About Our Lady of Sorrows · Parlier, California
Our Lady of Sorrows is a Roman Catholic parish serving the small agricultural community of Parlier in California's San Joaquin Valley. Located at the corner of Tulare Street and Newmark Avenue, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Fresno and has served local worshippers since 1965. The parish community is predominantly bilingual, with most Masses celebrated in Spanish alongside one English Mass each Sunday, reflecting the Hispanic heritage of the surrounding rural population. Under the leadership of Rev. Jose Luis Rico, the parish offers nine Masses a week, sacramental preparation for Baptism and Marriage, religious education, youth ministry, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of her Seven Sorrows)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Luis Rico
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
Our Lady of Sorrows welcomes parishioners into a faithful, bilingual Catholic community in the heart of Parlier's agricultural valley. The parish celebrates nine Masses each week — including a daily evening Mass in Spanish from Wednesday through Friday and five Sunday Masses — making daily Eucharistic worship widely accessible. Families can prepare their children for Baptism and the other sacraments, while adults can journey toward full initiation through the RCIA program. With youth ministry, religious education, and ongoing recollections, the parish is a place where Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Catholics alike can belong, learn, and grow in faith together.
Mass times at Our Lady of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 6:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- 4th Saturday of the month, 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM (midnight)
About Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Our Lady of Sorrows is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the small San Joaquin Valley town of Parlier, California, founded in 1965 and entrusted to the Diocese of Fresno. The parish serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking community drawn from the surrounding agricultural region, and its nine weekly Masses — with only one celebrated in English — reflect that heritage. Located at the corner of Tulare Street and Newmark Avenue, the parish is a center of sacramental life, faith formation, and devotion for the people of Parlier and the surrounding rural area.
- Diocese of Fresno parish
- Founded 1965
- Patron: Our Lady of Sorrows (Seven Sorrows of Mary)
- Feast day: September 15
Sacraments
Our Lady of Sorrows prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and the other rites of the Church, with bilingual scheduling for Baptism and a six-month marriage preparation process for engaged couples.
- Baptism — 1st and last Saturday of the month at 9:00 AM (English)
- Baptism — every Saturday at 10:00 AM (Spanish)
- Marriage — couples must contact the parish at least 6 months in advance
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- RCIA — adult initiation into the Catholic Church
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish provides religious education for parish children and a youth ministry program to engage the parish's young people. The RCIA program welcomes adults preparing to enter the Church or complete their initiation. The parish also hosts Recollection days — extended times of spiritual reflection and renewal.
- Religious Education — contact 559-646-2161
- Youth Ministry — contact 559-646-2161
- RCIA — contact 559-646-2161
- Recollection — contact 559-646-2161
Pastoral Leadership
Our Lady of Sorrows is served by its pastor, Rev. Jose Luis Rico, who oversees the parish's sacramental, liturgical, and formational life. Inquiries about sacraments, ministries, or parish life should be directed to the parish office during business hours.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Luis Rico
- Parish office: (559) 646-2161
Visiting Our Lady of Sorrows
The parish warmly welcomes visitors and newcomers to its liturgies. Travelers coming from Highway 99 can reach the church via the Manning Avenue exit, heading east into Parlier, turning north on Newmark Avenue, and continuing two blocks to the corner of Tulare Street.
- Address: 830 Tulare St., Parlier, CA 93648
- Phone: (559) 646-2161
- Directions: Hwy 99 → Manning Ave (east) → Newmark Ave (north, 2 blocks) → Tulare St.
- Languages: Spanish and English