St. Patrick Catholic Church History

 

St. Patrick’s parish in Watkins provided for the area’s Irish settlers in the 1800s.  The first church was built in 1880.  This small frame church met their needs until it was destroyed by fire in 1906.  The following year the Fairfax pastor, Fr. Patrick Reynolds, bought property in Watkins and built a small frame church there.  Membership was very small.  As the Parish grew, a resident pastor was appointed in 1912.  He was the Rev. Alfred P. Meyer.  Father Meyer built a residence immediately.  While it was being built, Father Meyer stayed with the Brannons.  W.H. Wheeler built the church

 

In 1914 Father Meyer organized a new parish in Newhall where he conducted services every Sunday as an out mission of Watkins.  He did this for 18 years.  In 1918 the Watkins church seating capacity had to be doubled, so an addition was built on the back part of the church.

 

Altar & Rosary Society was started in 1924.  Mrs. John Boddicker was the first President and Mrs. Henry Schmuecker was the first secretary and treasurer.  Mrs. J. D. Delaney was the first organist.

 

Father Meyer was assigned to Tama in 1930 so had to leave Watkins after 18 years of steady improvement and success.  Father Meyer was elevated to Monsignor in 1945.  He died in 1952 at the age of 72 years at St. Thomas Mercy Hospital, Marshalltown, IA.  He is buried at Marshalltown.

 

Father Nicholas U. Keffeier succeeded Father Meyer.  He was also Pastor of St. Paul's, Newhall.  He continued the work in the same wonderful way as his predecessor.  Father Keffeier was able to remain in Watkins until his death in 1948.  He was 67.  The last three years of his life he had to have help with his duties.  From 1945 to 1946 Father Joseph Sullivan was his assistant.  From 1946 to 1948 Father Nestor Goedken was his assistant.  After Father Keffeier's death, Newhall was no longer an out mission.

 

Father Patrick J. Behan came to Watkins.  He served his parish remarkably well for six years.  He died in 1954 and his funeral was at Watkins.

 

A very learned priest was then sent ot Watkins.  He was Father Maurice Tracy.  He studied in Rome and was ordained there with his first mass in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome in 1931.  He was in Watkins until 1963.  He conducted some most enjoyable classes in Bible history.  His knowledge of the subjet was beyond reproach.  He was a challenge to the members of his parish.  He taught at Mt. Mercy from 1936 to 1947.  A scholar and a teacher, he moved on to St. Francis of Assisi in Fayette.

 

In 1948 the basement of the church was enlarged and finished as a parish hall.  In 1949 Father Elwood Voss celebrated his first Mass at Watkins.  In 1956 Father Tracey celebrated his silver jubilee with a grand affair.  In 1962, the rectory that was built in 1912 got new siding.

 

In 1963 Father Dorrance Noonan was appointed to the parish.  The parish has had many imporvements since Father Noonan came.  New carpeting was installed throughout.  The old beautiful altar still stands but a new one has been brought to the front.

 

The rectory has also had a face lift.  The hinges on the front door are still as beautiful as the day they were made by hand by the local blacksmith, Conrad Schallau, 67 years ago.

 

Father Noonan was born in Dubuque in 1900.  He was a graduate of Loras and completed his theological training at the Catholic University of Washington, D.C., in 1926.  He was ordained at St. Raphel's, Dubuque, IA.

 

In 1963, the church served 118 families from the beginning of five families.  Father Noonan has served his people in Watkins very well and they wish him many years at this wonderful location.

 

Here is a list of all the priests at St. Patrick, Watkins, since 1963.

 

1963–1975      Dorrance T. Noonan 

1975–1978      Albert J. Hoffmann 

1978–1986      Everett J. Frese 

1986–1987      Vincent J. Hatt 

1986–1989      William C. Michael 

1989–1993      Richard J. Ament 

1993–1994      James L. Miller 

1993-2003       Walter J. Kleinfehn 

2003-2005       Paul C. Baldwin

2005-2007       Keith L. Birch

2007-2010       Jack H. McClure, C.PP.S.
2010-              Brian Dellaert

 

One man from St. Patrick’s has been ordained in the Diocese of Davenport.

 

In 2010, St. Patrick serves 72 families and 138 people surrounding the community of Watkins.  They have an active Altar & Rosary Society which plans different activities throughout the year (such as their Spring Card Party and Fall Card Party).  Irene Kahle has lead the Altar and Rosary Society as President off and on again since 1969. 

