About St. Mary's · Boise, Idaho
St. Mary's Catholic Church (formally Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception) is a historic parish in Boise's North End at 2612 W. State Street, founded in 1937 by Bishop Edward J. Kelly as Boise's second Catholic parish. Its 1937 Tourtellotte & Hummel–designed church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, was beautifully expanded and renovated in 2009 with a ZGA-designed addition that blends Gothic, neo-classical, and modern elements and now houses an internationally noted collection of religious art. Today the parish serves more than 1,200 families as a bilingual English–Spanish Catholic community under the Diocese of Boise, with a school, religious education program, food bank, and active liturgical and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. John Kucera (Father John Kucera)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Boise (West Central Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a historic, bilingual Catholic community in Boise's North End with more than 1,200 families, offering Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend, a parish school (St. Mary's School), an OCIA/OCIC process for adults and children, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, a parish food bank serving the wider neighborhood, and a richly decorated 1937 church that has been thoughtfully expanded for contemporary worship and gathering. Whether you are drawn by the art and architecture, the multi-cultural parish life, the school, the food bank, or simply the Sunday liturgy, St. Mary's makes it easy to get involved — newcomers can register online, contact the parish office, or sign up for ministries ranging from lector and Eucharistic minister to religious education, music, outreach, and maintenance.
Mass times at St. Mary's
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
- By appointment
History of St. Mary's Parish
In the spring of 1937, Bishop Edward J. Kelly and his advisors determined that a new parish was needed in Boise to serve the 200 Catholic families west of Fifteenth Street. On May 1, 1937, Bishop Kelly created the new parish under the formal title of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception — Boise's second Catholic parish, carved out of St. John's Cathedral's territory. The new church, designed by Frank Hummel of Tourtellotte & Hummel in an Old English style with red clinker brick walls, was dedicated December 19, 1937, and the parish has grown to more than 1,200 families served today by a bilingual English–Spanish community.
- Founded May 1, 1937 by Bishop Edward J. Kelly
- Original territory later included future parishes of Sacred Heart, Saint Mark's, and much of Holy Apostles
- Bishop Kelly's first site (16th & State) was bought by Joe Albertson for his first grocery store
- First pastor Fr. J. A. Jentes resigned October 25, 1937 due to ill health
- Msgr. John J. Creegan succeeded him and served as pastor for 37 years (1937–1974)
The Church Building & Its Art
The original 1937 church — Old English style, red clinker brick, two facing entrances, seating for 400, costing $34,000 — was designed by Frank Hummel of Tourtellotte & Hummel. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 1982. In 2009 it was significantly enlarged by ZGA Architects and Planners in a way that respects the original structure, blending Gothic, neo-classical, and modern elements and winning the Idaho Historic Preservation Council's Orchid Award for cultural heritage preservation. The renovated church is now nationally and internationally known for its outstanding religious art.
- Original architect: Frank Hummel of Tourtellotte & Hummel
- 2009 renovation architect: ZGA Architects and Planners
- NRHP reference No. 82000246; listed November 17, 1982
- Mary-in-a-pew statue by John Taye
- Ten chainsaw-carved roof-beam angels with musical instruments by J. Chester Armstrong
- Large Honduran mahogany doors, chainsaw-carved with Biblical scenes by Armstrong
- Biblical altar triptych painted by Tom Browning
Clergy, Deacons & Parish Staff
St. Mary's is served by a pastor, an assistant priest, several deacons, and a full pastoral and administrative staff. The current pastor is Father John Kucera, who was ordained June 8, 2017 by Bishop Peter Christensen and appointed pastor of St. Mary's by the Diocese of Boise, replacing the retiring Father John Worster. Father Kucera is a native of Lewiston, Idaho, a Lewis-Clark State College graduate in biology who studied at Mt. Angel Seminary. The staff also includes the Director of Religious Education, Director of Music, Business Manager, Facilities Manager, Bookkeeping, Parish Administrative Assistant, Office & Hispanic Affairs coordinator, Food Bank Manager, and the principal of St. Mary's School.
