Priests
The following are excerpts taken from Building a Parish, a history of St. Patrick Parish. Much more information is available in Building a Parish. It can be purchased by contacting the church office.
Father John Brazil, 1871
John Brazil was born in County Clare, Ireland, on June 24, 1827.
In 1853, he was a circuit rider at St. Mary’s. In 1860, he became pastor at St. Ambrose in Des Moines and for the next 25 years served southwest Iowa missions. He said the first mass in Perry in 1871.
Father Charles Toner, 1874
The only information we have about Father Toner states that he was pastor at Dallas Center and led missions in Bayard and Perry in 1874.
Father P. J. Harney, 1876-1889
Father Harney was the first resident pastor in Perry. He served both the Perry and Bayard parishes. He supervised the building of the red brick church that stood where our present church now stands. He died in 1889 while visiting his native Ireland.
The only information we have about Father Toner states that he was pastor at Dallas Center and led missions in Bayard and Perry in 1874.
Father P. J. Harney, 1876-1889
Father Harney was the first resident pastor in Perry. He served both the Perry and Bayard parishes. He supervised the building of the red brick church that stood where our present church now stands. He died in 1889 while visiting his native Ireland.
Father J. W. Murphy, 1889-1898
J. W. Murphy was a native of Carlisle, Cumberland County, England. He came to America with his parents at the age of three and was raised in Burlington, Iowa, where his family settled.
He came to Perry in 1889, where Mrs. Bernice Modlin described him as “a tall, slim red-haired Irishman. His health was poor, but he could sort of keep track of the new building.”
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Father James Cleary, 1898-1933 James Cleary was born at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, on October 9, 1865. Father Cleary would remain in Perry for 37 years. It was during his tenure that the present church was built. St. Patrick’s Catholic School was also built during his pastorate here. Father Cleary passed away February 29, 1944. |
Father William Coughlan 1933-1939
William Anthony Coughlan was born February 11, 1891, in Waterford, Ireland.
He came to Perry on September 21, 1933, and took over immediately after Fr. Cleary’s resignation.
Monsignor Edwin A. Donahue 1939-1956
Edwin A. Donahue was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and educated at Boston College, St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and St. Bonaventure’s Seminary in Olean, N.Y. He was ordained on June 14, 1924.
He came to Perry in 1939
During his tenure here, he retired $85,000 in debt and guided the construction of the present rectory as well as extensive renovation and improvement of the church, school, and convent. He left with plans to construct a new gymnasium at the school being fully funded.
Father Maurice J. Powers 1956-1964
Maurice John Powers was born in Elba, Wisconsin, on February 8, 1888.
He was assigned to St. Patrick’s in Perry in 1956. During his tenure here, he was elevated to the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, Domestic Prelate by Pope John XXIII.
Father Powers was pastor during the planning and addition onto the school. He personally installed the brickwork that lines the sidewalk beside the school and addition.
Father Powers died on April 8, 1974, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
Maurice John Powers was born in Elba, Wisconsin, on February 8, 1888.
He was assigned to St. Patrick’s in Perry in 1956. During his tenure here, he was elevated to the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, Domestic Prelate by Pope John XXIII.
Father Powers was pastor during the planning and addition onto the school. He personally installed the brickwork that lines the sidewalk beside the school and addition.
Father Powers died on April 8, 1974, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
Father Maurice Schulte 1964-1974
Maurice John Schulte was born December 27, 1915, in Granger, Iowa.
He came to Perry from the Waukee and Adel parish of St. Boniface in June of 1964 where he had served for eleven and a half years.
During the time Father Schulte was in Perry many of the changes recommended by Vatican II were implemented. Mr. Francis Andrews built a front-facing altar and many laymen were trained to be lectors. He effectively used the students at the school to introduce many of the new hymns to be sung during mass.
Father Schulte died October 14, 1988.
