About Ste. Genevieve · Ste Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in the historic Mississippi River town of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Recognized as the oldest recorded parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, its origins stretch back to French Canadian Catholics who arrived in the 1700s and built a log church on the 'Le Grand Champ' (Big Common Field) sometime before 1759. Today the parish serves the community from its striking brick church with a 190-foot bell tower and steeple, offering multiple weekend Masses, weekday Masses, a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, Traditional Latin Mass, and active outreach through the local St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1759
- Patron
- Ste. Genevieve (Saint Genevieve of Paris)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Keller
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Ste. Genevieve Parish welcomes visitors and parishioners into one of the oldest Catholic communities west of the Mississippi, where French Catholic heritage and continuous worship stretch back over 265 years. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, a Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) on first Saturdays and Sundays, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 24 hours a day in its chapel across Merchant Street, Reconciliation before every Mass, and active ministries for formation, youth, liturgy, and outreach. The St. Vincent de Paul Society quietly aids neighbors in need with food, clothing, household items, and limited rent/utility assistance, while the SCRIP program helps fund the parish budget, Parish School of Religion, and Valle Catholic Schools tuition.
Mass times at Ste. Genevieve
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 7:30 AM each weekday (Monday–Friday)
- 30 minutes before each weekend Mass
- Any time upon request / by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel (across Merchant Street from the Church)
History of Ste. Genevieve Parish
Ste. Genevieve Parish is the oldest recorded parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Catholic faith arrived in the Ste. Genevieve area in 1673 with Father Marquette's journey down the Mississippi. French Canadian Catholics built a log church on the 'Le Grand Champ' (Big Common Field), and sacramental records have been preserved by the parish since 1759. Successive churches — a relocated log church (1794), a stone church (consecrated 1837 by Bishop Rosati), and the current brick church (built 1876–1880 around the stone church and enlarged 1911) — reflect the growth of the community from a French-Canadian settlement into a tri-lingual (English, French, German) and eventually English-speaking Catholic parish. In 2009, the parish celebrated 250 years of Catholic faith in Ste. Genevieve.
- 1673 — Father Marquette travels down the Mississippi
- 1759 — Sacramental records begin; French Canadian Catholics worship at a log church on Le Grand Champ
- 1794 — Log church dismantled and moved due to flooding
- 1831–1837 — Stone church built and consecrated by Bishop Rosati
- 1876–1880 — Brick church built around and above the stone church; dedicated Sept. 29, 1880
- 1911 — Church enlarged to present size under Fr. Van Tourenhout; hexagonal apse, marble altars, transepts added
- 2009 — Parish celebrates 250 years of Catholic faith
The Church Building & Sacred Art
The present church was designed in part by Father Francis X. Weiss and built in 1876–1880 around the older 1831 stone structure. Its brick walls rise above the original stone foundation, and the pillars of the old stone church remain part of the interior structure. In 1911, under the 58-year pastorate of Father Charles L. Van Tourenhout, the church was enlarged to its present size: a hexagonal apse houses the sanctuary, two transepts contain shrines of Ste. Genevieve and St. Joseph, and five altars of white Texas marble, a marble pulpit, and marble railings were installed. The bell tower and steeple rise 190 feet above the street and contain four bells: Mary (largest, honoring Mary Immaculate), Genevieve (in honor of the patron saint), Francis (in honor of Father Weiss), and Joseph (the death bell, patron of a happy death). Five people are interred beneath the altar area, including Father Jacques Maxwell (pastor 1797–1814), Father Henri Pratt (pastor 1816–1822, first Catholic priest born west of the Mississippi), and Francois Valle, commandant of Ste. Genevieve from 1796 to 1804.
- Bell tower and steeple — 190 feet tall
- Four named bells: Mary, Genevieve, Francis, Joseph
- Hexagonal apse with present sanctuary (1911)
- Transepts with shrines of Ste. Genevieve and St. Joseph
- Five white Texas marble altars, marble pulpit, and railings
- Old stone baptismal bowl from the 1794 log church preserved in the baptistery
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor and two associate pastors, assisted by two permanent deacons. The Archdiocese of St. Louis parish page lists the following clergy and staff.
- Reverend Anthony Gerber — Senior Associate Pastor
- Reverend Jacob Wessel — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Daniel Darian — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon James Robert — Permanent Deacon
Devotions: Rosary & Divine Mercy
In addition to Mass and Confession, the parish gathers for the Rosary on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Friday afternoons. The website links to 'How to Pray the Rosary' and 'How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy' for newcomers.
