About St. Francis of Assisi · Incline Village, Nevada
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Reno serving Incline Village and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The parish community traces its origins to 1965, when weekend Masses were first celebrated in local North Shore casinos by Father Francis Cohan. Today the parish offers Mass in English, bilingual (English/Spanish), and Spanish, with daily noon Mass Tuesday through Friday, Saturday Vigil Mass, and three Sunday Masses, plus weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays. Bilingual sacramental preparation, faith formation for children and youth, RCIA for adults, and outreach through ministries such as the Knights of Columbus all support a diverse mountain-lake community of worshippers and seasonal visitors.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Jorge Herrera
- Diocese
- Diocese of Reno
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi welcomes both full-time residents of Incline Village/North Tahoe and visitors to the Lake into a parish that openly embraces its cultural diversity — offering Mass in English, bilingual, and Spanish every week. Parishioners benefit from daily noon Mass Tuesday through Friday, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration (extended to midnight on every second Tuesday), a robust faith-formation program for children and youth, and bilingual RCIA, baptism, confirmation, First Communion, wedding, and funeral preparation led by dedicated lay ministers alongside Fr. Jorge. The Knights of Columbus host an annual Golf & Giggle Fun-Raiser that funds parish ministries and outreach, and the pastor himself leads an informal 'Food, Faith & Fun' young-adult gathering designed to welcome those who feel disconnected from the Church. It is a parish with the warmth of a mountain community and the rhythm of a Eucharistic center.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00pm to 4:30pm (Reconciliation) — or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: Adoration of the Eucharist 12:30pm to 7:00pm
- Tuesday (2nd Tuesday of the month): Adoration extended until midnight
Parish History
St. Francis of Assisi traces its origins to October 1965, when Father Francis Cohan was dispatched by Bishop Dwyer of the Diocese of Reno to celebrate weekend Masses for the Catholic families of the North Shore. Those first liturgies were held in North Shore casinos, and worshippers famously contributed casino chips won on the way in. Pioneering parishioners Noreen Crom, Genevieve Brockelsby, and Patricia Crow organized the St. Francis Women's Guild and brought in the Sisters of the Sacred Heart to begin faith formation. After a private home on Kelly Drive served as church, rectory, and meeting space, the diocese purchased land and parishioners themselves built the present church, dedicated in June 1969. The parish celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015 with the theme 'Honoring Our Present, Building Our Future.'
- Founded October 1965 by Fr. Francis Cohan at the request of pioneering Catholic families
- Early Masses celebrated in North Shore casinos
- Land purchased by the Diocese of Reno and gifted to the parish
- Faber Brothers general contractor; sub-contract work done by parish men
- Current church dedicated June 1969
- 50th anniversary celebrated June 28, 2015 with Mass and luncheon at the Chateau
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Francis of Assisi offers a full weekly schedule centered on the Eucharist. Weekday Mass is celebrated at noon Tuesday through Friday, Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00pm in English, and three Sunday Masses serve the diverse community at 9:00am in English, 11:30am bilingual, and 5:00pm in Spanish. Tuesday is the parish's day of Eucharistic devotion, with Adoration from 12:30pm to 7:00pm — extended until midnight on every second Tuesday of the month. The Diocese of Reno also broadcasts a TV Mass on KTVN Channel 8 (Sundays at 10:00am) and via the diocese YouTube channel for the homebound.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm English
- Sunday: 9:00am English, 11:30am Bilingual, 5:00pm Spanish
- Daily Mass: Tuesday–Friday 12:00pm noon
- Tuesday Adoration 12:30pm–7:00pm (until midnight on 2nd Tuesdays)
Sacramental Preparation
The parish coordinates preparation for every sacrament in both English and Spanish, supported by trained lay ministers who work closely with Fr. Jorge and the Diocese of Reno.
- Baptism — John & Lisa Woll (English); Fr. Jorge (Spanish); classes every second Wednesday
- First Communion — two-year program; Torre Mercogliano
- Confirmation — youth witness program; Lorena Herrera
- RCIA — English & Spanish for adults and returning Catholics
- Weddings — Maha Hurdle, Eileen Tabano (rehearsal/ceremony), Andrea Tatengo (Spanish rehearsal/ceremony)
- Funerals — Alicia Guzman and Joe Guzman (English & Spanish)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education has been at the heart of the parish since its founding, when 10 children were catechized in family homes. The program has grown to serve nearly 200 children weekly in grades one through twelve, assisting parents with the religious and sacramental formation of their children and the wider community.
- Grades 1–12 faith formation
- First Communion (two-year program)
- Confirmation preparation
- Sacramental preparation for youth and adults
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in both English and Spanish — a process of study, exploration, faith-sharing, and faith formation for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church or complete their sacraments, and a 'welcome home' for returning Catholics.
- RCIA in English
- RCIA in Spanish
- Open to adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, the parish supports a wide range of ministries and outreach. The Knights of Columbus host the annual Golf & Giggle Fun-Raiser (13th annual in 2024) which funds parish ministries and outreach. The parish also maintains an Online Giving platform and participates in the annual Catholic Services Appeal. Pastoral staff and dedicated lay disciples run every ministry, and training is provided for new volunteers.
- Knights of Columbus — annual Golf & Giggle Fun-Raiser
- St. Francis Women's Guild
- Food, Faith & Fun — Fr. Jorge's informal young-adult outreach
- Online Giving / Stewardship
- Catholic Services Appeal 2024
- Parish bulletin (published regularly at sftahoe.org/bulletins)
Bilingual & Spanish-Language Community
St. Francis of Assisi has grown into a bilingual Catholic community. Mass is celebrated every Sunday in Spanish at 5:00pm and bilingually at 11:30am, and the parish offers sacramental preparation, baptism classes, RCIA, wedding coordination, and funeral preparation in Spanish. Fr. Jorge publishes a Spanish-language welcome ('La Paz de Cristo — Padre Jorge') and teaches baptism classes in Spanish on the second Wednesday of each month.
- Sunday 11:30am Bilingual Mass
- Sunday 5:00pm Spanish Mass
- Baptism classes in Spanish with Fr. Jorge (2nd Wednesday)
- Spanish RCIA, weddings, and funeral preparation
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Jorge Herrera, who also serves as the Spanish-language sacramental liaison. The office and pastoral staff coordinate faith formation, weddings, funerals, and all parish ministries, with extension 402 listed for the pastor.
- Fr. Jorge Herrera — Pastor, (775) 831-0490 Ext 402
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is located at 701 Mount Rose Highway in Incline Village, Nevada, the heart of the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The parish office can be reached at (775) 831-0490 or by email at [email protected], and the website at sftahoe.org carries the weekly bulletin, calendar, and announcements. Visitors and seasonal residents are warmly welcomed.
- Address: 701 Mount Rose Hwy, Incline Village, NV 89451
- Phone: (775) 831-0490
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sftahoe.org
- Bulletin: sftahoe.org/bulletins
- Calendar: sftahoe.org/calendar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Cohan1965
First priest sent by Bishop Dwyer of the Diocese of Reno to celebrate weekend Masses for North Shore Catholics in October 1965.