On June 17, 1931 [1932 by some accounts], a fire swept through Maloy. Both St. Mary's and the new Catholic church were destroyed. Almost immediately, Father M. J. CULHANE, an Irish immigrant and the parish's priest, organized the construction of a brick church building and rectory. During the construction of a new church, the parish accepted the offer of the Christian congregation to share their church building.

The new building, Immaculate Conception Church, was constructed in English Rural Architectural style with a steeply pitched roof suppored by heavy beams of steel which were encased in wood. The ceiling was constructed of accoustical tile; the floor of inlaid tile. The Gothic style altar and communion rail was constructed by the Daporte Studio of Chicago, a gift from the late Margaret GRIFFIN, a long-time Maloy resident.

The first Mass was offered by Father CULHANE on August 18, 1932. Later in the day, Father CULHANE officiated the marriage ceremony of John D. WARIN and Mary SHAY.

Those who served the Immaculate Conception Church were:

After Father CULHANE retired in 1971, the parish became a part of the Leon Region, which included the parishes at Mount Ayr, Leon, Grand River, Osceola, Chariton, and Corydon. The first priests assigned to this region were:

  Members of the Leon Regional Team included:

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 02, 1990

Rev. Father Thomas J. COENEN has assumed his position as Roman Catholic Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Maloy and St. Joseph's Parish in Mount Ayr.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2015

March 21, 2009

At a meeting in Maloy, Ringgold County, Iowa, in January of 2009, Bishop Richard PATES informed the parishioners of the Immaculate Conception Church that the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines would be closing down the Parish. Final Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3rd, 2009. The church building and its contents are slated to be sold. The parishoners hope to use the proceeds from this sale to endow a fund for the upkeep of St. Mary's Cemetery.

The Catholic Mirror did not include a statement from Bishop PATES in its March 20th edition about the move, noting theat PATES had "consulted with the Presbyterial Council [an advisory group of priests] and looked at a study of the utilization of priests."

Since the early arrival of Irish immigrants, the Catholic Church experienced a strong presence in the Maloy vicinity. The first Catholic services were held in 1864 in the home of Luke SHAY, an immigrant from County Laois, Ireland. The first Catholic Church was build at St. Mary's Cemetery located east of Maloy in 1874. This building was moved in 1887 to the newly platted town of Maloy in 1887. A larger church was built in Maloy in 1903. This new church served approximately 50 parish families. On June 17, 1932, a fire destroyed both the 1887 and the 1903 church buildings. Father M. J. CULHANE, an Irish immigrant and the parish priest at the time, organized the construction of the brick church building and rectory which will close in May of 2009.

In recent years, the rectory has been home to several religious sisters, who have been involved with parish and community activities from religious education, to tutoring at Mount Ayr Elementary School, to working with hispanic families in Lenox. The current residents, Sisters Nan ROSS and Joanna RETTENMEIER, are planning to return in May to the BVM Mother House in Dubuque.

Following the final Mass on May 3rd, the parish will host a reception for members and friends of Immaculate Conception Parish. The event will be held at the Foxtown Music Hall in Maloy.

March 18, 2009

On May 26th, 1989, Sister Bernadine PIEPER brought together several helpers and planted a one acre prairie on former railroad land acquired by the Immaculate Conception Parish. After 20 years of growth, the area is thick with tall prairie grasses and dotted with a variety of native wildflowers. This year, on Sunday, May 24th, there will be a 20th anniversary celebration for the prairie and its founder.

Since the early arrival of Irish immigrants in Ringgold County, the Catholic Church experienced a strong presence in the Maloy vicinity. The first Catholic services were held in 1864 in the home of Luke SHAY, an immigrant from County Laois, Ireland.

Three years later, the SHAY family moved a mile west to the John DALE farm. DALE had held a contract with the stage company and maintained a headquaters for the company on his farm. SHAY took over the contract and operated the stage's barn on the farm.

