OLS Parish

Father Bob's announcement

Pastor's Notes

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This normally falls on a weekday but this year on a Sunday. It commemorates Mary & Joseph presenting their infant Jesus to the Temple. Traditionally this is also called Candlemas in which candles are blessed. This feast day falls on the mid-winter day, we are half way through winter (notice how much more light we have!!- hence the candle symbology). The secular part of our country celebrates mid winter with groundhogs, but we do with the Light of Christ!

 

This weekend we also start with First Reconciliations for those children preparing for First Communion later this Spring. I find these day crucial for kids, because it can set the tone for “Coming to confession”. If we as priests can make it less scary for them, I hope they will want to return for the beauty of it. I remember as a child having to go into that dark, small confessional, talking to a priest through a cover…I did not like it.  Maybe as adults need a refresher on the beauty of this Sacrament???

Good Morning all. It was a nice week in Minden. As clergy we given a workshop on how to ensure we celebrate Liturgy with the aesthetic and dignity it merits. We at OLS are doing well, but there will be a few minor changes for us as clergy, lets see if you will note any coming up.

This is a BUSY weekend for us. We have Confirmation retreats Saturday and Sunday, for the Middle School and then High School students. Please keep them and the team in prayer! The HS will be with us at the 5pm masses.

This week too, there are two funerals. Linda Munson’s (Robert’s mother) will be Tues at 11am. Then the funeral for Allen Roth will be Thurs at 1pm.

It is also Catholic Schools week. I think I write this each year. I feel so blessed by the School; a super staff and great community. It makes pastoring so much nicer. Our school is much in demand, over 100 on the waiting list. I also see more of the families at mass, helping at masses. So please join me in acknowledging them.

All the Active (or semi- active) Clergy will be in Minden this coming week for our Study Days. So Daily Masses are cancelled Mon-Thurs.

Among the horrible news from LA was the story of a family who lost their house including the ashes of their child. So sad. This is in part why we as Catholics are to have cremated remains placed into a cemetery; to always be protected.

Calendars are in…pick up after masses.

I have seen the photos of Los Angeles and it is simply horrible to see all those homes and businesses gone; and as of Saturday morning, more than a dozen dead. I have a sense of sadness for this and a fear. We in Reno know this danger, and have lived with it as well. I hope that helps us to have empathy, and to inspire us here to always protect our lands; to make wise use of our water resources, create defensible spaces.

In about two weeks we will have our Confirmation Retreat (Jan 25/26). Virginia Loza-Lee, our former Youth Minister, will be guiding that retreat with out kids preparing for Confirmation. It is always a joy to have her back. The parish can really be a help: Prayer and also cookies. We will have around 100 kids, so if any household can bake (or bring) cookies please do so!

Someone asked me if I am glad that it is easier now that Christmas is done. I laughed. This starts the real busy season and it will go until school lets out in June. 6 months of clergy meetings, Lent and Easter planning and then putting into the place, the Triduum, Confirmation, First communions, Weddings…. And those are the PLANNED out events. 

Fr. Boby arrived back in Reno on Friday night, safe and probably sound (long flight). 

Happy New Year to all! Although I started it off with a bad cold, so no real celebrations for me. But I got my home life a little organized (for now)

This weekend we celebrate the Epiphany, the revelation of Jesus to the nations of the world, as symbolized by the Magi. Traditionally this ended the 12 days of Christmas, but we will continue until next weekend with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Then we will be in Ordinary Time until March 5 and the start of Lent.

Next weekend will also be the Diocesan Conference held at the Nugget in Sparks. There is a keynote address on Friday night, so I encourage any to attend (it is free).

This month of January is full…with the conference and also the Clergy Study Days coming up the Week of Jan 20th, and there are three funerals here at the parish this month, along with baptisms. A busy parish means is a good thing!

School starts up for us this coming Monday. The ski slopes will be a little less crowded.

Here is the Christmas Schedule:

  • Dec 24th – 4pm Church & Chapel; 6pm & 8pm Church only
  • Dec 25th 9am & 11am Church.
  • Dec 26th, 9am
  • No daily mass Dec 27th
  • The office is closed Christmas EVE and DAY

Fr. Boby will be taking 3 weeks to visit home right after Christmas. So wish him well. During that time there will not be any daily masses on Friday.

Remember to come and help decorate the church (and chapel) on Monday Dec 23rd, either 8:30am or 1pm.

This has been a really full few weeks for me; aside from normal preparation for Christmas, there have been quite a few funerals, an extra meeting or two, and a lot of activity within the parish and school.  I am not complaining! But phew! A joy has been the school programs…Mrs. Nguyen produced beautiful shows with the kids, I have heard nothing but compliments, and everyone was so happy and pleased. I am also always grateful for Katie and Will Weber for taking the lead on decorations! We had to pivot with the outside lights as the decorations we have had for a long time were broken. So we decided to go another route on those. I hope all will enjoy the added lights! I will try to take some days off, or half days off this coming weeks, but even then there are some activities coming up.

