About St. Mary · Genesee, Idaho
St. Mary's in Genesee, Idaho, is a historic Catholic station church served by the priests of St. Mary's Parish in Moscow. Organized in the 1880s by German and Irish Catholic pioneers of the Palouse, its first wooden church was dedicated on July 13, 1890, by Bishop A.J. Glorieux in honor of the Immaculate Conception. The present brick church and rectory were completed and dedicated on June 20, 1965, by Bishop Sylvester Treinen, replacing the 1890 church that burned on September 30, 1961. Today the parish belongs to the Diocese of Boise and shares its priests with the Moscow mother parish, offering Sunday and Wednesday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Religious Education K–8, a Knights of Columbus Council (#1554, chartered 1911), the Ladies of St. Mary's, and outreach to the surrounding Latah County farming community.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (original dedication: Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Father Benjamin Onyemachi, SMMM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Boise
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small, multigenerational Catholic community of the Palouse with deep roots going back to the pioneer Irish and German families who founded it in 1889. Parishioners today keep the legacy alive through a weekly Eucharistic Adoration hour, Religious Education for children K–8, an active Knights of Columbus Council #1554 (chartered in 1911), the Ladies of St. Mary's, a Parish Council that meets monthly, and a Funeral Committee that walks with families in difficult times. Worship is warm and traditional — Sunday Mass at 9:45 a.m., Wednesday evening Mass, with confessions before Sunday Mass — and the parish shares clergy and faith formation resources with the larger St. Mary's community in nearby Moscow.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:15 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
- By appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
About St. Mary's Catholic Parish, Genesee
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Genesee is part of the Diocese of Boise and is a station church served by the priests of St. Mary's Parish in Moscow. The parish's mission statement — 'a faith community bonded by the love of God,' encountering Christ in the Sacraments and the Word, witnessing to His mercy through kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, and united by practical charity, education, and service 'after the example of our patron, Mary, Mother of God' — reflects more than 135 years of Catholic life in the Genesee valley. Worship, faith formation, and community service are organized through the Genesee Parish Council (which meets every 2nd Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. after the evening Mass), Religious Education K–8, the Ladies of St. Mary's, Knights of Columbus Council #1554, the Funeral Committee, and Genesee Outreach.
- Station church of St. Mary's Parish, Moscow (since 1996)
- Diocese of Boise
- Patron: Mary, Mother of God (original dedication: Immaculate Conception)
- Parish Council meets 2nd Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. (no summer meetings unless needed)
History of St. Mary's Genesee
Catholic life in Genesee traces back to the 1880s, when Jesuit missionaries — including the famous Father Cataldo — said Mass in the homes of German and Irish pioneers. The parish organized in 1889 and built its first church that year on lots deeded by Judge Buck in the west addition of town. That first church was dedicated on July 13, 1890, by Bishop A.J. Glorieux in honor of the Immaculate Conception; it burned on September 30, 1961, and was replaced by the present church, dedicated June 20, 1965, by Bishop Sylvester Treinen. After more than a century of independent parish life, declining vocations led the Diocese of Boise in 1996 to make Genesee a station church of St. Mary's Parish in Moscow.
- 1889 – Parish organized; foundation of first church laid June 29
- July 13, 1890 – First church dedicated by Bishop A.J. Glorieux (Immaculate Conception)
- 1893 – Three McShane Bell Foundry bells installed; first resident pastor, Rev. J.J. Burri
- 1896 – Benedictines open a parish school; 1900 – St. Joseph's School dedicated
- 1904 – First spiritual retreat and synod of the clergy of the Diocese of Boise held at Genesee, led by Father Cataldo, S.J.
- 1911 – Knights of Columbus Council No. 1554 chartered
- 1958 – Catholic Daughters of America Court Mother Cabrini No. 1778 organized
- September 30, 1961 – Fire destroys the 1890 church in under two hours
- June 20, 1965 – Present church and rectory dedicated by Bishop Sylvester Treinen
- 1968 – St. Mary's School closes; building repurposed as the parish Center
- 1990 – Centennial of the parish celebrated
- 1996 – Downgraded to station status; becomes a station church of St. Mary's Parish, Moscow
- 1999 – Knights of Columbus Memorial to the Unborn installed
- 2001 – Ladies of St. Mary's formed from the Altar Society and former Catholic Daughters
Religious Education and Sacraments
The parish offers Religious Education for children in grades K–8, with age-appropriate lessons, prayer, and community intended to build a strong foundation in the faith. Baptized children in the second or third grade are invited to prepare to receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. The parish also coordinates funeral and pastoral ministries with the Moscow parish office.
