Approximately 2,700 families call St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva their church home. Most parishioners live in the city of Geneva, and the church is active in the community, sponsoring more than 60 ministries, including the church's popular Barn Sale fundraiser.
St. Peter Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011 under its new pastor, the Reverend Martins C. Emeh. The parish is host to St. Peter School and St. Peter Community Food Pantry.
"There's room for all here," Father Martins said. "Room for the conservatives and the more liberal and those in the middle. While people might not always see things the same way, various views are accommodated. Our views as a congregation are moderate, in the way we minister and in our philosophy. There's a phrase in Latin, in medio stat virtus, which translates to 'Virtue stands in the middle,' and we believe in that.
"We try to make it easy for people to get to church and the Sacraments. There are five weekend masses, and we have weekday masses two times a day and confessions six days a week."
The first paragraph of its mission statement reads as follows: "We, the people of Saint Peter Parish, guided by the Holy Spirit, are called to celebrate life in a community of faith, growth and compassion."