Ute - St. Mary

In 1899, the Catholic families who lived in and around Ute decided to establish a church of their own. They raised the money and built a small church to serve their needs and those of the future. The frame structure cost approximately $2,000. The parish was a mission of Charter Oak until 1928.

St. Mary's remained a mission until 1927, when Bishop Heelan of Sioux City organized a parish and sent Father J. P. McGuire to take charge. He rented a house and used it for a rectory until 1935 when he was succeeded by Father James A. Kane.

Father Kane promoted the purchase of a house north of the church for $500, and it was furnished as the new rectory. The parish house has since been sold.

Father Kane was succeeded by Father Bernard J. Montag, who remained until he went into the army in 1942. Following his departure, the church was returned to a mission of Charter Oak for the duration of the war. Father Cletus Ahmann was pastor until 1944.

From 1945-1946, Father Montag returned to St. Mary's after his discharge from the army. In 1946, Father H. V. Weimer was appointed pastor. Father Leander Friedman succeeded him from 1947-1950. Then, Father R. Pick stayed at St. Mary's until 1951. Once again in 1951, the parish was made a mission of Charter Oak's St. Boniface.

In 1995, with the arrival of Father Jensen, St. Mary's joined a cluster with St. Boniface Charter Oak, St. Mary's Dow City and St. Rose of Lima Denison.

Other priests that served the parish were: Father Reinhard Nemmers (1949-1966), Father Robert Thiele (1967-1973), Father Josef Lizowski (1973-1974), Father Eugene Walding (1974-1986), Father D. William Wingert (1986-1993), Father Dennis Meinen (1993-1995), Father Benjamin Jensen (1995-1998) and Father Richard Ball (1998-present).