About Our Lady of the Snows · Reno, Nevada
Our Lady of the Snows is a Roman Catholic parish in west-central Reno, Nevada, in the Diocese of Reno. Founded in November 1938 by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman, the parish grew up on Wright Street just south of the old Walker River corridor and today serves the faithful with weekend and weekday Masses, a K-8 parochial school (opened 1951), a rich sacramental life, and active youth, adult-faith, and outreach ministries. Under the current pastor, Fr. Bob Chorey, and parochial vicar Fr. Boby John Malancharuvil, the parish continues its mission of welcoming all who come to give thanks to God in Christ through the Spirit.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Snows (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert (Bob) Chorey
- Diocese
- Diocese of Reno (Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Snows is a parish that takes its missionary identity seriously — a more than 85-year-old community anchored by weekday and Sunday Masses, a thriving K-8 Catholic school (the Falcons), and a full sacramental life including OCIA for adults, baptism prep, marriage, anointing of the sick, and First Communion and Confirmation formation. Families can plug into CRE/Catechism classes, Junior High and High School Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, Special Religious Education, and adults can grow through adult faith formation and the Catholics in Recovery program. With generous weekend Mass availability, Saturday confessions, Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, a monthly Parish Holy Hour, and a long-running outreach to the poor, it is a parish built for belonging.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Snows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Thursday mornings after the 8:00 am Mass until 11:30 am
- Parish Holy Hour — 2nd Tuesday of each month, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Welcome, Mission & Vision
Our Lady of the Snows describes itself as 'a community of disciples on a journey of faith with all our brothers and sisters.' The parish's published mission commits it to living the Gospel message as listeners, learners and leaders — seeing and reaching out to those who long for healing, sharing the Catholic legacy in every setting of life, nurturing an awareness of Christ in one another in and beyond its worship, and enriching the liturgies as the foundation for greater spirituality in the parish community. The website's tagline invites all to 'come and see us.'
Parish History
Established in November 1938 by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman, Our Lady of the Snows grew quickly from house-chapel beginnings on Humboldt Street to a thriving Wright Street parish with school and convent. The cornerstone was laid August 13, 1939, and the church dedicated in October 1939 under Father John J. Ryan, who had taken over from the ailing first pastor, Fr. Martin Duckham. School construction began under Msgr. Patrick J. Connors in 1950; the church was enlarged and rededicated by Bishop Dwyer in 1961; remodels followed in 1977 (Bishop McFarland) and again under Msgr. Thomas Meger in the 1990s. A succession of pastors — Fr. Bob Buchanan, Fr. Vincent Fallon SS, Fr. Tony Vercellone, and since 2019, Fr. Bob Chorey — has carried the parish into its ninth decade.
- Founded November 1938 by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman
- First church dedicated October 1939 under Fr. John J. Ryan
- School opened fall 1951, taught by Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
- Church expanded and rededicated February 26, 1961 by Bishop Dwyer
- Remodel rededicated December 19, 1977 by Bishop McFarland
- Rosewood priests' residence developed 1987
- Interior redecoration under Msgr. Thomas Meger, 1990s
- Fr. Bob Chorey became pastor in 2019
The Name 'Our Lady of the Snows'
Devotion to Mary under this title is one of the oldest Marian devotions in the Catholic Church. According to legend, Mary appeared in a dream to a wealthy, childless Roman couple telling them she wanted a church built in her honor; on the hot morning of August 5, 352 A.D., Rome's Esquiline Hill was blanketed in snow, marking the chosen site. The church built there in 358 A.D. is the magnificent Basilica of St. Mary Major, still the seat of this devotion. The parish honors Mary not only for the legend but especially for her missionary role in a Church that is by its very nature missionary.
