Mother's and Father's Day
Dear Benefactors, Last year at this time I wrote to you about the hopes and dreams of the parishioners of St. Patrick’s Parish in Fallon, Nevada. This is essentially an agricultural area but is also the location of the Churchill County Seat and the Navy TOPGUN School. A certain amount of stability is added to the life of Fallon by the presence of these two major activities. Even so, the town was not exempt from the financial downturn of the past few years. The parish has long hoped to enlarge and improve its facilities. The church building itself, built in 1964, is sufficient for their needs and a few years ago they added a small extension that contains some additional office space and small meeting rooms. The biggest challenge has been the hall. This building was also built in 1964 and is used as a social hall and also as a classroom building for the Religious Education program. At this time the hall simply cannot accommodate the needs of the larger and more active parish. Of course, the city codes have also changed with regard to buildings used for public gatherings. The pastor and parish leadership set out to determine whether they could build a new facility and, if so, what would be needed to meet the needs of the community for the next forty years. A master plan has been developed that will allow for the build-out of the entire parish site in phases. The plan will include: new parking, a new hall, a prayer garden, and ultimately a covered walkway joining the parish church to the new hall and, ultimately, encircling the entire plant. This year the parish moved forward with the plan by having a pledge campaign to ensure that the money would be available to move forward with this vision. The campaign was successful and the parish has received the approval of the Diocesan Finance Council to go forward with this project. The final touches have been added to the plan and it is now in the hands of the architect to complete the design and the construction plans. The new hall will be 10,500 square feet. There will be a large meeting space, eight classrooms, restrooms, additional office space and a food pantry. The kitchen will be designed to serve three hundred fifty people. There will be a prayer garden between the Church and the Hall. Phase two will be to encircle the entire parish plant with a walkway dedicated to mysteries of the Rosary. The people of St. Patrick’s Parish had a dream and now, after much talking, planning and giving, the dream will become a reality. Many felt that it couldn’t be done at this particular time because of the financial downturn. Prayer, hard work and the generosity of many have brought the dream to fruition. We will keep you apprised of the project as it moves forward. A Novena of Masses will be celebrated for both Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day as is the custom. If you would return the enclosed petition sheet listing the names, they will be included in these Novenas. You and your intentions are also remembered daily at a Mass said for the benefactors of the Frontier Shepherd. May you be blessed abundantly by the Risen Lord in these final days of the Easter Season. Sincerely yours in the Risen Christ,
Sincerely yours in the Risen Christ,
Most Rev. Randolph R. Calvo Bishop of Reno Click here to see pictures of St. Patrick's Church For more information, please contact: Br. Matthew Cunningham, FSR Diocese of Reno 290 South Arlington Avenue, Suite 200 Reno, Nevada 89501 (775) 326-3429 Fax (775) 348-8619 matthewc@catholicreno.org
