About Immaculate Conception · Sparks, Nevada
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Sparks, Nevada, part of the Diocese of Reno, serving the Sparks community from its campus at 2900 N McCarran Blvd. The parish motto is "Diversitas intra Unitatem" — "Diversity within Unity" — and it lives that out through a wide range of ministries serving English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, Filipino, Tongan, and other cultural communities. Under the leadership of Fr. Philip M. George, the parish offers an unusually rich sacramental schedule, including a daily 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Mass, a Sunday Spanish Mass, and one of the more generous Eucharistic Adoration schedules in the diocese (sixteen hours a day, Monday through Saturday morning). It is also the historic Catholic parish of Sparks, tracing its roots to 1904 and still ringing a bell cast in the early 1800s.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Philip M. George
- Diocese
- Diocese of Reno
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is one of the most liturgically accessible parishes in the Reno-Sparks area, with daily Mass twice a day Monday through Saturday and an expansive Eucharistic Adoration schedule of roughly sixteen hours a day from Monday through Saturday morning. Its parish motto, "Diversity within Unity," is reflected in a Spanish Sunday Mass, a Filipino-American Charismatic group, a Tongan Community, a Comité Guadalupano, multiple choirs, and ministries for every age and stage — from OCIA and OCIA Adapted for Children to the Immaculate Connections young-adult group (ages 18–35) and a robust Religious Education program for youth. Add in active outreach such as Walking With Moms In Need, St. Vincent de Paul help for the homeless, Respect Life, Project Rachel referrals, and a Martha Mary Ministry for the homebound, and you have a parish whose calendar, sacraments, and service opportunities are unusually broad for a single parish.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- After the 9:00 AM daily Mass, at the priest's discretion
- Schedule may be adjusted during Advent and Lent; communal penance services with several priests are offered seasonally
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday 6:00 AM through Saturday 8:30 AM (continuous)
- Held in the main worship space, or in the chapel when the main space is unavailable
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception was founded in 1904 by Fr. Thomas J. Horgan and is the oldest Catholic parish in Sparks, Nevada. Its original wooden-frame church at 729 F Street burned on Easter Sunday 1930; the present brick church, designed by architect Frederick J. DeLongchamps in the Mediterranean Revival style, was dedicated February 22, 1932 by Bishop Thomas Gorman and is on the National Register of Historic Places. A bell believed cast in the early 1800s was acquired from a Virginia City firehouse and still rings in the parish today. Twenty-one stained-glass windows were added during a 1970 interior renovation. A larger new worship space was built under Fr. Norman King and completed in the early 2000s, followed by a Faith Formation building (2004–2007). After 14 years, Fr. King retired and Fr. Philip George became pastor in 2015.
- 1904 — Parish founded by Fr. Thomas J. Horgan on Pyramid Way and F Street
- 1905 — Original wood-frame church completed at 729 F Street
- 1930 (Easter Sunday) — Original church burns; Fr. Patrick Meehan celebrates Mass at the Engineers' Hall
- 1932 (Feb 22) — Present brick church dedicated; designed by Frederick J. DeLongchamps in Mediterranean Revival style
- 1938/1941 — Virginia City firehouse bell acquired; rings in present-day church
- 1970 — 21 stained-glass windows and front vestibule added under Fr. James McGrath
- 2001–2006 — Large new worship space built under Fr. Norman King
- 2004–2007 — Faith Formation building constructed on east end of campus
- 2015 — Fr. Philip George becomes pastor after Fr. King's 14-year tenure
Architecture & Historic Significance
The current church building was designed by Frederick Joseph DeLongchamps (1882–1969), who designed over 500 buildings in Nevada and is regarded as the state's premier architect. The parish's own history calls the 1932 building a "gem of Romanesque architecture," while the National Register nomination classifies it as Mediterranean Revival — a style relatively rare in northern Nevada. Built of brick for approximately $20,000 with a seating capacity of about 400, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Surviving notable features include the 21 stained-glass windows from 1970 and the early-1800s Virginia City firehouse bell.