- August 5, 352 A.D. — legendary snowfall on Rome's Esquiline Hill
- Church built 358 A.D., now the Basilica of St. Mary Major
- Parish feast day: August 5
Sacraments
Our Lady of the Snows celebrates all seven sacraments and follows the Diocese of Reno's pastoral policies and the Code of Canon Law for the Universal Church. Infant baptisms through 2nd grade require a preparation class on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm via Zoom; older children and adults are prepared individually. First Communion and teen Confirmation are coordinated through Zelda Casares and Glaicy Morrison respectively, and adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation and/or First Communion (or full entry through OCIA) work with Karen Totten, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation. Couples must contact the parish at least six months before marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick is offered monthly on First Fridays as well as on request through any priest.
- Baptism (infant through adult) — Deacon Dave Norman for infants; Zelda Casares for older children; Karen Totten for adults
- First Holy Communion — Zelda Casares
- Confirmation — Glaicy Morrison (teens), Karen Totten (adults)
- Marriage — initial contact via parish office, six months' notice
- Anointing of the Sick — First Friday after 8:00 am Mass, or on request
- Communion to the Homebound — call the parish office
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Karen Totten, ext. 520
Parish School (K-8)
Our Lady of the Snows Parochial School (snowsnv.org), founded in 1951 and housed at 1125 Lander Street, Reno, educates about 360 students in Kindergarten through 8th grade with 29 faculty. The mission: 'Inspired by our Catholic Faith, Our Lady of the Snows School guides and nurtures our students to become young leaders who love God, love learning and love their neighbor.' Students and faculty celebrate the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter together, lead Stations of the Cross for the whole school, take part in a Holy Thursday Triduum retreat, mark the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows during Catholic Schools Week, and honor Mary each spring with a May Crowning Mass.
- Year opened: 1951
- Grades: Kindergarten through 8
- Enrollment: about 360
- Faculty: 29
- Mascot: the Falcons
- Principal: Tim Fuetsch ([email protected])
- Phone: 775-322-2773
- Website: www.snowsnv.org
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Catholic Religious Education (CRE) is offered for children K-7th grade who attend public schools, with sessions on Wednesday afternoons 3:45–4:45 pm and Sunday mornings 8:45–9:45 am (many go directly to 10:00 am Mass after Sunday CRE). Tuition is $30 per child up to $90 per family. Special Religious Education is offered for children with special needs — 'Children are not denied sacraments because of special needs. We're all God's children.' Vacation Bible School is offered for 5 mornings each June for three-year-olds (potty-trained) and older, with students older than 5th grade serving as 'captains.'
- CRE Sunday mornings & Wednesday afternoons, K-7th grade
- Director of Religious Education: Lauri-Anne Reinhart ([email protected])
- DRE Assistant: Breana ([email protected], ext. 506)
- Special Religious Education — Lauri-Anne Reinhart / Karen Totten for adults
- Vacation Bible School — 5 mornings in June
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
Adults seeking to grow in their Catholic faith — or to become Catholic through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) — are served by Karen Totten, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation. The parish also offers Adult Confirmation and First Communion preparation for baptized Catholics who have not yet received these sacraments, and brings Catholics in Recovery together with Fr. Bob Chorey's pastoral support.
- Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation: Karen Totten ([email protected], ext. 520)
- OCIA for adults becoming Catholic
- Adult Confirmation & First Communion
- Catholics in Recovery (Fr. Bob Chorey)
Youth Ministry
OLS Youth Ministry helps young people experience their Catholic faith with their peers and provides language, tools and support to grow as Catholic persons. Junior High Youth Ministry gathers those already preparing for Confirmation and helps them explore their faith through spiritual and social activities. High School Youth Ministry gathers those who have already celebrated Confirmation and continues formation through spiritual, social, and service-oriented events. The Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Confirmation is Glaicy Morrison.
