For more than a century, the Church of St. Genevieve has anchored Catholic life in Centerville, Minnesota, a small town on the northern edge of Washington County just outside the Twin Cities. When members are asked where their church is, they often answer with a list of the places they call home: Centerville, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Forest Lake, White Bear Lake, Ham Lake, and beyond. People travel from across the area to pray together and care for one another in faith.
Since the 2012 merger with St. John the Baptist Church in Hugo, St. Genevieve has lived out its mission across three locations. The original St. Genevieve Church stands at 1683 Sorel Street in Centerville, the Parish Community Center rises at 6995 Centerville Road in Centerville, and the St. John the Baptist site occupies 14363 Forest Boulevard North in Hugo. A fourth building, the Faith Formation Center on Heritage Street in Centerville, supports parish education programs.
The parish mission is direct and unfussy. Members are called to serve as disciples of Jesus Christ, nourished by scripture, prayer, and the sacraments, committed to worship, lifelong formation of faith, and serving God in their communities. The mission depends on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to inspire, encourage, and challenge. All are welcome as they walk in faith together.
The Sunday Rhythm
Weekend Mass is celebrated at two of the three worship sites. Saturday evening Mass begins at 4:30 PM at the Parish Community Center, 6995 Centerville Road, Centerville. Sunday morning brings Mass at 8:30 AM at the St. John the Baptist site in Hugo and at 10:30 AM at the Parish Community Center in Centerville. A daily Mass is offered at 8:00 AM on Wednesdays at St. Genevieve Church, 1683 Sorel Street, Centerville.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday at 3:30 PM at St. Genevieve Church on Sorel Street, or by appointment by calling 651-429-7937. For those unable to access the Sorel Street church, arrangements can be made with Fr. Greg to hear confessions at an alternate, handicapped accessible location.
Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page, so that members who cannot join in person stay connected to the Sunday liturgy. Those who attend by livestream consent to be part of the online celebration.
Seven Sacraments at the Heart of Parish Life
Catholic sacramental life sits at the heart of parish life at St. Genevieve. The parish celebrates all seven sacraments with preparation programs for children, youth, and adults.
Baptism is the first step on a child's journey of faith. At least one parent must be a Catholic, registered member of the parish. Parents attend a Baptism Preparation Session within three years of the baptism, complete an online Baptism Information Form, and select a godparent. Only one godparent is required, and the godparent must be baptized, confirmed, at least sixteen years old, and a practicing Catholic. Baptisms are scheduled after the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass on selected dates throughout the year. One recent candidate described baptism as "the start of the religious journey for our child. It's opening him or her up to a much larger community than just our family."
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist form a two-year preparation that begins in first grade and culminates with reception of the sacraments in second grade. Children in third grade or older who wish to receive the sacraments enroll in the Wednesday evening program for one year and prepare to receive them in the second. The process blends Wednesday evening classes with parent-led at-home sessions, inviting families to walk the journey together.
Confirmation is a two-year program that begins in ninth grade, with the sacrament conferred in the spring of tenth grade. Confirmation candidates serve as class helpers in the Faith Formation program, attend six Sunday formation sessions, take part in a yearly retreat, and complete coursework. They also choose a sponsor who is a confirmed Catholic, at least sixteen, in good standing, and willing to share faith with the candidate. Adults seeking Confirmation enroll in OCIA.
Marriage preparation begins at least seven months before the wedding date. Couples register as adult parishioners at least six months in advance, meet with the pastor, complete a Pre-Marriage Inventory, meet with a sponsor couple, attend a pre-marriage conference or retreat, work with the music coordinator, and return for a final meeting with the pastor. Weddings can be celebrated at any of the three worship sites.
Anointing of the Sick is celebrated yearly at all Masses on a designated weekend. For individual anointing prior to surgery, during a change in illness, or near death, parishioners contact Fr. Greg Esty directly.
