Community celebrates lost church

Members of the “Little Ireland” community in central Iowa’s Greene County will mark the 50th anniversary of the closing of their church on Monday. Mary Richards says they’ll remember the former Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, which is located near the town of Jamaica. She says the church sat on St. Mary’s hill and was closed in 1954. The church building was torn down and all that remains is the cemetery. The land was deeded for the church and cemetery in 1881. Richards says they’ll hold a celebration Monday at the cemetery. She says the celebration will be the first mass in 50 years. Richards says she’s gotten a huge response from people who want to attend. She says, “I received calls from all over the country. People who haven’t been here in 25, 30, 40 years. If they cannot be here, they’re gonna be with us in thoughts and prayers. I’m having people say you have to do this again.” Richards says the mass begins at 10 A.M. Monday and it’s open to the public.For more information, call Richards at 515-386-4750, or you can e-mail her at: [email protected].