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Confirmation: Glaicy Morrison ([email protected], ext. 525)
- Jr. High Youth Ministry (pre-Confirmation)
- High School Youth Ministry (post-Confirmation)
- Confirmation preparation
Outreach, Vocations & Recovery
Outreach to the poor is a long-standing commitment of Our Lady of the Snows. During the COVID-19 pandemic the parish, in coordination with Catholic Charities, expanded a food-help program begun by Sister Carmen Baca so that neighbors in need could be served more fully — Fr. Bob Chorey has spoken publicly about wanting to keep the parish better connected to its wider Reno community. The parish also maintains a Vocational Ministry page praying for and supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and offers a Catholics in Recovery community.
- Food help / outreach in collaboration with Catholic Charities
- Vocational Ministry (discernment support)
- Catholics in Recovery
Music & Liturgy
A Director of Music Ministries supports the parish's worship life, providing music for weekend Masses, the Wednesday School Mass, Holy Days, weddings, funerals, and other celebrations. The parish's mission statement names enriching the liturgy as the foundation for greater spirituality in the community.
- Director of Music Ministries ([email protected], ext. 513)
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Bob Chorey and Parochial Vicar Fr. Boby John Malancharuvil, alongside Deacon Dave Norman, and staffed by an Office Manager/VBS coordinator, Director of Religious Education and DRE Assistant, Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Confirmation, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation, Director of Music Ministries, Information Technology, Facilities/Bulletin/Accounts Payable, and the school Principal. The parish is governed by a Parish Council, Finance Council, Building Committee, School Board, and Corporate Board (chaired by Bishop Mueggenborg).
- Pastor — Fr. Bob Chorey ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Boby John ([email protected])
- Deacon — Dcn. Dave Norman ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education — Lauri-Anne Reinhart ([email protected])
- DRE Assistant — Breana ([email protected], ext. 506)
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry / Confirmation — Glaicy Morrison ([email protected], ext. 525)
- Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation — Karen Totten ([email protected], ext. 520)
- Office Manager / VBS — Shauna Meyers ([email protected])
- Director of Music Ministries ([email protected], ext. 513)
- Information Technology — Bingram ([email protected], ext. 509)
- Facilities / Bulletin / Accounts Payable — J. Jones ([email protected], ext. 502)
- School Principal — Tim Fuetsch ([email protected], ext. 551)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin DuckhamNov 1938
First pastor appointed; fell ill in Ireland shortly after his appointment.
- Rev. John J. Ryan1938–1945
Served first as administrator, then officially named pastor at the October 1939 dedication; presided at the Solemn High Mass for the cornerstone-laying with Governor Carville and Mayor Frolich in attendance.
- Msgr. Patrick J. Connors1945–c. 1964
Broke ground and built the parish school in 1950–51; added on to the church in 1960; oversaw the 1957 school expansion; celebrated the Silver Jubilee in 1964.
- Fr. Donald F. Carmodyc. 1964–1970
Succeeded Msgr. Connors; served about two years before being reassigned.
- Fr. Maurice Welsh1970–1972
Replaced Fr. Carmody in 1970.
- Fr. Joseph Baldus1972–1975
Replaced Fr. Welsh in 1972.
- Msgr. Donald F. Carmody1975–1976
Returned briefly as pastor for one year.
- Fr. Leo E. McFadden1976–1994
Remodeled the church (rededicated Dec 19, 1977 by Bishop McFarland); developed the Rosewood property in 1987 as a priests' residence.
- Msgr. Thomas Meger1994–1999
Overhauled the interior decoration to the look parishioners see today.
- Fr. Bob Buchanan1999–2003
With Sr. Marie O'Connor, OSF, launched parish renewal weekends; later reorganized with Sr. Anita Minihane as Parish Life Administrator.
- Fr. Vincent Fallon, SS2003–(later)
Welcomed July 1, 2003; member of the Sulpician Fathers (SS).
- Fr. Tony Vercellonebefore 2019–2019
Retired in 2019.
- Fr. Bob Chorey2019–present
Current pastor; continues the parish's mission and outreach.