 

Every March 17, they have a special mass in honor of St. Patrick and a pot-luck meal following.  They have regular weekday mass every other Monday morning at 9 AM and have regular weekend mass every other weekend, opposite of St. John, Blairstown.  To find out the next mass, please check the calendar.

St. Patrick, Watkins, Iowa -75 years as an Organization as Altar & Rosary Society (1924-1999)

 

As written by Lois Stramer

 

An activity calendar denoting the birthdays, anniversaries of the Watkins area people in commemoration of the 75 years as an organization.  St. Patrick's Altar and Rosary Society was organized in 1924.  The officers were -President-Mrs. John Boddicker, Sec-Treasurer-Mrs. Henry Schmuecker, and Organist-Mr. J.C. Delany.

 

Through all these 75 years, the Society has been very active serving the needs of St. Patrick's, Watkins.  When the Society was first organized, and up to 1948 (when the basement of St. Patrick was dugout and refinished), meetings were always held in the members homes, each member taking their turn on entertaining.  Since 1948 meetings are held in the church basement on the second Monday of every month, except January, February, and March.  Members take their turns as hostess and serve along with another member.  Before the meeting is started, the Rosary is said for all the sick people of the community.  The basement is also rented to people in the area for other meetings or for family get-togethers.

 

The first part of the year, a complete report is sent out to all members of the parish which includes -the names of the Lectures, Eucharistic Ministers, Mass Servers, Gift Carriers, Greeters, Ushers, Religious Education Teachers, Parish Council Members, and list of the Baptisms, Marriages, Confirmation Students, First Communion children and Graduates.

 

Each lady of the parish takes their turn cleaning the church on weekends.  The list schedule for cleaning is also in the report, so ladies know ahead of time when it is their turn to clean.  In the fall a general cleaning of the basement and church is held with volunteers and helping.

 

In case of death in the family, we have six different committees to take their turn in serving the Funeral Dinners.  We also have a Prayer line for our Parishioners that are seriously ill.

 

At Christmas, a fruit and food basket is given to the priest.  A fruit basket or Poinsettia is delivered to all the elderly, shut-ins, and to the people in nursing homes of our parish.  Money is also sent to the people in the service from our Parish.

 

Coffee, rolls, and juice are served after the mass on special occasions, by the Parish Life Chairman as part of our Social Activity.  Two card parties are also held each year, one around St. Patrick's Day and the other around Halloween.  The names of the people on these committees are also listed in the yearly report.

 

Complete financial listings are also on this report.  The Society furnishes all the kitchen and bathroom supplies, also the missalettes, hosts, candles, and other items used around the altar.  Each year the parish has some large improvements on the church, the society donates money to help on these projects.

 

Some of these special calendars are still available.  Current officers are President-Mrs. Sylvester Kahle, Sec-Tres. -Mrs. Raymond Stramer, and Organist-Becky Nolte.

 

Here is a list of the Presidents and Sec-Treasurers for the Society since 1968.

Date                       President                          Sec-Treasurer

January 1968          Coleen Callan                    Virgie Kuester

January 1969          Irene Kahle                       Hazel Lohrer

January 1970          Irene Kahle                       Hazel Lohrer

March 1971            Genrose Schmuecker          Marian Brecht

March 1972            Genrose Schmuecker          Marlene Nolte

March 1973            Genrose Schmuecker          Marlene Nolte

March 1974            Genrose Schmuecker          Marlene Nolte

September 1974     Coletta Frese

May 1975                                                     Janie Gibney

September 1975     Coletta Frese

July 1976               Irene Kahle                      Janie Gibney

April 1977                                                    Hazel Lohrer

July 1977               Irene Kahle  

July 1978               Irene Kahle                      Hazel Lohrer

July 1979               Irene Kahle                      Hazel Lohrer

July 1980               Irene Kahle                      Hazel Lohrer

July 1981               Germaine Gibney              Ruth Parr     

                             Jeanie Walters

July 1982               Germaine Gibney              Ruth Parr

July 1983               Laverne Schulte &             Jean Nolte

                             Opal Becker

July 1984               Opal Becker                      Jean Nolte

July 1985               Opal Becker                      Jean Nolte

April 1986              Irene Kahle                      Jean Nolte

April 1987              Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

April 1988              Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

April 1989              Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

April 1990              Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

April 1991              Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

April 1992              Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1993               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1994               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1995               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1996               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1997               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1998               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 1999               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

July 2000               Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

Jan - April 2001      Irene Kahle                      Lois Stramer

May 2001               Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

2002                      Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

2003                      Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

2004                      Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

July 2005                Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

July 2006                Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

July 2007                Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

July 2008                Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

July 2009                Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester

July 2010                Irene Kahle                      Virginia Kuester