St. James, the Mission
St. James the apostle Catholic Church started out as a Mission. The original site for the Church was donated by Susan and Mary Mankiewicz, two sisters, who were members of a well known pioneer family. One thousand dollars accomplished the job of building the Mission with the help of donated labor. It is said that 300-400 people attended the fundraising events sponsored by the church. Over $50,000 was raised to be used toward the purchase of land and construction of the church building. Many parishioners held individual fund-raisers to support the building fund.
St. James was not the first Catholic Church in Las Vegas, but it was the first Mission. St. Joan of Arc, in downtown Las Vegas, was started thirty-two years earlier. St. Joan of Arc provided St. James with its original altar, pews and vestments. There are many different opinions as to when the first St. James building was built. Some said 1937, 1940, or 1942. The first pastor was Fr. Flahive.
Expansion
Fr. Donald Carmody took charge of the Mission in its fledgling years before if was a parish church. In 1947, Fr. Theodore Van Skee became pastor on the site at 920 West Owens During the period of the 40’s and 50’s social and geographical changes were making drastic upheavals. The West side was expanding. The Union Pacific Railroad donated two ‘railroad gang houses’ to the little Mission for a church building. An extensive building program was started and the original church grew in size to seat 275 people. In 1952 Fr. John Kenny was appointed pastor. From 1958 to 1960 several temporary pastors took charge of St. James. Fr. Devil 1960-66; then Fr. Buel and Fr. Shallow.
In 1968 Fr. Ben Franzinelli, now Monsignor, came to St. James to serve the parish. In 1975, Msg. Ben and Fr. Louis Vitale opened the first Franciscan Center and brought the Franciscan Friars to the Las Vegas valley. Fr. Vitale invited the Franciscan Sisters to become involved in the community. Three Friars came to St. James in 1976, Fr. Frank Busimato, Brother Robert Brady and Brother Barry Stenger. In 1977 Fr. Louis Vitale became pastor of St. James and the Franciscans assumed responsibility for the Parish. In 1979, after being ordained the year before, Fr Barry Stenger became pastor. This same year the St. James Gospel Choir was formed under the direction of Anthony Thomas. The choir became a staple of the church and the community. Mr. Thomas was a renowned choir director in Las Vegas before he took the position as choir director for the Church. The choir continues today under the direction of Mrs. Susan Braire.
Outreach
Sr. Deborah Lockwood, a Franciscan sister, joined St. James as Pastoral Assistant in 1978. She developed ‘outreach programs’ for children and the community at large. She along with father Stenger and father Brian who followed him were instrumental in moving St. James to become a community leader in the area of outreach and service to the surrounding community. Her diligence, coupled with patience and understanding of the African American culture, initiated the African American observance of Kwanzaa, Black History Month presentations, and Black cultural styles in education and the Church environment. During her stay, she established the bi-monthly lunch program for St. Vincents that continues today.
In 1982 Fr Brian Flynn became pastor. He was instrumental in encouraging more participation of women in the church and expanded outreach to the community. Fr Michael Blackburn became pastor in August 1991. It was under his leadership that St. James began our “Building for God’s Glory” projects and ministries. We started a new Parish Center in 1999 and dedicated the new building in February 2002. In 2004, Fr. Michael and the Franciscans discontinued their ministry in Nevada. For the next few years several Pastors/Administrators were assigned to St. James; Fr. Robert Puhlman and Father John McShane were assigned to St. James between 2004 and 2006.
From August 2006 to the present’ Fr. Henry Salditos, serves as Administrator. It is under his guidance that St. James still flourishes with 500 members, 20 Ministries, four Masses; Tradition Mass, Gospel Mass, and two Bilingual, Filipino and Spanish Masses. Ms Arsenia Eagan became Faith Formation Director in 2007. It is under her leadership that we run an excellent Religious Education program for both children and adults.
