Thursday, December 18, 2025
Christmas Mass at Midnight
Confessions will be heard beginning at 10:00 p.m. on December 24th.
Christmas carols will begin at 11:35 p.m.
There will be a 2nd collection to benefit Holy Angels Novitiate
Mass propers for the Nativity of Our Lord – Mass at Midnight are available here.
Save Your Soul
Eternity will last forever!
Consider hearing the recent Parish Mission and making a general confession.
Happening Now
Please Help With the Restoration
- Restoring the TALL south steeple
- Finishing 12 bathroom stalls
- Finishing two sacristies
- Purchasing hymnals for the pews
- Finishing the basement
To mail a donation:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N. 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.
[email protected]
Have questions? Please call 563-503-6320.
St. Irenaeus Chapel is a corporation which is incorporated under Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code,
and operating within meaning of 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
To Benefit Your Soul
You can still benefit from the recent Parish Mission!
Please click the graphic below for free access to the recorded sermons and provided resources, and share this link with others.
Four Years Ago This Week
For those new to the restoration of St. Irenaeus Chapel, please know that it began four years ago with the birth of Maximilian John Pio.
God’s will is amazing to watch sometimes. As Maximilian’s genetic condition became known and his journey of suffering began, a dedicated group of men came together with the same goal: “To Restore All Things in Christ.”
It was on Saturday, December 11, 2021
that the chapel doors were opened to benefactors for tours. The faithful prayed the Holy Rosary, the bell rung for the Angelus and a youth group cleaned the building. Meanwhile, back at home, Maximilian was suffering his last full day.
On Gaudete Sunday – the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Maximilian was called to his Heavenly reward at 8:28 PM.
Maximilian’s Mass of the Angels
was prayed at St. Irenaeus on Saturday, December 18, 2021. It was the first Mass said at St. Irenaeus Church since its closing in 2008.
Knowing that souls do not die, and with assurance of his baptism and youthful purity, we can ask Maximilian to pray for us in Heaven.
Maximilian John Pio, ora pro nobis!
You can read more about Maximilian here.
A Review of 2021-2025
Click the cover to view of summary of the restoration the past four years.
It has all been made possible in thanks to you – its benefactors. May God reward you!
Make Plans for Christmas
Recent Projects
Photos Provided
To Donate
To mail a donation:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N. 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.
[email protected]
Have questions? Please call 563-503-6320.
St. Irenaeus Chapel is a corporation which is incorporated under Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code,
and operating within meaning of 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Monday, December 1, 2025
Come to the Mission
As we prepare for Christmas, let us also prepare for eternity; It will last forever!
The mission is a series of sermons concerning salvation and the means of persevering in God’s grace and friendship.
Praying for Vocations
The faithful are invited pray like the Mothers of Lu, Italy this first Sunday of the month – uniting their intentions with their reception of Holy Eucharist.
Mothers may gather at the communion rail after Mass and pray for vocations. This prayer card will be distributed and prayed. In addition, an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be will be prayed together.
Have a Blessed Advent
While we wait for the coming of Christ.
“The season of Advent is not just the start of the liturgical year. It is a time of preparation for the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Each Christmas brings with it a special grace. It is a time for us to be transformed if we are properly disposed toward accepting the miracle, to paraphrase St. Athanasius, of God becoming man so that we may become like Him.”
Hear this sermon for the First Sunday in Advent here.
Looking Toward Christmas
Local Lights
Northern Lights
We Need Your Help
To mail a donation:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N. 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.
[email protected]
Have questions? Please call 563-503-6320.
St. Irenaeus Chapel is a corporation which is incorporated under Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code,
and operating within meaning of 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Thursday, November 13, 2025
For Mary, This Sunday
Unite your intentions at Holy Mass.
The General House of the Society of St. Pius X issued a communique regarding Our Lady’s unique collaboration in the work of salvation, and asks you to unite intentions of reparation at Mass this Sunday, November 16. You can read the statement here.
You also can listen to the communique read on the SSPX Daily Devotional Podcast from November 13th.
“In truth, together with the Most Holy Eucharist, the Most Blessed Virgin represents the most precious gift that Our Lord has bequeathed to us,” said the Superior General of the SSPX. You can read that statement in his interview here.
Come to the Mission!
Who should attend the Parish Mission?
