About St. Andrew Catholic Community · Boulder City, Nevada
St. Andrew Catholic Community is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Boulder City, Nevada — the desert town on the doorstep of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. It is the oldest Catholic parish in the Boulder City area and is one of the original parishes established when the town was built in 1931 to house the workers constructing Boulder (Hoover) Dam. Today the parish gathers at 1399 San Felipe Drive for a Saturday Vigil Mass, one Sunday morning Mass, three weekday Masses, regular Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a quietly faithful round of outreach, religious education, and music ministry. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Las Vegas.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Andrew (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Reverend Alex Viruthakulangara, Parochial Administrator (effective July 1, 2025; succeeded Reverend Bede Wevita, who transitioned to Senior Priest status and Vicar for Senior Priests in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Las Vegas
Why belong here
St. Andrew Catholic Community is a small, welcoming parish where you'll be greeted by name and known as family — the kind of Catholic community where the pastor, deacon, and staff really do know the people in the pews. The parish offers the full rhythm of Catholic sacramental life (daily Mass three days a week, Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, Saturday and Sunday confessions, monthly Adoration with Benediction, monthly Anointing of the Sick, and a rosary after Tuesday Mass), plus outreach to local food pantries (3 4 Pantry and Boulder City Emergency Aid), a Knights of Columbus council, ongoing religious education for children, a music ministry, and a year-round Catholic Stewardship Appeal. If you live in Boulder City or are passing through on the way to Lake Mead or Hoover Dam, St. Andrew is the Catholic home of the desert.
Mass times at St. Andrew Catholic Community
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- By appointment — call the parish office at (702) 293-7500
Adoration times
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel open for prayer and adoration during parish office hours, Monday through Thursday
- Every 1st Friday of the month: Adoration 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM, followed by Mass at 5:00 PM
- 1st Thursday of the month: Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8:00 AM Mass
Our Mission
The parish states its mission directly on its home page: 'We, St. Andrew Catholic Church, respond in faith to Christ's call by building up the reign of God through evangelization, prayer, sacramental life, and loving service to others.' That four-fold mission — evangelization, prayer, the sacraments, and service — shapes everything from the weekday Mass schedule to the food pantry drives and the parish's ongoing Catholic Stewardship Appeal.
History & Founding
St. Andrew Parish was erected in 1931, the same year the federal government created Boulder City as a planned company town for workers constructing Hoover Dam. A Bureau of Reclamation photograph dated April 1, 1932 documents the church rising in Block 22 of the brand-new town. For the next six decades it served as the Catholic parish for Boulder City under the Diocese of Reno; in 1995 it became part of the newly erected Archdiocese of Las Vegas.
- Founded 1931 alongside Boulder City, Nevada
- Built to minister to Catholic workers constructing Hoover Dam
- Original church under construction in Block 22, photographed April 1, 1932
- Part of the Diocese of Reno 1931–1976, then the Diocese of Reno–Las Vegas 1976–1995
- Part of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas since 1995
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The pastoral team is led by a parochial administrator supported by a deacon, parish life coordinator, music director, director of religious education, secretary, bookkeeper, and maintenance director. The Archdiocese of Las Vegas's 2025 priest assignments (effective July 1, 2025) placed Reverend Alex Viruthakulangara as Parochial Administrator of St. Andrew.
- Reverend Alex Viruthakulangara — Parochial Administrator (as of July 1, 2025)
- Reverend Bede Wevita — former Pastor; transitioned to Senior Priest / Vicar for Senior Priests
- Deacon Tim O'Callaghan — Parish Life Coordinator
- Fr. Ron Zanoni — presider and 'Breaking Open the Word' facilitator
- Jenifer Jefferies — Director of Religious Education
- Phil Esser — Music Director
- Cindy Blatchford — Bookkeeper
- Mary Biggs, O.P. — Parish Secretary
- Kevin Smith — Maintenance Director
- Fr. Toan Lai, C.Ss.R. — Sacramental Minister (Redemptorist)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish's Director of Religious Education, Jenifer Jefferies, coordinates ongoing formation for children and adults. Adult formation has included a parish Book Club and 'Breaking Open the Word' (BOTW) sessions led by Fr. Ron Zanoni via Zoom, in which parishioners study and discuss the upcoming Sunday Scriptures.