Father James E. McIlhon 1974-1979
James E. McIlhon was born in Des Moines on January 28, 1932, to John Edward and Beatrice (Flannery) McIlhon.
He came to Perry in 1974. Father was a talented pianist and a lover of music. Even so, he offered to sell his own beloved piano to raise money for the school. He changed mass times to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 8 and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Father McIlhon died August 14, 1989, at St. Patrick’s rectory in Massena.
Father Hilary Gaul 1979-1986
Hilary W. Gaul was born January 31, 1918, in Earling Iowa to Peter and Elizabeth (Schechinger) Gaul.
He came to St. Patrick’s in Perry in 1979.
While in Perry, he served as the State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
While Father Gaul was here, the church was redecorated in preparation for St. Patrick’s centennial celebration held in 1980. At that time the original altar was taken apart and pieces of it were used to construct a new lectern as well as a baldachino that hung over the front-facing altar. The carving of The Last Supper was removed from the original altar and moved as well. Many of these alterations were made to conform to the liturgical changes prescribed by Vatican II.
Father Gaul retired upon leaving Perry in 1986. He died May 3, 1992, in Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
Hilary W. Gaul was born January 31, 1918, in Earling Iowa to Peter and Elizabeth (Schechinger) Gaul.
He came to St. Patrick’s in Perry in 1979.
While in Perry, he served as the State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
While Father Gaul was here, the church was redecorated in preparation for St. Patrick’s centennial celebration held in 1980. At that time the original altar was taken apart and pieces of it were used to construct a new lectern as well as a baldachino that hung over the front-facing altar. The carving of The Last Supper was removed from the original altar and moved as well. Many of these alterations were made to conform to the liturgical changes prescribed by Vatican II.
Father Gaul retired upon leaving Perry in 1986. He died May 3, 1992, in Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
Father Eugene Koch 1986-1988
Eugene Ralph Koch was born December 3, 1933, in Panama, Iowa, to Leo and Pauline (Schulte) Koch.
Fr. Koch came to Perry in 1986
Father Koch was successful in establishing the St. Patrick’s Foundation. It was created by the sale of a farm bequeathed to the church by Louise Slattery. Today contributions are accepted in the form of monetary donations. Since the foundation was created, the interest garnered from the principle balance has been used to support the church.
Father Garry Culver 1988-1993
Garry Albert Culver was born October 25, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Garry L. and Margaret Clara (Tyler) Culver.
He was assigned to St. Patrick's in 1988
He retired in October 2000 in Florida and passed away in June, 2013
Father Daniel Clarke 1993-1996
Daniel Joseph Clarke was born March 22, 1927, in Newton, Iowa, to Thomas M. and Mary C. (Coen) Clarke.
He came to St. Patrick’s in Perry in 1993. After serving here for four years, he left for All Saints in Stuart in 1997 where he helped build their new church. He retired from there in 2001.
Father Clarke began our Hispanic ministry by establishing a 12:15 p.m. mass that was conducted in Spanish. He also planted the seeds for the massive redecoration that was to come in 1998.
Father Clarke died March 19, 2001, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.
Father Raymond Higgins 1996-2003
Born November 17, 1965, to John and Mary (Underwood) Higgins, Raymond Higgins was raised with his brothers (including an identical twin, Edmond) and sisters in Indianola, Iowa.
Perry was his first position as a pastor, coming here January 9, 1997.
Father Ray was instrumental in the massive redecoration and renovation of the church during 1993-1999. It was under his direction that the entire interior of the church was gutted, and Don Wendt was hired to complete the redecoration.
Father Raymond Higgins 1996-2003
Born November 17, 1965, to John and Mary (Underwood) Higgins, Raymond Higgins was raised with his brothers (including an identical twin, Edmond) and sisters in Indianola, Iowa.
Perry was his first position as a pastor, coming here January 9, 1997.
Father Ray was instrumental in the massive redecoration and renovation of the church during 1993-1999. It was under his direction that the entire interior of the church was gutted, and Don Wendt was hired to complete the redecoration.
