St. Joseph Catholic Church - Neptune at 28172 Nature Avenue, Hinton, IA 51024-8553 US - The Parishes at Ellendale, Merrill, and Neptune
The Parishes at Ellendale, Merrill, and NeptuneThe parish of St. Joseph - Neptune currently operates with a $125,000 annual budget to provide for the needs of its people. About 66 families (230 individuals) are registered as parishioners and take part in the weekend Eucharistic celebrations. The parish averages about four baptisms, four First Eucharists, six Confirmations, one wedding, and one funeral each year. Members of the parish serve on one of five mowing groups who take turns helping to mow the four acres of lawn including the cemetery. The pastor is assisted by the Pastoral Council which is made up by the Lay Directors, the President of the Altar Society, and the chairpersons of the Liturgy, Finance, Parish Life, and Buildings/Grounds Committees. The parish is also clustered with the parishes of St. Joseph-Ellendale, Assumption-Merrill, St. Joseph-Le Mars, St. James-Le Mars, and St. Joseph-Struble. Catholic Education is provided for children of the parish at Gehlen Catholic School-Le Mars or by the Religious Education program held in Le Mars and supported by the parishes of the cluster and St. James-Le Mars. Students of the parish not attending Gehlen, attend Le Mars Community Schools, Hinton Community Schools, Kingsley-Pierson Schools, St. Mary Catholic School-Remsen, or Remsen Union School. Women of the parish belong to the Altar Society which promotes the upkeep of the worship space (including the purchase of hosts, wine, candles, decorations; and cleaning), hosting Coffee/Juice/Rolls the second Sundays of the month during the school year, and hosting a November and March supper. Men of the parish sponsor the Lincoln Stag, a fundraiser held each January since about 1969 to raise about $7,000 for the parish. Youth of the parish serve as altar servers and lectors. Adults of the parish serve as lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and members of the seasonal choir. In early 1999, with input from parishioners the Parish Life Committee completed work to create a mission statement for the parish. Parishioners believe this summarizes why we exist and puts into a simple statement what the founding fathers and mothers set forth in the 1880s. In mid-1999 the Parish Life Committee completed work on a new pictoral directory. The first and last one had been done in 1985. Parishioners continue to be very active and loyal to the parish. For example, several parishioners, with donations from some former parishioners, restored the wood bell tower louvers in late 1999 so that the bells could once again be rung to praise God! The pastor currently serves as the administrator of the parishes of St. Joseph-Ellendale and Our Lady of the Assumption-Merrill. For more information about these parishes, please click on their history links. And like other parishes, it takes good stewardship to carry out mission of our parishes.
History of St. Joseph - Ellendale
Ellendale - St. Joseph ELLENDALE - St. Joseph Church lies in the western part of Plymouth County. The foundation of the parish was laid in the 1860s or 1870s when the early Catholic settlers pushed their way up the Big Sioux River and its feeder streams in search of new lands and homes. Those ...
History of Our Lady of the Assumption - Merrill
Merrill - Assumption MERRILL - Assumption Parish dates back to the 1880s. Although the territory was one of the earliest settled in northwest Iowa, the parish was not immediately established. Catholics in the area looked to Le Mars or Ellendale for spiritual guidance. The earliest records in ...
History of St. Joseph-Neptune
In the early 1880s Catholic settlers arrived in the Neptune area. On 21 March 1884 the first Mass in the area was celebrated in the home of William Sullivan, Sr. with Father James Barron, pastor of St. James Catholic Church-Le Mars. On 10 November 1884 the property on which the parish sits was ...
Mission Statement of St. Joseph-Neptune
We the members of St. Joseph Church-Neptune, a rural Roman Catholic parish, exist to honor the presence of Christ in our community through worship, prayer, and celebration of the sacraments. We teach, learn, and work together by sharing time, talent, and treasure in order to promote family values, ...
PARISH POLICY
These policies have been created by various parish groups with the approval of the pastor. Cemetery 1. Families are to comply with all the rules and regulations of the cemetery. 2. No permanent trees, plants, shrubs, flowers, or embellishments of any kind may be placed upon the burial ...
PARISH SCHOOL BUS
Since the late 1950s this parish has operated bus service for children of the parish attending Gehlen Catholic School. Our bus provides safe transportation for many of our children who live outside of the Le Mars Community School District who, otherwise, would not have bus service.
"LE MARS AREA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY" CLUSTER
VIRTUS TRAINING has been scheduled for January 12 in Le Mars. If you are working with or plan to work with children in our Diocese, you are required to complete this training. Please see the Jan. 8 The Globe for information and instructions on how to register. BAPTISM CLASS will be held Jan. ...
Remember the Parish
Have you included St. Joseph Catholic Church - Neptune of Hinton, Iowa in your Last Will and Testament? This is good way to return a gift to the parish that helped you in your journey of faith. Your gift can be designated for any number of funds and projects. For example, your gift to the ...
New Members Welcome
NEW PARISHIONERS should contact the pastor to register in the parish. We are happy to have you as a member of the parish! ALL PARISHIONERS are asked to contact the pastor if you have a change in address, school, parish, etc. Thank you!
Baptism Preparation
BAPTISMAL CLASS should be arranged with the pastor before the birth of a child in order to prepare for the baby’s baptism.
Marriage Preparation in the Roman Catholic Church
1. All Catholics are required to have their wedding vows take place in the presence of one of the persons’ bishop or one of the persons’ pastor or deacon, and in the presence of two witnesses. For a wedding to take place in the presence of a minister other than the persons’ Catholic bishop, pastor, ...
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PARISH OFFICE for all three parishes will move from 28172 Nature Avenue to 527 Center Street in Merrill, PO Box 175, 712-938-2236 beginning July 13. BOOKKEEPER: Fr. Nick will continue the bookkeeping as Fr. Mark has done for the last seven years. CEMETERY CARETAKERS NEEDED for the Merrill ...
THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES...
Check out this week's activities schedule for the parish!
THIS WEEK'S THOUGHT...
Consider this thought!
Stewardship
means . . .
Vocation View
A thought regarding vocations . . .
Questions for Faith Sharing
To live my faith more fully this week, I will . . .
CANON LAW
What does Canon Law, the law of the Roman Catholic Church say? Check here for a few of the laws. More laws will be listed in the coming weeks/months.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Special Collections are taken up regularly to help with various needs around the Diocese and the World. Check on upcoming collections here.
PIPE ORGAN
On November 27 two employees of Dobson Pipe Organ Co. from Lake City, Iowa tuned all 392 pipes of our pipe organ. They will also send us an estimate for the materials needed to help us to get the 12-15 keys that do not play, due to leaks, to play again. Perhaps after Christmas parish volunteers ...
PETITION #2493
The old 1975 chain petition to block Madeline Murray O`Hare`s petition #2493 to the FCC to block religious programming on TV has resurfaced again. This time is has been retyped by someone and updated to mention "Touched by An Angel" and is also being e-mailed to people. Please disregard this ...