Corpus Christi opens new church in Indian Hills

A dedication Mass was celebrated Tuesday for the new $4 million Corpus Christi Catholic Community church on North Sunridge Drive in the Indian Hills area. "It has been a long journey," said the Rev. James J. Setelik Jr. "It has taken about 15 years with lots of stops and starts along the way."

More than 200 people turned out for the special Mass attended by a number of priests from area dioceses and Bishop Randolph Calvo from Reno.

The community formerly met in a small rock church on Snyder Avenue in south Carson City, but had to use mobile homes at the site for the many other functions necessary to an active congregation, said Setelik, who has been pastor of the Catholic community for

11 years.

"They were adequate for a time, but this means we are finally able to minister to all our people in a nice area," he said. "We needed more room so we could give our kids a good religious education, and there is ample room for social events."

Karen Smeath, the church secretary, as well as the art and environment director, said the leased facility on Snyder seated only 155

people.

"That's why we had to hold five Masses because we had to hold one at a time," Smeath said. "We started the process 15 years ago because we needed this new building in order for us to grow. We were leasing the land from the Bureau of Land Management with a promise to purchase after four or five years."

On July 31, 2005, they finally broke ground.

"We've got 15,000 square feet now, a multi-use area, classrooms, offices and a small gift shop," she said, with Bibles, rosaries and other items.

Another plus, Smeath added, is that they will be able to operate more efficiently at a lower cost per square foot.

The first services were conducted July 18 in the fully completed church.

Smeath said she was extremely pleased with the aesthetics of the new church.

The metal beam construction is covered by metal and stone panels, and the rock pillars out front add to the overall beauty, she said.

"We have polished, stained and textured concrete floors and warm earth tones throughout with pale greens, burgundy, rust and brown. It's all very natural-looking and very peaceful," she said.

Setelik agreed.

"It's all absolutely beautiful," he said. "We brought in a designer to coordinate the color palette, and we have a lot of unique features brought by local artisans and craftsmen."

Setelik said he is particularly pleased with the travertine Holy Water fonts with brass, and a 20-foot-high tabernacle veil in the sanctuary made by one of the parishioners.

Also of note, he said, are the statue and crucifix from Italy - hand-carved wood in a Romanesque style.

They brought some of the nice furnishings from the old church, as well, including a resurrected Christ figure and the Our Lady of Guadalupe figure.

"It's all very modern construction with special panels that interlock. We just love it," Setelik said.

Setelik added that they have good neighbors on Sunridge with the Douglas County Substation nearby, as well as Austin's House.

"And the Lutherans are starting work on the Sierra Lutheran High School," he said.

Sitting on 7-1/2 acres, there is plenty of room for expansion, Setelik said.