T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ For Rev. Alan Dietzenbach, 32, being assigned as parish priest of St. Mary Catholic Church feels like coming home. As a seminarian, he spent the summer of 2010 as an apprentice at the church, under the tutelage of Rev. Jim Miller. On July 10 he began serving St. Mary’s as its priest.

For Rev. Alan Dietzenbach, being assigned as parish priest of St. Mary Catholic Church feels like coming home.

As a seminarian, he spent the summer of 2010 as an apprentice at the church, under the tutelage of Rev. Jim Miller. A native of the northeast Iowa town of St. Lucas, he grew up on a dairy farm. Dietzenbach, 32, earned a degree in philosophy and Spanish at Loras College in Dubuque and studied at St. Pius X Seminary. He then completed his priest training at the Pontifical North American Seminary in Rome and was ordained in 2012. Before arriving in Marshalltown, he served as associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Raphael Parish and St. Patrick Parish, and as a chaplain at Wahlert High School and Mazzuchelli Middle School, all in Dubuque. Last January, he got a notice from the bishop.

“I knew it meant I was getting a new assignment, and it meant I wouldn’t be going to St. Mary’s because the current priest, Father Greg Bahl, wasn’t due for a move,” he said. “But then the bishop told me I was going to St. Mary’s.”

Bahl took his place in Dubuque and Dietzenbach packed his bags for Marshalltown, eager to again serve a parish he had come to love as a seminarian. His first day on the job was July 10.

“And then the tornado happened,” he said. “A lot of parishioners were affected and so was the church. I’ve gotten to know a lot about buildings and grounds … having never been through a tornado before, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s been amazing to see how generous people are.”

Around 7,000 Catholics are members of St. Mary’s. It goes without saying Dietzenbach has many tasks to juggle.

“It’s one of the things I love about being a priest — no two days are the same,” he said.

Being bilingual, he performs four weekend Masses — two in English and two in Spanish.

He said his decision to become a priest is rooted in his adolescence in youth choir and youth group. He assumed leadership roles within the church and observed members of the clergy. He liked what he saw.

He most enjoys preaching and helping people understand God’s word. Despite a demanding schedule, Dietzenbach is a patron of the arts.

“I’m kind of an ‘artsy fartsy’ guy. I was involved in lots of theater in high school and speech contests, band and choir. I took all the art classes I could,” he said. “Music and art are my passions.”

He takes time out to play the piano and go to the Y.

Are there any misconceptions about being a priest?

“A lot of the time clergy are portrayed as pretty joyless people, and that is the opposite of what I want to be. I think it was Pope Francis who recently said joy is the ineffable sign of God’s presence.”

Dietzenbach may be reached at 641-752-6278.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com