The Catholic congregation continued to hold services in the SHAY home. When the congregation grew too large for accommodations in the SHAY home, the missionary priest moved services to the SHAY barn. Mass was also said from time to time after 1879 in the William LAMBERT home.

Because some parishioners traveled great distances, it was customary that a meal was provided for everyone after services. This arrangement worked out well except for a few occasions when the priest gave services at the LAMBERT home and the meal was being prepared at the SHAY home, or vice versa.

Services for the congregation was conducted at various times by missionary priests from either Ottumwa or Georgetown. After 1872, the Benedictine Fathers conducted services.

St. Mary's Church and Cemetery was organized circa 1870 on part of the farm Edward KUHN homesteaded. In the deed which gave possession of the farm to William LAMBERT in 1870, three acres were designated as "Church Land." The first interment in the cemetery was of Mrs. CAHILL who died on October 9, 1871.

Father Placidus McKEEVER, a Benedictine Father, directed the construction of the first Catholic Church in the vicinity in 1874-75. This house of worship was located on a three-acre tract of land at St. Mary's Cemetery east of Maloy. Luke SHAY paid half of the expense for the construction of the new church.

NOTE: In her 1937 book, Mrs. LESAN stated, "The church was erected on a three-acre tract of graound 3/4 of a mile east and 1/4 of a mile north of Maloy, which was donated for that purpose by a Mr. RABBIT of Pennsylvania, who afterwards sold the remaining portion of the land of which it had been a part to William LAMBERT."

The first child baptized in the new church was Julia HART, the daughter of Margaret Ellen (SHAY) and Michael N. HART, granddaughter of Luke and Julia (WHELAN) SHAY. Julia was baptized in November of 1875. [NOTE: Julia HART later married James NOLAN of Maloy.]

From 1883 to 1887, Diocesan priests from Dubuque were stationed at Mount Ayr and said Mass at St. Mary's. These priests were Fathers FEELEY, WILLIAMS, and B. J. SHERIDAN.

The town of Maloy was platted in 1887. Consequently the church was moved into town, a endeavor which was accomplished by Elias COWELL and his mules.

In 1903, Father J. J. CONDON supervised the construction of a larger church complete with stained glass windows and a 60-foot spire. At the time there were 50 families belonging to the parish, which included many of the pioneer Catholic families - SHAYS, LAMBERTS, O'CONNORS, SHEILS, MULLINS, HIGGINSES, GEIGERS, HOWES, and WARINS. The original St. Mary's church was moved to the rear of the churchyard, serving as the parish's hall.

The new church served the people of Maloy quite well. Here the townspeople and others in the vicinity enjoyed Thanksgiving dinners and bi-weekly dances. At the time, motion pictures were taboo on Sunday throughout Ringgold County. Consequently, Mr. KRAMER brought his projector and cans of film to Maloy each Sunday to the enjoyment of those living for miles around the church.

On June 17, 1931 [1932 by some accounts], a fire swept through Maloy. Both St. Mary's and the new church were destroyed along with five businesses, a house, and a barn. Almost immediately, Father M. J. CULHANE, an Irish immigrant and the parish's priest, organized the construction of a brick church building and rectory. During the construction of a new church, the parish accepted the offer of the Christian congregation to share their church building.

The new church was constructed in English Rural Architectural style with a steeply pitched roof suppored by heavy beams of steel which were encased in wood. The ceiling was constructed of accoustical tile; the floor of inlaid tile. The Gothic style altar and communion rail was constructed by the Daporte Studio of Chicago, a gift from the late Margaret GRIFFIN, a long-time Maloy resident.

Final Mass at Immaculate Conception Church was held on May 3rd, 2009. Then the church was closed and sold.

• Father J. M. CULHANE

• Reverend Father Henry V. MALONE

• Sister Bernadine Elizabeth PIEPER

• Father John ZEITLER
  

  SOURCES:
  Maloy Centennial Book, Pp. 6, 22-23
  Information supplied by Father CULHANE, 1956
  LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 p. 242, Blair Pub. House. Lamoni IA. 1937.

  Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010; updated September of 2015