- Architect: Frederick J. DeLongchamps (1882–1969)
- Style: Mediterranean Revival / Romanesque
- Dedicated: February 22, 1932
- Original cost: ~$20,000
- Seating capacity: ~400
- National Register of Historic Places #92001700
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Philip M. George, Pastor, who also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Reno, assisted by Deacon Ron Klonicke. The staff includes a Pastoral Assistant / Liturgical & Event Coordinator, Director of Religious Education, Religious Education assistant and clerk, Communications Director/Record Keeper, Parish Business Manager, Bookkeeper, Receptionist, Office Assistant, and Custodian.
- Fr. Philip M. George — Pastor (Ext. 106)
- Deacon Ron Klonicke
- Maria Hernandez — Pastoral Assistant / Liturgical & Event Coordinator (Ext. 105)
- Celeste Cortes — Director of Religious Education (Ext. 103)
- Judith Medina — Religious Education Assistant (Ext. 110)
- Ludivina Garrison — Religious Education Office Clerk
- Meredith Michel — Communications Director / Record Keeper (Ext. 102)
- Peter Michel — Parish Business Manager (Ext. 107)
- Nancy Gonzales — Parish Bookkeeper (Ext. 108)
- Rosemarie (Rose) Rigdon — Receptionist (Ext. 101)
- Alyssa Cerda — Office Assistant (Ext. 101)
- Rachel Dixon-Najera — Custodian
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education for parish youth (elementary through high school) is directed by Celeste Cortes. The parish also offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults completing sacraments of initiation, OCIA Adapted for Children, and Liturgy of the Word for Children (ages 4–14) at the 11:30 AM Mass from September through mid-May. Confirmation preparation and First Communion preparation are part of the Religious Education program, and the parish welcomes persons with disabilities to full sacramental participation.
- Director of Religious Education: Celeste Cortes (Ext. 103)
- Email: [email protected]
- OCIA / RCIA — contact Theresa Currivan, [email protected], 775-934-1010
- OCIA Adapted for Children
- Liturgy of the Word for Children (11:30 AM Mass, Sept–mid-May) — Gloria Salcido
- Baptism class — 1st Wednesday, 6:00 PM
Youth, Young Adult & Family Ministries
Immaculate Conception offers ministries for every stage of family life. The Youth Group (grades 6–12) meets for Youth Night on Sundays from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the church hall after the 5:00 PM Mass. Immaculate Connections is the parish's young-adult group for ages 18–35, meeting every other Friday for fellowship, discipleship, community, and Bible study. The parish also runs a Natural Family Planning Ministry and parish-wide Vocations awareness.
- Youth Group (grades 6–12) — [email protected]
- Immaculate Connections (ages 18–35) — every other Friday; contact Jonathan Barajas, [email protected]
- Natural Family Planning Ministry
- Vocations Committee
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Liturgical ministries include Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Lectors, Ushers, and Sound/Video Technicians. The parish supports four choirs: an Adult Choir that sings at the 9:30 AM Mass and Holy Days, a Family Choir, a Filipino-American Choir, and a Multicultural Choir — a fitting expression of the parish's "Diversity within Unity" motto.
- Eucharistic Ministers — Parish Office
- Altar Servers — Gloria Salcido
- Lectors — Maria Reames, Debbie Havey
- Ushers — Dalene Melzer
- Sound/Video — Himanshu Patel
- Adult Choir — Andrea Santos (9:30 AM Mass and Holy Days)
- Family Choir — Joe Mudd
- Filipino-American Choir — Leo Molino
- Multicultural Choir — Teresa Bouldin / Liuaki Tausinga
Outreach, Service & Parish Organizations
Outreach is central to the parish's identity. Walking With Moms In Need, a USCCB initiative, works to make Immaculate Conception a sanctuary for pregnant and parenting mothers in need by connecting them with local resources. St. Vincent de Paul help for the homeless assembles care packages (deodorant, chapstick, underwear, socks, toilet paper, garbage bags). The parish also runs a Martha Mary Ministry for the homebound, hospital visits, senior rides to Mass, and bereavement support, and refers to Project Rachel for post-abortion healing. Parish organizations include the Ladies Guild (all women of the parish welcome) and the Knights of Columbus council, with the latter hosting an "Into the Breach" men's program.
