About St. John the Baptist · Laughlin, Nevada
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a Catholic mission parish in Laughlin, Nevada, at the southern tip of the state on the Colorado River across from Bullhead City, Arizona. It is part of the (Arch)Diocese of Las Vegas and uniquely serves a tri-state community of permanent residents, weekend visitors, and 'snowbirds' who winter in the Laughlin casino corridor. The parish is famous for being the only Catholic community in the United States that regularly celebrates weekend Mass inside a casino — Don's Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside Resort — while also having its own dedicated church building, completed in 2003 on El Mirage Way. The parish proudly traces its spiritual roots to March 1776, when Franciscan missionary Father Francisco Garces crossed the Colorado River and celebrated the first recorded Catholic Mass on what is now Nevada soil, making St. John the Baptist what its mission statement calls 'the birthplace and the heart of the Catholic Faith in Nevada.'
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Charlie Urnick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Las Vegas (now Metropolitan Archdiocese of Las Vegas)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a close-knit tri-state Catholic community that welcomes residents, weekend visitors, and snowbirds alike. Parishioners can worship either in the parish's own dedicated church at 3055 El Mirage Way or, uniquely, in Don's Celebrity Theatre inside the Riverside Resort — weekend Masses there regularly draw larger crowds than the church building itself. Active faith formation runs from RCIA for adults seeking full initiation, to religious education for children, to a Tuesday-through-Thursday (September–April) program of Eucharistic Adoration. A robust network of lay ministries — Knights of Columbus Council 12690, St. Vincent de Paul, Ladies Guild, Music Ministry, Lector, Extraordinary Minister, Altar Server, Greeter, Fellowship, Flowers & Grounds, and more — gives every parishioner a concrete way to serve. If you live in or are visiting the Laughlin/Bullhead City/Needles river community, this is the spiritual home that calls itself 'the birthplace and the heart of the Catholic Faith in Nevada.'
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, September through April (Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel)
Welcome & Mission Statement
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church identifies itself as 'the birthplace and the heart of the Catholic Faith in Nevada.' Its mission statement says the parish exists to serve the growing faith community of Southern Nevada — composed of residents, weekend visitors, and snowbirds — who pray and work together to build up the Body of Christ. As a tri-state parish on the southern tip of Nevada, it serves not only locals but also Catholics who travel from Arizona and California. The parish points especially to Father Francisco Garces's 1776 visit as the historic foundation of Catholic life on Nevada soil.
History of the Parish
The parish's history is told in two chapters — a 1776 origin in the person of Father Francisco Garces, OFM, and a 1992 revival in modern Laughlin. After more than two centuries, residents of Laughlin petitioned the bishop in 1991–1992, and the resulting St. John the Baptist Catholic Mission was born under Father John McShane. Six successive Administrators have shepherded the community, each one leaving a specific mark, from buying the rectory to funding the church to paying off the mortgage. The Mission grew into its own church building, dedicated October 11, 2003, and continues the unusual practice of celebrating weekend Mass inside a casino showroom.
- 1776 (March 3–4): Father Francisco Garces, OFM, crosses the Colorado River — first Catholic priest on Nevada soil.
- 1991–1992: 500+ local signatures petition the bishop for a priest.
- August 16, 1992: First parish Mass at the Gold River Hotel under Father John McShane (1st Administrator).
- August 1996: Father Kevin McAuliffe (2nd Administrator) — moves weekend Masses to the Riverside Resort; tenure of 11 months.
- July 1997: Father Peter Romeo (3rd Administrator) — sells glass fish, lays construction framework.
- August 1999: Father Ray Schultz (4th Administrator) — financial groundwork for the church.
- July 2001: Father Frank Yncierto (5th Administrator) — completes pre-building requirements and oversees construction.
- October 11, 2003: Bishop of Las Vegas dedicates St. John the Baptist Church.
- July 2008: Father Charlie Urnick (6th Administrator) arrives from New Jersey — designs parish casino chips, pays off the mortgage.
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Charlie Urnick (Administrator / Pastor) and two permanent deacons, supported by a small but committed lay staff. Father Charlie also serves as the parish RCIA Director.
- Father Charlie Urnick — Administrator (also RCIA Director)
- Deacon Dan McHugh — Parish Deacon
- Deacon Richard Lambert — Parish Deacon
- Mary Rivard — Religious Education Director
- Trish Nevius — Parish Secretary
- LuAnn Cruz — Parish Cantor
- Brett A. Dennis — Parish Business Manager / Parish IT Admin / AV Tech
- Sheila Patton — Gift Shop Coordinator (Faithful Navigator, Father Garces Assembly)
- Fred Wells — St. John's Guild Coordinator
- Gabe Nunez — Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus Council 12690
- LuAnn Cruz / other — Parish Maintenance
Mass at the Riverside Resort & Casino
Because weekend Masses inside the casino's Don's Celebrity Theatre regularly draw larger crowds than those in the church building, the parish website treats the casino Mass as a first-class worship location — complete with stage, congregation, and what Father Charlie jokes is 'valet parking.' Collection baskets there frequently receive casino chips and slot-machine receipts alongside cash offerings.
