Welcome to St. John the Evangelist
Church – Placid
History
Council & Committee
Hall/Pavillon Rental
Cemetery Info
The History of St. John the Evangelist Church – Placid
Introduction
When a community remains undisturbed by industry for decades and is still that way going into the twenty-first century, it is often hard to tell the story of its history unless there is a common thread that binds the years together. Because of its calm and serene surroundings, it only seems fitting that the common thread of Placid is faith, led by priests, and bound together by generations of families. Placid history lies in the lives of those priests, past and present, who built the foundation, and the many parishioners who nurtured that foundation to maintain this faith community.
There are two recorded stories how Pleasant Grove became Placid. The first story stated the logical: the area received its name because it was so peaceful and serene. Yet another, more consistent and popular story, was that this settlement was named for Fr. Placid, a monk of the New Melleray Monastery. However it came about, members of this community answer to Pleasant Grove, Placid or St. John Parish, rural Epworth. And so the story begins in Pleasant Grove.
1874 In the Beginning
In 1874, even before ecumenism was heard of, Mr. Edwin Horsfield introduced it into the Pleasant Grove community. Because there was no church in those days, neighbors gathered to celebrate Mass in the home of Mr. Horsfield, a non-Catholic. As the number of Catholics grew, the community became a congregation. A Protestant neighbor, known only as Mr. Hooper, donated a two-acre plot of land to the archdiocese. In 1874, Fr. John Hawe was given the challenge of building a church on the donated plot, and the honor of serving as its first pastor.
The first priests of Pleasant Grove stayed at the home of Edwin Horsfield. After the church was built, Mr. Horsfield became Catholic and donated the stations and a beautiful window that was placed over the main altar. Christmas services were held in the new church in 1874 for the parish of fifty families. Fr. John Hawe remained with the church community until 1876 when Fr. Michael Meagher succeeded him until 1877. Fr. Michael ODonnell served the parishioners for the next year and a half. He remained until his death at age twenty-eight after a long illness. Read More…
Parish Council Members
- Melissa Casey (2023)
- Scott Kennedy (2023)
- Brent Koopmann (2023)
- Luke McDermott (2021)
- Jeanita Grebner (2022)
- Cherie Kennedy
- Geri Kalb
Liturgy Committee
- Jan Connolly
- Gayle Ernst
- Kari Feldmann
- Liz Flaherty
- Joann Koopmann
- Janice Krapfl
- Karen Loney
- Donna Strief
Hall and Pavillion Rental
Contact Janice Krapfl at 563.876-5589 to reserve the hall.
1-49 people $ 60
50-99 people $110
100-149 people $160
150-199 people $210
200-250 people $260
($150.00 deposit)
Please contact the cemetery board through the St. Elizabeth Pastorate Office at 563-876-5540 with questions or concerns or to purchase lots.
Headstones must follow local guidelines. Prior approval from the cemetery board must be sought before a headstone may be placed on the gravesite.
No planting of permanent trees, shrubs, bushes, etc. or any other types of landscaping without prior approval from cemetery board.
Decorations are allowed year-round if set directly on the headstone or cement foundation. Please place items at your own risk. Cemetery board does not monitor the grounds and cannot be responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged items.
Flowers or decorations not attached to monuments may be placed on grave during the following approved holidays: Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, All Souls Day and Christmas Day. These decorations may stay up for one week prior and one week past the holiday.
Any decorations placed directly in the ground may not go beyond a 10-inch radius of the headstone during the approved holiday decorating times. All decorations must be removed at proper times. Items not removed will be discarded.
Shepherd hooks are to be placed in the cement foundation if it is to be a permanent decoration, only one per headstone, and not more than 4 feet high.
If you have a special occasion (birth date, anniversary) and wish to place additional decorations during a non-approved holiday time, please speak to the cemetery board prior to the date for consideration.
Without notice, cemetery board reserves the right to prohibit or remove from lots or graves, any articles that are dead, faded, broken, create a safety hazard, cause additional maintenance burdens, or any articles not given proper prior approval.
Cemetery Board
Steve McDermott 563-599-7678
Fred Urbain 563-258-2188
Altar and Rosary
Molly Brehm
Jolene Zimmerman
Back Office
Contact the Pastorate Office for the latest Council Minutes.
/coming soon…
PRAYER REQUEST
may we pray for you?
Fr. Michael Schueller
Pastor
St. John the Evangelist Church, Placid
(563) 876-5540
Address
22481 East Pleasant Grove Road
Epworth, IA 52045
United States
OUR MISSION
Remembering always that our main mission is to proclaim the Gospel to all, the St. Elizabeth Pastorate parishes seek to support the vitality of all its member parishes. The St. Elizabeth Pastorate’s mission is to nurture the Catholic faith among all parishioners, while respecting the individuality of all member parishes.