ABOUT US
Read below to see what St. Patrick's Church of Melrose is all about, who helps organize and run things
behind the scenes, and learn about the church's rich history,
FR. TIMOTHY ARMBRUSTER, C.PP.S.
Precious Blood Father Timothy Armbruster became Pastor of St. Patick's during the summer of 2019. Growing up on the farm in rural western Kansas, Fr. Timothy grew up in a Precious Blood parish and came to know the community at a young age.
He says, "In Jr. High and High School, various people encouraged me to explore the priesthood. My response was always, 'No way, not me.' Until one day in college I said, 'Ok God, I'll give it a try and see what happens. And here I am 30 years later."
Fr. Timothy's love of people and rural farm areas brings great hope to the people of Melrose.
DEACON ED KAMERICK
Southern Iowa native Ed Kamerick, his
wife Jane and four children have been long-standing members of the St.
Patrick's Melrose parish.
Jane and Ed stepped up to lead Melrose's religious education
classes, but Ed felt the need to be and
do more. He was ordained as a
permanent deacon in 2013.
We are proud and honored to have
Ed at St. Patrick's!
Fr. Timothy and Deacon Ed serve the parishes of St. Mary's, Centerville and St. Patrick's, Melrose.
PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS
President: Tim Kasper
Council Members: Julie Anderson, Steve Heffron, Dennis Kurimski, John E. Lawless, Mike Teno, Tony Sinclair
Trustees: Barry Hannam and Joan Navin
ST. PATRICK'S
SUPPORT STAFF
Secretary: Kathleen Heffron
Religious Education Coordinator:
Jane Kamerick
Organist: Brigitte Mohler
Grounds Caretaker: Vince Feehan
ALTAR AND ROSARY
President: Kris Sarver
Secretary: Cheyrel McConahy
Treasurer: Sherry Hannam
Members: Deb Pfiefer, Marcie Kamerick, Christy Judge, Carolyn Ryan, Linda Reno, Melissa Ryan, Joni Murphy, Beverly Sinclair, JoBeth Lawless, Theresa Briggs, Dee Rush, Mim Kurimski, Julie Anderson, Bert Currie, Cathy Cronin, Melissa Ballard, Jana Murphy, Mary Helen Feehan, Brenda Ryan, Lindsey Kamerick, RoseA Vestal, Patty Scieszinski, Carol Feehan, Jean Curran, Dana Judge, Susan Fulton, Joan Navin, Marty Ryan, Jane Kamerick, Kris Knowles, Kellie Sinclair, Donna Scieszinski, Margie Curran, Sherry Hannah, Karla Heffron, Jane Knowles, Barb Leno, June Kasper, Pam Teno, Collette Schurman, Cheryl McConahay, Kris Sarver, Kathy Heffron
ST. PATRICK'S HISTORY
Local author and St. Patrick's parishioner Evelyn Tierney published a book, But of Course They Were Irish, about the history of Melrose, Iowa. Evelyn's book includes great recollections of St. Patrick's Church in Melrose from different time periods - some excerpts are shared below.
"St Patrick's Parish existed before there was ever a building on the hill. It came over on the boats with the people from Ireland as surely as did the clothes on their backs and the shoes on their feet. It came in the hearts and souls of those Irish men and women, and they wasted no time getting a church built 'up there on that hill'.
​
At first it was just a mission church, located just west of the present school building. It was a log church served by the Stacyville (later Georgetown) priest who came to Melrose one or two Sundays a month when the weather allowed. Father Leo Ward said, 'A log church?
I never remember seeing it and I never saw a picture of it, but I was baptized in it'.
​
In 1874, the congregation gained a priest of their own when the Rev. J.J. Cadden, an Irishman like the most of them, came to St. Patrick's."
"Priests of St. Patrick's
Father J. J. Cadden 1874 - 1890
Father John O'Rielly 1890 - 1901
Father T. R. Brownrigg 1901 - 1909
Monsignor W. J. McCormick 1909 - 1932
Father D. C. Browne 1932 - 1937
Father J. J. Welsh 1937 - 1942
Father Myles T. Gaffney 1942 - 1948
Father Francis Lenoch 1948
Father R. J. McGrath 1948 - 1957
Father John Morrissey 1957 - 1967
Father Eugene Hoenig 1967 - 1978
Father John Schmitz 1978 - 1982
Father George Hoenig 1982 - 1984
Father Ernest Braida 1984"