About St. Genevieve · Centerville, Minnesota
St. Genevieve is a Roman Catholic parish in Centerville, Minnesota, serving the north-metro communities of Centerville, Hugo, Lino Lakes, White Bear Lake, Ham Lake, and Forest Lake. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and is rooted in the French-Canadian Catholic settlement of the 1850s. Since 2012 it has been a merged community that worships across three sites — the original St. Genevieve Church in Centerville, the Parish Community Center, and St. John the Baptist Church in Hugo — under the pastoral leadership of Father Greg Esty. Its mission is simple and warm: as disciples of Jesus Christ, all are called to worship God, participate in lifelong faith formation, and serve God and neighbor, and 'all are welcome as we journey together in faith.'
- Established
- 1854
- Patron
- St. Genevieve (of Paris)
- Rector
- Rev. Greg Esty
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Genevieve is small enough that visitors quickly become part of the family, yet big enough to offer a wide variety of programs, services, and resources. Parishioners gather on Sundays from Centerville, Hugo, Lino Lakes, White Bear Lake, Ham Lake, Forest Lake, and beyond to pray together, share lifelong faith formation from preschool through adult, and put faith into action through ministries like OCIA, Faith Formation, Vacation Bible School, the Pastoral Care visits to local care centers, the Funeral Ministry, and outreach to St. Andrew's Shelter. The community centers its life on the Eucharist across three worship sites and welcomes everyone to journey together in faith.
Mass times at St. Genevieve
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM at St. Genevieve Church, Centerville (or by appointment — call 651-429-7937)
Our Story
St. Genevieve was founded in 1854 to serve French-Canadian settlers in eastern Anoka County, with the first Mass celebrated at the home of Francois and Leocadie (Houle) LaMotte. The parish has grown through three successive Centerville church buildings (1855, 1859, 1870), survived a fire in 1900, and built the present historic church in 1904. In 2012 it merged with St. John the Baptist in Hugo and now serves a growing population across Centerville, Hugo, Lino Lakes, White Bear Lake, Ham Lake, and Forest Lake.
- Founded 1854 for French-Canadian settlers
- Log church built 1855; second building 1859
- Third church completed 1870 under Fr. Joseph Goiffon
- Current church built 1904 after the 1900 fire
- Merged with St. John the Baptist (Hugo) in 2012
Father Greg Esty, Pastor
Father Greg Esty has served as pastor of St. Genevieve since 2012, when he accepted the assignment of merging St. John the Baptist in Hugo with St. Genevieve in Centerville. A St. Paul native, he entered seminary in ninth grade at Nazareth Hall in Roseville, graduated from the University of St. Thomas, completed graduate studies in Rome, and was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1975. Known by the TEAM acronym — Together Everyone Accomplishes More — he emphasizes communication, synodality, and listening.
- 1975–1979: Associate Pastor, St. Stephen's, Anoka
- 1979–1981: Associate Pastor, St. Helena's
- 1981–1987: Vocation Center Director, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- 1987–1999: Pastor, St. Richard's, Richfield
- 1999–2012: Pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Paul Park
- 2012–present: Pastor, St. Genevieve (Centerville–Hugo) and previously St. John the Baptist, Hugo
- Celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a small professional staff under Father Greg Esty, supporting worship, faith formation, administration, music, and facilities across all three sites.
- Fr. Greg Esty — Pastor ([email protected], 651-429-7937)
- ThuyAnh Hoang — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], 651-426-1818)
- Susie Irlbeck — Parish Business Administrator, Cemetery Administrator, Safe Environment Coordinator ([email protected], 651-429-7937)
- Patty DuBois — Administrative Assistant ([email protected], 651-429-7937)
- Laura Baldwin — Worship Director
- Betsy Sandstrom — Funeral/Wedding Accompanist (651-433-3955)
- Facilities Maintenance
Faith Formation
St. Genevieve offers lifelong faith formation for all ages from preschool through adult, in keeping with the conviction that 'parents are the primary educators in the faith.' Programs are coordinated by Director of Faith Formation ThuyAnh Hoang from the Faith Formation Center at 1664 Heritage Street in Centerville.