- Everyone, Catholics and non-Catholics
- Adults, young adults, and children above the age of reason
- Fallen-away Catholics
- Tepid souls wanting fervor
- The most abandoned souls – those destitute of spiritual aid
- Pious souls needing encouragement
- Those wanting true sorrow for sin and a real desire for change in their lives
- Those needing to persevere in God’s grace
- Those wanting an opportunity to “start fresh” with God
- Those who have been away from the sacrament of Confession
- Those who are looking to know and love God
- Anyone who is going to die someday
The Parish Mission includes a series of talks given Friday – Monday, December 5th-8th, 2025.
There is no cost to attend, and no registration is necessary.
To hear the talks through your hearing aid, download the Wavecast App before attending.
If in need of lodging, call AmericInn in Fulton at 815-589-3333 before November 14th and ask for the group rate.
No Rosary This Friday
On the Birth of Our Lord
We Need Your Help
To mail a donation:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N. 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.
[email protected]
Have questions? Please call 563-503-6320.
St. Irenaeus Chapel is a corporation which is incorporated under Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code,
and operating within meaning of 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Saturday, November 1, 2025
The Poor Souls in Purgatory
Pray for them during this month of November.
This illustration shows the continuous communication in the three portions of the Church spiritually united in Jesus Christ. The members of earth send up prayers to the angels and saints for themselves and for the poor souls in purgatory. They in turn are helped by the intercession of the saints and angels, and by the graces obtained thereby. The poor souls pray for the members on earth.
Image and caption taken from page 148 in My Catholic Faith by Bp. Louis LaRavoire Morrow. Available here at Angelus Press.
Mark Your Calendar!
This schedule is also available for download here.
Friday, December 5 – First Friday
5:00 pm Confessions
6:00 pm Opening Ceremony, followed by Mass with Sermon 1: Salvation
7:30 pm Sermon 2: How to Make a Good Confession (finishes 8 pm)
(A video will be available for small children in the basement from 7:30-8:00 p.m.)
Saturday, December 6 – First Saturday
8:30 am General Confessions
9:30 am Commandments 1-3
10:00 am Devotions in honor of St. Gerard Majella for mothers and children
10:30 am Mass with Sermon 3: Hell
12:00 pm Potluck
1:00 pm Commandments 4 – 6 & 9, followed by Rosary
2:00 pm General Confessions
3:00 pm Commandments 7- 8; Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
4:00 pm Holy Hour and General Confessions (until finished)
Sunday, December 7 – Second Sunday of Advent
8:00 am Confessions
9:00 am Sung Mass with Sermon 4: Mercy of God
10:30 am Coffee break
11:00 am Sermon 5: Resolutions
(A video will be available for small children in the basement from 11 a.m. – noon.)
11:30 am General Confessions (until finished)
Monday, December 8 – Immaculate Conception
5:00 pm General Confessions
6:00 pm Mass with Sermon 6: Devotion to Mary; Benediction and Closing Ceremony of Mission
Why are we having a Parish Mission? It is customary for every parish to invite a missionary priest to preach a Mission once every three years. The special goal of the Mission is threefold: (1) to help fallen away Catholics return to their faith, (2) to convert tepid souls to fervor, and (3) to encourage pious souls in their good resolutions to serve God. Just as Jesus and His Apostles went from town to town preaching the Kingdom of God, so the missionary comes to your parish to encourage you to give up sin and to practice your Catholic faith better.
What is a Parish Mission? A Parish Mission is one of the extraordinary apostolates of the Catholic Church. It is a series of sermons concerning salvation and the means of persevering in God’s grace and friendship. The sermons work together as a whole, so it is important to attend them all in order to derive the most profit from the Mission. The Mission will enlighten your mind with God’s Truth, help to detach your heart from sin, and strengthen your will with the love of God.
What do the Mission sermons discuss? Hard truths are discussed: sin, the reality of hell, the importance of sacramental confession. But more consoling truths are also talked about: how to persevere in God’s grace and grow in His love; the importance of prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially love for Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
Who can attend the Mission? Anyone can come – Catholic or non-Catholic are all welcome. The Mission is especially helpful for anyone who is unable to attend an enclosed retreat in a religious house. However, scrupulous persons should attend the Mission only if they receive permission from their parish priest or confessor.
Can children attend the Mission? Parents should bring their teenagers to the Mission; younger children may come at the discretion of their parents. Many parishes provide a babysitter in the parish hall so that parents can be less distracted during the sermons.