- Rosary — Weekdays 7:30 AM
- Rosary — Saturday 4:30 PM
- Rosary — Sunday 9:00 AM
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy — Friday 3:00 PM
Faith Formation: Confirmation, PSR & RCIA
Ste. Genevieve Parish partners with Valle Catholic Schools and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) to provide sacramental preparation for youth, and offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those entering the Church. Confirmation is celebrated by the Bishop or Auxiliary Bishop at the parish in late April or early May following a February Rite of Enrollment.
- Confirmation Preparation for 8th graders (Valle Catholic & PSR)
- Rite of Enrollment — February
- Confirmation conferred by Bishop or Auxiliary Bishop at the parish — late April / early May
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Liturgical Ministries: Greeters, Ushers, Lectors
Lay faithful serve at Mass as Greeters, Ushers, and Lectors/Commentators. Greeters are the first contact for parishioners and visitors; Ushers welcome and assist, including elderly and disabled members; Lectors/Commentators proclaim the Word. The ministry is open to parishioners 8th grade and older. Interested parishioners can contact the parish center.
- Greeters — welcome all who arrive at Mass
- Ushers — seating, collections, gifts, bulletins, assistance for elderly and disabled
- Lectors/Commentators — proclaim the Word; open to 8th grade and older
- Contact: Deann Huck at the parish center
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society
The parish hosts an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that quietly and discreetly aids neighbors in need, regardless of economic status. SVdP provides food, clothing, and household items free of charge, and may assist with minor rent or utility bills. A second collection is taken up at Mass on the 3rd Sunday of each month to support SVdP efforts.
- SVdP Help Line: 573-271-7004
- St. Vincent de Paul Pantry — 970 Rozier Street
- Pantry hours: Thursdays 9:00–11:00 AM (full service; closed on 5th Thursday of a month)
- Mailing Address: 320 Jefferson Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
- Second collection on the 3rd Sunday of each month
- President: Mike Hermann; Vice President: Mary Kay Bader; Treasurer: Brenda Operle; Secretary: Laura Oliver; Spiritual Advisor: Jeannie Basler
SCRIP Fundraising Program
The parish SCRIP program lets parishioners and friends raise money for the parish and Valle Catholic Schools/PSR by purchasing gift cards at a discount and using them for everyday shopping. Profits can be directed entirely to the parish operating budget, or split 25% to the parish and 75% to Valle Schools tuition, PSR registration, or Valle Pre-School tuition. Scrip is sold in person at the parish office and online through RaiseRight.com.
- In-person sales: Parish Office, 20 North 4th Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
- Online: www.RaiseRight.com
- Office hours (Aug–May): Mon–Fri 8 AM–4 PM
- Summer hours (June–July): Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM; Friday CLOSED
- Coordinator: Deann Huck — [email protected], (573) 883-2731
Parish Council
The Parish Council is an advisory body that gathers the thoughts, visions, and ideas of the community and translates them into parish activity. The council meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 7 PM; guests are welcome with prior notification to the Parish Council President. The parish website currently notes that there is no active Parish Council.
- Advisory council — meets 4th Monday at 7 PM
- Guests welcome with prior notification to the President
- Currently no active council (per parish website)
Mission Statement
According to the Archdiocese of St. Louis parish page, the parish mission statement reads: 'We, the members of Ste. Genevieve Church, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seek to find a fuller understanding of God's love by worshiping together, learning, teaching, praying, witnessing for Christ, and serving others. Called by our Baptism, we will be courageous stewards of our time, talent, and treasure.'
Live Mass & Online Resources
The parish streams the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass live on its website and archives previous Masses for on-demand viewing. The parish also hosts a Contact Form for questions, comments, or suggestions.
- Live streaming of 9:30 AM Sunday Mass via the parish website
- Archived Sunday Masses available on the parish website
- Online Contact Form for prayer requests and feedback
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jacques Maxwell1797–1814
Pastor of Ste. Genevieve; interred beneath the altar area.
- Father Henri Pratt1816–1822
A native of Ste. Genevieve and the first Catholic priest born west of the Mississippi; interred beneath the altar area.
- Father Francis X. Weiss
Designed in part the 1876–1880 brick church built around the existing stone church; honored with one of the four bells named 'Francis.'
- Father Charles L. Van Tourenhout
Served this parish for 58 years; under his leadership in 1911 the church was enlarged to its present size with the hexagonal apse, transepts, and marble altars.