- Walking With Moms In Need
- St. Vincent de Paul — Help for the Homeless
- Martha Mary Ministry — Karol Davis, Connie Reid
- Respect Life Committee — Toni Berry
- Ladies Guild — Gloria Salcido (2nd Tuesday, 6:00 PM, social hall)
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Richard Matoza (2nd Tuesday; 6 PM Rosary, 6:30 PM business, 7 PM "Into the Breach")
- Project Rachel referrals — Diocese of Reno
- Hospital visits — call the Parish Office
Cultural & Prayer Communities
In keeping with its motto "Diversity within Unity," the parish hosts several cultural and prayer communities. Spanish-speaking parishioners are served by a 2:00 PM Sunday Mass and a Comité Guadalupano; Filipino parishioners gather through the ICC Filipino Ministry/BLD Charismatic Group; Tongan parishioners through the Tongan Community. A wide range of prayer and devotion groups — Padre Pio Ministry, Divine Mercy Committee, Grupo de Oracion, Prayer and Life Workshop, Prayer Tree, Disciples of Jesus & Mary, and the Lay Carmelites — offer additional spiritual formation.
- Spanish Mass — Sundays 2:00 PM
- Comité Guadalupano — Vicky Camacho (4th Monday, 6:00 PM, parlor)
- ICC Filipino Ministry / BLD Charismatic Group — Malou Alano
- Tongan Community — Clay Vatikani
- Padre Pio Ministry (2nd Thursday, 6:00 PM, parlor)
- Divine Mercy Committee — Maria Hernandez
- Grupo de Oracion — Maria Hernandez
- Prayer and Life Workshop — Maria Hernandez
- Prayer Tree — Laurie Jones, George Mankowski
- Disciples of Jesus & Mary — Jeannie Keyes, Michele Jenkins
- Lay Carmelites Ministry
- Vocation Ministry — 3rd Friday, 5:00–6:30 PM, nursery
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception prepares parishioners for all the sacraments. Baptisms require a parent class on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM (Spanish classes at the same time in the parlor); godparents must be practicing, confirmed Catholics and, if married, married in the Catholic Church. Weddings require 4–6 months of preparation and parish registration for 6 months prior. Funerals are arranged through the Parish Office. The OCIA process welcomes adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or Eucharist, and married adults may also prepare to bless their marriage. Confession is offered weekly on Saturdays and after the 9:00 AM daily Mass.
- Baptism — 1st Wednesday class, 6:00 PM
- Baptism (Spanish) — 1st Wednesday, 6:00 PM, parlor
- Weddings — 4–6 months preparation; 6 months parish registration required
- Funerals — contact the Parish Office
- OCIA / RCIA — adults completing initiation
- Confirmation & First Communion — through Religious Education
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the Parish Office
- Sacraments for Persons with Disabilities — 775-358-5977
Visiting & Contact
The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed Saturday, Sunday, and holidays; may close for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays). The main number is 775-358-5977, with extension options for the Receptionist (101), Communications/Records (102), Religious Education Director (103), Pastoral Assistant (105), Pastor (106), Business Manager (107), and Bookkeeper (108); the Religious Education Office can be reached at extension 110, where Spanish-language phone assistance is generally available. The parish is located northwest of the intersection of Pyramid Way and McCarran Blvd. in Sparks.
- Main line: 775-358-5977
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: 775-403-2174
- Office hours: M–F 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Website: https://www.icsparks.org/
- Diocesan website: www.renodiocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas J. Horgan1904–
Young Irish priest who founded Immaculate Conception; laid the foundation for the original church on Pyramid Way and F Street in Sparks.
- Fr. Patrick Meehan1930–
Served Catholics from the Engineers' Hall after the original wooden church burned on Easter Sunday 1930.
- Fr. O'Connor1930s
Raised the funds for the present brick church (per National Register nomination).
- Fr. William Devlin1938
Purchased the Virginia City firehouse bell for $75 and added it to the church (per NPS nomination).
- Fr. James McGrath1970
Directed the interior renovation that added the 21 stained-glass windows, vestibule, porch and air conditioning.
- Fr. Norman Kingapprox. 2001–2015
Oversaw construction of the large new church on Pyramid Way and N. McCarran Blvd and the Faith Formation building (completed 2007); retired after 14 years.
- Fr. Philip M. George2015–present
Became pastor in 2015 after Fr. King's retirement; also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Reno.