About St. Mary of the Presentation · Geneva, Indiana
St. Mary of the Presentation is a small, family-oriented Catholic parish in rural Geneva, Indiana, on the southeastern edge of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Founded in 1856 as a mission of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinity, Indiana, it grew out of an Irish settler community in Jefferson Township, Adams County, and was made an independent parish in 1904 with its first resident pastor, Rev. Vincent Muinch. Today the parish has about 31 registered families but welcomes more than 70 families every weekend, including visitors from nearby Portland and from across the Ohio border. Despite two devastating fires — in 1881 and 1941 — the community has rebuilt itself four times and, in 2022, completed a sanctuary renovation that included a new back altar and refreshed worship space.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Jonathan Chinonye Agbedo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Presentation is a quintessential small-country parish where nearly everyone has known each other from childhood, and where 'we work as a team' — about 31 registered families supported by more than 70 in weekend worship, including visitors from Portland and Ohio. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration on Fridays, a Wednesday Our Lady of Perpetual Help novena and chaplet, a women's sodality, retreats, and preparation for the sacraments in a peaceful, family setting. It is a good fit for anyone seeking an intimate rural Catholic community in the southeastern corner of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Presentation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Devotions: Fridays 4:00 PM
- Holy Hour for Priests: Third Friday of the month at 4:00 PM
Parish History
St. Mary of the Presentation traces its roots to 1856, when Irish Catholic settlers in Jefferson Township, Adams County, began worshipping as a mission of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinity, Indiana. For its first quarter century the community had no church building of its own; area Catholics walked or rode to St. Anthony in Mercer County and later, from 1860, to Holy Trinity in Jay County. In 1878 Father Joseph Uphaus began celebrating regular Masses for 19 families, and in 1880 the congregation built its first church — a log structure raised by Irish immigrants and their neighbors. That church burned in October 1881, and the community rebuilt it in brick by 1883 as a 60-by-32-foot building. In 1904 Bishop Joseph Dwenger established St. Mary's as an independent parish with its first resident pastor, Rev. Vincent Muinch. On January 2, 1941, fire again gutted the church, leaving only charred brick walls; with only 19 families at the time, diocesan advisors suggested merging with Holy Trinity, but parishioners voted unanimously to remain independent and rebuild a fourth time, enlarging the structure with a sanctuary and two wings.
- 1856: Mission founded under Most Holy Trinity Parish, Trinity, Indiana
- 1878: Father Joseph Uphaus begins regular Masses for 19 Irish Catholic families
- 1880: First church (log) built by Irish immigrants and neighbors
- 1881: First church destroyed by fire (October)
- 1883: Second church completed in brick (60 x 32 ft)
- 1904: Becomes an independent parish; first resident pastor Rev. Vincent Muinch
- 1941 (Jan 2): Second fire; parish votes unanimously to rebuild rather than merge with Holy Trinity
- Parish hall added approximately 25 years ago
- December 2022: Sanctuary renovation with new back altar and recentered main altar
Staff
The parish is led by Acting Pastor Father Desmond Perera. Day-to-day operations are supported by a small, dedicated lay staff who handle everything from the parish office to music ministry and finances. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Former Pastor: Fr. Jonathan Chinonye Agbedo
- Parish Secretary: Kathy Regedanz
- Business Manager: Tom Wiseman
- Music Director / Choir Director: Mary Agnes Muhlenkamp
Devotions
Devotional life is woven into the weekly rhythm at St. Mary's, with daily Rosary prayer, a weekly Marian novena, and seasonal retreats.
- Rosary: Saturdays 4:40 PM, Sundays 9:00 AM, and before each weekday Mass
- Novena and Chaplet to Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Wednesdays at 4:30 PM before Mass
- Periodic and seasonal retreats
- Summer cookout / parish social
Parish Ministries and Groups
Though small in size, St. Mary of the Presentation offers its members several opportunities for fellowship, formation, and service. The parish choir is led by Music Director Mary Agnes Muhlenkamp, the women's sodality gathers regularly, and new initiatives such as Bible studies and marriage preparation classes are being added.
- Choir / Music Ministry
- Women's Sodality
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena and Chaplet
- Bible studies (planned)
- Marriage preparation classes (planned)
- Parish summer cookout and other social events
Parish Life and Community
Parishioners often describe St. Mary's as a 'family church' where nearly everyone has known one another from childhood into adulthood. About 31 families are registered, but more than 70 families worship there every weekend, drawn from Geneva, nearby Portland, and communities across the Ohio border. The community also includes Amish families and other non-Catholic neighbors who share in the parish's peaceful, rural life. Parishioners host summer cookouts and other social events as part of their life together.
- About 31 registered families
- Hosts more than 70 families each weekend
- Includes Catholic families, Amish families, and non-Catholic neighbors
- Visitors from Portland, Indiana and from Ohio
Sacraments
Information on the sacraments is communicated through the parish office. Confession is offered weekly on Saturday afternoons and by appointment. The parish has begun developing marriage preparation classes for couples in the community.
- Confession: Saturdays 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM and by appointment
- Marriage preparation (in development)
Contact and Visiting
St. Mary of the Presentation is located at 5790 E 1100 S, Geneva, IN 46740, in the southeastern part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. The parish phone is 260-997-6558 and email is [email protected]. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Parish Secretary Kathy Regedanz can also be reached at 419-268-8559 (cell) for parish hall rental and cemetery information.
- Address: 5790 E 1100 S, Geneva, IN 46740
- Parish phone: 260-997-6558
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Secretary (Kathy Regedanz) cell: 419-268-8559
- Parish Hall Rental and Cemetery inquiries: contact Kathy Regedanz
- Business Manager: Tom Wiseman
Sanctuary Renovation (2022)
In December 2022 the parish installed a new back altar as part of a broader refresh of the worship space. Work also included updated blue paint, refreshed side sanctuary spaces, and the restoration of the former main Mass altar from the side back to the center of the church. The parish invites visitors to come see the transformation in person.
- New back altar installed
- Updated blue sanctuary paint
- Side sanctuary spaces refreshed
- Former main altar recentered
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Uphaus1878–
Began celebrating regular Masses for the 19 Irish Catholic families of the mission
- Rev. Vincent Muinch1904–
First resident pastor when St. Mary's became an independent parish