About St. John the Baptist Campus of St. Genevieve · Centerville, Minnesota
St. John the Baptist Campus is the Hugo worship site of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Centerville, Minnesota. In 2012, St. John the Baptist Church in Hugo merged with the historic St. Genevieve parish (founded 1854) under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis's Strategic Plan. Today the unified parish of St. Genevieve celebrates Mass at three sites—the original 1904 church in Centerville, the Parish Community Center on Centerville Road, and the St. John the Baptist church in Hugo. Sunday Mass at the Hugo campus is celebrated at 8:30 a.m. in English.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Greg Esty
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Genevieve–St. John the Baptist is a multi-site Catholic community rooted in 170+ years of faith in Centerville and Hugo, with liturgies offered in three worship spaces so parishioners from Centerville, Hugo, Lino Lakes, White Bear Lake, Forest Lake, Ham Lake and beyond can find a convenient Sunday Mass. It runs in-person Faith Formation for preschool through Confirmation (with First Communion and Confirmation as two-year sacramental prep programs), a Vacation Bible School each June, a robust Liturgy Ministry (music, lectors, eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, sacristans, environment and AV), and OCIA for adults. A mission statement—'As disciples of Jesus Christ, ALL are called to worship God, participate in lifelong faith formation, and serve God AND NEIGHBOR'—and a stated welcome that 'All are welcome as we journey together in faith' capture the parish's pastoral tone.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist Campus of St. Genevieve
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM at St. Genevieve Church, Centerville (and by appointment—call 651-429-7937)
History of St. Genevieve & St. John the Baptist
St. Genevieve parish was established in 1854 to serve French-Canadian settlers in eastern Anoka County, with a log church built in 1855 and replaced in 1859. Father Joseph Goiffon—pastor 1861–1891 and one of Minnesota's great early missionaries—oversaw a third church in 1870; the present Centerville church was built in 1904 after the 1900 fire. In 1901, St. John the Baptist was founded in what is now Hugo; Father Lloyd Fortin rebuilt the current Hugo church after a fire destroyed the original. Under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis's Strategic Plan, the two parishes merged in 2012, with St. Genevieve as the receiving parish.
- 1854 – St. Genevieve parish established for French-Canadian settlers
- 1855 – First log church built
- 1870 – Third church completed under Fr. Joseph Goiffon
- 1900 – Fire at St. Genevieve
- 1901 – St. John the Baptist established (Hugo/Oneka)
- 1904 – Present St. Genevieve church built
- Late 1940s – Current St. John the Baptist church built under Fr. Lloyd Fortin
- 2012 – Merger into unified St. Genevieve parish
Worship Sites & Locations
Since the 2012 merger, the parish lives out its mission in three locations across Centerville and Hugo. Masses, funerals and weddings are celebrated in all three buildings.
- St. Genevieve Church (StG) — 1683 Sorel St, Centerville, MN (original 1904 church)
- Parish Community Center (PCC) & Hospitality Hall (HH) — 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville, MN
- St. John's Site (StJ) & Fortin Hall (FH) — 14363 Forest Blvd N, Hugo, MN
- Faith Formation Center (FFC) — 1664 Heritage St, Centerville, MN (phone 651-426-1818)
- Parish Office — 7087 Goiffon Road, Centerville, MN 55038
Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep
Faith Formation is in-person and serves preschool through adult. Preschool–Grade 8 meets Wednesdays 6:15–7:15 PM at Centerville Elementary (beginning fall 2026); Confirmation students meet once a month on Sundays, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM. First Communion and Confirmation are two-year programs. Vacation Bible School runs June 15–19, 2026, with the theme 'Rainforest Falls' for ages 3 through 5th grade.
- Preschool–Grade 8: Wednesdays 6:15–7:15 PM, Centerville Elementary
- Confirmation: monthly Sundays, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM
- First Communion prep (two-year)
- Confirmation prep (two-year)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Baptism Team
- Vacation Bible School (June 15–19, 2026)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Family Special Events (four per year)
- Family fees: $70/1 child; $140/2; $200/3 or more
Liturgy Ministry
The Liturgy Committee—chaired by the parish Worship Director—coordinates the ministries that make Sunday and weekday liturgies possible at all three worship sites. It is accountable to the pastor, meets monthly on the third Tuesday (except June and August), and supports the parish through music, environment, and trained liturgical volunteers.
- Music Ministry
- Environment Committee
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans
- AV Technicians
- Worship Director: Laura Baldwin
Parish Leadership & Staff
Father Greg Esty has served as pastor of St. Genevieve (and of St. John the Baptist at the time of the 2012 merger) since 2012. He was ordained June 29, 1975, by Pope Paul VI in Rome and is celebrating his 50th anniversary of ordination. The staff team supports worship, faith formation, business operations, safe environment and facility care. The Pastoral Council advises the pastor on parish vision and meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except July).
- Pastor: Fr. Greg Esty ([email protected]; 651-429-7937)
- Director of Faith Formation: ThuyAnh Hoang ([email protected]; 651-426-1818)
- Parish Business Administrator / Cemetery Administrator / Safe Environment Coordinator: Susie Irlbeck ([email protected]; 651-429-7937)
- Administrative Assistant: Patty DuBois ([email protected]; 651-429-7937)
- Worship Director / Liturgy Committee Chairperson: Laura Baldwin ([email protected]; 651-429-7937)
- Funeral/Wedding Accompanist: Betsy Sandstrom (651-433-3955)
- Pastoral Council members: David Breen, Justin Crowley, Ivan Droessler, Judy Flett, Brent Skalicky, Sharon Tomlin
Parish Office & Getting Involved
The parish office at 7087 Goiffon Road, Centerville, is the main hub for registration, scheduling and inquiries. Visitors and parishioners can register online, request sacraments, and join one of many ministries—from faith formation (catechists, hall monitors, family-event helpers, VBS crew/station leaders) to liturgical service. The parish mission is: 'As disciples of Jesus Christ, ALL are called to worship God, participate in lifelong faith formation, and serve God AND NEIGHBOR.'
- Office hours: Mon 8:00 AM–3:00 PM; Tue–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–11:00 AM
- Parish Registration Form (PDF / Word) available on the website
- Phone: 651-429-7937 | Email: [email protected]
- Volunteer paths: catechist, assistant catechist, substitute catechist, hall monitor, family-event planner, VBS crew/station leader, Baptism Team, OCIA Team, Pastoral Council
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Goiffon1861-1891
One of the great early missionaries in Minnesota; served the French-Canadian settlers of the parent St. Genevieve parish and oversaw the third church (1870). The road by the parish office (Goiffon Road, Centerville) is named for him.
- Fr. Lloyd Fortinfrom 1947
Came to Hugo in 1947 and oversaw the building of the current St. John the Baptist church after a fire destroyed the original. The parish's Hugo hall is named 'Fortin Hall' in his honor.
- Fr. Greg Esty2012-present
Pastor of St. Genevieve and St. John the Baptist since the 2012 merger; ordained June 29, 1975 by Pope Paul VI in Rome; celebrating 50th anniversary of ordination.