About St. Thomas · Manson, Iowa
St. Thomas Catholic Church is a small rural Roman Catholic parish in the farming community of Manson, Iowa, located at 1076 8th Street. It was the first Catholic church established in Calhoun County and traces its worship life back to August 15, 1857, when the first Mass in the area was offered in a settler's cabin. The parish is part of the Diocese of Sioux City and today is clustered with St. Mary in Pomeroy and St. Francis of Assisi in Rockwell City under the umbrella name Our Lady of the Plains Parish. St. Thomas currently serves about 181 households with 125 children in religious education, and has been led since 2003 by Rev. Richard Ries, who also pastors the sister parishes.
- Established
- circa 1870s (mission established by Fr. Lenihan; construction of the church began around 1873; first recorded pastor Fr. Daly served until 1902)
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle (the parish was named in honor of Father M.C. Lenihan's own patron saint)
- Rector
- Rev. Richard Ries (pastor since 2003)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
St. Thomas is a small but historically rich parish where generations of rural Iowa Catholic families worship in the very first Catholic church built in Calhoun County. It is a tight-knit parish of about 181 households with strong religious-education programming for its 125 children, a vibrant Knights of Columbus council (Father McClintock Council 14494), and a decades-long Adopt-a-Parish mission partnership with St. John Neumann in Eupora, Mississippi. Joining St. Thomas means belonging to one of Iowa's oldest Catholic communities while supporting a living tradition of outreach to a fellow Catholic parish in need.
Mass times at St. Thomas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM Mass: 4:30–4:50 PM (30 minutes to 10 minutes before Mass)
- Sunday 8:00 AM Mass: 7:30–7:50 AM (30 minutes to 10 minutes before Mass)
- Otherwise by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Parish History
St. Thomas's Catholic roots go back to August 9, 1855, when Irish settler Michael Collins arrived in Lizard Township, Pocahontas County. Father John Vahey offered the first Mass in the area in Collins's cabin on August 15, 1857. In 1870, Father M.C. Lenihan — later Bishop of Cheyenne — established the Manson mission and celebrated Mass monthly at the Halligan home before construction of St. Thomas began. The parish, named for Fr. Lenihan's patron saint, was the first Catholic Church in Calhoun County. The present church (capacity 402) was completed in 1966, replacing the original 1870s building.
- First Mass: August 15, 1857 (Father John Vahey, Fort Dodge)
- Mission established by Father M.C. Lenihan in 1870
- Construction of St. Thomas began after three years of monthly Masses at the Halligan home
- First baptism of record: Agnes Booge, October 26, 1902
- First confirmation: September 20, 1903, by Bishop Philip J. Garrigan
- Present church completed in 1966 with seating for 402
Worship Schedule
The parish gathers most actively on weekends, with a Saturday vigil Mass and a Sunday morning Mass, plus several weekday Masses throughout the week. Reconciliation is offered before each weekend Mass.
- Saturday vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM
- Weekdays: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30 AM
- Reconciliation: 30 minutes to 10 minutes before each weekend Mass, or by appointment
Clergy & Staff
St. Thomas has been served by a single pastor since 2003, Rev. Richard Ries, who also pastors St. Mary, Pomeroy and the wider Our Lady of the Plains cluster. A deacon and parish staff assist with liturgy, religious education, and administration.
- Rev. Richard Ries — Pastor (since 2003)
- Deacon Robert Lenz
- Rev. Clair Boes (Ret.) — In Residence (based at St. Francis, Rockwell City)
- Deb Troshynski — Director of Religious Education
- Mary Jo Waller — Parish Secretary
- Shannon Manely — Parish Secretary
Pastor History
The parish's published list of pastors begins with Fr. Daly (until 1902) and continues through a continuous succession of 19 priests. Highlights include Fr. John McAuliffe (first recorded sacraments in 1902–03), Fr. Charles M. Kneip (builder of the present church, 1956–69), Fr. John R. Turza (who welcomed Mennonites after the 1979 tornado), and Fr. Jerome A. Degen, who launched the long-running mission partnership with St. John Neumann in Eupora, Mississippi.
- Fr. Daly — until 1902
- Fr. John McAuliffe — 1902–1908
- Fr. Bernard O'Reilly — 1908–1919
- Fr. Clement P. Sweeney — 1919–1922
- Fr. Patrick T. Lynch — 1922–1932
- Fr. August J. Nuel — 1932–1936
- Fr. James B. Greteman — 1936–1945
- Fr. Otto A. Dentlinger — 1945–1952
- Fr. Clemens A. Knobbe — 1952–1956
- Fr. Charles M. Kneip — 1956–1969 (built present church)
- Fr. David T. McGoey — 1969–1971
- Fr. Alfred E. McCoy — 1971–1972
- Fr. John R. Turza — 1972–1979 (1979 tornado response)
- Fr. Elmer D. Thom — 1979–1985 (reshingled church)
- Fr. Jerome B. Koenig — 1985–1987
- Fr. Roger J. Linnan — 1987–1989
- Fr. Robert J. McClintock — 1989–1996
- Fr. Jerome A. Degen — 1996–2001 (started Adopt-a-Parish)
- Fr. Dale George — 2001–2003
- Fr. Richard Ries — 2003–present
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Thomas runs an active religious-education program serving about 125 children in the parish. The Director of Religious Education coordinates catechesis in the parish hall/classroom wing added alongside the present 1966 church.
