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| Jerome Hanus, O.S.B. By the Grace of God and Favor of the Apostolic See Archbishop of Dubuque DECREE Regarding St. Mary Parish Dubuque, Iowa St. Mary Parish came into being in response to a petition of German families to Bishop Loras in 1849 for a parish to provide for the German-speaking Catholics of Dubuque. Thus began the history of a proud community where for more than a century and a half, the Catholic faithful heard the Word of God proclaimed, were formed and educated in Catholic teaching, participated in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and received the Sacraments of the Church. The community over the years contributed greatly to the social fabric of Dubuque and preserved elements of a German and Catholic heritage through times of both prosperity and economic distress. The first church building, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was constructed of stone in 1850 on the corner of 8th and White Streets. Because of rapid growth, the present much larger church was completed in 1867 at the corner of 15th and White Streets. It was named St. Mary's under the title of her Assumption. Over the years many improvements were made, but the building also suffered a serious fire in 1976 and continuing deterioration caused by normal aging. Pastoral leadership over the decades was provided by more than a dozen priests and by two pastoral administrators from the diaconal community. The families of the parish offered many of their children to the service of God as priests and religious-more than thirty priests, nearly seventy sisters, and seven brothers. Providing Catholic education for the young was a high priority. The first classes, in 1851, were conducted in the basement of the old church. Classes were moved to 15th Street when in 1870 the parish built the convent, now Maria House. Various other buildings were used over the years. Initially, teachers were laymen, then the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dubuque) and the La Crosse Franciscans. The Dubuque Franciscans began their decades-long service in 1879. A high school for boys, with the Brothers of Mary as teachers, operated from 1907 to 1929. High school girls were educated in the nearby Immaculate Conception Academy (on 17th Street) until it was transferred to Davis Street, now Shalom Retreat Center. The Casino building, constructed in 1900 as a center for social and recreational activities, was significantly modified in 1950 to provide more classrooms and other rooms for fostering community. St. Mary's was a founding parish of Wahlert High School in 1959. With the decline in enrollment that took place in the 1970's, St. Mary's consolidated with St. Patrick's in 1982 as Downtown Catholic. It changed its name to St. Mary's/St. Patrick's School in 1988. It became part of the consolidated Holy Family Catholic School System in 2001 along with the other parishes in the city. As enrollment continued to decline, St. Mary's/St. Patrick's became part of St. Francis Consolidated School in 2003, serving the families of St. Mary, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart, and Holy Trinity. St. Francis closed in 2005. Currently families of St. Mary's are encouraged to enroll their children in Holy Ghost Elementary School, Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School, and Wahlert Catholic High School. St. Mary's and St. Patrick's were placed under a unified leadership in 2000, with Deacon Timothy LoBianco serving as pastoral administrator. After much planning and several attempts at revitalization, it gradually became clear to church leadership and much of the membership that the parish was no longer sustainable. In the summer of 2009, the pastor, along with the lay directors, having discussed the matter for several months and having received the support of the Pastoral Planning Committee and the Finance Council, endorsed the proposal to seek closure of the parish. As Archbishop, I concluded that it was necessary to approve this request. Therefore, on September 14,2009, in accord with canon 515, §2 of the Code a/Canon Law, I sought the advice of the Council of Priests. Having heard the Council's advice and having continued to reflect on the situation and to receive the advice of the episcopal vicar, the pastor, and the special planning committee, I have decided that reluctantly the decision must be finalized. By this decree, according to Church Law ("Paroecias ... supprimere"), I officially close St. Mary Parish, Dubuque, Iowa, effective May 25, 20 IO. All registers containing records of baptism, confirmation, marriage, and burials hitherto preserved by St. Mary Parish are to be conveyed to St. Raphael Parish, Dubuque, where they are to be faithfully preserved according to canon 535, §§1-5. Since St. Mary's was established as a national parish to serve the German-speaking people of the area, no territorial boundaries are affected. Parishioners of St. Mary Parish are free to become members of any parish in the area. The respective parishes will assume the pastoral care of these parishioners. Because of accumulated debts, any assets of St. Mary Parish will first be used to payoff these debts. Remaining assets will follow the parishioners to their new parishes according to the different percentages of those transferring membership. The number of those who were parishioners on January I, 2009, who have registered at different parishes by December 31, 2010, will determine percentages. All juridical transactions will be cared for by the civil corporation of St. Mary's Church, in accord with the laws ofthe Church and of the State oflowa. Promulgation of this Decree is to be made in a public fashion as determined by the pastor and lay directors of St. Mary Parish. Any proposed petition against this Decree is to be made in writing to my office in not more than ten useful days from the date of promulgation. Given at Dubuque, Iowa, on this 25th day of May, 2010. + Mo t Rev. Jerome Hanus, O.S.B. Archbishop of Dubuque Betty Schuell Chancellor History of St. Mary's Catholic Church
Saint Mary's Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Located in Dubuque, Iowa at the corner of 15th and White Streets, the church is recognizable by its 252 foot tall steeple - one of the tallest steeples in the area.
