Father Bob's announcement
Pastor's Notes
Happy Lenten Journey to all. These days were originally for those persons preparing for Baptism in the church. The baptized Christian community would support those “Catechumens” with their prayers and presence. Later in time the baptized Christians began to adopt a more penitential mode along with the Catechumens as a way to ready themselves and from there we have arrived to our modern times.
Throughout Lent during Mass, we will be using the traditional Plain Chants. It is a way to pass on a setting that has been used from antiquity. Joseph will practice with us and the music can be found in the blue hymnals. Some of us may remember the chant of the “Our Father” but others like the “Sanctus” and Mystery of Faith are not quite as familiar.
The First Sunday of Lent celebrates two rituals of the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults). First is the Rite of Sending – in which we send forth our catechumens and candidates to the Bishop who will acknowledge them and receive them in the Rite of Election. This ritual takes place at St. Rose of Lima at 2pm. Although it can involve every parish of the diocese, due to our large distances, usually it is the more local ones that participate. There, hundreds of people gather to be recognized, prayed over and blessed for their final journey to the Easter Sacraments. All are invited to attend.
This weekend outside, will be a lenten tempation–Girl Scout cookies!! So be ready.
Also this weekend we will kick off our CSA campaign. Already we have received a number of pledges which I am grateful for. I will share at the masses what this all means for us, inform those new to our diocese, and hopefully inspire us to continue to support this worthwhile campaign.
Good morning to all. I will be at Engaged Encounter this weekend. Fr. Tony Vercellone will be helping out for me on the Saturday masses. This EE weekend we have 32 couples signed up. Keep us in prayer for this.
Please remember that the office will be closed on Monday for President’s Day. Daily mass at 9am.
Lent begins this Wednesday. Ash Weds is a day of strict fast which means for all healthy adults only one full meal that day, no snacks, and no meat. There will be two masses for the parish at 12:10pm and 6:30pm. A lenten calendar will be handed out at the masses this weekend; we ask one per family.
Saints Cyril and Methodius were two brothers who brought Christianity to Eastern Europe in the 9th century. They are especially honored by the Slavic peoples and those of the Eastern Rite Churches. Their feast day is February 14th and that is the day that is on the church calendar.
Vintage Affair takes place tonight. This is the major fundraiser for our school. It is always a fun time. Fr. Larry Morrison will be at the 6pm mass to cover for us.
Super Bowl is this Sunday, BUT we still have mass on Sunday evening 5pm.
Next weekend I will be ministering at the Engaged Encounter Weekend. There are 31 couples registered, which is a large gathering. So keep us all in good prayers. EE is always looking for couples willing to give of themselves for these weekends, whether as speakers or those who help set up or take down. Let me know if you woudl be interested. BTW, it is also National Marriage Week: reminding us of the Sacramental Nature of Marriage, that the husband and wife in their lives together signify the love of God for all of humanity, and how a committed love brings peace and growth.
A few people ask for the homilies: Fr Boby’s can be found on the website. Mine can be found on a substack page. Also on our youtube channels masses/homilies can be found for a couple of weeks in the past.
Vintage Affair – This annual fundraiser takes place next Saturday. There are still tickets available. These funds support the school and its activities.
Time off. I will be taking some days offf next week, so will not be available for calls or emails. We will have Mass on Monday morning as normal.
We will be having 1st Reconciliations this Saturday and next. These events are wonderful in that we really try to make this experience for our children less scary and more inviting. I remember mine going into that dark little room and talking to a priest behind a curtain. Not exactly the most encouraging. Now children see the smiles of priests, hear gentle words, but also how to improve and grow.
Good morning to all as we move into about 6 weeks of Ordinary time.
Just a heads up that this coming week the clergy will be away at our Study Days, so no daily masses Monday through Thursday.
Our Lady of the Snows School invites parishioners to attend Vintage Affair: A Night of Electric Elegance on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Reno Ballroom. This signature fundraising event supports Catholic education and benefits students, faculty, and families across our school community. Join us for an elegant evening of fellowship, fine dining, and purpose. Tickets and sponsorships are available for purchase. We hope to see you there! Click HERE for links and times.
In the coming weeks the OCIA rituals will be celebrated. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) is the process by which Non Baptized persons become Catholic as well for as Non-Catholics. We have already celebrated the Rite of Entrance for a few and will be doing so again shortly. Lent will see us celebrating Rite of Sending and Rite of Election for those who will receive the Sacraments this Easter; as well as the Scrutiny Rites. In a couple of weeks too, we celebrate the reception into the Catholic Church several Baptized Non-Catholics who are ready to become one with us. Please keep all our Inquirers, Catechumens and Candidates, adults and children, in prayer.
