About St. Therese of the Little Flower · Reno, Nevada
St. Therese of the Little Flower Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Reno, Nevada, belonging to the Diocese of Reno and located at 875 E. Plumb Lane on the northwest corner of Kietzke Lane and Plumb Avenue. Established in 1948 and now in its third location, the parish serves a large and diverse community of Northern Nevada Catholics with a robust weekly schedule of English and Spanish Masses, weekday Adoration, Saturday Confessions, and a thriving sacramental and faith-formation program. The parish is also home to Little Flower Catholic School (K–8), and is distinctive as one of only seven churches in the United States to enshrine a relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe and as a Shrine of St. Jude. Its motto, drawn from the parish website, is 'A community striving for holiness through a rich sacramental life and serving God in our neighbor.'
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (St. Therese of the Little Flower)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul McCollum
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno (Bishop Randolph Calvo)
Why belong here
St. Therese of the Little Flower is a large, vibrant, bilingual parish in the heart of Reno with one of the most generous Mass schedules in the diocese — six Sunday Masses across English and Spanish plus five weekday Masses — making it easy to find a time that fits your week. The parish runs active ministries for every age and stage: a dedicated Youth Ministry, a Family Catechesis program preparing children for First Communion and Confirmation, an RCIA process meeting on Thursday evenings, a St. Vincent de Paul Society that runs a Tuesday food pantry, an Our Lady of Guadalupe committee supporting school scholarships, and choirs and music ministry enriching the liturgy. Add Wednesday Adoration and Saturday Confessions, plus the Little Flower Catholic School on site, and you have a parish that truly lives out its call to holiness through the sacraments and service to neighbor.
Mass times at St. Therese of the Little Flower
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (the parish website also shows a 3:00–4:30 PM window; some third-party listings report 3:00–4:30 PM)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at 775-322-2255
Adoration times
- Wednesday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration; Confessions also heard during this hour)
Parish History
St. Therese of the Little Flower was established in 1948 and is now in its third location. The original brick church at Wells Avenue and Vassar Street served the parish until 1978 (the building later became a bank). The parish eventually relocated to its present campus at 875 E. Plumb Lane, where it now serves as both a thriving bilingual parish and the home of Little Flower Catholic School. The parish is also distinctive as one of only seven churches in the United States to enshrine a relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe and as a Shrine of St. Jude.
- Founded 1948
- Third and current location: 875 E. Plumb Lane, Reno
- Original 1948 church at Wells & Vassar — now a bank branch
- Shrine of St. Jude
- One of seven U.S. churches with an enshrined relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Visited by the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Little Flower Catholic School
Little Flower Catholic School sits on the parish grounds and serves students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Founded in 1962 by the Sisters of Mercy from Longford, Ireland — at the invitation of Monsignor Collins and Father John McVeigh — the school opened under Mother Ursula with six grades and 182 children. For fifty years the Sisters of Mercy led the school; Sister Margaret Oates was the last Mercy principal, and Sisters Elizabeth and Maura returned to Ireland in March 2012. The school, now more diverse than ever, draws students from across Northern Nevada and was named 'Best of Reno — Private School' in 2019 and 2020.
- Founded 1962 by the Sisters of Mercy from Longford, Ireland
- First principal: Mother Ursula; 182 students at opening
- Grades K–8; over 300 students at peak under Mercy leadership
- Sisters of Mercy served until 2012 (Sister Margaret Oates was last principal)
- Notable alumnus: Governor Brian Sandoval
- Capital campaign (2021) funding first major facility improvements in nearly 40 years
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Paul McCollum, who also serves as Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Reno, and Parochial Vicar Rev. Lucio Zuniga-Rocha. Three permanent deacons are assigned to the parish: Sergio Diaz, Richard Ramm, and Robert Ruggiero. A dedicated lay staff supports parish operations, faith formation, youth ministry, and family catechesis.
- Rev. Paul McCollum — Pastor & Vicar for Clergy
- Rev. Lucio Zuniga-Rocha — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Sergio Diaz, Deacon Richard Ramm, Deacon Robert Ruggiero
- Andy Jackson — Business Manager (x115)
- Niviam Lucas — Parish Secretary (x110)
- Susann Boley — Bookkeeper (x112)
- Maria Leman — Coordinator of Family Catechesis (775-393-3964)
- Minda Tuason — Confirmation Coordinator
- Freddy Casillas — Youth Ministry Coordinator (x120)
- Cathy Manipon — Funeral Coordinator (775-544-8763)
- Mario Gomez — Custodian
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Little Flower walks with parishioners through every sacramental milestone. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through a two-year family catechesis program led by Maria Leman; high-school-aged youth (sophomore and older) go through a two-year Confirmation program. Adults seeking full initiation join RCIA, which meets Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall and culminates in the reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. Couples planning marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least six months in advance.
- First Communion — two-year family catechesis program
- Confirmation — two-year program for high-school students; adults via RCIA
- RCIA — Thursdays 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall; sacraments received at Easter Vigil
- Marriage — six months of preparation required
- Baptism — celebrated in the church vestibule
Parish Ministries & Outreach
A wide range of ministries gives parishioners of every age a way to serve. The St. Vincent de Paul Society runs a Food Pantry every Tuesday from 3:30–6:00 PM at the south entrance of the church, and welcomes volunteers 16 and older. The Our Lady of Guadalupe Committee organizes the December 12 feast day and directs proceeds to Little Flower School scholarships. Music Ministry, Altar Servers, Ushers, Respect for Life, Scripture Study, and Youth Ministry round out the parish's life.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — Tuesdays 3:30–6:00 PM, south entrance
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Committee — December 12 feast day, supports school scholarships
- Music Ministry / Choirs (Frank Marfisi)
- Altar Servers (Deacon Bob)
- Ushers
- Respect for Life
- Scripture Study
- Youth Ministry (Freddy Casillas)
Shrines, Relics & Devotions
St. Therese of the Little Flower is one of only seven Catholic churches in the United States to enshrine a relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and it is also designated a Shrine of St. Jude. The relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux have visited the church. The parish's daily Mass schedule, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, and active Our Lady of Guadalupe ministry reflect its strong Marian and devotional life.
- Relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe enshrined at the parish
- Designated Shrine of St. Jude
- Relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux have visited
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesdays)