About St. Joan of Arc · Las Vegas, Nevada
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic parish in Las Vegas, Nevada, founded on October 4, 1908, by Salt Lake City Diocese Bishop Lawrence Scanlan. Located in downtown Las Vegas at 315 S. Casino Center Blvd., the parish serves tourists, downtown workers, and local residents with daily Mass and Sunday services in English, Latin, and Polish. The current church building was dedicated in 1940, and the parish is served by the Society of Christ Fathers (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe). It was declared a National Catholic Historical Site and serves as the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Joan of Arc
- Rector
- Rev. Siarhei Anhur, SChr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Las Vegas
Why belong here
St. Joan of Arc offers a unique combination of historic character and downtown Las Vegas accessibility. The parish welcomes a diverse community — local downtown workers, homeless, tourists from nearby casinos, and the Polish-speaking community through the Saint John Paul II Polish Apostolate. Daily Mass, frequent confession, and First Friday adoration with healing prayers make it a spiritual oasis in the heart of Las Vegas. As the oldest Catholic parish in the city and a declared National Catholic Historical Site, it offers a sense of continuity and tradition rare in a city known for tearing down its past.
Mass times at St. Joan of Arc
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m.–4:50 p.m.
- First Friday: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- First Friday: 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Sunday: No confessions
Adoration times
- Every Friday: 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- First Friday: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- First Friday (after 6:30 p.m. Mass): Adoration and Healing Prayers, ~7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
History of St. Joan of Arc Parish
St. Joan of Arc is the oldest Catholic parish in Las Vegas, founded on October 4, 1908, by Salt Lake City Diocese Bishop Lawrence Scanlan. The parish was established when Las Vegas was just three years old — a railroad town with only about 70 Catholics among 700 residents. The first church, known as 'Cottage Chapel,' was a modest 40-seat chapel dedicated in 1910. It was rebuilt at least twice before the current church was erected in 1939–1940. The parish has stood at 315 S. Casino Center Blvd. continuously since 1910 and was declared a National Catholic Historical Site in 1987.
- Founded October 4, 1908 by Bishop Lawrence Scanlan of Salt Lake City Diocese
- First church: Cottage Chapel, dedicated 1910, capacity 40
- Current church dedicated 1940, capacity approximately 400
- Centennial Mass celebrated April 27, 2008 with Bishop Joseph Pepe
- Declared National Catholic Historical Site in 1987
The Patron Saint: St. Joan of Arc
Bishop Scanlan chose St. Joan of Arc as patron in 1908 — twelve years before her canonization in 1920. According to parish tradition, he remarked that riding through Las Vegas in July felt like being burnt at the stake. St. Joan of Arc (born c. 1412, died May 30, 1431) is the patroness of soldiers and France, and her feast day is celebrated on May 30.
- Feast day: May 30
- Patroness of soldiers and France
- Born c. 1412, martyred 1431 at Rouen
- Canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920
Saint John Paul II Polish Apostolate
Since October 2008, the parish has hosted regular Polish-language Masses as part of the Saint John Paul II Polish Apostolate, established by Bishop Joseph A. Pepe to serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of Polish-speaking Catholics in the Las Vegas Diocese. The apostolate is centered at Our Lady of Las Vegas Church, where a sung Polish Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 1:00 p.m., and at St. Joan of Arc, where a recited Polish Mass with hymns is celebrated every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The first Polish priest was Fr. Gerald Grupczynski, SChr, followed by Fr. Richard (Ryszard) Philiposki, SChr, who joined in November and became pastor of St. Joan of Arc in July 2014.
- Established by Bishop Joseph A. Pepe in October 2008
- Polish Mass every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc
- Polish Mass every Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Las Vegas
- Served by Society of Christ Fathers (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe / SChr)
- Coffee and fellowship after Mass in St. Joseph Hall (Plebania) or on the patio
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by the Society of Christ Fathers, a Polish-based religious congregation. The current pastor is Rev. Siarhei Anhur, SChr. The parish has historically been led by a succession of pastors — by 2001, the parish had seen 14 pastors, with Father Timothy Wehn serving as the 14th pastor from 2001. Fr. Richard (Ryszard) Philiposki, SChr., succeeded and served from July 2014, later moving to Guardian Angel Cathedral.
- Rev. Siarhei Anhur, SChr. — current Pastor
- Fr. Richard (Ryszard) Philiposki, SChr — former pastor (July 2014)
- Fr. Timothy Wehn — 14th pastor (2001–~2014)
- Parish served by Society of Christ Fathers (SChr)
First Friday Devotions
The First Friday of each month features a special schedule at St. Joan of Arc, including additional confession times, an evening Mass at 6:30 p.m., followed by Adoration and Healing Prayers. The BUKAS LOOB SA DIYOS (BLD) community provides the music ministry for the First Friday Mass.
- 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.: Confession
- 6:30 p.m.: Mass
- Adoration and Healing Prayer to follow
- Music by BUKAS LOOB SA DIYOS (BLD)
Location and Visiting
St. Joan of Arc is located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas at 315 S. Casino Center Blvd., two blocks south of Fremont Street on Casino Center Boulevard. The parish welcomes tourists, local workers, and visitors; downtown casinos actively promote Mass times for their Catholic guests. The church has up to 1,000 tourists each Sunday for services.
- Address: 315 S. Casino Center Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Phone: (702) 382-9909
- Email: [email protected]
- Located two blocks south of Fremont Street
- Doors open at 11:00 a.m. on weekdays (entry from courtyard)
Historical Significance and Preservation
St. Joan of Arc holds a unique place in Las Vegas history as the city's oldest Catholic parish and a declared National Catholic Historical Site. A historical marker was placed on the property in 1987 by the International Order of the Alhambra. While many Las Vegas buildings have been imploded over the years, St. Joan of Arc Church, in one form or another, has stood at 315 S. Casino Center Blvd. since 1910 — making it a tangible link to the city's earliest days.
- National Catholic Historical Site (declared 1987)
- Historical marker placed by International Order of the Alhambra
- Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes constructed by David Lorenzi in 1941
- Survived while many other Las Vegas buildings were imploded
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Timothy Wehn2001–~2014
14th pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish; served during the 2008 centennial. Later became pastor of Guardian Angel Cathedral.
- Rev. Richard (Ryszard) Philiposki, SChr.July 2014–
Member of the Society of Christ Fathers (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe); became pastor in July 2014. Helped establish Polish Mass ministry.