by Don Farris

The state of Nevada is awesome in its apparent desolation. One of the most sparsely populated states, the vastness of its wide open fenceless spaces renders a profound impression of solitude and isolation. The high desert of northern Nevada abounds in endless miles of sagebrush struggling in a sandy soil which spreads to the very edge of the high purple buttes that jut out of the land giving it a savage beauty nowhere else known. It is a historic panorama that evokes the frontier days of silver strikes and mother lodes; of Virginia City, Elko, and Winnemucca; of the cavalry and cattle drives, and that today still epitomizes the novels of Zane Grey.

Some of the 40 parishioners who pulled off this minor miracle. Everyone, from child to pastor, helped out in the construction that took eight years. Upon completion, the value of the church and property stands at three times the cost of construction.

It was to this land that Gene and Joan LeSage came to live. Mr. LeSage had been employed as Inspector of Public Works in South Lake Tahoe, California and had been very involved as lector at St. Theresa's, the local Catholic Church. As time went on, he began to doubt the validity of the Mass and stopped attending for approximately two weeks. During this time he and Joan took a trip to Carmel, California, and went to visit the beautiful Carmel Mission. While going through the museum, he saw an old Roman Missal, gold chalices and other traditional Catholic artifacts. It was then that he made a promise to God—if He brought the Traditional Mass back to him, he would serve God and do His will for the rest of his life. When he returned home to South Tahoe, he received a call from an old friend of his, Mr. Joe DeLallo. Joe asked him if he still remembered how to serve at a Traditional Mass. Gene answered "yes" and was invited to Joe's home next day to serve. It was there that Gene found out that the true Mass was celebrated every Sunday at St. Michael's Mission in Sacramento. Consequently, the DeLallo and LeSage families would go to Sacramento every week for Mass. Gene and Joe then decided to draw up plans for a church they would like to build in Tahoe. But due to endless bureaucratic red tape, the entire deal fell through, but the idea of constructing a church never fell through in Gene's mind.

Bishop Richard Williamson was the one who called this Church a Cathedral in the desert. Here, in early March, the tower was hoisted by a crane donated to the group by the Mormons.

Mr. LeSage retired from the county in 1980 and took upon himself the management of a motel in Yank's Station, California. It was here that Fr. Gerard Hogan began celebrating the Traditional Mass in the conference room. Gene began discussing with Father Hogan his retirement and possibly moving to the high desert of Nevada where land was inexpensive, and the taxes were low. Father agreed that it would be a good place for not only retirement but for a church and a retreat house and suggested it be named Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Gene's oldest son, Francis Xavier, went to Silver Springs, Nevada, and purchased five acres of land for the remarkable price of $10,000. Gene, excited about the infinite possibilities Nevada offered, went to Silver Springs in 1981 and purchased the five acres adjoining Frank's property. He bought a mobile home and moved in. At this time Father Hogan was transferred and was subsequently replaced by Father Terence Finnegan. Father would go once a month and offer Mass in Gene's mobile home for him and his immediate family. The word of a traditional Mass soon got out and by 1982 there were 30-40 people attending Mass in the mobile home. He then decided the time was right to begin to build the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. He got out the preliminary plans of the church he and Joe DeLallo had hoped to build in South Tahoe. The plans called for a structure 62 feet long and 40 feet wide with a capacity for 250 people, 3 altars, a choir loft, two sacristies and a tower with a cross. Gene got together with two parishioners, Paul Schmitt and John Parale, who were professional carpenters. They looked over the plans and said "Let's do it." They made the idea known to the other parishioners and one immediately gave a check for $1000. In May, 1981, 6 post holes were dug along the perimeter of the foundation. The posts were sunk to a depth of 5 feet and encased in cement. Gene mentioned to Paul Schmitt that he would be truly glad to see the day when the church was completed with the carpets installed and they could have a "turn key" celebration. This became a reality on February 14, 1989. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament was 8 years in building. $57,000 was given during this time in actual cash donations. Everything else, including labor and materials were donated by the good parishioners—men, women and children—giving to God and Our Lady their talents, their time, and their labor of love. The assessed value of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament stands at $148,000 today.

Fr. William Avella, priest, advisor, teacher and electrician!

In 1982, Gene had made the acquaintance of Father William Avella, a retired priest residing in Yerington, Nevada. Father Avella, after seeing the strength of the devotion to the true faith this handful of people exhibited, gave them 5 years of his retired life to help work on the construction. Father Avella, a young 72 years, is an electrician and wired the entire building. He is the one who not only helped out but who also serves these people as advisor, set them up under the Pope and under Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and who incorporated the church under the state of Nevada. He continues today to be Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Since his retirement, Fr. Avella says daily Mass in his home, but still comes to celebrate Mass at the church on special occasions. He is a teacher of Canon Law and is an advisor to the Society of St Pius X and to its priests in this capacity.

Here's another shot of the church's interior, (see also front cover) Notice the beautiful stations and the side altar.

During the 8 years that the church was being built, it was served by Father Terence Finnegan, Father Gregory Post, Father Gavin Bitzer and presently by Father James Haynos who, every Sunday at 6 p.m., calls Our Lord from heaven to come to the high desert of Nevada where He sacrifices Himself on the altar of Our Lady.

Every priest who has ever celebrated Mass in Silver Springs has stated he has felt a wonderful peace and inner tranquility here in the solitude of the high Nevada desert. Perhaps, they say, Satan has not found out about it yet. 

A view of the church from the rear, before the steeple was raised. The setting of the chapel is 50 miles from the nearest city. The raw beauty and quietude of the location makes it ideal for a retreat house, say the parishioners.

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament was granted a special use permit by Lyon County officials for construction of the Church, but the following buildings: rectory, hall, school, convent, retreat house (with 10 rooms), cemetery, and a house for a caretaker, all could be constructed with special use permits under the Church permit. All the land around the church is for sale at approximately $2000 per acre. This land is located in 5 acre parcels in subdivisions with power, telephone, and wells for water. These wells have to be installed by the owner.

These are the things that still have to be completed for Traditional Catholics who want to come to the peaceful high desert of Nevada and be immersed in a completely Roman Catholic Environment with Our Lord close at hand in the Blessed Sacrament.

If a retreat center were constructed, Gene says, rooms would be immediately available to anyone during the week, and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament would extend to all Traditional Catholics an invitation to visit and to be near Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar.

To accomplish this feat of constructing a weekend retreat center, Our Lady needs $125,000 more to finish her project in Silver Springs. Won't you please help? An oasis has been placed in the desert by Divine Providence for those who still want to abide by the One True Church of Our Lord. Send whatever donations you can to: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, P.O. Box 366, Silver Springs, Nevada 89429. If you want to discuss this project, you may call Mr. Gene LeSage at (702)577-2667. Your generosity will be deeply appreciated.