Holy Orders inquiries are directed to the Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which recruits and assesses candidates for priesthood and consecrated life. Deacon vocations are directed to the Institute for Diaconate Formation.
OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, welcomes those exploring membership in the Roman Catholic faith as well as Catholics who missed the sacraments at a traditional age. OCIA starts with a Rite of Dismissal at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass in September and continues bi-monthly on Tuesday evenings at the Faith Formation Center through Easter, when participants receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. One recent participant wrote: "Completing the RCIA program through St. Genevieve's with ThuyAnh and Father Greg was amazing. St. Gen's checked all the boxes - flexible scheduling, personalized lesson structure, thoughtful discussions, and a welcoming parish."
Faith Formation for Every Generation
Faith formation at St. Genevieve follows the scriptural call: "Love the Lord your God with all your soul and all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working" (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). Parents are the primary educators in the faith, and the parish offers programs to supplement and support that vocation.
Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 8:30 and 10:30 AM Sunday Masses from mid-September through mid-May. Children aged three through first grade meet in a designated area during the readings and homily to learn about the Gospel message, pray, do an activity, learn a little about the liturgy, and return to their parents afterward. There is no registration or fee.
St. Gen's Tots welcomes preschoolers and kindergartners in a single classroom. The program focuses on helping young children learn and grow in their relationship with God through weekly class time, with simple prayers, saint stories, and activities for use at home during the week.
4-Faith gathers students in grades one through five on Wednesday evenings at Centerville Elementary from 6:15 to 7:15 PM. The program uses the Discover curriculum from St. Mary's Press, and each student receives a Catholic Children's Bible.
St. Gen's Adolescent Ministry, or SGAM, gathers sixth through eighth graders in person on Wednesdays at Centerville Elementary using the Connect curriculum from St. Mary's Press.
Confirmation I and II gather high school students on Sundays once a month to share and grow their faith, with required retreats and a Confirmation interview before reception of the sacrament. There is also a new ChatGLE gathering with Fr. Greg for parents of Faith Formation students, beginning with family dinner at 6:00 PM at the Parish Community Center before students head to the classroom and parents head to chat with the pastor.
All adults and teens eighteen and older who volunteer with Faith Formation must complete VIRTUS certification through an online Protecting God's Children training, a background check, and a signed Code of Conduct.
The Faith Formation Advisory Committee, made up of parish staff and volunteers, advises on the design, implementation, and evaluation of all formation programs. The committee also helps coordinate the Catechist team, Special Events Team, Vacation Bible School Team, OCIA Team, and Baptism Team. Vacation Bible School is held each June at the Parish Community Center for children from three years old through fifth grade, with middle and high school students serving as Crew Leaders and Station Leaders.
Small Group Bible Study and The Chosen
Small groups meet to study Scripture and discuss the popular series "The Chosen." A Little Rock Bible Study of Genesis runs in two parts in fall and early winter. Part One covers Genesis 1:1 through 25:18, the pre-history of Israel, the creation accounts, the stories of the fall, the great flood, and the story of Abraham and Sarah. Part Two moves from Abraham to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and his brothers.
Morning sessions meet Wednesdays from 8:45 to 10:15 AM at the Faith Formation Center. Evening sessions meet Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the St. John's site in Hugo. Each part has its own study guide, with a ten-dollar fee per part. A more comprehensive Adult Faith Formation series offers additional gatherings throughout the year, and small groups periodically gather to study other books of the Bible together.
Music Ministries
Enthusiasm, pride, and commitment make the St. Genevieve Parish Choir one of the most involved groups in the parish. Choir members need not know how to read music. The choir sings at the Saturday 4:30 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM, and Sunday 10:30 AM liturgies, as well as special seasonal liturgies. Rehearsals are held most Mondays at 6:30 PM at the Parish Community Center or St. John's site. Instrumentalists are welcome to rehearse with the choir on Mondays and play as often as they wish on weekends. Funeral and wedding music is supported by accompanist Betsy Sandstrom.
