Rev. Paul McCollum
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Pastorfrpaullittleflowerchurchreno.orgIn the midst of Covid-19, on the feast of St. Matthias (May 14th), I celebrated my 22nd anniversary of Priesthood with Mass by myself at the coffee table in my living room. How strange it was to be celebrating the Eucharist “poured out for the many” without a single person to form a congregation. I am Fr. Paul McCollum, your new pastor. I have served in the Diocese of Reno in various rural parishes, but never in my hometown, Sparks! Most will not recognize my face although I was ordained in 1998*(^ at St. Therese of the Little Flower Church along with Fr. Richard DeMolen. Back in the old days, I knew Monsignor Bowling and Marge Durante and thought they made a great team: “love is spoken here”. My name and my face have not appeared often in the Diocesan news nor on the weekly televised Mass. My personality and style are much more subtle and simple. I have loved every minute of my responsibilities as pastor to five different communities from Hawthorne to Dayton. My ministry as a priest in northern Nevada has never been boring and has included youth mission trips to Mexico, organizing Catholic Heart Work Camps, adult mission trips to Jamaica, teaching adolescent Confirmation classes, and even re-wiring the church for a new sound system. I have served on a variety of Diocesan Boards, including as Director of Vocations, working on the Preparation Committee for three years for the opening of the Diocesan Synod, I was even chosen to co-direct the organization of the liturgy of Episcopal Ordination and Installation of our Bishop when he first came to our Diocese as Fr. Calvo. I have worked hard to learn Spanish and have always tried to be available to the Latino community throughout the Diocese. I have come to love and admire the “latino presence/sazon y ritmo” in every community where I have served. When I have been asked: “what is your favorite part of ministry?” It’s easy to respond: I love celebrating the Sacraments and I feel so privileged to be allowed “inside” a family’s joy or hurt to bring God’s presence in an intimate moment of grace. Pope Francis speaks frequently of “accompaniment” and that’s because he understands the reality of being a priest walking with people, in faith, every moment of coming to know Christ, together. I see myself as a fellow traveler on this journey of faith, called from among the Body of Christ to serve the Body of Christ in a communal effort to build up the community. I humbly ask you to accept me as your spiritual father and let’s go together along the path God has laid out for us!
