History of
Saint Mary Parish
Strawberry Point, Iowa
Bishop John Hennessy established a parish at Strawberry Point, Iowa in 1878.
Before this time the area Catholics were served by missionary priests in family homes.
Father John Hackett purchased property in Strawberry Point and built a 30 x 60 church
that was completed in 1880 and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 23rd,
1880.
Father Thomas Rowe directed the building of a rectory in 1886 and established
Saint Mary's Cemetery in 1892. In 1902 he enlarged and refurnished the original church
because of the growing Catholic population. Father Rowe also served Sacred Heart parish
of Cox Creek and Saint Joseph parish in Greeley. Mass was celebrated every third
Sunday at each of the parishes. During his score of years at Strawberry Point, Father
Rowe founded two more parishes, Sacred Heart Parish Volga City and Saint Mary's
Parish of Lamont.
Father J. Valentine Casey came to Strawberry Point and was remembered for
bringing community respect for the Catholic congregation. After serving for 10 years,
Father Casey moved to Dubuque to become director of Saint Raphael Cathedral. In
1946, the Sacred Heart church at Cox Creek was destroyed by fire. The decision was
made not to rebuild and it was united with Saint Mary's of Strawberry Point.
In 1952, the St. Mary’s congregation was growing and there was a need for a
larger church. The basement was built in 1953 and Mass was held there until the church
dedication on May 12th, 1953. Additions have included a new rectory and educational
unit in 1970, a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1976, expanded educational space in
1981 and stained glass windows in the 1980’s.
In the late 1990's the church was remodeled by having the sanctuary enlarged, and
space for the musicians was added in front of the church. Also at this time the sanctuary
and front entrance were made handicap accessible, a handicap accessible bathroom was
added to the main floor of the church, the sound system was updated and a gathering
space was provided at the entrance of the church.
A stairway platform lift was installed in 2009 to make our church basement,
which serves as our parish social hall, handicap accessible. Memorial contributions have
allowed us to provide hearing devices in the church. Sidewalks with a railing have
replaced steps to ensure that people can move easily from the parking lot to the front
entrance of the church. We also provide valet parking at Mass time.
When Catholics from Bohemia, Germany and Ireland originally settled in the
Lamont area visiting priests would celebrate Mass in the homes. St. Albert’s cemetery,
located five miles east of Lamont was blessed by Fr. Rowe in 1890. Subsequently, the
faithful people gave money, lumber and donated their labor to build a church, which was
blessed in 1896. In 1898, Fr. M.M. Grady became pastor at Hazelton and Lamont
became a mission parish, with Mass offered one week in Hazelton and the next in
Lamont. In 1917, a house for the pastor was purchased and in 1923 Fr. Joseph
Linkenmeyer became the first resident pastor. In 1950, St. Mary’s Community Hall was
completed, all being done with donated labor. For over 100 years, St. Mary’s in Lamont
was a vibrant community of faith. In 2005, the Archdiocese closed Saint Mary’s in
Lamont due to the shortage of priests. With the closure of St. Mary, Lamont records
were all transferred to St. Mary’s, Strawberry Point. The altar and tabernacle from
Lamont were moved to St. Mary’s in Strawberry Point to show unity in this painful time
of transition for the parishioners of Lamont. The faith community of St. Mary’s
Strawberry Point welcomed the people of Lamont and many transferred membership
there while others moved their membership to Winthrop, Masonville, Independence,
Oelwein or Manchester.
Six women entered religious life and two men were ordained to the priesthood
from the Lamont St. Mary parish. Seven women have entered religious life and two men
have been ordained to the priesthood from the Strawberry Point St. Mary parish.
St. Mary Strawberry Point currently has 230 household memberships. Our K-12
religious education classes have 160 students enrolled. August 2010, St. Mary’s
Strawberry Point hired Sister Carla Popes to serve as a part-time pastoral associate.
Father Paul Peters is our priest serving St. Mary in Strawberry Point, St. Joseph in
Elkader and Sacred Heart in Volga.