2026 – Saint Irenaeus Chapel

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Stations on Fridays

Pray the Way of the Cross during Lent.

Join us on Fridays during Lent, 6-7 p.m.

You are invited to St. Irenaeus Chapel on Friday evenings during Lent at 6 p.m. to pray the Stations of the Cross – “to weep and atone for our sins, understand Our Lady’s sorrow, pray with the Church, contemplate Our Lord as Eucharistic Victim, accept the Will of God, prepare for judgment, and love our neighbor.”

We will be using the St. Alphonsus version, similar to pages 1-18 found here.

You are welcome to bring a sack supper and stay for fellowship afterwards.

Upcoming Masses

Sunday, May 24th – Pentecost

Mass offered by Father Frank Kurtz, SSPX.

Sunday, July 19 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Mass offered by Father John Young, SSPX.

We thank these two visiting priests for choosing to spend their vacation time near Clinton!

Summer Opportunities

Youth camps, Ignatian retreats, pilgrimages and more!

Embark on a faith-filled adventure.

For closer opportunities for women’s retreats, please contact St. Irenaeus Chapel.

Shims, Furring and Windows

Lots of tedious details go into making old things strong & true again.

Recent work included finishing the AZEK windows, crafting a plumb baseplate, and reinforcing the original cupola frame. Upcoming work will include a floor/roof inside the steeple and under the bell to divert rain and snow. This tower will have open windows because of the bell.

See the recent work explained at the St. Irenaeus Chapel YouTube channel.

Help Finish the Steeple

More resources are needed to complete the project. What you do matters!

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, February 24, 2026

Pray, Pray, Pray

In addition to our Lenten practices, there are many reasons to pray this week.

EMBER DAYS – Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

These three days are additional days set aside for fasting and abstinence.

You can read a bit more about Ember days here.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS – Friday

You are invited to St. Irenaeus Chapel on Friday evenings during Lent at 6 p.m. to pray the Stations of the Cross and listen to a recorded sermon.

We will be using the St. Alphonsus version, similar to pages 1-18 found here.

You are welcome to bring a sack supper and stay for fellowship afterwards.

*No Stations on Friday, March 6th*

Stations will resume Friday, March 13th at 6 p.m.

FOR VOCATIONS – Sunday

Mothers are encouraged to gather at the communion rail after Mass (wherever attending) on the first Sunday of each month and pray for vocations. In addition, an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be should be offered, along with Holy Communion.

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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.

EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS – Everyday through July

Please pray for “the greatest good to follow this situation”, and for the important work of the Society of St. Pius X.

“By doing this, with the grace of God and the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that of St. Joseph and St. Pius X, we are assured of remaining faithful to the Roman Catholic Church and to all the successors of Peter.” – Archbishop Lefebvre

Up in the Steeple

The cupola is sitting level and is secure!

The warm weather made conditions optimal to resurface the top of the steeple tower. The rest of the wall was formed, reinforced and poured with new grout.

Here you can see the reinforced beams, the metal c-channel that runs alongside all eight beams, that they are bolted together, and sitting on the now level and smooth tower wall. Rods also go through the beams and are anchored into the tower wall.

See short videos of the work at the St. Irenaeus Chapel YouTube channel.

For the Salvation of Souls

Stay informed about the upcoming Episcopal Consecrations.

“The Society cannot abandon souls. The need for the sacraments is a concrete, short-term need for the survival of Tradition, in service to the Holy Catholic Church.”
General Council of the SSPX

Help Keep It Going

The steeple work is progressing nicely.

Please continue to pray for its safety and success of the project.

Upcoming restoration goals include restoring the south steeple, finishing 12 bathroom stalls, finishing two sacristies, purchasing hymnals for the pews and 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.

Thursday, February 12, 2026

The Way of the Cross

Join us on Fridays during Lent, 6-7 p.m.

We will be using the St. Alphonsus version, similar to pages 1-18 found here.

You are welcome to bring a sack supper and stay for fellowship afterwards.

A Look Back to May 2022

Volunteers lovingly prayed and patiently painted the Stations of the Cross.

These Stations were from the mid-1900s remodel and very monochromatic.

The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross

To Prepare for Lent

Get yourself a game plan with practical tips from Father Goshie.

How can we clear away our own obstacles to God’s grace?

Episcopal Consecrations

It was announced that new bishops will be consecrated on July 1st.

Be informed from direct sources here:

Giving Alms

St. Irenaeus Chapel will gladly put your almsgiving to good use – to restore all things in Christ.

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, February 5, 2026

A Higher Aim

A local seminarian received the cassock on February 2nd, while another local seminarian looked on.

He put “aside the vanity of secular garb” and puts on the cassock, “and in so doing may [he] likewise put on Thee, and be recognized as men dedicated to Thy ministry.” From the Blessing of the Clerical Cassock

“The first ceremony which marks the seminarians profoundly is the taking of the cassock. On that day, they express the total gift of themselves to our Lord Jesus Christ by setting aside worldly clothing forever and taking on the clothing of the Church.” Priestly Holiness by Abp. Lefebvre (notes of Rev. Fr. Troadec)

You can watch the Pontifical High Mass with Clerical Tonsure and Reception of Cassock here. (The cassock ceremony is prompted at 1:14:38.)

View the gallery of images from the ceremony by clicking here.

Please pray for these young men and all the seminarians, as they prepare themselves to serve in persona Christi.

See the Seminary

Walk into the life of a seminarian.

