St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church

I went there today and saw the finished touches on the 'remodel' and it absolutely gorgeous! You have to visit.

Nevada’s oldest active Catholic Church is in the process of restoring its 14th Century architecture and retrofitting the historic building to withstand seismetic events and the perils of extreme elements such as the notorious ‘Washoe Zephyr’ winds in the future. Over eight hundred families from over forty states and two major foundations, the National Park Service and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundations, are participating in the spiritual and financial support needed to fund the $2.1 million historic restoration and retrofit effort now underway in what was once the “richest city in the world.” St. Mary’s in the Mountains is actually the second “St. Mary’s” in Virginia City. The first St. Mary’s remained in use until 1870, was built at a cost of $12,000 and included in its historic events Mozart’s ‘Twelfth Mass’ performed with a full choir and orchestra on Christmas Day in 1869. Along with Piper’s Opera House, the Storey County Courthouse and the Fourth Ward School, St. Mary’s is considered to be one of the “Jewels In the Crown” of historic architecture on the Comstock. Nine years after the discovery of the Comstock Lode, Father Patrick Manogue, who was consecrated the first Bishop of Sacramento on January16th, 1881, laid the original cornerstone for St. Mary’s in 1868. Seven years later, in October 1875, along with two thousand other buildings, the Great Fire gutted St. Mary’s. The Comstock’s “Bonanza King” John MacKay, helped restore St. Mary’s for its rededication in 1877. The church was named for the biblical event know as “Mary in the Mountains” that was depicted by Canadian artist Feliz Alcan in a magnificent painting that has hung above the main altar since St. Mary’s 1877 rededication. Along with over 1,700 museum quality artifacts that are presently in a climate controlled secure warehouse in Reno, St. Mary’s administrator is looking forward to sharing these spiritual icons again with people from all over the world beginning again this coming Fall. Administrator Nick Nicosia considers ‘Mary in the Mountains’, in size and quality, to be comparable to Rembrandt’s Nightwatch! Representative of 14th Century Gothic Architecture, St. Mary’s celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Mass in 1935. “In a world that all too often forgets about God, this structure stands as a reminder that there are men and women of faith here.” –Bishop Phillip R. Straling, foreword 1997 edition “Nevada’s Bonanza Church.” “If when we’ve done with earthly strife, there be a Paradise or Sheol, or any other named abode which we may gain through love or pity; grant me a heavenly Comstock Lode, A spiritual Virginia City.” – Joseph T. Goodman, Editor, Territorial Enterprise, 1874. St. Mary’s remains “the most significant monument in the most famous mining town of the Western frontier.” – Virgil Bucchianeri, author. Surviving the Great Fire of 1875 and the actual dismantling of the second floor balconies and choir loft and the priceless stained-glass windows by the “Mad Monks” of 1957, unprecedented structural engineering promises to make St. Mary’s unique and historical attributes available to parishioners and international pilgrims for many generations to come.

Over 600 artifacts, some going back 300 years, depict the culture and evolution of the Comstock and America. 14th Century Gothic architecture fashioned by the highest paid and most skilled carpenters, bricklayers, masons, glazers in the world that survived fires and the wrath of time and the elements. One note: your yahoo times for mass are misstated as St. Mary's has Mass at 3p.m. on Saturdays and 11:30a.m. on Sundays. Also, you must not miss the "Mad Monk Museum and Wine Cellar" that boasts of some of the finest artifacts and fine wines available in the U.S. And, it's the only Free Landmark in the Comstock Historic District and is the only landmark open 365 days a year (while the rest of them hide from winter weather from September to June.) ex animo, A "Friend of St. Mary's." (along with over 700 others.)

We've always just visited this church as an historical site because we haven't been there on a Sunday. But, last year, we were able to attend mass there and enjoyed it very much. This is a very old church with a lot of history and charm. You should drop in for a visit!