- Director of Religious Education: Jenifer Jefferies
- Breaking Open the Word (BOTW) — adult Scripture study via Zoom
- Parish Book Club (recent titles include The Shack by Wm. Paul Young)
- Preparation for Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA through the parish office
Music Ministry
Music at St. Andrew is led by Music Director Phil Esser. The parish also supports an Adult & Youth choir and, in past bulletins, has referenced a Children's Choir and a Christmas-season choir for liturgical celebrations.
- Music Director: Phil Esser
- Adult and Youth Choir
- Seasonal and Christmas choir opportunities
Outreach & Charitable Works
St. Andrew's outreach centers on feeding the hungry of Boulder City and staying in pastoral contact with parishioners. The parish regularly collects non-perishable food and monetary donations for the 3 4 Pantry (which delivers food in the evenings to those who cannot pick it up) and Boulder City Emergency Aid. An Outreach Phone Tree Ministry calls and prays with members of the community — a ministry that became especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Food pantry collections for 3 4 Pantry and Boulder City Emergency Aid
- Outreach Phone Tree Ministry (calls and prayers with parishioners and neighbors)
- Coordination with Jenifer Jefferies for parish-wide food drives (702-809-6209 / [email protected])
- Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA) — parish #12 in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas appeal
Knights of Columbus & Parish Organizations
The parish is home to an active Knights of Columbus council, which has sponsored parish social events such as the post-Mass pancake breakfasts held in the parish hall. The parish is also supported by the parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council, and by the women's groups who organize annual retreats.
- Knights of Columbus council (sponsors pancake breakfasts and parish events)
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Women's Group / Women's Silent Retreat at Sacred Heart Retreat House, Alhambra
Giving & Stewardship
St. Andrew offers both traditional envelope giving and Online Giving through the parish website. The parish also participates annually in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA), with the parish identified as #12 on the diocesan pledge cards; once the parish goal is reached, any funds raised above and beyond the goal are rebated back to the parish at 100%.
- Online Giving — secure, confidential direct withdrawal or credit card via standrewbc.org
- Envelope and mailed donations to the parish office
- Catholic Stewardship Appeal — parish #12 in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas CSA
Safe Environment & Victim Assistance
St. Andrew participates in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas Safe Environment program, 'Promise to Protect / Pledge to Heal.' The parish publishes contact information for the local Victim Assistance Coordinator in its bulletin so that anyone who has been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church has a direct line to compassionate help and to the process of making a formal complaint.
- Safe Environment — 'Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal' program
- Victim Assistance Coordinator: Ron Vallance — (702) 235-7723
- Formal complaint process and personal meeting with the Archbishop or his delegate available
Visit, Location & Office Hours
St. Andrew Catholic Community is located at 1399 San Felipe Drive in Boulder City, Nevada, just minutes from Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Hoover Dam. Parish office hours are Monday through Thursday; the office is closed Friday through Sunday. Visitors and seasonal residents are warmly welcomed.
- Address: 1399 San Felipe Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005
- Phone: (702) 293-7500
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday
- Directions: South Hwy 95 to Hwy 93, right at Veterans Memorial Dr., left on Adams, right on San Felipe
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ron Zanoni
Listed in recent parish bulletins as presider and writer of the weekly 'Reflection on the Readings' / 'Breaking Open the Word' faith-sharing sessions.
- Fr. Toan Lai, C.Ss.R.
Redemptorist priest listed as Sacramental Minister in the August 2018 bulletin.
- Deacon Tim O'Callaghan
Has served the parish in pastoral leadership; identified in 2018 bulletin as Parish Life Coordinator.
- Reverend Bede Wevita
Pastor as of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas parish finder listing. Effective July 1, 2025 the Archdiocese moved him to Senior Priest status and named him Vicar for Senior Priests.
- Reverend Alex Viruthakulangara2025–present
Appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Andrew effective July 1, 2025 in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas 2025 priest assignments.