What is a General Confession? During the Mission, everyone is encouraged to make a “General Confession” – that is, a confession of your whole life, as a means of preparing you to come closer to God. For someone who has been making bad confessions or sacrilegious Communions, a General Confession is the only way to return to the state of God’s grace and friendship. It clears the slate so you can start over fresh with God. And for pious Catholics, even though you have confessed your sins before, a General Confession is a good way to renew your contrition and hatred for sin, and to come closer to your loving Savior through the sacrament of Penance.
Who is the missionary priest? He is a Redemptorist Father whose special apostolate is to preach Parish Missions. He comes as an “extraordinary confessor” – that is, he will be unknown to you, so you can make your General Confession to him without feeling embarrassed.
Who are the Redemptorist Fathers? The Redemptorists were founded in 1732 by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church and patron saint of all confessors. The goal of the Redemptorists is to preach Parish Missions to the most abandoned souls – those destitute of spiritual aid.
Are there any indulgences attached to the Mission? Yes. According to the old laws governing indulgences, anyone who attends at least four of the Mission sermons can gain a plenary indulgence. Sick parishioners who are unable to attend may gain a plenary indulgence by praying each day for the success of the Mission. And on the last day of the Mission, rosaries and crucifixes will be blessed with special indulgences, so remember to bring these items with you to be blessed.
Can we record the Mission sermons? Yes. Although it’s best to listen to them live, recordings can be helpful to remind you of the graces you received during the Mission. Also, sick parishioners unable to attend the Mission can profit by listening to recordings made for them.
How can we prepare for our Parish Mission? Firstly, pray for the success of the Mission. Then, encourage others (friends, family, neighbors) to attend. Finally, ask God for a true sorrow for sin and a real desire to change your life from sin or tepidity. In this way, you will be preparing yourself and your parish for the extraordinary grace of the Parish Mission.
For more information, please contact:
Traditional Redemptorist Missioners
Holy Redeemer House
15959 Bryce Rd.
Mussey, MI 48014
If in need of lodging, call AmericInn in Fulton at 815-589-3333 before November 14th and ask for the group rate.
A Merry Christmas
Tell us More
A history club recently toured St. Irenaeus. Everyone seems to have a St. Irenaeus story.
Please share your story and photos by emailing them to [email protected].
For Vocations
“O God, grant that at least one of our sons may become a priest or religious brother, and one of our daughters a religious sister. We ourselves want to live as good Christians, and to guide our children always to do what is right, so that we may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give Thee a holy priest, brother, or sister! Amen.”
(Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)
Let's Keep Going!
The scaffolding will be set up soon and the work will begin. It takes a lot to make this happen. Please consider supporting this effort.
To mail a donation:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N. 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.
[email protected]
Have questions? Please call 563-503-6320.
St. Irenaeus Chapel is a corporation which is incorporated under Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code,
and operating within meaning of 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Monday, October 13, 2025
108 Years Ago Today
Pray the Rosary
“If priests and religious have an obligation to meditate on the great truths of our holy religion in order to live up to their vocation worthily, the same obligation is just as much incumbent on the laity, because of the fact that every day they meet with spiritual dangers which might cause them to lose their souls. Therefore they should arm themselves with the frequent meditation on the life, virtues, and sufferings of our Blessed Lord, which are presented to us in the fifteen mysteries of the holy Rosary.”
A Blessed Weekend
Masses were offered by Father John Young, SSPX – a visiting priest.
A First Communicant received Our Lord.
After Masses there was fellowship, a bake sale by the youth group, and fun on the lawn!
Prior to the weekend, there were server practices, choir practices (children’s and adult) and lessons in arranging altar flowers.
Let's Do it Again
It takes a lot of time, resources and expertise to complete this gigantic task. Please consider contributing to the restoration.
To mail a donation:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N. 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.
[email protected]
Have questions? Please call 563-503-6320.
St. Irenaeus Chapel is a corporation which is incorporated under Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code,
and operating within meaning of 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
See you at Holy Mass
Three Upcoming Masses
Friday, October 10
5:15 Confessions
5:30 Rosary
6:00 p.m. – Low Mass
Saturday, October 11
8:15 Confessions
8:30 Rosary
9:00 a.m. – Low Mass
Sunday, October 12
8:15 Confessions
8:30 Rosary
9:00 a.m. – High Mass followed by Benediction
(and a bake sale- everything $1)
These Masses will be offered by Father John Young, SSPX – a visiting priest.