Hear about their formation, see inside the American seminary, and learn about the past fifty years.

A February Frenzy

Younger students get a good formation at Catholic schools.

Three young men from St. Irenaeus Chapel appreciate your encouragement and support while they study at La Salette Academy.

If you’d like to contribute toward their education and make a pledge in their February Frenzy, please email [email protected] for more information.

Support the Steeple

Please pray for the safety and success of the steeple restoration.

If you are able, your efforts and resources can help, too!

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, January 27, 2026

Pray for Vocations

It’s the first Sunday of the month again.

Pray like the Mothers of Lu, Italy this Sunday. Unite your intentions with reception of Holy Eucharist.

Mothers are encouraged to gather at the communion rail after Mass (wherever attending) and pray for vocations. In addition, an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be should be offered, along with Holy Communion.

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Secure & Clean

The steeple work is moving along well. Thank you for your prayers!

Recent steeple work included:

a crane lifting materials
lumber hauled up
a temporary wall built for shelter
four beams lifted by sixteen jacks
replacement beams constructed
more debris hauled
surfaces blasted with glass abrasive media
the roof valley re-sheeted
plumbing vented out of the basement bathrooms
and more!

You can see this and more by visiting the St. Irenaeus Chapel YouTube Channel.

See the work, step-by-step!

Click to watch this crane lift the scaffolding support structure into place.

Click to watch how lumber is hoisted using a choker chain and sheave.

A temporary wall was built to shelter the work zone. Click the photo to hear more about this.

The four beams were jacked up to start the “Jenga” game. Click the photo to hear it explained.

Click to hear how and why these replacement beams were made.

Click and watch this abrasive glass media blasts away many years of debris.

See BEFORE and AFTER the glass bead blasting.

The roof valley was re-sheeted with plywood and will be ready for copper at the end of the project.

Inside the basement, all of the plumbing was vented into the attic. It will be vented through the roof at a later date.

Subscribe to the St. Irenaeus Chapel Youtube channel for short videos during the project.

Please continue to PRAY FOR THE SAFETY of the workers and success of the restoration! Thank you.

Tour Inside a Tower

Get a personal tour of the north tower from bottom to top – through the sacristy and up to the cupola.

The north steeple was completed last year. It is strong, secure and sealed.

Become a Benefactor

It costs about $300 per day to rent the scaffolding. Could you sponsor a day, a week, a month?

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, January 13, 2026

Join the Crew at the Top!

Work began this week on the south steeple.

The first efforts were to inspect the structure, add another layer of scaffolding, remove all the old materials, and eliminate ALL debris before going forward.

Take your own tour of the worksite, but first, please SAY A PRAYER FOR THE SAFETY of the workers.

Click the photo to climb the stairs.

Watch (and hear) the trash chute work.

The trash will have to be cut to smaller sizes to avoid plugging the chute. It will land directly into the dumpster. This eliminates the extra work of cleaning it up off the ground.

See the elevator in action.

Here the elevator hauls up the two 18′ LVL planks that will steady the cupola while it is being restored.

At the top, examine the previous condition of the south steeple.

All of this wood siding, plywood and tin was removed, cut and thrown down the trash chute.

An additional layer of scaffolding was built to access all around the steeple. There are now three platforms to work on.

Then, deconstructing and cleaning away all the bird debris, dust and decaying materials.

See what was exposed.

Did you catch that?

The old roof valley was removed. It will be replaced with copper.

The last piece of tin was removed. A final scaffolding plank awaits a crane.

Everything was blown clean with a BIG air compressor. Click to watch.

Check back often for photos and updates, and look at the St. Irenaeus Chapel Youtube channel for short videos during the project.

Please continue to PRAY FOR THE SAFETY of the workers and success of the restoration.

Recent Work Inside

Improvements have also been made inside the steeples.

Work continued inside while the scaffolding was put into place.

Looking Back at Christmas

Simply beautiful. Lovingly made. All for the greater glory of God.

Each pew was lit by candlelight, and each candleholder was custom-made for the holy night.

Want to Help?

Your contributions make a big difference. Please help “Restore All Things in Christ.”

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.

Friday, January 2, 2026

Joy to the World!

Enjoy these Christmas carols sung by the St. Irenaeus choir before Midnight Mass:

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

First Noel

Come, All Ye Faithful (Processional)

Supporting Vocations

A collection was taken at Christmas to benefit Holy Angels Novitiate.

“Our seminary in Virginia is now full and the Brothers Novitiate in Winona has been taking in the overflow. This is a good problem to have. We continue to expand but cannot keep up with the demand for our priests. There are many locations calling for traditional priests to care for them. Hence, we need more priests and will need more religious vocations to aid them.” Fr. Ward, Rector, excerpt from the Fall 2025 newsletter

Retreats in 2026

Holy Angels Novitiate will be hosting the following retreats for men in 2026. Contact the novitiate for more information.

Ignatian Retreats
June 15-20, 2026
August 24-29, 2026

Vocations Retreat
July 6-11, 2026

Many more retreat opportunities are posted here for men and women.

Pray for Vocations

Pray like the Mothers of Lu, Italy this first Sunday of the month. Unite your intentions with reception of Holy Eucharist.

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Make An Impact

These are the restoration priorities for 2026:

Restoring the TALL south steeple
Finishing 12 bathroom stalls
Finishing two sacristies
Purchasing hymnals for the pews
Finishing the basement

It will take a lot to make this happen. Please help make an impact. God bless you!

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.