Hands at the Altar
Liturgical ministers keep the celebration of the Mass prayerful and orderly and invite fellow worshipers to fuller participation. Training is provided for every role.
Sacristans prepare the building and sanctuary for Mass, confirm that all needed ministers are present and able to serve, and oversee the liturgy from beginning to end so the Mass goes smoothly.
Eucharistic Ministers distribute the Body and Blood of Christ to worshipers. Servers must be practicing Catholics, fully initiated through Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation, active in the parish, faithful to the sacraments, and approved by the pastor. High school students are encouraged to serve at weekend liturgies.
Ushers offer a spirit of warmth and welcome as worshipers enter the church. They distribute worship aids, take up the collection, choose a family to bring up the offertory gifts, distribute bulletins, and tidy the pews after Mass.
Altar Servers assist at weekend liturgies and special holy days. Serving is open to all parish youth in third grade or older. Parents may serve with younger servers until they grow into the role.
Lectors proclaim the Word of God to the congregation. The role requires practice and prayer, and lectors are trained in public speaking.
AV Technicians operate the audio-visual equipment during liturgies, including the livestream feed.
The Liturgy Committee brings together the pastor, worship director, environment chair, and three to four volunteers to plan prayerful liturgies. The committee meets monthly on the third Tuesday, with ten meetings a year. The Environment Committee designs and creates a dignified and beautiful environment in all worship spaces.
Pastoral Care and Funeral Ministry
Pastoral care at St. Genevieve flows through friendships and relationships that grow out of active parish life. The pastoral care team also schedules regular visits to local adult living facilities, where they lead Word and Communion services. New volunteers are invited to shadow the team for a week or two to see if the ministry is a good fit.
The Funeral Ministry welcomes volunteers to two kinds of service. As luncheon volunteers, men and women prepare and serve food and clean up after the luncheon. Volunteer bakers provide desserts on request. As Mass volunteers, the Funeral Ministry provides sacristans, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, cantors, choir members, and AV techs. Funeral Masses can be held at the Parish Community Center, St. Genevieve Church, or St. John the Baptist Church, and the funeral can be livestreamed at the Parish Community Center upon request. The Parish Funeral Ministry can provide a luncheon at the Parish Community Center, with food catered in and served by volunteers at either Fortin Hall in Hugo or the Parish Community Center in Centerville.
Reaching Out
St. Andrew's Family Shelter serves families in Washington County who might otherwise be homeless. Families are actively working with the Community Resource Center at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church to find employment and affordable housing. The parish invites contributions to be sent to the St. Andrew's Community Resource Center, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN 55115.
The parish supports both the Centennial Community Food Shelf and the Hugo Good Neighbor Food Shelf with volunteers and ongoing donations.
A Growing Through Loss series offers an opportunity for individuals to obtain information and support for a variety of grief issues, including the loss of a spouse, parent, friend, or pet, as well as divorce, empty nest, job loss, and moves to a new city. Sessions take place on Monday evenings at The Church of St. William in Fridley, and participants are welcome to attend one session or all.
Council of Catholic Women and Men's Club
The Council of Catholic Women describes itself as "Ordinary Women Doing God's Extraordinary Work." All women of the parish are members, and the council supports, empowers, and educates women in spirituality, leadership, and service in support of the parish mission. The council is affiliated with the Northeast Deanery, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, and the National Council of Catholic Women. Programs respond with gospel values to the needs of the church and society in the modern world, with a special devotion to Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel, as the council's patron.
Co-presidents Elaine Monitor and Deb Seelig lead the council's work, which includes the executive board, budget and disbursement committees, deanery meetings, priests luncheons, funeral luncheons, food shelf support, American Red Cross blood drives, the Country Store, Lenten retreat, event fund, appreciation luncheon for funeral volunteers, rolling bandages, and baptism books prepared for each newly baptized child. The council also makes quilts for an Appalachia project.
