St. Patrick (Parkersburg, Iowa)

St. Patrick (Parkersburg, Iowa)

"For over fifteen years the first Catholics of Butler County in the Parkersburg area west of Cedar Falls were cared for by the missionary priests who ventured beyond parish territory. The first of these, Father John Sheils, pastor of Waverly, celebrated the first Mass in the area in the Downey home. Others were Fathers Thomas F. Gunn, Maurice Flavin, and Patrick J. Smith, successive pastors of Cedar Falls, and Father Peter O’Dowd of Ackley. Father Sheils began with a congregation of three families in 1861. By November 1877 there were enough families to begin building the first Saint Patrick Church under the guidance of Father Patrick Smith. Finished in 1878 at a cost of $1,300, it was dedicated free of debt that spring."  

- Rev. Edgar Kurt, Profile #185, The Witness, 5 August 1990

The Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.

Burback, Emily. Burns, Daniel. Gibson, Michael. Oberfoell, Carol. Waldmeir, Helen. Waldmeir, John.

Various primary and secondary sources

English.

Loras College
Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"

6 October 1996 -6 August 2004
History of the parish over the span of 8 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.

Construction documents (4 documents)
Correspondence (3 documents)
Financial documents (8 documents)
Parish history (11 documents)
Pastor list (2 documents)

Unknown author. “Grundy County… Holy Family Parish is anticipating new church.” The Witness, 11 June 2006

Hanus, Jerome. “DECREE Regarding St. Patrick Parish; Parkersburg, Iowa.” The Witness, 8 August 2004.