ABOUT US
STEEPLE SQUARE HISTORIC TIMELINE
1849
Dubuque’s First German Catholic Parish (originally named Holy Trinity, later renamed St. Mary’s) founded to accommodate 40 German families
1863–1867
New St. Mary’s Church constructed at 15th and White Streets after the congregation grows to 300 Dubuque families
1870
Convent constructed at 16th and Jackson (currently Maria House)
1872
St. Mary’s School constructed at 15th and Jackson
1982
School consolidated with St. Patrick’s School
1999
Parish cluster formed when St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s begin to share administrators and priests
2000
Maria House opens in former convent
2001
School becomes part of Holy Family Catholic Schools System
2002
Further consolidation of St. Mary’s/St. Patrick’s School, which combines with Holy Trinity/Sacred Heart School
2004
School closed
2010
Last Mass celebrated at St. Mary’s Church in May
2013
Friends of St. Mary’s established
2014
Friends of St. Mary’s nonprofit corporation formed
2015
Steeple Square campus named
2017
Opened the Francis Apartments in partnership with Opening Doors
2019
Completed the R.D. McDonald Steeple restoration
Dedicated the first floor of the former St. Mary’s Church as Honkamp Hall
Opened the Marita Theisen Childcare Center
2021
Completed lower level renovations for Steeple Square Community Event Center, including BVM Community Center, Sr. Helen Huewe Culinary Kitchen, and the McCoy Multipurpose Room
HISTORIC PHOTOS