The St. John's Men's Club of St. Genevieve's Church, formed in 2002, provides a social environment for the men of the parish for Christian fellowship. Members promote and sponsor parish activities to bring parishioners and the broader community together, contributing time, talent, and treasure. The club meets the first Monday of every month at 7:00 PM at the St. John's Campus in Hugo. A $10 annual membership supports the club's work. Annual events include Lenten Fish Fries on six Fridays during Lent, twice-yearly pancake breakfasts at Fortin Hall, St. Paul Saints baseball games, a hamburger night for the Yellow Ribbon at the Hugo Legion, an annual golf outing, the parish picnic, a brunch at the Parish Community Center, and Christmas caroling at Chauncey Barett Gardens, Keystone Place, and Muller Manor.
The Festival Tradition
The parish festival is a beloved tradition with deep roots. In the late 1930s, mothers prepared chicken dinners at home and brought them to the church basement for the picnic. In 1939-1940 the church basement was completed, and dinners moved on site. Over the years the festival grew into a major undertaking, with fresh chicken purchased and prepared in the church basement on a strict Thursday-to-Saturday routine: toast bread for dressing on Thursday, clean and quarter chicken on Friday, fry chicken and prepare other food on Saturday, and set up the dining room and games on the grounds. Vegetables came as donations from parish gardens. Volunteers organized bingo, ran the famous Mouse Game, and worked the cake walk. The Silent Auction was started by Helen Perkowski, and the Pot o' Gold was a fixture for many years. In Hugo, the parish hosted the famous St. John's Horse Show for many years.
Today, Hospitality Ministry hosts Hospitality Sunday on the third Sunday of each month after the 8:30 and 10:30 AM Masses. The Hospitality Committee also hosts New Member Brunches throughout the year to welcome new parishioners and introduce them to the parish's events, ministries, and opportunities for spiritual growth.
Our Lady of Kibeho
A statue of Our Lady of Kibeho stands in the Parish Community Center to the right of the altar. Mary appeared in Kibeho, Rwanda from November 28, 1981 until November 28, 1989. The apparitions were approved by the Catholic Church in 2001. When asked her name, Mary told the three young high school visionaries, Alphonsine, Marie Clare, and Anathalie, that she was Mother of the Word. One of her most important messages was to inspire people to pray the rosary, especially the Seven Sorrows Rosary. A deceased parishioner, Matt Wiederkehr, created an online resource with his daughter Donna to share information about the Seven Sorrows Rosary, and a Facebook community of more than three thousand people gather three times a day on weekdays and twice on weekends to pray the rosary together, including prayers for the St. Gen's Prayer Chain.
Cemetery Ministry
The cemetery ministry maintains two parish cemeteries: St. Genevieve Cemetery in Centerville and St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Hugo. Gravesites are available at both cemeteries, and two burials are allowed in each gravesite, provided that at least one is a cremation. The Cemetery Board meets three times a year and welcomes new members. The cemeteries exist to meet the needs of the faithful at the time of death, burial, and throughout bereavement, providing a fitting environment for liturgical celebration and treating the human body with respect and dignity in death as in life.
A Place of Welcome
For anyone considering a visit, the parish invites newcomers to join for Mass, register as a parishioner, or simply explore the many programs offered. Registration can be completed online or by returning a paper form to the parish office. The parish office is open Monday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Online giving is available through the parish's online giving platform, and donations may also be made through donation envelopes, the parish mailing address, Billpay, the collection basket, donor-advised funds, IRA qualified charitable distributions, stock gifts, employer-matched gifts, or bequests. The parish also participates in the Archdiocese's Catholic Services Appeal.
For members with Celiac Sprue disease, low-gluten hosts are available at Mass. Those with celiac are asked to see the Sacristan before Mass to arrange for a low-gluten host, which is placed in a clear pyx and consecrated on the altar with all the altar breads.
St. Genevieve lives out its mission as disciples of Jesus Christ through worship, lifelong formation, and service to God and neighbor. Across three worship sites and a network of ministries, the parish offers a place for every member of the family to grow in faith.