About Our Lady of the Assumption Mission · Caruthers, California
Our Lady of the Assumption is a Catholic mission church in the small farming community of Caruthers, California, in the San Joaquin Valley. It is administered jointly with St. Jude Catholic Church in nearby Easton as the 'St. Jude & Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Community' within the Diocese of Fresno. The bilingual (English/Spanish) community offers Mass on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in Caruthers, along with Holy Hour, confessions, religious education, and quinceañera celebrations. It serves the rural Hispanic and agricultural population of the area under the pastoral care of Rev. Oscar Saul Medina Zermeno, Administrator.
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Assumption
- Rector
- Rev. Oscar Saul Medina Zermeno (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Assumption is a welcoming bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic mission in rural Caruthers that brings the Sacramental life of the Church — Sunday Mass in both languages, weekday Mass, Holy Hour, and Confession — to farmworkers, families, and longtime residents of the San Joaquin Valley. As part of the St. Jude & Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Community it offers CCD religious education for children, preparation for the sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Quinceañera), and a parish bulletin that keeps families connected across both towns. Visitors will find a friendly, family-oriented community grounded in the Assumption of Mary and a strong Hispanic Catholic tradition.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Assumption Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 5:00 p.m. Thursday — Holy Hour with Confessions at the mission in Caruthers
- Confessions also available by appointment through the parish office (559-485-3870)
Adoration times
- 5:00 p.m. Thursday — Holy Hour (Caruthers)
About the Parish Community
Our Lady of the Assumption Mission is a Catholic mission church in Caruthers, California, a small farming community in the southern part of Fresno County. Since 2004 the mission has been joined with St. Jude Catholic Church in nearby Easton to form a single Catholic community, the 'St. Jude & Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Community,' within the Diocese of Fresno. The community offers bilingual (English/Spanish) Masses, sacraments, religious education, and parish events, sharing one administrator and one parish office located in Easton.
History & 2004 Merger
According to the Diocese of Fresno's official history, in 2004 the Catholic Community of St. Jude (Easton) and Our Lady of the Assumption (Caruthers) was formally established by joining the two parish communities together. Previously, Our Lady of the Assumption had served the predominantly agricultural and Hispanic community of Caruthers as its own parish. After the merger the two churches continued to maintain their own Mass schedules, devotions, and parish identity, while sharing clergy, staff, CCD program, bulletin, and office functions.
- 2004: Diocese of Fresno establishes the joint St. Jude & Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Community
- Mission site: 1350 S. Henderson Avenue, Caruthers, CA 93609
- Parish office (shared) in Easton, 208 West Jefferson Avenue, Easton, CA 93706
Parish Staff & Leadership
The mission and its companion parish are led by an Administrator appointed by the Diocese of Fresno, with support from parish office staff and a director of religious education. Contact information and office hours are listed on the parish website.
- Rev. Oscar Saul Medina Zermeno — Administrator
- Stephene Flores — Administrative Assistant
- Cherie Pinheiro-Quinonez — CCD Religious Education
- Office: 559.485.3870 (extension 104 for CCD)
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Sacraments
The mission prepares and celebrates the principal Catholic sacraments, with information available in both English and Spanish. Advance notice is required for Marriage and Baptism; the Anointing of the Sick is arranged by calling the parish office. Quinceañera blessings are also accommodated.
- Baptism — contact parish office two months before the desired date
- Marriage — contact parish office at least six months before the desired date
- Anointing of the Sick — for the seriously ill, elderly, or those preparing for surgery; arranged by phone
- Quinceañera — contact the parish office
- All sacramental preparation is offered bilingually
Religious Education (CCD)
Faith formation for children is provided through the parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, which is shared between the Easton and Caruthers churches and coordinated by the parish's CCD director.
- Director: Cherie Pinheiro-Quinonez
- Phone: 559.485.3870 ext. 104
- Email: [email protected]
Parish Office & Contact
The shared parish office for St. Jude and Our Lady of the Assumption is located in Easton and serves both communities. Office hours are published in English and Spanish on the parish website.
- Office address: 208 West Jefferson Avenue, Easton, CA 93706
- Phone: 559.485.3870
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Tuesday–Friday morning and afternoon (closed Monday, Saturday, Sunday)
Bulletin, Communications & Social Media
A bilingual parish bulletin is published regularly and features Mass schedules, sacramental notices, ministry announcements, seasonal collections (such as the Seminarian Collection during Vocation Awareness Week), and parish events. The community also maintains a shared Facebook page.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StJudeOurLadyoftheAssumption
- Bulletins published under parish name on stjude-easton.org/bulletins
- Listings include food distribution, floral ministry, talent nights, and seasonal Mass changes
Getting Involved
The mission encourages parishioners and visitors to participate in parish life through CCD teaching, liturgical ministries, the parish food distribution, and floral arrangement teams. Volunteers can sign up by contacting the parish office.
- CCD catechist and aide roles
- Bilingual liturgical volunteers (English/Spanish)
- Food distribution ministry
- Flowers/decorations for the church
- Annual events such as the Independence Day Flag Raising in Easton
Diocese & Jurisdiction
Our Lady of the Assumption Mission belongs to the Diocese of Fresno, which was erected on December 15, 1967 and covers eight California counties (Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, and Tulare) across more than 35,000 square miles. The mission is administered from the Easton parish office and falls under the diocese's vicariate structure for the southern part of the metro area.
- Diocese: Diocese of Fresno
- Diocese established: December 15, 1967
- Diocesan offices in Fresno, CA
- Listed as a Mission of the Catholic Community of St. Jude & Our Lady of the Assumption, Easton
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gerald Amerando
Listed as Pastor on older joinmychurch.com entry (likely prior to current administrator)