About St. Rose of Lima · Reno, Nevada
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church is a parish in southwest Reno, Nevada, belonging to the Diocese of Reno. Founded in 1996 by Father Tom Donnelly, it was the first new Catholic parish established in the Diocese of Reno in 32 years. The parish serves families in the Bishop Manogue area of south Reno and celebrated its first Mass in its current church building on August 2, 2003. Today it offers daily and Sunday Mass in English, a full sacramental program, faith formation K-6, Confirmation/Youth Ministry, and a large roster of lay ministries led by Pastor Father Dariusz Miskowicz and Parochial Vicar Father Wojciech Prawda.
- Established
- 1996
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima (Isabel de Santa Maria de Flores), Dominican tertiary, patroness of South America, the first saint of the New World, canonized in 1671 by Pope Clement X
- Rector
- Rev. Dariusz Miskowicz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Reno
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima is an active, lay-led parish in southwest Reno where nearly 30 named ministries give parishioners concrete ways to serve — from Knights of Columbus, Respect Life, and Mercy Angels, to St. Vincent de Paul-style outreach, the Funeral Hospitality 'Celebration of Life' ministry, and a thriving seamstress and prayer-shawl group. A complete K-6 faith formation program prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, and a dedicated Confirmation & Youth Ministry walks teens through the sacrament under a Confirmation Lead. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses are celebrated in English, and three weekly confession slots (plus First Friday adoration and anointing of the sick) make the sacraments easy to access.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Saturday 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Or by appointment — email Father Dariusz or Father Wojciech
Adoration times
- First Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Adoration, with Anointing of the Sick following the 8:30 AM First Friday Mass)
Our Story & History
Founded in 1996 by Father Tom Donnelly with 60 families and the support of Bishop Phillip F. Straling, St. Rose of Lima was the first new Catholic parish in the Diocese of Reno in 32 years. The community first worshipped at Pleasant Valley Elementary, Brown Elementary, and Mountain View Montessori School while planning a permanent home. Land on Bishop Manogue Drive was donated by Bishop Straling next to the upcoming Bishop Manogue Catholic High School; gifts from two founding families and another diocesan parish seeded $1.2 million, and 1997's capital campaign — plus the 'Homeward Bound' and 'Securing the Future' campaigns — funded construction. Architects Plus designed the building and TNT Construction, Inc. built it; Father Donnelly celebrated the first Mass in the new church on Saturday, August 2, 2003. Father Tom retired in July 2007, succeeded by Father Larry Morrison (2007–2018) and then Father Joseph Abraham (2018–). The Flocchini Family Education Center was dedicated and blessed on July 15, 2020.
- Founded 1996 — first new Catholic parish in Diocese of Reno in 32 years
- First Mass in current church: August 2, 2003
- Three pastors to date: Father Tom Donnelly, Father Larry Morrison, Father Joseph Abraham
- Current pastor: Father Dariusz Miskowicz (with Parochial Vicar Father Wojciech Prawda)
- Flocchini Family Education Center dedicated July 15, 2020
Architecture & Sacred Symbolism
The church is intentionally designed to evoke a ship in full sail — a tribute to founding pastor Father Tom Donnelly's family of fishermen. Ships, the sea, and the biblical numbers 12, 8, and 7 are woven throughout the building. Twelve arches rim the sanctuary (the twelve apostles); four statues of the evangelists stand above the entryway; and the main door is reached by eight steps, recalling both Noah's family of eight and the eight people who began the parish in 1996. The building faces east (the direction of renewal) and the sanctuary is built in the round, signifying that there are no class divisions: the altar — the 'captain's table' — is visible to all, and the last pew is 64 feet (a multiple of 8) from its base.
- Ship-in-full-sail design by Architects Plus
- Twelve arches = twelve apostles; four evangelist statues at entry
- Eight steps to the main door
- Sanctuary built in the round — no class divisions
- Wooden cross above altar by Joseph Lubek
- Stained-glass window by Elizabeth Deveraux — 2004 Visual Arts Award honorable mention, Art Glass
- Six steps to the baptismal font (Sermon on the Mount motif)
Faith Formation & Religious Education (K-6)
St. Rose of Lima offers ongoing faith formation for children of all ages who wish to continue their spiritual journey with Christ. The K-6 program follows a two-year Sacramental Preparation track: Year 1 covers basic faith formation, and Year 2 prepares children for Reconciliation (Confession) and First Eucharist (First Communion). All participants are evaluated, and sacraments may be delayed if USCCB requirements are not met. Children under 7 who are not yet baptized, and children over 7 who are unbaptized, are directed to contact the parish office for next steps. The parish also subscribes to Formed.org for additional formation resources.
- Two-year sacramental preparation track
- Year 1: basic faith formation
- Year 2: Reconciliation & First Communion
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Amy Whitten — [email protected]
- Formed.org online resource access
Confirmation & Youth Ministry
Confirmation and Youth Ministry is led by Linda Walsh ([email protected]) and is supported by a separate Confirmation Lead on the parish staff. The youth choir and band rehearses Saturday afternoons at 3:00 PM, and teens are integrated into liturgical life through the Altar Servers, choirs, and band ministries.