The Christmas season officially comes to a close this weekend. We had nice amounts of people at the Christmas masses, great turn outs for helping to decorate; a little snow on Christmas eve too. Thanks to all who came to help, serve and make it a wonderful season. Thanks too for all the goodies in our kitchen here at the office. Really appreciated that.
FLU- it is once again hitting hard. So a reminder…if you are ill or feeling the flu come on, it is not a sin to miss Mass. Stay home, don’t share the virus.
Today (Saturday) at 11am there will be training for EM’s in the Church. We always can use people who feel that call.
The office will be closed on Weds. at lunch as staff goes to have a post Christmas lunch.
Reminder that the week of Jan 19, all the clergy will be in Gardnerville for our annual study days. So there will be no masses that week.
Happy 2026 to all! Off to a fast start it seems for 2026.
Fr. Boby will be celebrating a mass of thanksgiving for his anniversary this weekend. If anyone wants to make a small gift, we suggest it be a donation towards a home for the poor that he supports in his home diocese. Those donations can be sent to the parish and we can collect them altogether and send it as one.
Sat Jan 10, we will have EM training 11am in the Church. We need more ministers to help with communion. Must have celebrated Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and if married, married in the Church.
Next Sunday, Jan 11th, after the 5pm mass, I will need help to take down all the Christmas Decorations and transition to Ordinary Time. Please think about coming, many hands makes quick work.
We will be back to “normal” mass schedules for the next oouple of weeks. Then mid month all of the clergy will gather in Gardnerville for our annual study days. So that week there will not be any daily masses.
Upcoming Week
- Sat. Feb 21
- Lenten Retreat 10am
- Confessions 2pm
- Mass 4pm & 6pm
- Sun. Feb 22
- Mass 8am, 10am, & 5pm
- CRE 8:45am
- 1st Communion meeting 11:15am
- Rite of Election 2pm (St. Rose)
- Mon. Feb 23
- Mass 8am
- Tues. Feb 24
- Diaper Cake Making 4pm
- Mass 6:30pm
- Weds. Feb 25
- Mass 8:45am
- Adult Confirmation 3:45pm
- CRE 3:45pm
- Thurs. Feb 25
- Mass 8am
- Adoration 8:30
- Fri. Feb 26
- Mass 8am
Coming to Mass
Lent approaches in about 10 more days Feb 18th to be exact. The tone of the liturgy will change to reflect a more penitential mode: the gloria is not used, the Gospel response changes, a bit more silence and reflection. The liturgy though is not about how bad we are, but rather the goodness of God. Which is why we called it “Eucharist” or thanksgiving. So as we come to weekly mass in Lent, keep this mind–just how wonderful God is, a God that call us into relationship, a God who desires us. |
The Sunday Celebration is the “Source and Summit” of Catholic worship and prayer. It is the coming together of the community in gratitude to God for the gift of Salvation. The church doctrine says that all Catholics therefore are obligated to be at Sunday (or Saturday night) mass so give that thanks, as an act of humility, and so that we can find encouragement to be grateful in our entire lives. |
One of the perks of Ordinary time is that the Mass readings, especially the weekday ones, will follow a general sequence. They will not cover it all, but a story will be taken up and followed through. It provides an opportunity to be engaged in a story. Such as the First readings now during the weekdays are building up to the story of David. The weekend Gospels, starting next week, will begin a progression as well. It is always a good idea to read Scripture before coming to Mass so as to be more open to the message. Missals, Apps and websites can provide this. |
The Celebration of the Eucharist, the whole mass, is an encounter with the divine as a community. The Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is our preeminent prayer and celebration. Maybe as a New Year resolution, we strive to be more intentional about attending and being present at Mass. Making it a priority over sports, leisure, breakfast or dinner…adjusting our schedule to attend mass, not the other way around. |
Creche scene change… notice that the shepherd has disappeared and the magi have come. This is deliberate in that the two Gospels that write of Jesus’ birth, Luke and Matthew have two different groups of visitors. Luke has the shepherds, whereas Matthew has the Magi. So in keeping with the veracity of the Gospels we keep our creche scene concordant with those Gospels.
As an aside, as you walk down the center aisle, do you see the donkey and cow looking at you?
Fr. Bob Chorey was born and raised in Ohio and moved to Nevada to work as a geologist in the gold mines. He lived in Elko for a number of years before entering the seminary. He was ordained in 2002 and served as parochial vicar at St. Albert the Great and St. Teresa of Avila.
He was named Pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine in 2004. Fr. Bob was later appointed as part-time Moderator of the Curia in 2012 and moved full time into that position in 2013. He was also appointed Chancellor in 2014, and was also a Co-Director of Vocations. Then in 2018 Fr. Bob was appointed as Pastor at the Our Lady of the Snows, along with holding his Chancery positions. Fr. Bob asked to be relieved of the Chancery positions in 2022 so that he could be full time at the Parish.
CONTACT:
pastor@olsparish.com
775-323-6894 (510)