About St. John the Baptist · Smith Valley, Nevada
St. John the Baptist Catholic Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church serving the rural Smith Valley in Lyon County, Nevada, part of the Diocese of Reno. Tucked into the farming and ranching country of northern Nevada along Highway 338, it was founded in 1948 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in August 2023. The mission is clustered with Holy Family Parish in Yerington and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Hawthorne, sharing one pastor across the three communities.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Jesus Ballesteros
- Diocese
- Diocese of Reno
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist Mission is exactly what its name suggests — a small Catholic outpost in the ranching country of Smith Valley — and that intimacy is its chief appeal. Sunday Mass is celebrated in English with the warmth of a close-knit rural congregation, weekly religious formation classes for children are offered before Mass, and confession is readily available. The mission also enjoys a remarkable 50-year ecumenical partnership with the neighboring Smith Valley United Methodist Church, jointly running the annual Harvest Sale & Auction that splits proceeds between the two congregations, a testament to the genuine community spirit of this part of northern Nevada.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 3:30 – 4:30 PM (per parish website)
- 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month 2:00 – 5:00 PM (per parish website)
About St. John the Baptist Mission
St. John's Catholic Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church in rural Smith Valley, northern Nevada. The parish describes itself as 'tucked in the middle of Smith Valley' with 'our doors open to all,' and explicitly welcomes 'passers-through' to join Sunday Mass. The mission is served by Father Jesus Ballesteros as part of a three-parish cluster that also includes Holy Family Parish in Yerington and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Hawthorne.
- One of six missions in the Diocese of Reno
- Clustered with Holy Family (Yerington) and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Hawthorne)
- Founded 1948; 75th anniversary celebrated August 2023
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Religious formation for children is offered on Sundays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, immediately before the evening Mass. The mission also runs an RCIA program for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation for baptism and marriage is handled in coordination with the cluster parishes.
- Religious Formation (children) — Sundays 3:30–4:30 PM; Director: Nancy Nuti
- RCIA — Director: Michael Nuti
- Baptism, Marriage — by arrangement with the parish office
Clergy & Staff
The mission is currently served by Rev. Jesus Ballesteros, who simultaneously pastors Holy Family Parish in Yerington and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Hawthorne. Father Ballesteros was ordained for the Diocese of Reno in June 2010 and previously served as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph's Parish in Elko.
- Pastor: Rev. Jesus Ballesteros
- Mailing: P.O. Box 258, Smith Valley, NV 89430
- Emergency contact: 775-233-7392
Smith Valley Harvest Sale & Auction
For roughly 50 years St. John the Baptist Mission has partnered with the Smith Valley Community United Methodist Church to host the annual Harvest Sale & Auction. All proceeds are split between the two congregations. The fundraiser features a craft boutique, a 'Le Junque' boutique, a homemade-foods 'Kountry Kitchen,' a snack bar, a silent auction and a live auction. The 2024 edition was scheduled for October 20, 2024.
- Annual fundraiser — every October
- Proceeds split 50/50 between Catholic Mission and Smith Valley UMC
- Approximately 50 years of continuous ecumenical cooperation
- Contact for donations/details: 775-233-7392
Steeple Repair Project
The mission is currently raising money to repair and install a new steeple on the small 1948 church building. Donations may be directed to the parish email. The project reflects the community's ongoing effort to care for the modest building that has served Smith Valley Catholics for more than 75 years.
- Active capital project as of 2024
- Donations: [email protected]
Visiting Smith Valley
Smith is a tiny rural community along Highway 338 in Lyon County, surrounded by working ranches and irrigated farmland along the West Walker River. Visitors often combine a Sunday Mass visit with the broader history of the valley — including the Smith and Gage family homesteads settled in 1859, the Coventry Cross Episcopal Church (built c. 1940 with a cross salvaged from war-damaged Coventry, England), and Hillcrest Cemetery in Smith where many pioneer Smith and Gage family members are buried.
- Smith Valley named for 1859 settlers Timothy B. Smith and R.B. Smith
- West Walker River agricultural valley
- Hillcrest Cemetery — burial place of pioneer families
Diocese of Reno
St. John the Baptist Mission is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno, which covers 70,852 square miles across northern Nevada, encompassing the counties of Washoe, Humboldt, Elko, Eureka, Lander, Pershing, Churchill, Mineral, Lyon, Carson City, Storey and Douglas. The diocese comprises 28 parishes, 6 missions, 2 day-care centers, 4 elementary schools and 1 high school. It is led by Bishop Randolph R. Calvo and is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Las Vegas.
- Diocese of Reno — 70,852 sq mi, 12 counties
- 28 parishes, 6 missions (St. John the Baptist is one of the 6)
- Bishop: Most Rev. Randolph R. Calvo, D.D., J.C.D.
- Pastoral Center: 290 S. Arlington Avenue, Reno, NV 89501
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ariel Arias2012 – c. 2017
Assigned in June 2012 by Bishop Randolph Calvo as Pastor of Holy Family Parish (Yerington), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Hawthorne), and St. John the Baptist Mission (Smith Valley). Previously Parochial Vicar of St. Therese (Little Flower) Parish in Reno.
- Rev. Jesus Ballesterosc. 2017 – present
Current pastor of the Yerington / Hawthorne / Smith Valley cluster. Ordained for ministry in the Diocese of Reno in June 2010; previously Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph's Parish in Elko.