Immaculate Conception Church Hosts Farewell Reception for Outgoing Pastor Heathershaw, Sister Blong

The Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque has reorganized its 160 parishes into 24 pastorates, with those changes officially beginning Tuesday (07.14).

Catholic churches in the Charles City Area pastorate will include Holy Family in New Hampton, Holy Name in Rockford, Immaculate Conception in North Washington, St. Boniface in Ionia, St. Mary in Greene, St. Mary of Roseville, St. Michael in Nashua, and Immaculate Conception in Charles City, where Father Thomas Heathershaw leaves to become a parochial vicar for four churches as part of the Cedar Rapids Central Area pastorate. 

Father Heathershaw’s final masses at IC was on Sunday (07.12), which was followed by a Farewell Reception at the Columbus Hall, where he told KCHA/KCZE time has flown since he learned of his reassignment.

Father Heathershaw says he tried to relate the transition in his sermon.

Sunday also marked the retirement of Sister Diana Blong, who says her 18 years in Charles City began and ends on similar notes.

Blong says retirement means less office work and more people time.

With Father Heathershaw’s departure, the new IC pastor will be Reverend Ivan Nienhaus, with parochial vicars Reverend Ray Atwood and Reverend Christopher Podhajsky. Only Immaculate Conception in Charles City, Holy Family in New Hampton and St. Mary’s in Greene will hold regular masses. The other  churches in the pastorate will only be open for events such as funerals and weddings.