St. Patrick Church

304 2nd Street
Parkersburg, IA 50665

In 1861, the three founding families of St. Patrick parish gathered together for Mass once a month. Fr. James Shields celebrated the Mass in parishioners’ homes for the first twelve years.

In November of 1877, St. Patrick’s Church of Parkersburg was started and in the spring of 1878 it was dedicated. The original church was erected at the cost of $1,300 and was debt free at the time of dedication.

Parkersburg was not mentioned in the Catholic Church Directory until 1888, and it was only the following year that a resident pastor arrived.

The rectory was built around 1895. The priest living at Parkersburg also took care of New Hartford. Mass was said every other Sunday at each place. It was not until 1910 that Mass was said in both communities every Sunday.

A growing faith community demanded a larger church. In 1992, construction began on a new church at 304 2nd Street across the street from the rectory. The process began under the guidance and leadership of Father Kenneth Stecher and was completed and dedicated in 1996. Father Dennis Quint was the last pastor before St. partick joined with the newly constructed St. Gabriel parish, Reinbeck in 2009.

In 2010, Father David G. Kucera became the second pastor and is the current pastor.