Home Page About Us History Vocations Windows School Cemetery Church Life Communion Veterans St. Mels Steeple Fund Centennial Photographs Community Guestbook Send Email St. Mel's Catholic Church The origin of St. Mel's Catholic Church of McIntire, Iowa dates back to Easter Sunday in the year of 1928, when Father Joseph Wiehl, then pastor of St. Stephen's Parish of Chester, Iowa, offered the first Holy Mass in a small structure located in the little railroad town of McIntire, Iowa. Father Wiehl related that he was accompanied by three of his parishioners on their eventful journey over muddy roads, a distance of some 30 miles. Though the trip was hazardous, the courageous priest was rewarded by an attendance of more than 100 people who had come to join him in the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Membership grew and through the efforts of only a few Catholic families they jointly purchased the building from the Congregationalists and the Tabernacle of St. Mel's Catholic Church was erected. Father Wiehl continued his pastoral work here until the following autumn when it was given to Fr. Alex Heatherington, then pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Riceville. Membership grew and it became too much for the Riceville pastor to handle, so St. Mel's was again returned as a mission to St. Stephen's at Chester. In 1948 Father Victor Hintgen became pastor of Visitation Church in Stacyville and the care of St. Mel's mission. As membership grew and more room was needed Father Hintgen negotiated for the financial loan necessary to build the present building. Dedication of the new church took place in November of 1952. The first Mass was held upstairs on Christmas of 1952. In 1954 Father Hintgen left and Father Joseph Bohr became pastor of Visitation and St. Mel's. St. Patrick Cemetery was given to St. Mel's parish in 1957. Father Bohr left in 1960 and his successor was Father Joseph Wiehl. It is noteworthy that Fr. Wiehl should become our pastor again after so many years later. He was pastor from 1960 until 1963. Father John J. Breitbach served as pastor of Visitation and St. Mel's from 1963 to 1969. It was in 1969 that St. Mel's became a mission of Sacred Heart Church of Meyer with Father Thomas Carpender as our pastor. Father Carpender was our pastor from 1969 until 1987. Father Mark M cGovern of Cresco served as administrator of St. Mel's until July 1987 when Father Carl Manternach was appointed to Visitation and St. Mel's. St. Mel's celebrated its 60th anniversary as a parish on April 23, 1988. In November of 1990, St. Mel's was informed that Father Manternach would be leaving and Father Paul Otting would be our pastor. Then on April 27, 1991, Father Otting read a letter from Archbishop Kucera stating that effective July 9, 1991, St. Mel's Parish would be closed due to lack of priests to administer to all the parishes in the diocese. The last Mass at St. Mel's was said on Saturday, July 6, 1991 at 5:00 p.m. offered by Father Paul Otting. In August of 1991 a letter was received from Archbishop Kucera approving the sale of St. Mel's Church building to the Mennonite Community to be used as their church. After the closing of St. Mel's Catholic Church, its members joined other community Catholic churches. The majority of the families joined Immaculate Conception of Riceville and about 8 to 10 families joined Sacred Heart Parish of Meyer.