Please be aware there is water main work going on in front of the church… North 2nd street may be closed.
New to St. Irenaeus?
There is not a regular Mass schedule currently. Masses are offered as priests are able to visit.
Please check often for announcements of upcoming Masses.
For those unfamiliar with Traditional Latin Mass, a Low Mass is said quietly, while a High Mass is sung (Missa Cantata) with incense.
The Traditional Latin Mass is also known as the TLM, Mass of the Ages, Old Rite, Tridentine Mass, Classical Form of the Roman Rite, Extraordinary Form, Usus Antiquior, and Pre-Conciliar liturgy, and follows the 1962 Missal.
Mass helpers are available in the vestibule at St. Irenaeus; however, one does not have to follow along with a missal, nor understand the Latin and postures, to pray the Mass well.
Parking is available along the street and near the basement entry.
A handicap entrance is located on the southwest side of the building off of North 2nd Street, and accessible bathrooms are in the vestibule.
A cry room is located near the choir loft.
The confessional is the in the back of the church, with the waiting line along the back wall. Ask an usher if/when a priest is hearing confessions.
Please dress modestly and practice reverence.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Masses Next week!
Three Upcoming Masses
Friday, October 10
6:00 p.m. – Low Mass
Saturday, October 11
9:00 a.m. – Low Mass
Sunday, October 12
9:00 a.m. – High Mass followed by Benediction
(and a bake sale)
Confession will be available 45 minutes before each Mass.
These Masses will be offered by Father John Young, SSPX – a visiting priest.
A Finished Steeple
The roof valley has been fortified with copper to withstand conditions into the future. The valley was then finished with additional siding and shingles.
The weathered limestone roof cap was also removed and replaced with copper. BONUS: A new cross was installed on the north steeple!
Several time-lapse videos are posted that show the finishing touches. You can view this video and more on the St Irenaeus Chapel channel on YouTube.
EucharistIC CrusaderS
that’s the motto of the Crusader!
2. To say his evening prayers and fill in his Treasure Chart every evening.
SECOND DEGREE: the Crusader promises (on top of the promises of the Page)
1. To say every day at least two decades of the Rosary.
2. To receive Holy Communion every Sunday (if possible).
3. To make at least one sacrifice every day.
4. To fight against his dominant fault.
5. To go to Confession at least once a month.
THIRD DEGREE: the Knight/Handmaid promises (on top of the promises of the Crusader)
1. To say his Rosary every day.
2. To make a spiritual Communion every day or to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament if possible.
3. To do fifteen minutes of meditation every day.
4. To go to Confession every two weeks.
Another Pilgrimage
Click the poster for more information.
For Vocations
“O God, grant that at least one of our sons may become a priest or religious brother, and one of our daughters a religious sister. We ourselves want to live as good Christians, and to guide our children always to do what is right, so that we may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give Thee a holy priest, brother, or sister! Amen.”
(Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)
What You Do Matters
Monday, September 22, 2025
Please Pray for the Brothers
Ember Days Are Here
Up On Top
After reinforcing the trusses and removing the chimney under the roof, the valley was framed and prepared for copper sheeting. This will be much more durable than the rubber that was there.
The top capstone of the east gable was removed as it was insecure. The gable was then framed for copper rake trim to wrap around it.
For Your Calendar
December 5 (First Friday)
December 6 (First Saturday)
December 7 (2nd Sunday of Advent)
and December 8 ( Immaculate Conception)
Conference Next Month
This conference for Catholic Tradition will be hosted by Angelus Press on October 17-19, 2025 in Kansas City, MO. Learn more here.
Talks from previous conferences can be purchased here.
You Can Help
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
On the Feast of St. Pius X
Masses and A Mission
December 5 (First Friday)
December 6 (First Saturday)
December 7 (2nd Sunday of Advent)
and December 8 ( Immaculate Conception)
Real Restoration
Benefactors of St. Irenaeus Chapel have attended summer camps, silent retreats, walking pilgrimages and the Jubilee in Rome.
On Top of the Chapel
The surface of the cupola has been finished with AZEK materials that will not require maintenance. The trim, details, strengthening, securing, weatherproofing and much more = DONE! Please say a prayer of thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, volunteer families have been taking turns maintaining the grounds all summer long. Thank you!
Conference Next Month
This conference for Catholic Tradition will be hosted by Angelus Press on October 17-19, 2025 in Kansas City, MO. Learn more here.
Talks from previous conferences can be purchased here.
