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  ST. MARY-HOLY CROSS PARISH

Our two Catholic Churches are located in Northern Polk County.  St. Mary Church is located in the town of Elkhart, Iowa, and Holy Cross Church is located East of Elkhart near Farrar, Iowa.  Our membership consists of a diverse group drawing from many communities in the area - Alleman, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Baxter, Bondurant, Cambridge, Colfax, Collins, Des Moines, Elkhart, Huxley, Maxwell, Mingo, Mitchellville, Nevada, Polk City, Prairie City, Sheldahl, and Slater. 

To learn more about our Parish history.  Use the navigation buttons on the left side of this page to assist you.  Just click on a subject for more information.

Priests who have served the St. Mary-Holy Cross Parish:

The priests who served the territory in NE Polk County from 1860-1914:

  • 1860    Father F. Brazil, St. Ambrose, Des Moines

  • 1876    Father J. Fogarty of Sacred Heart, Newton

  • 1880    Father Patrick Feely, Newton

  • 1881    Father John J. McAleese, Newton

  • 1882    Father James Quinn, who rebuilt the Valeria Church

  • 1893    Father Thomas Sheehy, Pastor of Valeria

 The priests who served as Pastor of St. Mary-Holy Cross Parish:

  • 1915    Father James Manning of St. Mary, Elkhart

  • 1917    Father F. J. Larkin, who was Pastor until 1924 when he established St. Joseph Parish in Des Moines.

  • 1924    Father G. C. Jermaine, who was Pastor until 1955 when he died.

  • 1955    Monsignor Raymond Conley, was Pastor while remaining editor of the Messenger

  • 1959    Father Joseph P. Ryan, Pastor after teaching at Dowling High School

  • 1960    Monsignor John Mcllhon was Pastor while holding other positions in the Diocese

  • 1967    Father Richard Bergman became Pastor

  • 1969    Father Michael J. Flood, was Pastor until he retired in 1972 and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas

  • 1972   Father John E. Cunningham became Pastor

  • 1973    Monsignor John J. Gorman became Pastor of St. Mary

  • 1980    Father Joseph Devlin

  • 1982    Father Dennis Trausch

  • 1984    Monsignor Joseph Schulte

  • 1987    Father Philip Kruse

  • 1990    Father John Acrea

  • 1997    Father Dan Kirby

  • 1998  Father Michael Amadeo

  • 2007  Father Robert Harris

  • 2008   Father Dan Krettek

 

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Last modified: 09/19/08