Father David Polich 2003-2013
David James Polich was born May 14, 1950, to John and Eleanor (Stejskal) Polich in Des Moines, Iowa.
In July 2003, he transferred to Perry.
Father Dave greatly increased the Hispanic outreach in our community.
During his tenure, it was discovered that the roof on the church needed to be replaced. Father supervised a campaign known as “Vamos, together”. This three year campaign was designed to raise not only enough money to pay for replacing the roof, but pay off the church’s debt and establish a monetary cushion for the future. In 2012 money from this campaign was used to tuck-point, repair and repaint the church exterior.
He served as treasurer of the Perry Ministerial Association, and, as a member of the Perry Historical Commission, was instrumental in encouraging the application for the inclusion of the church on the National Register of Historic Places.
David James Polich was born May 14, 1950, to John and Eleanor (Stejskal) Polich in Des Moines, Iowa.
In July 2003, he transferred to Perry.
Father Dave greatly increased the Hispanic outreach in our community.
During his tenure, it was discovered that the roof on the church needed to be replaced. Father supervised a campaign known as “Vamos, together”. This three year campaign was designed to raise not only enough money to pay for replacing the roof, but pay off the church’s debt and establish a monetary cushion for the future. In 2012 money from this campaign was used to tuck-point, repair and repaint the church exterior.
He served as treasurer of the Perry Ministerial Association, and, as a member of the Perry Historical Commission, was instrumental in encouraging the application for the inclusion of the church on the National Register of Historic Places.
Father Cuong Paul Nguyen 2013-2016
Father Cuong Hung Nguyen, aka Father Paul, joined the St. Patrick family in July of 2013. He came to us from Sacred Heart of Des Moines following assignments in Argentina and the Phillippines where he was a missionary priest.
He moved to the Des Moines Diocese to be closer to his parents who live in Ankeny, and Fr. Paul is very close to them. He often tells us about the harrowing escape from VietNam that his family endured. It must have been this that gave him the undying compassion that he shows for those in need. He has inspired our parish to collect food and clothing for the less fortunate—at one time creating a small food bank in the living room of the rectory!
His love of animals was evident from the start when he moved in with two huge aquariums and several pet birds. The aquariums and some of the birds have since been given to parishioners who expressed an interest in them and now just one bird, a parrot, a pet rabbit and a chicken remain.
He leaves behind a legacy of loving “all creatures big and small” which will hopefully continue in the hearts of St. Patrick’s parishioners. We wish him well in his new assignment at Corpus Christi in Council Bluffs.
Father Chris Reising 2016-2019
Father Reising grew up in Des Moines where he was a member of St. Theresa Parish. He attended Conception Seminary College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake graduating in 2006. He was then ordained at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines by Bishop Joseph Charron, C.PP.S. in 2006. Father Reising has served at Queen of Apostles, Holy Family, and Our Lady of Carter Lake. He spend a year in Mexico studying Spanish language and culture. He comes to Perry from Our Lady of the Americas parish in Des Moines.
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Father Luis Mejia 2019
Father Mejia grew up in El Salvador. He started his journey to the Priesthood on January 24, 2006 at the Seminary St. James the Apostle in El Salvador. Then he went to the St. John XXIII seminary to study philosophy. After he finished his philosophy formation, Bishop Richard Pates asked him to join the Diocese of Des Moines to start theological studies. On January 5, 2010, he started his English immersion program. On September 10 , 2015, he started a Masters in Divinity at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul Minnesota. On June 6, 2014, Bishop Pates ordained him a deacon at St. Ambrose Cathedral. On June 5, 2015, he was ordained priest for the Diocese of Des Moines. On June 28, 2015, he was appointed Associate Pastor at Sacred Heart Church in West Des Moines. On July 11, 2019 he became Pastor of St. Patrick's. |
