Our Lady of the Valley church gets new pastor

After seven months with a temporary administrator, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church has a new pastor -- the Rev. Bruno Mauricci, who began work in Pahrump July 1.

Mauricci, 39, a native of Piura, Peru, who was ordained in that country, came to the United States eight years ago. He served as a priest at Little Flower Church in Reno for two years, then Most Holy Trinity Church in Phoenix for three years and most recently, St. Christopher Church in North Las Vegas.

Parishioners have met him the past three weeks when he's been celebrating mass.

"This is my first experience as pastor," Mauricci said, adding that he likes his new home. "So far I like it. It's quiet. I feel comfortable and I find the people very friendly and nice."

Our Lady of the Valley has two organizations -- the Knights of Columbus for the men and Daughters of Mary for the women. There is also a Spanish prayer group and catechism classes. Mauricci said he is thinking about forming an English prayer group and a youth group.

His Spanish-speaking skills will come in handy, Our Lady of the Valley has a Spanish mass at 11 a.m. Sunday, as well as English masses at 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. Mauricci said a third English mass will probably be scheduled this winter when tourists arrive.

Much bigger though, is a building project the church plans to embark on. Mauricci said fund-raising efforts for a new church were put on hold until a new pastor was found. He wants to resume the effort in January.

"I've been assigned here permanently. The assignment is six years. I can be doubled (to 12 years)," Mauricci said. "So we can do many things."

The Rev. Joseph Trong, a Vietnamese priest, had been filling in on weekends as temporary administrator at Our Lady of the Valley since November after the Rev. John H. Lima went to a new assignment in the San Francisco Bay area.