About Our Lady of Victory · Fresno, California
Our Lady of Victory is a bilingual and trilingual Catholic parish in northwest Fresno, California, belonging to the Diocese of Fresno. Founded in 1919 and rooted in the same community that originally gave its name to what is now the Shrine of St. Therese, the parish is one of the oldest in the city and serves a richly diverse Catholic community through Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Today the parish is led by Rev. Raul Sanchez Flores, supported by three permanent deacons and a full faith-formation and sacramental staff, and it gathers hundreds of faithful each week at its church on North West Avenue.
- Established
- 1919 (at the present West Avenue location as a separate parish: 1950)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victory (Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Victory)
- Rector
- Rev. Raul Sanchez Flores
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victory is one of northwest Fresno's oldest Catholic parishes, with more than a century of continuous worship and ministry. Its schedule is unusually rich for a parish of its size, offering seven weekend Masses in three languages (English, Spanish, and Hmong), a bilingual Tuesday evening Mass, a Wednesday Holy Hour, and Eucharistic Adoration at the parish chapel. Strong faith-formation programs — including CCD/First Communion, Youth Confirmation, RCIA, Adult Sacraments, Bible Study in Spanish, and a Youth Group — along with quinceañera and marriage preparation coordinated by the parish office, make it a true spiritual home for multigenerational, multicultural Catholic families.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday at 6:00 PM (inside the church; no appointment needed)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM — Holy Hour / Hora Santa
- Thursday 5:30 PM — Pauline Hour (English)
- Thursday and Friday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM — Adoration at OLV Chapel, 2850 N. Crystal Ave.
Parish Overview
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church is a Diocese of Fresno parish serving northwest Fresno from its church at 2838 N. West Avenue. The parish is a multicultural community whose weekly schedule includes Masses in English, Spanish, and Hmong, and whose pastoral staff includes a resident pastor and three permanent deacons. Parish offices are open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at (559) 226-1163 or [email protected].
History
Our Lady of Victory is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Fresno, with roots that go back to June 1919, when Father Martin Cody Keating established the original parish under the name Our Lady of Victory in thanksgiving for the Allied victory in World War I. The first Mass was celebrated on June 29, 1919, in the Dan C. Desmond home at 845 Echo Avenue, with about 30 people present — including young altar boy Harry A. Clinch, who would later become Auxiliary Bishop of Monterey-Fresno. That original parish community continued and was renamed the Shrine of St. Therese after the saint's canonization in 1925. In 1950, as Fresno's Catholic population grew on the city's west side, the northwest portion of the parish was carved off to form today's Our Lady of Victory at 2838 N. West Avenue, with Father Thomas McGovern as its first resident pastor.
- 1919 — Founding pastor Rev. Martin Cody Keating establishes the parish as 'Our Lady of Victory' in thanksgiving for the WWI victory; first Mass June 29, 1919 in the Dan C. Desmond home at 845 Echo Avenue.
- 1950 — Present-day parish of Our Lady of Victory established at 2838 N. West Avenue; Father Thomas McGovern named first resident pastor.
- Today — Multilingual parish serving Fresno's west side in English, Spanish, and Hmong.
Parish Staff & Clergy
Our Lady of Victory is led by Rev. Raul Sanchez Flores, with three permanent deacons and a full lay staff supporting faith formation, sacramental preparation, weddings and quinceañeras, parish finances, and office administration. The parish cell phone (559-815-0859) provides an additional contact line for parishioners.