During the 1840s, a number of German families moved to the city of Dubuque. Many of these families were Catholic and initially, they attended mass at St. Raphael's Cathedral. However, the cathedral was becoming quite crowded due to the growing German and Irish populations of the city. Bishop Mathias Loras was also having difficulty with ensuring that the German families were adequately cared for.
In 1849, Bishop Loras granted permission for forty German families to form a new parish. Gerhard Hueckels donated land at the corner of 8th and White Streets in Dubuque. In 1850, a church was built on the land. This church, named Holy Trinity, was built of native stone with a tower about twenty feet tall.
For the first few years, there was a lack of priests in the still young diocese. The people of Holy Trinity parish were served at first by a missionary, Father Gerhard Plathe. Finally in 1853, they were given a resident priest, Father William Edmonds.
Soon the first major influx of German immigrants occurred. The small Holy Trinity church was filled to capacity. In 1863, the pastor, Father George Fendrick, and members of the parish founded the "German Roman Catholic Association of Dubuque." Their goal was to build a new church to support the parish - which now had over 300 families. At first, they attempted to purchase the Presbyterian Seminary in Dubuque for $15,000. After other Christian denominations opposed this plan, the group instead purchased an orchard for $3,000. This site, about seven blocks north of the Holy Trinity Church, is the site of the current church.
Construction of the New St. Mary's Church
In 1864, construction was begun on the new church. The plans were designed by architect John Mullany, who had designed the present Cathedral building. (To this day, some note with humor that because of Mullany's Irish background that it took an Irishman to design a good German church). Father Aloysius Meis directed the construction. The new building was done in Gothic Architecture style.
The original high altar was done with many other churches during the 19th century, most of the excavation and construction work was done by the men of the parish. By the time the foundation was complete in September of 1864, only $3.03 was left in the treasury. The remaining $80,000 needed to finish the church was brought in through the use of more fundraisers and additional donations.
1867 to 1922
On February 10, 1867 Bishop John Hennessy dedicated the new St. Mary's Church. Over the next fifty-five years, the population of Dubuque continued to grow. This was especially true in the 1880s with the arrival of the Milwaukee Railroad shops. St. Mary's was the mother parish of four other area parishes. Sacred Heart was established in 1879, followed by Holy Ghost in 1896. In 1910, a new Holy Trinity Church was built near Eagle Point Park in Dubuque in memory of the first church in Dubuque to carry that name. Finally in 1922, Nativity parish was built near what today is called Loras College.
In the early 1870s, the Hook and Hastings Company - a prominent 19th century organ builder - installed an organ in the choir loft. This organ was placed in a visually impressive case. The organ was remodeled and enlarged over the years, and it currently has three manuals and 33 stops.
The sanctuary was extended in 1911, followed by the construction of two small chapels at the rear of the church. In 1914, stained glass windows built in Bavaria were installed in the church - the shipment of the windows was nearly stopped because of the outbreak of World War I.
 
1922 to the Present
In 1935, Father Aloysius Schmitt was ordained in Rome, Italy. He returned to the United States, and his first assignment was as an associate at Saint Mary's Church. In 1941, he was killed in the attack at Pearl Harbor - becoming the first chaplain of any faith to die in the Second World War.
In the early 1970s, the reforms of the Second Vatican Council were implemented. The parish emoved the communion rail, and placed a new altar in the sanctuary that faced the congregation. However, the original high and side altars were left largely intact.
The movie F.I.S.T., which was largely filmed in Dubuque had a scene which featured exterior shots of St. Mary's Church. The scene, which showed Sylvester Stallone and Melinda Dillon sitting and talking on a hill overlooking the city clearly showed St. Mary's Church in the background.
In recent years, St. Mary's Church has combined efforts with the nearby St. Patrick's Church; the two parishes share school facilities, and administrative staff. The parish has felt the results of the Priest shortage. The parish does have a priest that leads Mass, but most of the administrative work is now handled by a Deacon.
In the 1990s, St. Mary's built a new handicapped entrance. This entrance is located at the northeast corner of the church, and has an elevator. Before that, the church was not as accessible as other churches in the area.
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