Children & Youth Faith Formation
Faith formation for Preschool through Grade 8 meets Wednesdays 6:15–7:15 PM at Centerville Elementary. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is a two-year program, and Confirmation students meet once a month on Sundays from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
- Wednesday Night Faith Formation (Preschool–Grade 10) at Centerville Elementary, 6:15–7:15 PM
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- First Communion preparation (two-year)
- Confirmation classes (twice a month)
- Vacation Bible School in June
- Family Faith Events
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly known as RCIA — is the parish's primary pathway for adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation, and is also open to any parishioner wanting a deep overview of the Catholic faith. The journey runs from late fall through the Easter Vigil. Small groups also meet throughout the year for Bible study and discussion of the series 'The Chosen.'
- OCIA classes on Tuesdays, 4:30–6:30 PM, at the Faith Formation Center (1664 Heritage Rd, Centerville)
- Small Group Bible study and 'The Chosen' series
- Sacramental preparation for adults
Pastoral Care Ministry
Pastoral Care is a vital ministry at St. Genevieve. In many cases it happens informally through friendships and neighborhood relationships; in others it takes the form of scheduled Word and Communion services at local adult living facilities. New volunteers are welcome to shadow the team for a week or two before committing.
Funeral Ministry
The Funeral Ministry provides liturgical roles — Sacristans, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Cantors, Choir Members, and AV Techs — at Funeral Masses, and a luncheon team prepares, serves, and cleans up after the meal at the Parish Community Center or Fortin Hall. Funeral Masses can be held at any of the three worship sites and live streamed at the Parish Community Center upon request.
- Liturgical roles: Sacristan, Usher, Eucharistic Minister, Cantor, Choir, AV Tech
- Luncheon team: shop, set up, prepare, serve, and clean up
- Volunteer bakers for desserts upon request
Cemeteries
The parish operates two historic Catholic cemeteries — St. Genevieve Cemetery in Centerville and St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Hugo — with gravesites available at both. Two burials are permitted in each gravesite provided at least one is a cremation. The Cemetery Board meets three times a year.
- St. Genevieve Cemetery, Centerville
- St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Hugo
- Two burials per gravesite allowed (at least one cremation)
- Cemetery Board meets three times per year
- Contact Susie Irlbeck, Cemetery Administrator, [email protected], 651-429-7937
Parish Festival & Community Life
The annual St. Genevieve Parish Festival is a long-running community tradition, with the 2025 festival billed as the 114th. The parish encourages all parishioners to volunteer, and the Festival Planning Committee meets in the months leading up to the event. Hospitality, funeral luncheons, outreach to St. Andrew's Shelter, and small-group fellowship round out parish community life.
- Annual Parish Festival each August (114th in 2025)
- Silent Auction and Festival Planning Committee
- Hospitality and Funeral Ministry luncheons
- Outreach to St. Andrew's Shelter
Locations & Contact
Parish life happens across four buildings in Centerville and Hugo. Office hours are Monday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM, Tuesday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM–11:00 AM. The parish can be reached at 651-429-7937 or [email protected].
- Parish Office — 7087 Goiffon Rd, Centerville, MN 55038 — 651-429-7937
- St. Genevieve Church — 1683 Sorel St, Centerville, MN
- St. John's Site & Fortin Hall — 14363 Forest Blvd N, Hugo, MN
- Faith Formation Center — 1664 Heritage St, Centerville, MN — 651-426-1818
- Parish Community Center & Hospitality Hall — 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville, MN
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Goiffon1861–1891
One of Minnesota's great early missionaries; oversaw the third parish church (1870) and recorded the oldest sacramental records of the parish.
- Fr. Lloyd Fortinfrom 1947
Came to Hugo after the 1947 fire at St. John the Baptist and oversaw building of the current church, dedicated April 25, 1948. Fortin Hall is named for him.
- Fr. Greg Esty2012–present
Accepted the assignment of merging St. John the Baptist in Hugo with St. Genevieve in Centerville in 2012; celebrating 50+ years of priestly ministry.