschmidtMid-20th century
The 1977 parish hall was named after him.
- Father CloosRecent pastorate
Rectory was converted back to a home for him; basement remodeled for religious-education classes.
- Father Ed Dunn2001 – c. 2023
Served St. Peter's and St. Mary's Oxford; the main space in the 2016 Waldschmidt Hall is dedicated to him.
- Father Francis Mensah2023 – present
Priest of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana; came to the Diocese of Davenport in 2022; pastor of the Cosgrove–Oxford–Williamsburg cluster.