Located in Keokuk, Iowa




 

About All Saints Catholic Parish


Sunday Masses: 4:30 p.m. vigil;
8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Holy Day Masses:  5:15 p.m. vigil;
7:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

Weekday Masses: 7:00 a.m. Tuesday and Friday in the Chapel of the Angels.
12:10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Chapel of the Angels.
Communion Services only Mondays at 7:00 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.

The Sacrament of Reconcillation: Saturdays 3:00-4:00 p.m.
 Church Office Hours:
8:00 a.m.-Noon and 1:15-3:00p.m. Mon-Fri

Summer Office Hours: June 1st-Labor Day:
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Monday-Friday

Staff
Rev. Robert Lathrop, Pastor William Cosgrove,  Deacon Pamela Booten,  Faith Formation Director/Youth Minister Judi Hawkins,  Parish Secretary, Pamela Getz,  Parish Bookkeeper

Parish Trustees
Marty Fox and John Logsdon

Parish Council Members
Marty Fox, John Runge, John Logsdon, Marilyn Guedesse, Mary Jo Smith, Doris Carlson, Carlene Lemon, Susan Hanan, Mary Jo Ray and Linda Saltzgraver

Brief History of the Church


The history of Church of All Saint's Catholic parish really begins in 1832 with the missionary activities of the Reverend Charles Felix VanQickenborne, S.J.  In 1844, Bishop Mathias Loras designated Fr. Lucian Galtier to build the first church in Keokuk,  St. John the Evangelist.

As the Catholic presence in Keokuk grew, so did the need for new churches.  On April 20, 1856, the cornerstone was laid for St. Peter's Church on Exchange between 9th and 10th Streets.  In 1868, Catholic families from Germany built St. Mary's Church at 14th and Johnson.  Still another parish, St. Francis de Sales was formed in 1870.

As St. Peter's parish grew, it was decided to relocate the church in 1872 and three lots were purchased at the top of the hill at Ninth and Bank Streets.  By 1878, the pastor, Father O'Reilly, had the plans for the new structure.  The new church was designed by Johann Dillenburg of Chicago, who had been as assistant architect in the building of the great Cathedral of Cologne, Germany.  Ground was broken in 1879 and on September 27, 1885 the new church was dedicated.  This church eventually became the home of the Church of All Saints when St. Peter's, St. Mary's and St. Francis de Sales were merged in 1982.

There are many interesting features to the church of All Saints Parish.  The stained glass windows were provided by the A. Misch Company in 1884 at a cost of $3,300.  Today, these windows are priceless.  A conservative estimate of their replacement would be over a half-million dollars.  As a part of the structure for 122 years, these windows have inspired the worship of literally thousands of families for over six generations.

The bas-relief stations of the cross came from Munich, Germany and were erected on February 28 in 1892.

Because of a number of bequests, Father O'Reilly was able to commission the building of the solid marble altar in 1904.  The commission was given to Joseph Conradi, a sculpture from St. Louis, Missouri.  The foundation had to be reinforced to support the weight of the altar, and so a new baptistery was added at the same time.  The altar was dedicated on October 8, 1905.


In 1982, when the three churches were combined to form the Church of All Saints parish, the Chapel of the Angels was added.  The chapel used the statues, pews and other important features from each of the churches.  It is now call the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and is the site of weekday Masses and First Friday Adoration's.

The Monument Garden is located near the Chapel entrance behind the Rectory.  There the corner stones of the first St. Peter's Church (1856), the second St. Mary's Church (1911), the second St. Francis de Sales Church (1898), and St. Mary's School (1907) were refaced to designate All Saints parish.

The Church of All Saints stands as a monument to the faithful of three parishes over the last 150 years, nearly eight generations!  It also is home to the many Catholics who call this area their home.