- Director of Religious Education: Deb Troshynski
- About 125 children enrolled
- Classes held in the church's parish hall/classroom wing (added 1966)
- Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation
- Confirmation preparation as part of cluster-wide youth ministry
Knights of Columbus Council 14494 (Father McClintock Council)
St. Thomas is home to Knights of Columbus Council 14494, named after former pastor Fr. Robert J. McClintock and drawing members from Manson, Palmer, Pomeroy, and Rockwell City. The council meets the third Tuesday of each month and runs a wide range of charitable, faith, and youth programs — including St. Thomas Senior Scholarships and the cluster's 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration.
- Baby Bottle Boomerang to support Obria Medical Clinic
- Campaign for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Tootsie Roll Drive
- Lenten Fish Frys & Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed
- Youth Free Throw and Spelling Bee Competitions
- 'Coats for Kids' for elementary youths
- St. Thomas Senior Scholarships
- Co-sponsor annual high school senior breakfast
- Pilgrim Icon Program
- Public Square Rosary around the Jesus statue
- Knights of Columbus Memorial Mass and Dinner
- Family-of-the-Month / Knight-of-the-Month recognitions
- Organized 24-hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Support for local priests and Habitat for Humanity
Outreach & Adopt-a-Parish (St. John Neumann, Eupora, MS)
In 1998, Pastor Fr. Jerome A. Degen proposed that St. Thomas reach beyond itself to help a struggling Catholic parish elsewhere. Through the Catholic Extension Society the parish chose St. John Neumann Mission in Eupora, Mississippi, which serves about 40 families in a predominantly Baptist region and is led by lay ministers Mary and Gene Grabbe. St. Thomas's parishioners take up a once-monthly second collection for the mission, and the Mississippi community sends back pictures and letters that are shared in the parish bulletin.
- Adopted 1998 through Catholic Extension
- Partner mission: St. John Neumann Mission, Eupora, Mississippi
- Led locally by lay ministers Mary and Gene Grabbe
- Once-monthly second collection at weekend Masses
- Pictures and letters from Eupora shared in parish bulletin
- Long-running tradition continued by Fr. Dale George and Fr. Richard Ries
Cluster & Diocese
St. Thomas belongs to the Diocese of Sioux City and is one of three active worship sites in the Calhoun County Parishes Cluster (now known as Our Lady of the Plains Parish), along with St. Francis of Assisi in Rockwell City and the parishes at Pomeroy and Lake City. The cluster was formally organized by the Diocese of Sioux City in 2017.
- Diocese of Sioux City
- Calhoun County Parishes Cluster (formed 2017)
- Clustered with St. Mary, Pomeroy and St. Francis of Assisi, Rockwell City
- On Oct 1, 1998 previously clustered with St. Mary, Pomeroy and St. Joseph, Palmer (St. Joseph subsequently closed)
- Cluster-wide pastor: Rev. Richard Ries
- Cluster-wide deacon: Robert Lenz
Visit & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the historic 1966 church. The parish office is reachable at (712) 469-3743, and the Mass schedule is published in the parish bulletin and on the cluster website at calhouncatholic.org.
- Address: 1076 8th Street, Manson, IA 50563
- Phone: (712) 469-3743
- Parish Center: 1100 8th (Manson, IA)
- Website: http://www.calhouncatholic.org/
- Facebook: Our Lady of the Plains Parish – Iowa
- Driving directions: From Hwy 7, turn north at N65 just over the railroad tracks; continue 3/4 mile to the church.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dalyuntil 1902
First pastor of record; church records before 1902 were destroyed.
- Fr. John McAuliffe1902–1908
First baptism of record (Agnes Booge, Oct 26 1902); oversaw moving the rectory, basement, furnace, and adding sanctuary, sacristy, belfry, choir loft, metal ceilings, and stained glass.
- Fr. Bernard O'Reilly1908–1919
- Fr. Clement P. Sweeney1919–1922
- Fr. Patrick T. Lynch1922–1932
- Fr. August J. Nuel1932–1936
- Fr. James B. Greteman1936–1945
- Fr. Otto A. Dentlinger1945–1952
- Fr. Clemens A. Knobbe1952–1956
- Fr. Charles M. Kneip1956–1969
Built the present-day church (completed 1966) with a seating capacity of 402, along with new parish hall and classrooms.
- Fr. David T. McGoey1969–1971
- Fr. Alfred E. McCoy1971–1972
- Fr. John R. Turza1972–1979
After the 1979 Manson tornado, opened the parish to the local Mennonite congregation for worship.
- Fr. Elmer D. (E.D.) Thom1979–1985
Church reshingled during his tenure.
- Fr. Jerome B. Koenig1985–1987
- Fr. Roger J. Linnan1987–1989
- Fr. Robert J. McClintock1989–1996
Namesake of Knights of Columbus Father McClintock Council 14494, based in Manson.
- Fr. Jerome A. Degen1996–2001
After 1998 also appointed pastor of St. Mary, Pomeroy when parishes clustered; retired August 2001.
- Fr. Dale George2001–2003
Continued the St. John Neumann (Eupora, Mississippi) Adopt-a-Parish partnership started under Fr. Degen.
- Fr. Richard Ries2003–present
Currently pastor of St. Thomas and the wider Our Lady of the Plains cluster (Rockwell City, Manson, Lake City, Pomeroy).