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The following text is taken from the book Building a Parish, a history of St. Patrick Parish.
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Special thanks to Chrissy Danger for many of these photos.
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Who We Are
For over a hundred years, this magnificent church with its walls of limestone and beautiful stained glass windows has created an atmosphere befitting it heritage in the community. On Marcy 22, 2011 the property was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places. At the plaque dedication, it was stated that the historic landmark was a testament to the commitment of its parishioners to build and maintain such a beautiful facility.
St. Patrick’s parish strives to be true to the founders’ original vision. It is hoped that the steeple will always rise high in downtown Perry as a religious landmark and as a lasting reminder of a glorious past and a continuing promise of a blessed future. |
“It’s an affirmation of the place that the parish has had in the community and the dedication and devotion of those that have been here over the years. Ultimately, it’s not the building; it’s what the building represents that is important.” |
St. Patrick’s was begun over 100 years ago by immigrants who built a church in which to celebrate their faith.
It is therefore fitting that our parish life continues involve immigrants who are intent in keeping their faith alive. While those initial church members hailed from Ireland, current members are mainly from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. A few parishioners hail from Tanzania and the Sudan as well. It is this influx that has kept the parish thriving.
Latin American parishioners began arriving in the 1980’s, when the local packing plant began recruiting workers. The first to arrive were men who later brought their families to Perry.
Father Daniel Clark was the first to read the mass in Spanish during the 1990’s, and this solidified their presence in St. Patrick’s parish. Father Higgins followed that tradition and used interpreters to read the homily. During that time Father Kevin Cameron from the Des Moines Diocese also came to Perry on Saturdays to say mass in Spanish. Father David Polich was the first bilingual pastor to offer mass in Spanish and has encouraged the Hispanic Community to become a greater part of the parish. Father Paul Nguyen, also bilingual, continued this mission of inclusion.
Jesus Martinez started Religious Education classes for the Latin American children which enabled them to receive their First Communion. Under Father Polich those classes were merged with the regular REP classes. There is also Sacrament preparation provided in Spanish (see the Sacraments page of this web site.)
It is therefore fitting that our parish life continues involve immigrants who are intent in keeping their faith alive. While those initial church members hailed from Ireland, current members are mainly from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. A few parishioners hail from Tanzania and the Sudan as well. It is this influx that has kept the parish thriving.
Latin American parishioners began arriving in the 1980’s, when the local packing plant began recruiting workers. The first to arrive were men who later brought their families to Perry.
Father Daniel Clark was the first to read the mass in Spanish during the 1990’s, and this solidified their presence in St. Patrick’s parish. Father Higgins followed that tradition and used interpreters to read the homily. During that time Father Kevin Cameron from the Des Moines Diocese also came to Perry on Saturdays to say mass in Spanish. Father David Polich was the first bilingual pastor to offer mass in Spanish and has encouraged the Hispanic Community to become a greater part of the parish. Father Paul Nguyen, also bilingual, continued this mission of inclusion.
Jesus Martinez started Religious Education classes for the Latin American children which enabled them to receive their First Communion. Under Father Polich those classes were merged with the regular REP classes. There is also Sacrament preparation provided in Spanish (see the Sacraments page of this web site.)