- Pastor — Rev. John Kucera (ordained 2017; previously parochial vicar at St. Paul's, Nampa and administrator at Mary Immaculate, Soda Springs)
- Assistant Priest — Fr. Jesus Camacho
- Deacons — incl. Kevan Grant and others listed on the parish staff page
- Director of Religious Education — Rusty Bang
- Director of Music
- Office & Hispanic Affairs — Lupita Martinez
- Food Bank Manager
- Business Manager, Bookkeeping, Facilities Manager
- Parish Administrative Assistant — Janielle Beason
- Principal, St. Mary's School
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mary's runs a parish school-year Religious Education program out of St. Mary's School for children and families, including First Communion Preparation for youth in 2nd–4th grades (Sunday sessions held between the morning Masses) and Confirmation Preparation for older youth. Adults and older children interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and OCIC (its child and teen adaptation), with the team led by a combination of deacons, priests, and laypeople. Catechist volunteers are welcomed year-round.
- OCIA for adults (baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation)
- OCIC for children and families (begins September 21, 2025; Sundays 9:00–10:30 AM in St. Mary's School)
- First Communion Preparation for 2nd–4th graders (Sundays 9:35–10:35 AM; fee $40)
- Confirmation Preparation (fee $70)
- Catechist / volunteer recruitment ongoing — contact Rusty Bang at 208-344-2597 ext. 207 or [email protected]
Sacraments
St. Mary's prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Reconciliation. Children under eight are baptized with parental permission and required parental instruction; adults and children over eight prepare through the OCIA / OCIC process. First Reconciliation is made during the year of First Communion preparation, and First Communion is celebrated at a special Mass in May. Confession is offered Saturday afternoons and by appointment.
- Baptism for children under 8 (with instruction)
- Baptism for adults and children over 8 via OCIA / OCIC
- First Communion (2nd–4th grade preparation)
- Confirmation preparation for youth
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30–4:30 PM and by appointment
- Marriage — contact the parish office
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgy is supported by a Liturgy Committee, a Music Ministry led by the parish Director of Music, and lay volunteers who serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers (including an Outreach Eucharistic Ministry), altar servers, and greeters. After Vatican II, St. Mary's laity took on these ministries, which continue today alongside the parish's bilingual English–Spanish liturgical life.
- Liturgy Committee
- Music Ministry / Director of Music
- Eucharistic Ministers (including Outreach Eucharistic Ministry)
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Greeters
Outreach: St. Mary's Food Bank
St. Mary's operates a parish Food Bank that serves the wider North End and Boise community. The food bank has its own dedicated location and is staffed by a parish Food Bank Manager. It is listed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare as a community pantry with set distribution hours.
- Food Bank Manager on parish staff
- Food Bank site at 3890 W State St, Boise, ID 83702
- Phone: 208-345-2734
- Distribution hours: Monday 11:00 AM–2:00 PM; Friday 11:00 AM–2:00 PM (closed Tuesday–Thursday and weekends)
Getting Involved & Parish Registration
Parishioners and newcomers are welcomed to register with the parish and to volunteer in a wide range of ministries — from liturgical roles like lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, and greeter, to formation work (Religious Education, OCIA, Youth Ministry, Music Ministry), to the parish Liturgy Committee, Outreach Eucharistic Ministry, and the practical needs of the parish (Office Assistant, Bookkeeping, Maintenance, Landscape, Handyman). The parish also runs online giving and a 'I'm New Here' page to help first-time visitors feel at home.
- Online parish registration form on stmarysboise.org
- Ministry sign-up during registration (Office, Maintenance, Landscape, Handyman, Religious Education, OCIA, Youth Ministry, Music Ministry, Liturgy Committee, Eucharistic Minister, Outreach Eucharistic Ministry, Lector, Altar Server, Greeter, Other)
- Online giving available
- 'I'm New Here' page for first-time visitors
- Parish Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM; Fri 9–11 AM (closed holidays)
Plan Your Visit
St. Mary's Catholic Community (Comunidad Católica De Santa María) is located at 2612 W. State Street, Boise, ID 83702, on the corner of State and 26th Streets in the North End. Phone: 208-344-2597. Email: [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The parish is closed on holidays.
- Address: 2612 W. State Street, Boise, ID 83702
- Phone: 208-344-2597
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmarysboise.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. J. A. Jentes1937 (May–Oct)
First pastor; resigned October 25, 1937 due to ill health.
- Msgr. John J. Creegan1937–1974
Succeeded Fr. Jentes shortly after the parish was founded; later named Monsignor in 1966; pastor for 37 years until his death in 1974.
- Rev. John WorsterRetired upon Father Kucera's appointment
Retired; replaced by Rev. John Kucera per Diocese of Boise priest assignments.