The first Mass in this community was said in an upper room of the old Courthouse by Father Carroll of Fonda in 1884 or 1885. There were only six adult Catholics In the community at that time. The first baby baptized by Father Carroll was William J. Powers, son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Powers, who lives just south of town and is believed to be the oldest living member of St. Francis Parish. Joseph Stumpf, an early day member, came here in 1885. He married Ann Heebner, and their baby was also baptized by Father Carroll.

Between the years 1890 and 1896 Frank Heebner, Patrick McGinty, Frank McCarville, Patrick McGrail and Frank Powers arrived in the community. A little later Jim Donnelly, John Pitstick, August Kutz, Tim Melody and Ed Moriarty arrived to help swell the numbers of the now thriving little community.

Father Costello, who was now serving the Parish, thought that it was time to build a Church so they started to raise the necessary money. Nearly everyone, regardless of denomination, helped with sums varying from $1.00 to $100.00. Mike Knapp, father of Walter Knapp, was commissioned to build the Church for $1,240.00. It was completed and dedicated in December 1901.

In 1906 there were 18 Catholic families worshiping in their new little Church, and they became a mission of the Sac City Parish with Father Muyssen as their Pastor. A few years later, since there were more Catholic families in Rockwell City, the Bishop decided to have Father Muyssen move here. A house was purchased for $1,400.00 and Father moved in.

The first wedding performed by Father Muyssen in Rockwell City was that of Myrtle McGrail and Andrew Parr. The first baby baptized in the Church was Caroline Blasey, daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. William Blasey. There were eight children in the First Communion class of 1907.

Father Bernard Hunt became pastor in June 1907, and the records show that his trustees were Frank Heebner, Patrick McGinty and August Kutz. Father Charles Huelshorst became pastor in 1908, and the Church was enlarged by adding a new front entrance.

Father Marx came in 1911. In 1912 the Church was Incorporated and land for the Cemetery was purchased. In 1913 the Church bought the old courthouse for $420.00 and remodeled it into a School. It was placed on the land given to the Church by Frank Heebner. First classes were held in the Fall of 1919. The first seniors to graduate were Art McGinty and Leona Blasey in 1924. Teachers were supplied by Sisters from the Order of Mercy, Pennsylvania and Illinois, and later were supplied by Sisters from Dubuque. Still later Sisters came from the Order of St. Francis in Milwaukee.

In 1921 Father Achatz arrived followed by Father Quinn in 1934; Father Joseph Wolf in 1935; Father W. F. Mason in 1936; Father P. M. Sturm in 1938; and Father William Buckholz in 1943.

In 1956 a new Church was built under the direction of Father Edward Fandel. It cost about $178,000. Father Edward Carpenter was appointed Pastor in 1964, and under his direction a new School was built for about $120,000. It was dedicated in September of 1966. Due to the difficulty of getting Sisters to teach and the dwindling enrollment, it was decided to discontinue educational work as a full time measure in the Fall of 1968. This fine facility is now used primarily for CCD and other parish related activities.

In the Fall of 1969 Father Robert W. Phillips was appointed Pastor. Under his direction the parish debt has been significantly reduced, the rectory has been completely remodeled, and in 1976 the Church was completely refurbished and an Allen Digital Computer Organ was  installed. 

While Fr. Phillips was here, the new ruling on having altars facing the people was put into effect, the altar was remodeled and the Communion railing was removed.

In 1981, Father Gerald Zeman was appointed pastor. Monsignor Dean P. Walker followed him in 1988. During this period, the St. Francis Cemetery was turned over to the town of Rockwell City for maintenance at a cost of $3,400.00 per year. Msgr. Walker was in Rockwell City for only a year and a half before he was forced to retire because of ill health.

Father Henry Weimer took his place until a permanent replacement could be made. In 1989, Msgr. M. Ziegmann relieved Father Weimer as pastor of St. Francis Church. During his term at St. Francis, he made many needed improvements, one being a new entryway in the front of the church. This remodeling included enlargement of the choir, redecorating the lower level of the church and removing the side altars.

As of the spring of 1992, there were 220 adult envelope holders and 112 children envelope holders listed in the parish.

Father Roger Lennan came to Rockwell City in June of 1996. Though his tenure was short, only a year, he was remembered fondly for his delicious jams and jellies he made as gifts to his parishioners. The many flavors included strawberry, apple, peach, wild grape and others.

Father Kielbasa came to the parish in July of 1997 and was a boxer before he became a priest!   At St. Ed's in Fort Dodge, the football players called him "The Rock"--which was on his license plates. Projects completed during his administration included upgrading of the cemetery-asphalted access lanes and a gate at the east entryway as well as a sculpture of "The Risen Christ" and a mediation area. The "handicapped accessibility" project added a new entry and an elevator to the west side of the church.

 Father Sefcik came from Lake City to Rockwell City---and was greeted with a big display of antique tractors around the church.   He went on antique tractor ride parades during the Summers.  He had a shop on his Pocahontas farm where he repaired and stored his antique tractors.

Msgr. McCoy (who taught seminarians in Rome) said that he had been living out of a suitcase for too long, and that he wanted to grill and cook. He was to learn how to run a parish for one year, before being sent to Fort Dodge to get a new church built there.  

Father Richard Ries became pastor in 2009 until 2012, during the time that St Francis Clustered with Manson and Pomery.

Father Brian Danner became pastor in 2012 until 2016. Father Danner led parishioners on a trip to visit their sister Parish, Immaculate Conception, in Mississippi.

Father David Esquillano became pastor in 2016 until 2017, his term was short as he then left to study in Rome.

Father Lynn Bruch became pastor in 2017 until present. He was brought to Rockwell City when St Francis clustered with St Mary in Lake City and continued to share a priest with St Thomas in Manson. 

Father Brian Feller came to Calhoun Catholic Parishes in July of 2023 as Associate Pastor.