Happy First Day (almost of Advent)

Thank you for the recent compliments on my homilies. I appreciate them. I try to make writing my homilies a priority, beginning on Monday, having a draft by Wednesday and finalizing by Saturday. Often the ideas come as I walk the dog in the morning and evening. However, sometimes the week gets away from me, and I don’t think I get enough time. The clergy of the diocese has been encouraged to develop our homiletics skills; and I think we have a speaker coming in next year. I believe this is part of our ministry that many of us do not give enough attention to. When I go to other masses on vacation or breaks, I am generally not impressed by other priests(but I am also jaded and have some high standards). I always want homilies to encourage me to think, to consider our Faith and Jesus in a different way. When I write them, I seek to know our faith in a different way. So always let me know what you think in a constructive manner: tell me why you think it was a good or not good homily. It will help me.

Next week, on Monday Dec 9th, the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Feast is moved this year since Dec. 8 falls on a Sunday, and Sunday always takes precedence. So we will have mass at 8:30am, 12:10pm and 6:30pm.

This weekend is the final weekend of the Liturgical year – Christ the King. It offers an opportunity to reflect on Christ’s values and whether they reign in our lives and hearts. It also challenges us to consider how we approach Jesus and whether we are too limited in our understanding of what it means to be a disciple, to be a Catholic.

Next weekend we begin the new Liturgical Year, “C.” We will light the Advent Wreath and begin the official count down to Christmas!!

Join us this Wednesday Evening for Vesper Service of Thanksgiving. We will start at 6:30pm. This is a Family Faith Event. Thanksgiving Day there will not be any services.

Please read below about IGive Catholic which is coming up soon.

Coming to Mass

The norm in the USA for receiving communion is in the hands. A change we need to make in our parish is that once we have received communion is to immediately consume the host. Do not step aside for the next person but consume the Body of Christ in front of the minister; certainly never leave the area with the host. If anyone chooses to receive on the tongue, please do stick out the tongue fully to make it easier and safer for the minister. Intincture (placing the host in the cup) is absolutely forbidden in our diocese. If anyone attempts this, the cup ministers are told to prevent it. It all comes down to reverence for the Body and Blood of Christ, and our communal reception of this gift.

As we approach for Communion, what is our mindset? We are called to be reverent and attentive to the reality that we will hold the very body and blood of Jesus. Therefore it is not a time to greet those in the ends of the pews. Give attention, be prayerful!

We will hear about the Wedding at Cana, from John’s Gospel. What John does is set up the Crucifixion of Jesus. Pay attention to the symbols/objects used ( wine, water,) What this Gospel does is provide the context and meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection, a wedding of Humanity and God. This is also a epiphany, a revelation of Jesus as Son of God to the people, which is why the Church places it here just after the Baptism of the Lord (3 weeks of epiphanies in a sense).

We celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this weekend. For the Eastern Christian Churches this feast represents the Epiphany; Jesus’ divinity made known. As Catholics, Sunday Mass means everything, and the church asks that baptisms take place within the community on Sundays at Mass. This is the preferred celebration since the newly baptized join the community, and we all support the parents. Adults are baptized at the Easter Vigil, the most elaborate of our liturgies. All baptisms are special, extraordinary moments of grace and I hope we always rejoice in them (and take them seriously). Plus, I think we make the effort here to really make it a beautiful experience for the family and parish.

The Manger scene will change this weekend; we remove the shepherds and add the Magi. Why not combine them you may ask? Well, they never appear together in the Gospels. Luke’s gospel have the Shepherds come to see the new born Jesus. Whereas in Matthew’s Gospel it is only the Magi. So to keep it true to our Gospels, we separate them out. Btw, Mark and John do not write of Jesus’ infancy…they begin with Jesus in ministry as an Adult.

Christmas eve 4pm masses are always very very full. It is wonderful to have everyone there. Please though be kind, respectful….give up a seat to someone who needs to sit, especially those with walkers and canes, or with little children.

Be patient with others as you leave the parking lot. There will be plenty of time. 

Healthy Adults/Teens – Fast one hour beforehand, not food NO GUM; no libations. You can eat and celebrate afterwards.

What are we doing during the mass?  Ideally, we are responding to the prayers, listening, singing, or in prayer. I will tell parents with little kids that it is natural for them to make noise and I have no problems when they cry, yell or chat. However, as adults, we know better. So in the pews, be respectful of those around us; do not carry on conversations, PLEASE ENUSURE any device is on silent mode or off completely. Model for our children the proper behaviors and attitudes for worship.

Next week we begin “Year C” in which the Gospel of Luke takes precedence. Luke’s Gospel refers much to the working of the Holy Spirit working in the world. Many of our favorite parables like the Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son come from Luke. Maybe a good Advent practice is to read through the Gospel over the next four weeks.

Upcoming Week

  • Sat. Feb 1
    • First Reconciliation 10am
    • Confessions 2pm
    • Mass 4pm & 6pm
    • YA Teddy Bear making 7pm
  • Sun. Feb 2
    • Mass 8am, 10am, & 5pm
  • Mon. Feb 3
    • Mass 8am
    • YM – Middle School 8:45am & 12:15p
  • Tues. Feb 4
    • Knit & Crochet group 10am
    • Food Distribution 2:30pm
    • Mass 6:30pm
    • SWA 6:30pm
    • YA Faith Sharing 7pm
  • Weds. Feb 5
    • Mass 8:45am
  • Thurs. Feb 6
    • Mass 8am
    • Adoration 8:30
  • Fri. Feb 7
    • Mass 8am
  • Sat Feb 8
    • First Reconciliation 10am
    • Duenas Funeral 12:30pm

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)