- Religious Education K–8 (contact Donna Wommack)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation for baptized 2nd–3rd graders
- Pastoral care available through the parish office
Parish Organizations and Outreach
Long-standing parish organizations keep Genesee's small Catholic community closely knit. Knights of Columbus Council #1554 (chartered 1911) meets the 1st Sunday of each month at 11:00 a.m. from October through June and continues the parish's tradition of service, charity, and defense of life. The Ladies of St. Mary's — formed in 2001 from the Altar Society and the former Catholic Daughters — meets the first Sunday of the month and supports the parish's life and outreach under president Molly Vestal. Genesee Outreach coordinates the parish's charitable work in the surrounding community, and a Funeral Committee (Jill Somers-Stout, Ann Williams, Linda Schleuter) walks with families at the loss of a loved one.
- Knights of Columbus Council #1554 — Grand Knight Joseph Bartosz; meets 1st Sunday at 11:00 a.m., Oct.–June
- Ladies of St. Mary's — President Molly Vestal; meets 1st Sunday of the month
- Genesee Outreach
- Funeral Committee: Jill Somers-Stout, Ann Williams, Linda Schleuter
- Parish Council (Genesee) — meets 2nd Wednesday at 7:15 p.m.
Parish Facilities
The current St. Mary's Church and rectory were dedicated on June 20, 1965, replacing the original 1890 church destroyed by fire in 1961. The largest of the three original McShane Bell Foundry bells (1893) stands in the parking lot in front of the church as a monument to the parish's pioneers. The Neyens Family Center — originally built as St. Mary's School in 1960 and closed as a school in 1968 — houses parish organizations, religious education, and is available for community events; the contact is Shannon Schacher (208-301-0456).
- St. Mary's Church (dedicated 1965)
- Rectory
- Neyens Family Center / Parish Center (former 1960 school building)
- Pioneer Bell monument (McShane Bell Foundry, 1893)
- Knights of Columbus Memorial to the Unborn (installed 1999)
Contact and Visiting
St. Mary's Genesee shares its parish office and priests with St. Mary's Parish in Moscow. The mailing address for the parish office is PO Box 9106, Moscow, ID 83843, and visitors to the Moscow campus can stop by 618 E. First St., Moscow, ID 83843. Office phone is 208-882-4813. The Genesee-specific email is [email protected] and the shared office email is [email protected]. The parish invites visitors to take brochures and information from the back of the church and welcomes new parishioners.
- Parish office phone: 208-882-4813
- Genesee email: [email protected]
- Office email: [email protected]
- Mailing address: PO Box 9106, Moscow, ID 83843
- Moscow campus: 618 E. First St., Moscow, ID 83843
- Website: http://stmarysparishmoscow.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Hartleib1889–
First pastor; stationed in Moscow and served Genesee two Sundays a month.
- Rev. J.J. Burri1893–
First resident priest of the parish.
- Rev. Remi Keyzer1898–1907
Oversaw construction of St. Joseph's School (dedicated 1900); parishioners made the bricks themselves.
- Fr. Carey
Listed among early 20th-century pastors.
- Fr. Veit
Listed among early 20th-century pastors.
- Fr. Kunkel
Listed among early 20th-century pastors.
- Fr. McBride
Listed among early 20th-century pastors.
- Fr. Cope
Listed among early 20th-century pastors.
- Rev. Fr. John S. Harrington, SJ
Son of a parish family; celebrated first Solemn High Mass at St. Mary's on June 29, 1948.
- Rev. Francis McGlinchey1957–1960
Built and dedicated the new St. Mary's School in 1960.
- Fr. B.C. (Bartholomew) McCarthy1960–
Lost the 1890 church to fire on September 30, 1961; led the campaign to build the present church and rectory, dedicated June 20, 1965.
- Fr. Robert Finucane1996–
Appointed Parochial Vicar in residence when Genesee became a station church of St. Mary's Parish in Moscow.
- Father Benjamin Onyemachi, SMMM2023–
Current pastor; arrived in Boise in July 2022 from Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian; ordained 2010 in Nigeria for the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy Congregation.