St. Gall

Parish History

Catholic life in Carson Valley dates to 1858, when one pastor served Virginia City, Genoa and Carson City; by 1865, churches existed in all three places. After the Genoa church was lost to fire in the late 1800s, the local faithful met in halls throughout the valley until, in 1917, about thirty families in the Gardnerville area organized to build their own church. Land was donated by Sam Imelli, $7,000 was raised, and parishioners donated most of the labor. Bishop Thomas Grace of Sacramento dedicated the red-brick church to St. Gall on June 22, 1919. It served as a mission of St. Teresa of Avila until January 1940, when it became an independent parish.

• 1858: First Catholic pastor in Carson Valley serves Virginia City, Genoa and Carson City
• 1865: Churches built in all three communities
• Late 1800s: Genoa church destroyed by fire; community meets in halls
• 1917: ~30 families begin planning a Gardnerville church
• 1919: Church dedicated to St. Gall on June 22 by Bishop Thomas Grace
• 1940: Established as an independent parish with its own pastor
• 1958: Sisters of the Holy Family arrive to teach catechism and run a kindergarten
• 1979: Fire guts the church interior; confessionals and choir loft removed during restoration
• 1982: Pledge drive launched under Fr. Corona
• 1983: Wayne Newton benefit dinner; groundbreaking October 23, theme 'A Dwelling Place for the Lord'
• 1984: Bishop Norman McFarland leads 0.6-mile procession to the new Centerville Lane church
• 2019: Centennial celebrated with Bishop Randolph Calvo at Lampe Park

About the Parish Today

St. Gall Catholic Community now numbers over 1,500 registered families and operates more than 20 ministries. It serves Gardnerville, Minden and surrounding communities of the Carson Valley, and welcomes both year-round faithful and seasonal visitors. In addition to weekend and daily Masses, the parish offers a full Religious Education program (Kindergarten through Youth Ministry), sacramental preparation, RCIA, a robust Spanish Ministry, a Pastoral Center for weddings and parish events, and ministries serving the sick, grieving, and homebound.

Mass, Sacraments and Devotions

Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., and the Saturday Vigil at 4:00 p.m. (English) and 6:00 p.m. (Spanish). Weekday Masses follow a rotating schedule of 11:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the parish library, and by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration is offered Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Anointing of the Sick is available on the first Friday of each month after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, as well as on request for the homebound.

• Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
• Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. (English) and 6:00 p.m. (Spanish)
• Weekday Mass: 11:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. (rotating)
• Reconciliation: Saturday 2:30–3:30 p.m. (library)
• Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 3:00–7:00 p.m.
• Anointing of the Sick: First Friday after 11:00 a.m. Mass, or by appointment

Staff and Clergy

The parish is served by a pastor and a parochial vicar, with a staff handling music, religious education, administration, and facilities. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Theresa Phillips, assists the pastor in pastoral planning and policy formation.

• Rev. Mark Hanifan — Pastor
• Rev. Biju Malancheruvil — Parochial Vicar
• Anne Goldy — Music Director and Wedding Coordinator
• Director of Religious Education (name listed on staff page)
• Irma Gutierrez — Religious Education Administrative Assistant
• Sherry Barnett — Bookkeeper
• Leticia Cleary — Parish Secretary
• Greg Carlson, Olga Piña, Elisa Vargas — Maintenance
• Theresa Phillips — Pastoral Council Chairperson

Faith Formation and Religious Education

St. Gall's Religious Education program covers Kindergarten through Youth Ministry and includes sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. First Reconciliation is celebrated in the spring of the second year of Eucharist preparation. Adults seeking to become Catholic are served through the RCIA / Becoming Catholic ministry, and returning Catholics are welcomed through the Landings ministry.

• Kindergarten through Youth Ministry
• First Reconciliation preparation
• First Eucharist preparation
• Confirmation preparation
• RCIA / Becoming Catholic
• Landings – Welcoming Returning Catholics

Ministries and Groups

The parish lists more than 20 active ministries, spanning liturgy, faith formation, outreach, prayer, and parish life. Volunteers coordinate music, art and environment, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, greeters, and a Welcome Ministry, as well as Spanish-language ministries, the Rosary Group, Centering Prayer, Women's Scripture Sharing, and a Men's Study Group in the library.

• Liturgy Committee; Lectors; Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion; Altar Servers
• Music Ministry; Art and Environment / Arte y Medio Ambiente
• Greeters; Ushers; Welcome Ministry
• RCIA / Becoming Catholic; Baptismal Preparation; Spanish Ministries
• Ministry to the Sick and Homebound; Funeral Ministry; Compassion Ministry
• New Beginnings Grief Support Ministry; Respect Life; Vocations; Spiritual Direction
• Knights of Columbus; Benedictine Oblates; SCC Small Christian Communities
• Rosary Group; Centering Prayer; Women's Scripture Sharing; Men's Study Group
• Adoration; Our Blessed Mother's Rosary Makers; Armada Blanca Children's Rosary
• Rummage Sale Volunteers; Gift Shop; Bulletin Editor; Wedding Coordinator
• Finance Committee; Pastoral Council; Outdoor Grounds Keeping; Maintenance

Buildings and Campus

The current church on Centerville Lane replaced the original 1919 red-brick church on Highway 395 in 1984. The parish also operates a large Pastoral Center that hosts wedding receptions, parish fundraisers, and other community events. A residence on Douglas was acquired in earlier decades for use as a convent and a building was moved from the Buckeye Ranch to serve as a school and parish hall; the convent was later converted into a rectory when the Sisters of the Holy Family departed.

• Current church: 1343 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville (since 1984)
• Pastoral Center: hosts wedding receptions, fundraisers and parish events
• Historic 1919 red-brick church: 1475 Highway 395 (sold 1984, now offices; historical marker erected 2004)

Visit, Contact and Getting Involved

Parishioners and visitors are invited to attend Mass, register as parishioners, and become involved in any of the more than 20 ministries. The parish office is open during regular business hours and can be reached by phone to schedule sacraments, anointings, home visits, or Reconciliation appointments.

• Address: 1343 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville, NV 89410
• Phone: (775) 782-2852
• Website: http://www.saintgall.org/
• New Parishioner Registration Form available on the parish website