226 W 6th St
PO Box 513
Glidden, Iowa 51443-0513

ESTABLISHED 1976
Current church building built: 1988

Office Hours: x
Phone: x
Fax: x

Sunday Mass: Saturday 5:30 p.m.

St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Glidden had its beginnings in 1972 as a mission parish of Holy Family Parish in Lidderdale. While there were many active Catholics, it would be several years before the young parish would receive a name and become an entity of its own.

Mass is Glidden was first celebrated in the city hall building on the Feast of All Saints, Nov. 1 1972, by Father Jerome Degan. Prior to that Catholic families in the area were affiliated with Holy Family Parish in Lidderdale and before that, Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll.

The number of Catholic families in the Glidden area had grown from 65 households in 1968 to 87 in 1973. Mass continued to be celebrated at city hall until December 1973 when services were moved to the former Glidden theater. The theater building provided more seating room and an atmosphere somewhat more conducive to the sacrifice of Mass than did the city hall. Mass was first celebrated in the theater on Dec. 2, 1973.

In late 1974, an advisory committee was formed to plan and build a hall and educational center on land purchased by the diocese in May 1974.

The parish received its name in July 1976 when Bishop Frank J. Greteman established the church. In September of the same year, ground was broken for the parish center. The building was constructed for approximately $100,000 and was the parish's first "real" home. Mass was offered for the first time in the new parish hall on July 3, 1977.

The parish hall served the young parish well for several years providing a place to celebrate Mass as well as a place to hold CCD classes for the growing church family.

By 1987, the parish had grown to approximately 160 families with 155 children in the CCD program. More space was needed, so in January of 1988, the parish center was remodeled and two additional classrooms were built, largely by volunteers.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for a brand new church building were held in August of 1988 for a 7,200-square-foot church. The $400,000 structure was completed a year later.

St. Elizabeth Parish has been served by a total of nine pastors in its relatively brief history: Fathers Jerome Degan (1972-1975), Robert Gralapp (1975-1979), Ronald Reicks (1979), Eugene Ceperley (1979-1982), Anthony Pick (1982-1985), James Bruch (1985-1991), Richard Kielbasa (1991-1997), Paul Kelly (1997-1999) and Merlin Schrad (1999-2001).

On April 22, 2002, Father Joseph Dillinger was appointed administrator of the parish.

Currently, 172 households comprise St. Elizabeth Seton Parish.