- Confirmation Lead on staff
- Youth Ministry Leader: Linda Walsh
- Saturday Youth Band Practice 3:00–5:00 PM
Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Liturgy Committee coordinates every aspect of the Sunday and weekday liturgies and includes the pastor, parochial vicar, deacon, and leads for each liturgical role. The parish publishes detailed descriptions of each role and requires all ministers to complete Safe Environment (Virtus) training before serving.
- Altar Servers — Adrina Cooper (must have received First Holy Communion)
- Sacristans — Charlene Greenlund
- Proclaimers (Lectors) — Mitch Huberty / Lee Hernandez
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Mass: Dan Dondero
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Homebound: Tom Gurgui
- Ushers — Don Eberlein
- Sound Technicians — Margie McAvay
- Environment Ministry — Charlene Greenlund
- Seamstress Ministry — Judi Harris
- Liturgy Coordinator — Karen McBee (also Kevin Brett listed)
Music Ministry — Three Choirs
Three distinct choirs serve the parish's weekend Masses, and new singers and instrumentalists are always welcome. Each choir has its own contact, schedule, and repertoire.
- 5:00 PM Saturday Youth Choir & Band — Margie McAvay ([email protected], 775-762-2484); rehearsal 3:00 PM Saturdays
- 8:30 AM Sunday Choir — Kevin Brett ([email protected]); Thursday rehearsal 6:00–7:00 PM; warm-up 7:30 AM Sunday
- 10:30 AM Sunday Choir — Teri Iaconis ([email protected], 775-691-0621); Wednesday rehearsal 6:30–8:00 PM; warm-up 9:45 AM Sunday
- Resurrection Choir (funerals) — Margie McAvay
Sacraments
Information on every sacrament is published on the parish website with concrete requirements and contacts.
- Baptism: Infants under 7 — most Sundays after the 10:30 AM Mass (no baptisms on the 5th Sunday, or during Lent / Advent). Classes for parents/godparents on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6 PM. At least one godparent must be a practicing Catholic.
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist: Two-year K-6 Sacramental Preparation
- Confirmation: Separate youth ministry track
- Marriage: Must be scheduled 6 months in advance; Engaged Encounter weekend required (renoee.org); one party must be a registered parishioner; Pre-Nuptial documents, baptism certificates, and birth certificates needed
- Reconciliation (Confession): Tue 9–10 AM, Fri 9–10 AM, Sat 2–4 PM, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: First Fridays following 8:30 AM Mass
- Homebound Communion: contact Tom Gurgui ([email protected])
- OCIA (RCIA): contact Sean Heenan — [email protected]
Outreach, Prayer & Fellowship
Beyond liturgical roles, St. Rose of Lima maintains a wide network of outreach, prayer, and fellowship ministries, each with a published chairperson and email contact. The parish is explicitly looking for parishioners willing to share their time and talent.
- Knights of Columbus — Jody Gunderman
- Mercy Angels — outreach through parish office
- Respect Life Ministry — Doug & Denise Burbank
- Funeral Hospitality / Celebration of Life Ministry — Judi Harris
- Pray Shawl Ministry — Gaylian Reina
- That Man Is You! (men's program) — Tom Cushman
- Marriage Encounter Weekend — Jim & Mary Carr and Sef & Eloy Vega
- Vocations Ministry — Deacon Don Korson
- Welcoming Ministry — Debbie Kumpel
- Women of St. Rose — Sarah Bolton
- Tuesday Morning Prayer Group — Gail Raimondi & Shelly Quinn
- Altar Society — Charlene Greenlund
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by Pastor Father Dariusz Miskowicz and Parochial Vicar Father Wojciech Prawda, with a small office staff and ministry directors. The Parish Office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
- Pastor: Rev. Dariusz Miskowicz — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wojciech Prawda — [email protected]
- Deacon Don Korson
- Manager of Business Affairs
- Parish Office Manager
- Director of Religious Education — Amy Whitten ([email protected])
- Youth Ministry Leader — Linda Walsh ([email protected])
- Confirmation Lead
- Office Assistant
- Staff members listed: Mare Hoy, Myrna Forestiere, Lisa DeGe
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners are encouraged to call or email the chairperson of any ministry they are interested in joining — St. Rose explicitly invites new members to share their time and talent. The parish office is the central point of contact for appointments with the priests, baptism and marriage scheduling, and general inquiries.
- Phone: (775) 851-1874
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor's email: [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar's email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/StRoseofLimaReno/
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Tom Donnelly1996–2007
Founding pastor; called the community into being starting in 1984 during a family visit to Ireland; oversaw construction of the church at 100 Bishop Manogue Drive; celebrated the first Mass in the new building on August 2, 2003; retired in July 2007.
- Father Larry Morrison2007–2018
Second pastor; envisioned the addition to the church building for additional classrooms.
- Father Joseph Abraham2018–
Third pastor; carried the new addition building forward to completion and dedication as the Flocchini Family Education Center (blessed July 15, 2020; open house October 24, 2020).
- Father Dariusz Miskowicz
Current pastor; previously Father Joseph Abraham's successor as the parish's fourth pastor.