- Saturday 4:00 PM
- Sunday 10:00 AM
- Sunday 12:00 Noon
Parish Life & Ministries
The parish website frames parish life around the Eucharist at the center and the parish family as the body. It encourages all parishioners to explore faith formation and to use their gifts in liturgical, social-justice, or fellowship ministries. Beyond the sacraments, parishioners can serve as choir members, lectors, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers, homebound visitors, food-pantry or St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, youth ministers, members of men's and women's groups, or participants in the annual parish bazaar. Anyone with an idea for a new ministry is invited to contact the parish office.
- Music Ministry, Ladies Guild, Altar Server (Grade 3+), Senior Altar Server
- Eucharistic Adoration, Baptism Preparation, Extraordinary Minister of Communion
- Fellowship Committee, Offertory Counters, Flowers and Grounds, Parish Pastoral Council
- Greeters, Lector, Liturgical Linen Service, Usher, Sacristan
- Stations of the Cross (Lent), RCIA, St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus Council 12690 (Grand Knight: Gabe Nunez), Father Garces Assembly
- Youth Ministry (referenced), Annual Parish Bazaar
Faith Formation & RCIA
Faith formation at St. John the Baptist is described as vital for both children and adults, feeding the intellect and the heart as parishioners grow in relationship with the Trinity, the Church, and one another. The Religious Education Director (Mary Rivard) oversees the children's program. For adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church — or baptized Christians seeking full communion — Father Charlie Urnick personally directs the parish's RCIA program. The parish describes RCIA as a return to the formation practices of the first- and second-century Church, restored by the Second Vatican Council as the ordinary way adults prepare for baptism.
- Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry)
- Rite of Initiation / Acceptance
- Catechumenate
- Rite of Election
- Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Mystagogy
Sacraments
The parish website presents the seven sacraments through its RCIA page and its ministry list — Baptism (with Baptism Preparation), Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and the sacrament of service to the homebound through Extraordinary Ministers. The RCIA process walks unbaptized adults and baptized Christian candidates through study, faith-sharing, liturgical rites, and finally the Easter Vigil Sacraments of Initiation.
- Baptism (with Baptism Preparation ministry)
- First Eucharist and ongoing Communion (incl. homebound visits)
- Confirmation (received at Easter Vigil by RCIA candidates and by teens in religious education)
- Marriage (preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick; Extraordinary Ministers bring Communion to the sick and homebound
- RCIA — the path to Baptism, Eucharist, and/or Confirmation for adults
Knights of Columbus & Fraternal Societies
Council 12690 of the Knights of Columbus is based at the parish, with Gabe Nunez serving as Grand Knight. The parish's fourth-degree assembly is named the Father Garces Assembly — a nod to the 1776 Franciscan missionary — with Sheila Patton serving as Faithful Navigator. The St. Vincent de Paul Society also operates from the parish for outreach to the poor.
- Knights of Columbus Council 12690
- Father Garces Assembly (4th degree)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
Bulletin & Parish News
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin that includes Mass announcements, faith-formation updates, ministry events, and seasonal commemorations (e.g., The Epiphany, The Baptism of the Lord, the 5th Sunday of Easter). Bulletins are available as downloadable PDFs from the parish website.
Contact, Location & Directions
The parish office is at the church address: 3055 El Mirage Way, Laughlin, NV 89029. The phone line is (702) 298-0440. The website's directions page gives a straightforward driving route from Casino Drive via Bruce Woodbury Drive to Needles Highway, then left, then right onto El Mirage Way; the church sits on the corner of El Mirage Way and Banyon Drive. Detailed directions for reaching both the church and the Riverside Resort casino Masses are published on the site.
- Address: 3055 El Mirage Way, Laughlin, NV 89029
- Phone: (702) 298-0440
- Driving: From Casino Drive, west on Bruce Woodbury Drive (~3 mi), left on Needles Highway, right on El Mirage Way at first traffic light, ~2 blocks to corner of El Mirage Way & Banyon Drive.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John McShaneAugust 1992 – August 1996
First Administrator; celebrated the first parish Mass on August 16, 1992 at the Gold River Hotel; purchased the rectory.
- Father Kevin McAuliffeAugust 1996 – July 1997
Second Administrator; moved weekend Masses to the Riverside Resort; tenure of only 11 months.
- Father Peter RomeoJuly 1997 – August 1999
Third Administrator; sold glass fish at casino Masses to raise construction funds; built the framework for the future church.
- Father Ray SchultzAugust 1999 – July 2001
Fourth Administrator; laid the financial groundwork for constructing the new church.
- Father Frank YnciertoJuly 2001 – July 2008
Fifth Administrator; completed pre-building requirements and oversaw construction.
- Father Charlie UrnickJuly 2008 – present
Sixth and current Administrator; arrived from New Jersey; designed the parish souvenir casino chip, oversaw paying off the mortgage, and was instrumental in raising the parish from mission status.