About Sts. Peter and Paul · Gilbert, Iowa
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a small, rural Catholic parish located in Gilbert, Iowa, in the northwestern corner of Story County just north of Ames. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Dubuque and traces its roots back to 1855, when the first Catholic settler families — including the Baldus and Dickopf families — put down roots in what was then a frontier farming community. Today the parish worships at 14238 500th Avenue, gathering for Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m. and Friday Mass at noon, with regular adoration led by Deacon Ron Meyer and a vibrant life of bulletins, sacraments, retreats, and time-and-talent stewardship. It is administered as part of the collaborative cluster with St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Ames.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Jon M. Seda
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Saints Peter and Paul offers the warmth of a small rural parish where Mass-goers are known by name, plus the liturgical depth of regular weekly adoration (Tuesday afternoons with Deacon Ron and Tonya Meyer, and First Fridays from morning through Benediction), a live-streamed liturgy for those who cannot attend in person, retreats such as the Katie Patrizio morning of reflection, and a 'Time and Talent' stewardship program that invites every family to share their gifts. As a parish that has shepherded Catholic farming families since 1855, it is a place to belong, to pray, and to grow in faith together.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Tuesday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (with Deacon Ron Meyer & Tonya Meyer)
- Friday 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (First Friday of each month)
Welcome to Sts. Peter and Paul Church
The parish website opens with a warm welcome to anyone — a visitor, a newcomer searching for a parish home, a Catholic returning to the practice of the faith, or simply the curious. Visitors are invited to join the Sunday morning Mass at 8:30 a.m. and to follow a live-stream link posted on the homepage for those unable to attend in person. Quick links on the front page lead to Bulletins, Sacraments, Contact Us, Mass Times, Adoration, and Today's Readings.
- Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m.
- Live Stream link on homepage
- Quick links: Bulletins, Sacraments, Mass Times, Adoration, Today's Readings, Contact Us
Parish History & Roots
The parish has been serving Catholic farming families in the Gilbert–Story County area since 1855, when the Baldus and Dickopf families were among the first Catholic settlers. A substantial parish archive — pastor cards, a pastor list, centennial histories of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, correspondence, and news clippings — is preserved at the Loras College Digital Collections (Center for Dubuque History), documenting more than 137 years of continuous ministry beginning in 1882. Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt captured the parish's story in Parish Profile #141, published in The Witness on September 17, 1989.
- 1855 – First Catholic settlers (Baldus and Dickopf families)
- 1882 onward – Parish records preserved at Loras College Digital Collections
- 1898–1902 – Pastorate of Father Henry Eckart, who also established the Ames mission that became St. Cecilia Parish in 1899
- 1989 – Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt publishes Parish Profile #141 in The Witness
- 1920 – Parish incorporated in Iowa as 'S. S. Peter and Paul Church, Gilbert, Iowa'
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is cared for as part of the Ames-area cluster under the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Rev. Jon M. Seda is the priest assigned to Saints Peter and Paul alongside his role at nearby St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Ames; the parish directory phone number (515-292-3810) connects directly to this pastoral assignment. Rev. Casey J. Flack and Rev. Kyle Digmann are also active priests of the Archdiocese serving in collaborative roles. Deacon Ron Meyer and his wife Tonya Meyer serve the parish directly, particularly in ministry to the sick and in leading the weekly Tuesday hour of adoration.
- Rev. Jon M. Seda — Pastor / Associate Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, Ames | SS. Peter & Paul, Gilbert
- Rev. Casey J. Flack — Active priest, Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Rev. Kyle Digmann — Active priest, Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Deacon Ron Meyer & Tonya Meyer — Adoration leaders
Time and Talent (Stewardship)
The parish maintains an active Time and Talent stewardship program, inviting parishioners to share their gifts in service of the parish's worship, formation, and outreach. Pages on the website walk parishioners through the many ways they can give of their time — from liturgical roles to behind-the-scenes service — as part of the parish's small but committed faith community.
Bulletins & Communications
A parish bulletin is published regularly and serves as the main channel for announcements, the weekly Mass intentions, upcoming events, and stewardship news. Recent bulletins are linked from the front page of the parish website so that traveling parishioners and visitors can stay current with parish life.
- Weekly parish bulletin
- Online archive linked from homepage
- Today's Readings available from homepage
Retreats & Adult Faith Formation
The parish offers periodic days of reflection for adults. A recorded Morning of Reflection presented by Katie Patrizio is featured on the parish website under 'View Videos,' making the parish's retreat programming accessible to homebound parishioners and busy rural families who cannot always attend in person.
- Katie Patrizio – Morning of Reflection (video available on parish website)
Sacraments
Information about the sacraments is available on the parish website under the 'Sacraments' link from the homepage. The parish community regularly celebrates the Eucharist in Sunday and weekday Mass, together with the devotion of Eucharistic adoration. For specifics about Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, First Communion, and Confirmation, the parish directs visitors to contact the parish office using the published phone number.
- Eucharist — Sunday 8:30 AM and Friday 12:00 PM
- Adoration — Tuesday afternoons and First Fridays
- Inquiries — via parish office phone (515) 292-3810
Contact, Location & Practical Information
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is located in rural Story County just north of Ames, on the Story–Boone county line. The parish mailing address is P.O. Box 327, Gilbert, IA 50105, and the physical worship site is at 14238 500th Avenue, Gilbert, Iowa. The parish shares the telephone number (515) 292-3810 with the broader Ames-area pastoral assignment, and the parish website at http://www.ssppgilbert.net/ is the central hub for schedules, bulletins, and contact forms.
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Gilbert, IA 50105
- Worship site: 14238 500th Ave., Gilbert, Iowa
- Telephone: (515) 292-3810
- Website: http://www.ssppgilbert.net/
- Live-stream link available on homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Henry Eckart1898–1902
Served as pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish; during his pastorate he also established the mission in Ames that later became St. Cecilia Parish (1899).
- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt
Author of the 1989 Parish Profile #141 in The Witness, documenting the parish's history across the Story–Boone county line.
- Rev. Jon M. Seda
Current pastor, listed by the Archdiocese of Dubuque as Associate Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, Ames | SS. Peter & Paul, Gilbert.