Saint Thomas
Aquinas Cathedral

St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral
310 West 2nd Street
Reno, Nevada 89503
Parish Office: (775) 329-2571, Fax: (775) 329-2824
Parish Office Email:  Office@stacathedral.com

Monday: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday Thru Friday:  8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
 

The Cathedral Memorial Wall is located in the Peace Garden behind the statue of Mary.  Plaques are available for $100 and are a lovely gift of rememberance for families or friends who have lost a loved one.  Please print and complete the order form below and submit to the Parish Office.

Pieta (replica) by Michelangelo in the Cathedral

Come to the Cathedral and see the beautiful Pieta by Michelangelo. It is a life size replica and we are truly blessed to have it in the Cathedral.

The Pieta, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of her son Jesus Christ after his death, has been created in many different forms by various painters and sculptors. Of all the great paintings and sculptures on the Pieta, however, the one by Michelangelo stands out from all the rest.

Prior to sculpting the Pieta, Michelangelo was relatively unknown to the world as an artist. He was only in his early twenties when he was commissioned in 1498 to do a life-size sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding her son in her arms. It would be the first of four that he would create and the only one he completely finished. It was to be unveiled in St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee of 1500.

The Sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Thomas Aquinas is in itself a sermon on the Blessed Sacrament. The table of the Blessed Sacrament Altar is made of native Nevada aragonite, with hand carved angels. The aragonite came from a mine between Gabbs and Tonopah, Nevada which belonged to John Connelly, brother of then Bishop Connelly. The candlesticks are the work of Dirk Van Erp.

The great mural painting, considered one of the finest works of art of its kind in America, was executed by Edith and Isabel Piczek. The theme is the Adoration of the Lamb of God, our Lord in the Blessed Eucharist.

The Saints of the Old Law, to the left, include Abel, Moses, the Manna, Ruth, Abraham and Isaac, Melchisedech, David, Nathan, Malachias, Anna the Prophetess and John the Baptist.

The Saints of the New Law, include the Holy Family at Bethlehem, the last Supper with our Lord, St. Peter and St. John, with St. Paul in background, St. Augustine, St, Clare of Assisi, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Paschal Baylon, and St. Piux X, urging a modern working family to frequent Communion.

The present stations of the Cross were created by Bill Lutz in 1993. The main entrance doors are covered with copper, mined in Nevada. They were designed and embossed by Gordon Newby.

There are 8 stained glass windows to reflect upon:  The Holy Family, Our Lady of the Snows, Mother Seton, Mother Cabrini, Friar Garces, Father Gallagher, Bishop Manogue, Bishop Carroll.  For detail descriptions see 'About Us' under Cathedral.