Area Catholics take a Journey in Faith
Eight parishes united in new “Webster City Area Pastorate\\\"
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Changes to the Catholic church organization have impacted area Catholics as schedules shift to accommodate a new structure. The planning for the shifts started over a year ago. The first steps are now in place.
On July 14, 2026, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque began implementing its Journey in Faith project, consolidating 160 parishes across 30 counties in Northeast and Central Iowa into 24 new pastorates. There are many reasons for this, but a decline in Mass attendance, and fewer priests, are the most important single factors. The changes affect 180,000 Catholics, and have been carefully planned over the last two years.
Assisting the Archdiocese in the project is a consultant, the Catholic Leadership Institute of Malvern, Pennsylvania, which has worked with dioceses across the country, engaged in work similar to what's happening here.
Reverend Donald Czapla, pastor of the newly-formed pastorate, said, "A pastorate is a grouping of parishes that share resources, personnel and, most importantly, bring people together for the future."
A self-described "Nebraska farm boy," Father Czapla most recently served as pastor at St. Cecelia's parish in Ames. He earned a masters in inorganic chemistry and worked for Hach Companies for seven years before discerning his call to the priesthood.
Czapla is assisted by two priests with the title parochial vicar; Rev. Ralph Davis, and Rev. Peter Dery. Parochial Vicars were previously called assistant or associate pastors. Four permanent deacons, Daniel Hurt, Douglas Aklinger, Robin Claypool and Michael Whitters, serve the eight churches in the Webster City Area pastorate.
Parishioners involved throughout process
The Journey in Faith began in December, 2024 with a 95-question survey to gather data on every aspect of parish life. Over 22,000 people replied. Their answers and suggestions have guided the rest of the process.
Archbishop Thomas Zincula was clear about his intentions: the survey results would be used to provide a data-driven effort to rebuild the Archdiocese, not to close churches.
Six parishioners from St. Thomas Aquinas formed a transition team. They attended an orientation August 98, 2025, to learn how Journey in Faith would be implemented locally. A series of parish meetings were held to ask parishioners about their feelings and suggestions.
Jeanne Hill, a life-long St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner who's held virtually every volunteer position open to a lay person, both in the church and St. Thomas Aquinas School, served on the local Journey in Faith team. Reflecting on the process, she had this to say;
“While we all struggle when giving up our familiar routines and safe spaces, we do experience growth and excitement with change. Here at St. Thomas Aquinas we are sad to see Father Anane reassigned, but we have been thus far delighted with our new pastorate and priests. The process has been well planned out and because of that, we are seeing promising results – new faces at Mass, some forgotten faces returning to Mass, and an open mind from everyone about the future. I only expect things to continue in that positive direction going forward.”
A key objective of Journey in Faith is prioritizing the health and well-being of priests. "With a larger pastorate staff, we allow priests to use the skills they have," Czapla said. "When they were isolated in small, rural parishes, priests too often lacked the comradery they needed. We're fixing that with these changes."
Now, churches in the new pastorates are focused on the many details of working together.
It’s clear Father Czapla is eagerly embracing his new role. "The challenges excite me. I love the opportunity to serve and improve."
No churches closed; Mass times change
Whereas all eight churches previously had weekend Masses, only four do today. These are St. Thomas Aquinas, Webster City, at 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday, both in English; St. Mark, Iowa Falls, 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday, also in English; St. John, Clarion, 8 p.m. Saturday, in Spanish; and St. Mary, Eldora, Sunday, 10:30 a.m., in English.
Weekday Masses are said in all churches of the pastorate at various times in a given month.
As a local example, St. Mary's, Williams, Mass is said 5:30 p.m., the fourth week of the month, and 8:30 a.m., the fourth and fifth Tuesdays of the month. All eight churches remain open for baptisms, weddings, funerals, and local religious education classes.
A new Spanish language Mass is celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas, Webster City every Thursday at 7 p.m.
"We know we've needed this for several years; it's a priority for this community," Czapla said.