By Audrey Posten
A series of events will celebrate the 175th anniversary of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg.
Through the years, St. Mary’s has grown from a nucleus of a few early settlers to over 300 families today, according to history included in the newest parish directory.
The first church was built in the community in 1851, on land transferred from Ignatz Jaeger to Bernard H. Pelzer for the use of the Catholic congregation, and dedicated by Rev. G.H. Plathe to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was the first Catholic Church—and first of any denomination—in Clayton County.
“As time went on, the membership of the parish increased; families grew in size, thus calling forth the necessity of providing for the educational wants of the children,” according to parish history. A new one-story brick building, 30 by 50 feet in size, was erected in spring 1853 exclusively for divine services, while the old building served as a school and parochial residence.
The third church—built of bluff stone and the largest of its kind in the county—was built in fall 1874. The old school building went up in 1894, then the St. Mary’s Rectory in 1899 and St. Mary’s Convent in 1926. The current—and fourth—church dates back to 1903.
Parish history states the contract for the newest church was given to Frank D. Scharle of Dubuque for $11,300, including the tearing down and removing of the old church. Carpenter work was done by F. D. Lohde, the slating by the LaCrosse Steel Roofing and Corrugating Company and the lathing and plastering by Kirmsy Bros. of Dubuque. The beautiful art glass windows were furnished by the Milwaukee Mirror and Art Glass Works and cut stone trimmings by Wagner and Durgan of Dubuque. Painting was done by Kappen, Williams and H. Kappen. Two large tubular furnaces were furnished by P.H. McGuire of Bloomington, Illinois. The pews were made by C. Eggerth.
“The building has an extreme length of 152 feet, nine inches, a front width of 62 feet and measures 74 feet across the transept. The towers are 146 feet, eight inches high and were covered with copper slate. The church has a seating capacity of about 800 persons without the sanctuary and organ loft. The total cost of the building was $28,758.57, excluding the cost of school and church furniture,” it continues.
On Aug. 12, 2004, St. Mary’s was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mary’s Catholic Church Historic District, which includes the church, rectory, convent and old school building.
The St. Mary’s Elementary Building was built in 1961. It included four schoolrooms, an all-purpose room that could be converted into two more classrooms, an office, a library and a storeroom. The approximate cost was $130,000, and an additional $15,000 was spent to renovate the old school building, which was used exclusively as a high school until 1968, when St. Mary’s Catholic High School closed.
A major change occurred in August 2022 when St. Mary/Immaculate Conception School closed, ending Catholic education in the Guttenberg community after 169 years. A year later, the building was repurposed into a parish center, continuing its role as a place of community gathering.
Repurposing of parish buildings also continues in 2026. In February, the convent was sold to the Friends of St. Mary’s, which plans to convert the second floor into an apartment and use the lower level for parish and community activities.
In July 2026 the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s “Journey in Faith” reorganization will take place, and the parish will became part of a larger pastorate consisting of 12 parishes. Father Paul Ameyaw will leave, and Father Henry Huber will serve as pastor, with Father Gabriel Anderson and Father Isaac Boadu as parochial vicars.
Events from Monday, June 15 to Sunday, June 21 will celebrate 175 years of history while looking toward the future, according to Wendy Shea, who’s part of a 175th anniversary planning committee with fellow parishioners Austin Greve, Jessie Young, Beth Sadewasser, Lois Bries and Deacon Jim Pfaffly.
“With the Journey in Faith and reorganization of churches, it impressed on me we need to celebrate what we’ve had up to this point,” Shea said. “During this week of celebration, we should include all those who have contributed and celebrate before we move on to something different.”
Activities involve as many sections of the parish as possible, noted Shea. Each day is designated for a different group (or groups) of people and recognizes their service to the parish.
“Groups who would logically work together or are similar, we put together. We wanted to make sure everybody felt appreciated or recognized,” Young added.
On Monday, June 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the liturgy planning committee, choir, choir director, cantors, accompanists, music planning committee, church decorators, altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers and greeters will be honored. There will be an outdoor rosary, blessing on the steps of the church by Father Paul and soft serve ice cream.
The Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, St. Anne’s Society and M.A.S.S. - Mens’ Group will be recognized on Tuesday, June 16, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Knights will serve brats and hamburgers, and there will be desserts from the Catholic Daughters along with soft serve ice cream.
Past St. Mary’s School teachers and staff, past and present faith formation teachers and students will be honored on Wednesday, June 17. Enjoy sidewalk chalk from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., as well as Stockyard pizza and soft serve ice cream.
On Thursday, June 18, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., there will be a treat and trivia and 100th anniversary open house of the convent by the Friends of St. Mary’s. Recognition will go to parish life, lay ministers, social concerns, stewardship, Bible study, quilters and crafters.
From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19, participate in church trivia and enjoy soft serve ice cream while the parish council, finance committee, cemetery board and past priests are honored.
Alumni will be honored on Saturday, June 20. Tour buildings during an open house from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mass will be at 5:30 p.m. Memorabilia in Brinkmann Hall and an ice cream social will also follow Mass.
The week will cap off Sunday, June 21, with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Zinkula. He will share a few words at an 11 a.m. potluck meal, which will also serve as a farewell for Father Paul.
“We’re very honored [Archbishop Zinkula] could come,” Shea said. “We will also be burying a time capsule as part of the celebration. We will have a sheet out during the week’s celebration, every time we have a gathering, and people can write messages or information or reflections. That’s going to go into it, but we’re not sure what else.”
Young hopes the celebration will be “a week of fun.”
“We would love for the church to be welcoming to everybody,” she said. “Celebrating the church and making sure everybody knows about it, that’s a good step to let everybody know they are welcome. We’re just trying to get out in the community more so people know we’re here.”
For those who may have drifted away, it’s a good opportunity to step back to their Catholic faith, added Deacon Pfaffly. He’s proud of the church’s role in the community and excited for what’s to come.
“We’ve had it for 175 years, and I hope we have it for another 175 years,” he said.