Friday Night Rosary
UPDATE: There will NOT be a Rosary this Friday night, September 12th.
The Rosary will be led at St. Irenaeus Chapel on the second Friday evening of each month, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
You are invited to bring a picnic for fellowship on the lawn afterward.
May God Reward You
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Save these Dates!
December 5 (First Friday)
December 6 (First Saturday)
December 7 (2nd Sunday of Advent)
and December 8 ( Immaculate Conception)
What is a Parish Mission?
Why are we having a Parish Mission? It is customary for every parish to invite a missionary priest to preach a Mission once every three years. The special goal of the Mission is threefold: (1) to help fallen away Catholics return to their faith, (2) to convert tepid souls to fervor, and (3) to encourage pious souls in their good resolutions to serve God. Just as Jesus and His Apostles went from town to town preaching the Kingdom of God, so the missionary comes to your parish to encourage you to give up sin and to practice your Catholic faith better.
What is a Parish Mission? A Parish Mission is one of the extraordinary apostolates of the Catholic Church. It is a series of sermons concerning salvation and the means of persevering in God’s grace and friendship. The sermons work together as a whole, so it is important to attend them all in order to derive the most profit from the Mission. The Mission will enlighten your mind with God’s Truth, help to detach your heart from sin, and strengthen your will with the love of God.
What do the Mission sermons discuss? Hard truths are discussed: sin, the reality of hell, the importance of sacramental confession. But more consoling truths are also talked about: how to persevere in God’s grace and grow in His love; the importance of prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially love for Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
Who can attend the Mission? Anyone can come – Catholic or non-Catholic are all welcome. The Mission is especially helpful for anyone who is unable to attend an enclosed retreat in a religious house. However, scrupulous persons should attend the Mission only if they receive permission from their parish priest or confessor.
Can children attend the Mission? Parents should bring their teenagers to the Mission; younger children may come at the discretion of their parents. Many parishes provide a babysitter in the parish hall so that parents can be less distracted during the sermons.
What is a General Confession? During the Mission, everyone is encouraged to make a “General Confession” – that is, a confession of your whole life, as a means of preparing you to come closer to God. For someone who has been making bad confessions or sacrilegious Communions, a General Confession is the only way to return to the state of God’s grace and friendship. It clears the slate so you can start over fresh with God. And for pious Catholics, even though you have confessed your sins before, a General Confession is a good way to renew your contrition and hatred for sin, and to come closer to your loving Savior through the sacrament of Penance.
Who is the missionary priest? He is a Redemptorist Father whose special apostolate is to preach Parish Missions. He comes as an “extraordinary confessor” – that is, he will be unknown to you, so you can make your General Confession to him without feeling embarrassed.
Who are the Redemptorist Fathers? The Redemptorists were founded in 1732 by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church and patron saint of all confessors. The goal of the Redemptorists is to preach Parish Missions to the most abandoned souls – those destitute of spiritual aid.
Are there any indulgences attached to the Mission? Yes. According to the old laws governing indulgences, anyone who attends at least four of the Mission sermons can gain a plenary indulgence. Sick parishioners who are unable to attend may gain a plenary indulgence by praying each day for the success of the Mission. And on the last day of the Mission, rosaries and crucifixes will be blessed with special indulgences, so remember to bring these items with you to be blessed.
Can we record the Mission sermons? Yes. Although it’s best to listen to them live, recordings can be helpful to remind you of the graces you received during the Mission. Also, sick parishioners unable to attend the Mission can profit by listening to recordings made for them.
How can we prepare for our Parish Mission? Firstly, pray for the success of the Mission. Then, encourage others (friends, family, neighbors) to attend. Finally, ask God for a true sorrow for sin and a real desire to change your life from sin or tepidity. In this way, you will be preparing yourself and your parish for the extraordinary grace of the Parish Mission.
For more information, please contact:
Traditional Redemptorist Missioners
Holy Redeemer House
15959 Bryce Rd.
Mussey, MI 48014
A Look Back at the Latin Mass
“it is necessary to review the status of the Traditional Mass since the liturgical reform.”
Read the article here or listen on the SSPX Daily Devotional from July 10th here.
A Look Back, Locally
Lyons, Iowa was a ferry crossing for travelers at a spot known as “the narrows,” due to the width of the Mississippi River. This area became “king of the lumber industry” as St. Irenaeus Catholic Church was constructed. You can learn more about the logging history of Clinton, IA at the Sawmill Museum.