- Pastor — Rev. Raul Sanchez Flores ([email protected])
- Deacon Kurt Neuhaus ([email protected])
- Deacon Salvador de la Torre ([email protected])
- Deacon Cheng Her ([email protected])
- Office Manager — Enya Oceguera, ext. 100 ([email protected]); also Wedding & Quinceañera Coordinator ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary — Liset Garcia, ext. 110 ([email protected])
- CCD / First Communion — Eva González, ext. 104 ([email protected])
- Youth Confirmation / RCIA / Adult Sacraments (English) — Miguel Renteria, ext. 109 / cell (559) 908-4841 ([email protected])
- Confirmación de Jóvenes — Norma Robles, ext. 105 ([email protected])
- Sacramentos para Adultos — Alfredo López, cell (559) 213-4072 ([email protected])
- Safe Environment — Kimberly Rosas
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of Victory operates a comprehensive faith-formation program out of its Parish Center at 2850 N. Crystal Avenue. Programs serve children preparing for First Communion, youth preparing for Confirmation, adults seeking the Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA), and adults needing First Communion or Confirmation. Sacramental classes for adults meet on Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
- CCD / First Communion (ages 7–12) — Eva González
- Youth Confirmation (ages 14–16) — Miguel Renteria / Norma Robles
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Miguel Renteria
- Adult Sacramental Preparation (First Communion / Confirmation, ages 18+) — Thursdays 7:00–9:00 PM; $70 registration
- Bible Study (Spanish)
- Youth Group
- Parish Center / Religious Education Office: 2850 N. Crystal Ave., Fresno, CA 93705 — (559) 440-6516
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic Sacraments, with dedicated coordinators for Baptism, Marriage, Quinceañeras, and Adult Sacraments. Sacramental registration forms are available at olv-church.com/sacraments or in the parish office.
- Baptism — for children up to age 6; celebrated on Saturdays; one-time pre-baptismal class required for parents and godparents.
- Group baptism $50 per child; Sunday Mass baptism $100 first child / $50 each additional; private baptism from $250; private baptism within Mass $500.
- First Communion — through CCD religious education (ages 7–12).
- Confirmation — Youth Confirmation for ages 14–16; Adult Confirmation available.
- Marriage — arrangements must be made at least 6 months in advance; updated baptismal certificates with notations required; deposits range from $200 (chapel) to $500 (church Mass with rehearsal); Convalidation available for civilly-married couples.
- Quinceañeras — coordinated by Enya Oceguera ([email protected]).
- Adult Sacraments — First Communion and/or Confirmation for ages 18+; $70 registration.
Multicultural Community
Our Lady of Victory is a genuinely trilingual parish. The Sunday 3:30 PM Hmong Mass makes it one of the few parishes in the Fresno area with regular Hmong-language liturgy, served in part by Deacon Cheng Her. Spanish-speaking parishioners are served by four Sunday Masses (8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM) plus the Saturday Vigil and Thursday evening Mass, along with Spanish Bible Study and Spanish-language confirmation. English-speaking parishioners gather for the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass and weekday English Masses.
- English — Sunday 9:30 AM Mass; Wednesday & Friday 8:00 AM Masses
- Spanish — Sunday 8:00, 11:00, 1:00; Saturday Vigil 7:00 PM; Thursday 7:00 PM
- Hmong — Sunday 3:30 PM Mass
- Bilingual — Tuesday 7:00 PM Mass; monthly Neocatechumenal Way Mass (third Saturday 9:00 PM)
Visit, Contact & Locations
Our Lady of Victory operates out of three buildings in northwest Fresno. The church is at 2838 N. West Avenue; the parish office (mailing address) is at 2918 N. West Avenue; and the Parish Center housing the Religious Education Office and Adoration Chapel is at 2850 N. Crystal Avenue. Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
- Church: 2838 N. West Avenue, Fresno, CA 93705
- Parish Office (Mailing): 2918 N. West Avenue, Fresno, CA 93705
- Parish Center / Religious Education / Adoration Chapel: 2850 N. Crystal Avenue, Fresno, CA 93705
- Phone: (559) 226-1163 — Fax: (559) 226-2093 — Parish Cell: (559) 815-0859
- Religious Education Office: (559) 440-6516
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://olv-church.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLVChurchFresno/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin Cody Keating1919–1925
Founded the original Our Lady of Victory parish in 1919 in thanksgiving for the Allied victory in World War I; first Mass celebrated June 29, 1919.
- Rev. Thomas McGovern1950
First resident pastor of the present Our Lady of Victory parish at 2838 N. West Avenue, when it was carved off from St. Therese parish.