About Our Lady of the Assumption · Turlock, California
Our Lady of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic parish in Turlock, California, in the Diocese of Stockton. It was founded in 1972 by Azorean Portuguese immigrant families who wanted a place to celebrate their Catholic faith alongside their heritage, and it was formally established as a parish in 1981. Today the community worships in three languages — English, Portuguese, and the Traditional Latin Mass — across a five-acre campus on South Walnut Road that includes the original 1973 church, the larger 1998 church, and a parish hall used for faith formation, social gatherings, and cultural events such as the annual Festa and Carnaval. Generations of the same families still call OLA home, making it one of the most distinctively Portuguese-rooted parishes in California's Central Valley while remaining open to everyone.
- Established
- 1981 (parish established); community founded 1972 as Portuguese Cultural Center
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Assumption (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Larry Machado
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Assumption is one of the few parishes in California's Central Valley where English, Portuguese, and the Traditional Latin Mass are all celebrated every week, making it a home for Portuguese-American Catholics, Latin Mass faithful, and English-speaking families alike. The parish pairs a robust sacramental life — daily Mass, weekly confession, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and a year-round faith-formation program for children, youth, young adults, and OCIA candidates — with deep community ties through ministries like Knights of Columbus, Teams of Our Lady, the Women's Group, Carnaval, Festa, the Portuguese Language School, VALER, and the We Care outreach program.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- All Thursdays: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- All Saturdays: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- First Friday: 9:30 AM
- First Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Monthly during ARMEE: 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursdays: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM (First Church)
- First Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (First Church)
- First Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (First Church)
- Monthly during ARMEE: 7:00 PM
Parish History & Heritage
Our Lady of the Assumption traces its origin to 1972, when a group of Azorean Portuguese Catholic families — led by lay founders and mentored by two Portuguese missionaries, Father José Carlos and Father Ivo Rocha — bought five acres at 2602 S. Walnut Road in Turlock and created a Portuguese Cultural Center within the Diocese of Stockton. After worshipping in a mobile home, the community saw its first church dedicated on June 11, 1973 by Bishop Don Merlin Guilfoyle, and the Parish Hall was built the following year. In 1981 the center was formally established as a parish, with Father Ivo Rocha as first Pastor. The parish grew rapidly under Father Manuel Fontes Sousa (installed Pastor in 1989), and by 1996 it had outgrown the original church; a larger church was dedicated on August 16, 1998 — the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption — by Bishop Donald Montrose of Stockton and Bishop António de Sousa Braga of Angra in the Azores. Many current parishioners are third- and fourth-generation members of the founding families.
- 1972 — Land purchased; Portuguese Cultural Center founded
- 1973 — First church dedicated by Bishop Don Merlin Guilfoyle (June 11)
- 1981 — Established as Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
- 1989 — Father Manuel Fontes Sousa installed Pastor (Feast of the Assumption)
- 1998 — New church dedicated (August 16) by Bishop Montrose and Bishop de Sousa Braga
- 2023 — Father Manuel retired after 30+ years; Father Larry Machado named Administrator
- 2025 — Father Larry Machado installed Pastor by Bishop Myron J. Cotta (April 25)
Founders & Pastoral Succession
The parish remembers its lay founders alongside its missionary priests. Father Ivo Rocha and Father José Carlos mentored the founding families; the lay founders named on the parish's About page include Luis Azevedo, Antonio Luis Borba, Antonio Carvalho, Helio Couto, Maria de Jesus Martins, Antonio Simoes, Armelim Fontes Sousa, Joao Fontes Sousa, Honorio Teixeira, and Jesuina Teixeira. The parish has been served by a small number of long-tenured priests, with Father Manuel Fontes Sousa leading for more than three decades and Father Larry Machado now carrying that legacy forward.
- Missionary priests: Father José Carlos and Father Ivo Rocha
- Lay founders: Luis Azevedo, Antonio Luis Borba, Antonio Carvalho, Helio Couto, Maria de Jesus Martins, Antonio Simoes, Armelim Fontes Sousa, Joao Fontes Sousa, Honorio Teixeira, Jesuina Teixeira
- Pastors/Administrators in order: Fr. Ivo Rocha (1981) → Fr. Eugene Trainer (Administrator 1986) → Fr. Manuel Fontes Sousa (1987 Co-Admin, Pastor 1989–2023) → Fr. Larry Machado (Administrator 2023, Pastor 2025–present)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of the Assumption runs a complete faith-formation program for children, youth, and adults. The Catechism (CCD) program meets on Wednesdays from 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM and includes Mass participation; families register online with a fee of $75 per child / $125 per family, and Sunday Mass attendance is mandatory. First Communion and Confirmation preparation follow the parish school calendar, and more than three unexcused absences can delay sacramental reception. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) prepares adults for full initiation into the Church, while a Vacation Bible School and parish retreats round out the formation year.
- Catechism (CCD) — grades K–8, Wednesdays 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Vacation Bible School
- Retreats and parish missions
- Director: Anna Lorch (Faith Formation Coordinator, ext. 307, [email protected])
Youth, Young Adults & Vocations
The parish employs a dedicated Youth and Young Adult Coordinator to walk with teens and college-aged parishioners through formation, fellowship, service, and discernment. Programming supports Confirmation preparation, retreats, and ongoing community life, alongside a Vocations ministry that fosters prayer for and awareness of priestly and religious callings from within the parish's strong Portuguese-Catholic families.
- Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Confirmation preparation
- Vocations ministry
- Coordinator: Dominique Germann (Youth & Young Adult, ext. 308, [email protected])
Portuguese Heritage & Community Life
Our Lady of the Assumption is the spiritual heart of the Azorean Portuguese Catholic community in the Turlock area, and many of its ministries exist to preserve that heritage. The parish celebrates the annual Festa and Carnaval, and the Jorge de Sena Portuguese Language School has offered language, history, songs, and Azorean dance classes on campus since 1987 (kindergarten through grade 6). Other community-life groups include the Mar Alto society, the Academica SC Soccer Club, Sienna Walk, Teams of Our Lady, ARMEE (the Portuguese devotional movement), the parish Women's Group, Prayer Groups, and the Knights of Columbus. The annual 'matança' fundraiser features an authentic Azorean traditional meal prepared by parents and parishioners.
- Jorge de Sena Portuguese Language School (since 1987, K–6)
- Festa (annual Portuguese festival)
- Carnaval
- Mar Alto
- Academica SC Soccer Club
- ARMEE (Portuguese devotional movement)
- Teams of Our Lady
- Women's Group and Prayer Groups
- Knights of Columbus
- Annual 'matança' fundraiser
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry supports the parish's three-language liturgical life — Portuguese hymns, English hymnody, and Gregorian/Latin chant for the Traditional Latin Mass. The parish's Music Ministry welcomes musicians and cantors across the three Mass communities, and ARMEE gatherings often include traditional Portuguese devotions and songs.
- Music Ministry (English, Portuguese, and Traditional Latin Mass)
- Cantors and choir members welcomed across language communities
- ARMEE devotional gatherings with Portuguese hymnody
Outreach, Charity & Social Services
Outreach is a major part of parish identity, with two flagship programs run from or supported by the parish. VALER — Valley Area Living Enabling Resources — is an on-site social-services office that helps neighbors access government assistance, referrals, and resources; it is open Monday through Thursday, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM. The We Care program provides food and meals to those in need; donations of food and money are welcomed (monetary gifts can be mailed to P.O. Box 1291, Turlock, CA 95381). Grief Share offers bereavement support.
- VALER — Valley Area Living Enabling Resources (209-634-0380; [email protected]; Mon–Thu 2 PM–6 PM; Coordinator Olivia Pears)
- We Care — food and meals program; P.O. Box 1291, Turlock, CA 95381
- Grief Share — bereavement support
- Contact for We Care volunteer coordination: Christine Dores, [email protected]
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by a pastor and supported by a bilingual administrative team. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and can be reached at (209) 634-2222.
- Father Larry Machado — Pastor, ext. 304 — [email protected]
- Ashley Hendrex — Parish Director, ext. 311 — [email protected]
- Zelia Freitas — Administrative Assistant, ext. 303 — [email protected]
- Anna Lorch — Faith Formation Coordinator, ext. 307 — [email protected]
- Dominique Germann — Youth & Young Adult Coordinator, ext. 308 — [email protected]
- Taylor Avila — Administrative Assistant & Wedding Coordinator, ext. 301 — [email protected]
- Olivia Pears — VALER Coordinator & Administrative Assistant — 209-634-0380 — [email protected]
- Parish Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Information and registration for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Matrimony is coordinated through the Parish Office, with Taylor Avila serving as Wedding Coordinator. Anointing of the Sick is available for the homebound and hospitalized; parishioners should call the Parish Office. The parish also supports Vocations discernment, especially given its strong tradition of priestly vocations from Portuguese-American families.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (First Reconciliation and ongoing)
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony — Wedding Coordinator: Taylor Avila, ext. 301
- Holy Orders — Vocations support
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the Parish Office
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
The parish campus sits on five acres at 2602 S. Walnut Road in south Turlock and includes the original 1973 church (still used for daily Mass, Confessions, Adoration, and private prayer) and the larger 1998 church (used for Sunday Masses), along with the Parish Hall. Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
- Address: 2602 S. Walnut Road, Turlock, CA 95380
- Mailing: P.O. Box 2030, Turlock, CA 95381
- Phone: (209) 634-2222
- Fax: (209) 634-2366
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Website: olassumption.net
- Facebook: Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church (Turlock, CA)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father José Carlospre-1972 missionary
Portuguese missionary who, with Father Ivo Rocha, inspired the founding families
- Father Ivo Rocha1981–present role ended 1986 as Administrator; founding Pastor
Appointed first Pastor in 1981 when the Cultural Center became a parish
- Father Valentim Freitas1981
Associate Pastor
- Father Richard Fortiearly 1980s
Began offering Mass in English and established faith formation programs
- Father Eugene Trainer1986
Appointed Administrator
- Father Manuel Fontes Sousa1987 (Co-Administrator) — installed Pastor Aug 15, 1989 — retired June 30, 2023
More than 30 years of pastoral service; led the building of the new church dedicated in 1998
- Father Larry MachadoParochial Administrator July 1, 2023 — installed Pastor April 25, 2025
Installed by Bishop Myron J. Cotta