About St. Wenceslaus · Cedar Rapids, Iowa
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church is a historic parish on Cedar Rapids's southeast side, founded in 1874 by Bohemian (Czech) immigrants who had begun settling the neighborhood along the Cedar River in the 1850s. It is now a designated personal parish for the Czech-speaking faithful of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and shares a linked pastoral team with neighboring Immaculate Conception Church. The parish offers a Traditional Latin (Extraordinary Form) Mass alongside the Ordinary Form, daily and weekend devotions, K–6 religious education, youth ministry, adult faith formation, and a Hispanic ministry — all while continuing to celebrate the Czech-Catholic heritage of its founders.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. Wenceslaus (Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, patron of the Czech lands)
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis Conway
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Wenceslaus offers something rare in the Archdiocese of Dubuque: a weekly Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin) Mass on Sundays at 8:00 AM, paired with a 10:30 AM Ordinary Form Mass, plus Saturday Vigil, daily Mass intentions, and Saturday adoration. The parish pairs traditional Czech-Catholic heritage — it is the designated personal parish for Czech-speaking Catholics of the archdiocese — with active contemporary ministries including K–6 religious education, youth ministry, adult faith formation (with the popular 'Coffee & Catholicism' talks on the second Saturday of each month), Hispanic ministry, and outreach coordinated through a Social Concerns director. It is also a tight-knit neighborhood parish in a historically Bohemian southeast-side neighborhood, sharing a pastoral team with neighboring Immaculate Conception Church.
Mass times at St. Wenceslaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sunday: 7:00–7:45 AM
- Sunday: 9:45–10:15 AM
Adoration times
- Saturday: 3:00–4:00 PM
Parish History
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parish was established in 1874 by Bohemian (Czech) immigrants who had begun settling Cedar Rapids's southeast side along the Cedar River in the 1850s, with larger waves arriving after the Civil War and the end of the Prussian War in 1880. The original church was built in 1882, a grade school was added in 1893, and the present sanctuary was built in 1904 to replace the first structure. A high school opened in 1921 and, after a gymnasium and auditorium were added in 1926, it became the first Czech parish high school in the United States to be fully accredited. The high school closed in 1958 and the grade school in 1969; the parish is now designated a personal parish of the Archdiocese of Dubuque to minister to Czech-speaking Catholics of the archdiocese.
- 1874 — Parish founded
- 1882 — Original church built (later demolished)
- 1893 — Grade school added
- 1904 — Current church built
- 1910 — Current rectory built
- 1921 — High school opened
- 1926 — First Czech parish high school in the U.S. to be fully accredited
- 1958 — High school closes
- 1969 — Grade school closes
The Bohemian Neighborhood
The southeast-side neighborhood around the parish was the heart of Cedar Rapids's Czech community. Bohemian social institutions grew with the population, including the Czecho-Slovak Protective Society (CSPS), the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association (ZCBJ), and a Czech Language School — buildings which still stand in the neighborhood, though now repurposed. Parishioners worked at nearby employers such as the J. G. Cherry Company, the Carmody Foundry, and the Sinclair Company meat packing plant, opened small family businesses, established a Bohemian-focused bank, and were connected to the wider city by a new bridge across the Cedar River and a streetcar line.
- Czecho-Slovak Protective Society (CSPS)
- Western Bohemian Fraternal Association (ZCBJ)
- Czech Language School
- Bohemian-focused neighborhood bank
- Bridge connecting east and west sides of the Cedar River
- Streetcar line linking the neighborhood to downtown Cedar Rapids
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Immaculate Conception and St. Wenceslaus share a robust faith formation program. K–6 Religious Education meets Wednesdays from 6:30–7:30 PM during the school year, using the Spirit of Truth curriculum from Sophia Institute, and prepares 2nd-grade students for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. First Holy Communion is celebrated the Sunday after Divine Mercy Sunday each year. Older children not yet initiated join the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) track. Catecismo in Spanish is offered for Hispanic families (September–May).
- K–6 Religious Education — Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM
- First Reconciliation & First Communion Preparation (2nd grade)
- RCIC — Rite of Christian Initiation for Children
- Spirit of Truth (Sophia Institute) curriculum
- Coordinator: Zoraida Vega
- Spanish Catecismo (niños y adolescentes)
Youth Ministry & Confirmation
Youth Ministry gathers middle-school and high-school students (ages 11–18) from both parishes for learning, faith-sharing, and fellowship. The Confirmation program includes seven main classes, a retreat, and a commitment to active participation in youth ministry.
- Middle School & High School Youth Ministry (ages 11–18)
- Confirmation program: 7 main classes + retreat
- Active participation in youth ministry expected
Adult Faith Formation
Adult faith formation is coordinated by Kim Smith and includes Bible studies, the popular monthly 'Coffee & Catholicism' talks on the second Saturday of each month at 7:00 PM in Chihak Hall, and a men's group that meets Thursday mornings. RCIA is offered for adults seeking to enter or learn about the Catholic faith.
- Coordinator: Kim Smith
- Coffee & Catholicism — 2nd Saturday of each month, 7:00 PM, Chihak Hall
- Bible studies and discussion of upcoming Sunday readings (lower level of church)
- Men's group — Thursdays 10:30–11:30 AM (contact Ron Smith, 319-929-1950)
- RCIA for adults
Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano
Zoraida Vega serves as Hispanic Minister and Coordinator of K–6 Religious Education, supporting Spanish-speaking parishioners with catechesis (Catecismo) and sacramental preparation.
- Hispanic Minister & K–6 Religious Ed. Coordinator: Zoraida Vega
- Catecismo for children and adolescents (September–May)
- Encouragement for parents to continue catechesis through Confirmation
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Wenceslaus shares a pastoral team with neighboring Immaculate Conception Church. Fr. Dennis Conway serves as pastor, with associate pastors and a deacon supporting both parishes. Lay staff handle faith formation, social concerns, finances, the parish office, and facility care.
- Rev. Dennis Conway — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Aaron Junge — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Kayiranga Felix — Associate Pastor ([email protected], listed Aug 2024)
- Deacon David Harris ([email protected])
- Patti Jansa — Parish Coordinator
- Carmen Kelley — Bookkeeper / Business Manager
- Kim Smith — Adult Faith Formation Coordinator & Ministry Scheduler
- Sara Kohl — Coordinator of Social Concerns (also listed as Custodian in one source)
- Sarah Coppa — Director of Faith Formation
- Zoraida Vega — Hispanic Minister & K–6 Religious Ed. Coordinator
- Cameren Beck / Sandra Osbon / Maria Cavin — Secretary (varied across bulletins)
- Rocio Perez — Custodian
Social Concerns & Outreach
Sara Kohl serves as Coordinator of Social Concerns, organizing the parish's charitable and outreach efforts. The parish holds periodic Ministry Fairs to introduce parishioners to volunteer opportunities and build community.
- Coordinator of Social Concerns: Sara Kohl
- Annual Ministry Fair to connect parishioners with volunteer opportunities
- Parish mission statement: 'Be Ambassadors for Christ — Love with Actions and Truth.'
Contact, Location & Bulletin
The parish office is at 1224 5th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, and is open Monday–Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed Saturday and Sunday). The combined Immaculate Conception & St. Wenceslaus bulletin is published online and contains the weekly Mass intention schedule, confession and adoration times, liturgical minister assignments, and announcements.
- Address: 1224 5th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
- Phone: 319-362-8061 (parish) / 319-362-7181 (office)
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Combined weekly bulletin with Immaculate Conception Church
- Online giving available through the parish website