Welcome to Sainte Genevieve Parish

Welcome to Sainte Genevieve Parish. . Founded in 1759, Ste. Genevieve Parish lays claim to being the oldest parish West of the Mississippi River, "The Mother Church of the West". , After the town of Ste. Genevieve moved from its original location near the edge of the Mississippi River, the first of three Catholic churches to occupy this site was built. It was a vertical log building. As the congregation grew in size, a larger church, built of stone in 1830, replaced the original church. The main body of the present church was completed in 1880. It was constructed around and over the second church and the foundation is still visible in the basement (not open to the public). Interestingly, as the construction was being completed, the second church was dismantled and carried out of the front door. , Built at a cost of $24,000, the project was greatly aided by Mrs. Odile Pratte Valle who donated $18,000 to the effort. Because of her great generosity to the parish, our schools are named Valle Schools in her honor. This present building was completed in 1911 when the sanctuary and the two transepts were added. Presently, the church is 175 feet long, 55 feet high on the inside, and towers 190 feet above the street. Note the difference in stained glass between the original construction and the additions. These additions were built at a cost of $21,000. In 1981 the interior of the church was painted at a cost of about $140,000. , Buried beneath the church are: Francois Corset, longtime choirmaster of the parish, who died in 1789; Francois Valle, commandant of Ste. Genevieve from 1796 to 1804, and his wife, Marie Carpentier Valle; Father Jacques Maxwell, pastor of Ste. Genevieve from 1797 to 1814; and Father Henri Pratte, native of Ste. Genevieve and first Catholic Priest born west of the Mississippi, pastor from 1816 to 1822. , Displayed in the church is a painting depicting Sainte Genevieve receiving a cross and a medal from the bishops of Troyes and Auxerre, France. This painting was given to the parish by Louis Phillipe, later King of France. It was painted in 1772. The stone bowl in the baptismal font is said to have been in constant use in the parish since the baptism of the first child here., The stone building next to the church was built in 1835 and was originally intended to serve as a college. However, the pastor was unable to persuade the Christian Brothers to staff such a school so he made the building into his rectory until 1847 when it was first used as a school building. , We hope you enjoy your stay in Ste. Genevieve and that you find our church to be a genuine inspiration. , Donated by Pete and Lu Bauman