In this image, you can see St. Irenaeus Chapel located just two blocks up from the river – visible to all who passed by on the Mighty Mississippi. The town of Lyons was annexed to Clinton in the early twentieth century.
Nurturing Vocations
This conference for Catholic Tradition will be hosted by Angelus Press on October 17-19, 2025 in Kansas City, MO.
Learn more here.
In this image is Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre with his sister, Mother Marie Gabrielle.
New at the Chapel
Wanting to Help?
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
For the Feast of St. Irenaeus
“For, although the languages of the world are dissimilar, yet the import of the tradition is one and the same.”
St. Irenaeus
From Against Heresies,
Book 1, Chapter 10
*In 1869, the new St. Irenaeus Church was dedicated on the vigil of its feast day. At that time St. Irenaeus was celebrated on June 28th. In the 1960 reforms of the Roman breviary, St. Irenaeus’s feast day was moved to July 3rd and the vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul took the previous date.
Pray for Vocations
“O God, grant that at least one of our sons may become a priest or religious brother, and one of our daughters a religious sister. We ourselves want to live as good Christians, and to guide our children always to do what is right, so that we may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give Thee a holy priest, brother, or sister! Amen.”
(Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Priestly Ordinations
Three Holy Masses
More recently at the chapel, an entry frame was painted and the new door was installed.
Signup Reminder
The Our Lady of Fatima Correspondence Catechism course run by the Sisters of the SSPX provides solid instruction for your family, delivered to your door. Click here to learn more about the program and to enroll for 2025-2026 school year.
Embark on a Pilgrimage
Friday RosarIes
The Rosary will be led at St. Irenaeus Chapel on the second Friday evening of each month, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The next date is July 11th.
You are invited to bring a picnic for fellowship on the lawn afterward.
More Drops in the Bucket
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Pentecost, Picnic and Pickleball
District Superior Letter
Another Boys' Camp
To Help the Restoration
Monday, April 28, 2025
Alleluia!
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia!
“If we rejoice with the joy of the Resurrection of Our Lord – for after all it is a triumph of good over evil, a triumph of God over the devil, over the evil spirits, a triumph of virtue over vice, eternity over time, the eternal triumph of life over death – then we should be happy.”
Pray for the Pope
Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the next conclave.
Read about the death of Pope Francis here.
Join in a Novena for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff, beginning today.
Hope for the Future
Please continue to pray for vocations and those being formed.
One local man is finishing his first year at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, while another prepares to begin priestly studies this fall.
Three local, young men are completing their 8th-grade studies at La Salette Academy.
Recently, young ladies were pilgrims to the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Browerville, MN to witness the Sisters of the SSPX make their annual profession of vows. Several others plan to go on vocations retreats and attend summer camps.
Please pray for young people as they discern how they will be generous with their lives – for the greater glory of God.
Click here for talks that foster vocation discussions.
Please also join in daily prayers for a priest to be assigned to St. Irenaeus Chapel.
Catechism In Your Home
The feedback includes encouraging, handwritten notes from the religious sisters.
The Our Lady of Fatima Correspondence Catechism course run by the Sisters of the SSPX provides solid instruction for your family, delivered to your door.
Click here to learn more about the program and to enroll for 2025-2026.
To Finish the Steeple
The siding and windows will be some of the final details.
However, work at the chapel will slow down as the contractor enters a very busy season.
A Retreat with St. Therese
Another opportunity for the ladies.
The retreat will be held August 4-9, 2025 near St. Croix, Minnesota, for ladies over 18 years old. Registration is required before June 1st.
Please email [email protected] for more information.
For additional retreats and camp opportunities, please see previous posts.
How You Can Help
Funds will go toward furnishing the restrooms.
May God reward you.
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Friday, April 11, 2025
Stations of the Cross
Come pray the Stations of the Cross at St. Irenaeus Chapel.
The Stations will be led beginning at 6:00 p.m. tonight, April 11th.
Stations of the Cross will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Good Friday, April 18th.
Booklets are provided. All are welcome. The Stations take approximately 40 minutes.
Lenten AlmsGiving
Please consider helping the next project at St. Irenaeus.
Speakers and Steeples
You won’t miss a word with the new sound system!
The old siding was stripped off and more scaffolding constructed to reach the top of the cupola.
As the old wood was very weathered, some reframing had to be done before sheeting it with plywood.
