Diocese of Reno Frontier of the Faith All Souls 2007
Back in the days when Virginia City, Nevada, was the mining capital of the West, Reno was little more than a stop on the wagon trail to the fulfillment of dreams in the ‘promised land’ of California. But as the town grew, it became necessary to provide Mass for the Catholics who had chosen to settle in the area and so St. Mary’s church came to be. Plagued by storms and fire, the little church suffered many a catastrophe. Father Thomas Tubman was appointed pastor in 1904 and Bishop Thomas Grace, Bishop of Sacramento, gave him the task of making the inadequate church suitable for a growing population. Before any planning could be done, St. Mary’s Church was destroyed by fire in 1905. At a cost of $10,000, Father Tubman purchased new property on Second and Chestnut Streets in Reno (the site of the present cathedral) and proceeded to build a fine brick church upon this site. The cornerstone was laid in July, 1907 and the new building was solemnly dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas by Bishop Grace in June, 1908. Fr. Tubman started a trip to Europe shortly after the dedication but, before he reached New York, a fire broke out in Wheelman’s Hall, an old building directly behind the new church. The newly dedicated church was gutted and ruined by the fire. The building was rebuilt and rededicated in 1910 and it is this building that now stands on the corner of Second Street and Arlington Avenue (formerly Chestnut St.). In the days before high rise buildings, the spires of St. Thomas Church could be seen from almost anywhere in town. Renoites often referred to St. Thomas Church as the “cathedral” even though it did not have that title. Eventually, a rectory and school were added to the site. St. Thomas actually became a cathedral in August, 1931 when the Diocese of Reno was created and Bishop Thomas K. Gorman was installed as the first Bishop of Reno.
I tell you all of this because this July, 2007, St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral Parish has begun a year-long preparation for the celebration of their one hundredth anniversary as a parish. Two events kicked off the celebration. A reunion of all the school graduates was held at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park on June 24th. This was the first such gathering that had ever taken place and the turnout of former students was far greater than expected. About three hundred people were present to remember their days at St. Thomas School which was the only Catholic school serving Reno and Sparks from 1931 to 1950. They were joined by the present Cathedral staff of Franciscan Conventual Friars and by some of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, California who had staffed the school. There is no longer a school at the Cathedral but fond memories of days gone by have not faded.
The second event to take place in this anniversary year celebration was the blessing of a replica of the church’s cornerstone in remembrance of the dedication which took place one hundred years ago. The cornerstone replica is situated in the Cathedral garden in a location where most of those attending Mass or other parish functions will see it regularly. It will be a constant reminder of all those who have been a part of this parish community for the past century. I had the privilege of presiding at the dedication Mass and the blessing.
Finally, as we celebrate this hundredth anniversary, it has become clear that the past hundred years of service have taken a toll on this building. Nevada is prone to earthquakes as are most of the Western States. Much has been learned in recent years of ways in which older buildings can be made safer and better able to withstand earthquakes. The Cathedral Church has served us well these past hundred years. We will need to complete a major retrofit of this building if it is to serve us well in its second century. This will essentially mean doing those things that will strengthen the structure itself. We will, however, be doing some other things such as making the building more handicap accessible and doing some minor repairs and repainting of the interior. We hope to undertake a Diocesan wide appeal this fall for the funds needed for this project. Please pray for the success of this appeal. I will keep you informed of our progress from time to time.
All Souls’ Day will soon be here. It has been our custom to offer Mass daily during November for the repose of the souls of the loved ones and friends of our benefactors. These Masses will be offered again this year. I have enclosed a petition sheet with this letter. We will be happy to include in these Mass all those you wish to have remembered. Please return the petition sheet with the names included. Your beloved dead will be remembered each day during November and throughout the year.
As always, your generosity to us is greatly appreciated. Your gifts are designated for use in the mission work of the Diocese of Reno. They are held in a special fund and are never used for any other purpose. On behalf of the mission parishes and the priests who serve them, I extend a special ‘thank you’ for your kindness and generosity.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Randolph Calvo
Bishop of Reno