The windows were constructed off-site using AZEK trim and are ready for installation. A special heater was used to form the materials to fit within the gothic frames.
The new sound system was calibrated by the Renkus-Heinz company and the speakers were adjusted to deliver sound at pew height. The system includes a podium microphone, hand-held microphone and a microphone headset. In addition, there are four portable earpieces available for Mass attendees.
With the wi-fi system, sound can also be heard through the Wavecast app on your cell phone or hearing aids.
A Retreat For the Women
A women’s Ignatian retreat will be held July 21-16, 2025 near Saint Croix, Minnesota.
Get more information here.
For additional retreats and camp opportunities, please see previous posts.
Again, Every Drop Counts
Consider giving toward finishing the restrooms.
May God reward you.
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Fridays During Lent
Come pray the Stations of the Cross at St. Irenaeus Chapel.
The Stations will be led beginning at 6:00 p.m. Booklets provided.
The Roof is Revealed
Plus new speakers and concrete work.
The speakers were installed and its electronics were wired. Next, the sound system will be adjusted by a professional.
This speaker system is designed to direct sound at the height of those sitting in the pews. In the future, speakers will be expanded into the vestibule, cry room and basement.
Concrete was poured and hauled inside by a motorized wheelbarrow.
Up on the steeple, the temporary workroom was dismantled. Materials have been hauled up and down with this scaffolding lift system:
Here is a glimpse from inside the steeple roof.
You can see 1) the original beams that were reinforced by C – channel, 2) the brackets that were fabricated to fasten down the cupola, and 3) the mortar poured on top of the limestone wall to create a sturdy, level surface.
Off-site, additional work was done to prepare materials for the roof’s curved shape. Then, the new structure was pieced together.
This shows the south steeple compared to the north steeple. What an improvement!
The north steeple roof was sheeted and sealed up before the anticipated storm.
While we are here, enjoy another view from the top:
(The roofing contractors will return soon to fix the flashing shown at the end of the roof.)
A FLASHBACK to when the roof was shingled in March 2022:
Also this week, the limestone was cut away from the main basement entry threshold and poured with concrete.
This will allow a new exterior door to be installed.
A Virtues Retreat
Twenty spots are open for the men. (The women’s retreat is already full.)
It will be hosted near St. Louis, Missouri and preached by Father Alphonsus from July 21-26, 2025.
If interested, contact [email protected] for information on how to register.
For additional retreats and camp opportunities, please see previous posts.
Every Bit Helps
This restoration is done by you – the benefactors, and “all for the greater glory of God.”
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Fridays During Lent
Come pray the Stations of the Cross at St. Irenaeus Chapel.
The doors will open at 5:00 p.m. for private prayer on Friday evenings.
The Stations will be led beginning at 6:00 p.m. Booklets provided.
I Glory In My Infirmities
Let us be encouraged to carry our crosses well.
This sermon was shared by our local seminarian.
Get A Bird's Eye View
See the steeple project from above.
It is All Coming Together
The plumbing is buried and the steeple is being shaped.
The basement plumbing was finished. The piles of dirt were hauled out with wheelbarrows. Limestone fill was then hauled in and packed down. The trenches are now ready for concrete to be poured.
This space will be divided and become two family restrooms:
Here, you see what will become the ladies’ restroom:
Brackets were fabricated and 16 holes were drilled two-feet deep into the steeple wall to secure the cupola.
The rafters for the steeple transition roof are coming together.
It takes a lot of brain power to make a roof transition from an eight-sided cupola into a four-sided tower!
It will be an inverted hip roof.
Another Adventure Awaits
In addition to those opportunities posted three weeks ago.
Two Ignatian retreats and a vocation retreat are available for the men at Holy Angels Novitiate in Minnesota.
You Can Help
This work is expensive.
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
This Friday Night
Come In for the Rosary
Pray with your loved ones this Friday, February 14th – St. Valentine’s Day.
The doors will open at 5:00 p.m. for private prayer.
The Rosary will be led at 6:00 p.m.
Life Is A Contest of Love
Between God and us.
Hear short sermons by SSPX priests on the YouTube channel.
For a Solid Structure
The mortar is poured 80-feet up.
A template of the potential roofline is shown here. The top of the tower walls were also formed and gaps filled to prepare for the mortar.
This is one of the original threaded rods that holds the reinforced beams together and is anchored twenty-feet into the tower walls:
Here, the mortar has been poured. Once cured, the beams will be set down on top the now-level surface.
The area has been heated so the mortar materials can cure correctly. Warm air has been sent up from the basement, and concrete blankets are used for insulation.
The steeple is full of smiles.
Adventure Awaits
Schedules for summer opportunities are posted.
Summer Camps – for youth, hosted by priests and the Sisters of the SSPX.
Adult Retreats – Ignatian, vocations, virtue, Marian, and couple retreats.
Parish Missions and More Retreats – by Father Alphonsus, a Redemptorist.
Holy Hill Pilgrimage – a 33-mile walk in Wisconsin. Great for families.
Worldwide Jubiliee Pilgrimage – to Rome in August.
Regina Pilgrimages – more trips abroad, accompanied by SSPX priests.
Like What You See?
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Please Pray For Safety
For the men working up high on the restoration – All for the greater glory of God.
This week, a room was built around the steeple:
Fathers, sons and friends worked together.
In the basement, more concrete was jack-hammered and hauled out. In the cupola, long bolts were threaded through the beams.
The enclosure around the steeple makes a good working environment – providing shelter from wind, rain and snow. The temperature can also be controlled, which will be necessary for the mortar materials that will be used to level the limestone.
Enjoy a view above Clinton, Iowa at dusk – looking south:
Pray for a Priest
To be assigned in the future.
Pray For VOcations
On the First Sunday of each month.
By the prayers of the mothers in Lu, Italy, 323 vocations came out of their community.
O God, grant that one of my children may become a priest or religious! I myself want to live as a good Christian, and want to guide my children always to do what is right, so that I may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give You a holy priest or religious! Amen.
May parents, grandparents and Godparents raise up children so that they might say “yes” to His call.
This prayer is to be offered daily, along with Holy Communion on the First Sunday each month. Read more here.
Pray For The Dead
For Valentine's Day
A Friday Night Rosary
Bring your dearest in to pray on Friday, February 14th – St. Valentine’s Day.
The doors will open at 5:00 p.m. for private prayer.
The Rosary will be led at 6:00 p.m.
Like What You See?
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Saving the Steeple
Much is being done up in the air.
The effort to restore the north steeple can be validated in one picture:
Materials were designed and manufactured to facilitate the restoration:
Scaffolding was constructed. Materials were hauled up manually, with an elevator, and by a crane:
A view from the top:
Before starting the work, the men had to add a plank between the roof and the scaffolding.
(Can you spot the local seminarian?)
Metal C-channel will sandwich the old beams to strengthen the structure, but first, LVL beams, blocks, and jacks will be used to the level and re-set the steeple and cupola to the limestone tower.
Meanwhile, Inside...
Improvements are made to the structure and function of the basement.
The floor is being strengthened by extending the basement walls to the floor joists. This helps carry the weight of the newly leveled floor above, and the sturdy pews. The floor joists were sistered – an additional joist now runs alongside the original.
In the kitchen, a custodian closet was built. Throughout the basement, 3,000 feet of wire was pulled through conduit for new outlets and light switches at every doorway.
Plumbing was evaluated by camera. The concrete was cut to expose the broken pipes. New sewer pipes will soon accommodate twelve toilets to meet city codes.
Like What You See?
To donate by check, please mail:
St. Irenaeus Chapel
2811 N 2nd Street
Clinton, IA 52732
To donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link:
Monday, January 6, 2025
Happy Feast of the Epiphany
Journey in like the wise men and adore the Christ Child.
The nativity set was kindly donated, and a family volunteered to lovingly prepare the chapel for the joyous season!
Songs FrOm Seminarians
A Christmas concert from St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Virginia.
Can you spot the local seminarian?
(He is behind and to the left of the man in the red tie, at 1:06:36.)
Scheduled Confirmations
Confirmations in the USA are now posted here.
If you are interested in seeking the sacrament of Confirmation, please contact St. Irenaeus Chapel for more information.
Plus, a reminder from Archbishop Lefebvre, found in his Open Letter to Confused Catholics, on page 46:
Restoration Efforts
Improvements are being made, inside and out.
If you look beyond these boys playing in the yard, you’ll see improvements were made to the landscaping around the building last fall. The overgrown bushes were also removed from the front of the building and replaced with intention. Currently, scaffolding is being built for work on the north steeple.
For the inside, a new sound system has been ordered.
To Donate Online
If you’d like to donate electronically, please email the chapel for the link.