About Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles · Gustine, California
The Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles is a Roman Catholic parish and shrine located at 370 Linden Avenue in Gustine, a small Central Valley farming town in Merced County, California. Founded in 1919 as a mission of St. Joachim's Church in Newman (originally named Church of the Holy Ghost), it became a standalone parish in 1924 when it was transferred from the Archdiocese of San Francisco to the (Monterey-)Fresno Diocese. Because the Portuguese-American community has hosted the annual Our Lady of Miracles (OLM) Celebration since 1936 — an Azorean faith and heritage festival imported from Serreta on the island of Terceira — the church was officially elevated to the status of a diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in 2008. Today it serves a multilingual community with Mass in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and is home to Our Lady of Miracles Catholic School.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- Our Lady of Miracles (Nossa Senhora dos Milagres), a Marian title originating in Serreta, Terceira, Azores
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Lenjenie Arcan (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
The Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles is one of the most distinctive Portuguese-American Catholic parishes in California and the spiritual home of the only U.S. Festa honoring the Serreta, Terceira devotion of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres. Worshippers experience Mass in three languages — English, Portuguese, and Spanish — within a single Sunday, and the parish is anchored by Our Lady of Miracles Catholic School, an active Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and a parish choir. Visitors are welcomed especially during the second week of September, when the annual OLM Celebration draws thousands for nine days of novenas, the candlelight procession, the 4 a.m. Sunday Mass, the Bodo de Leite parade, fado singing from the Azores, and the only bloodless bullfights connected to the original Terceira festival. For Catholics of Azorean, Hispanic, and Anglo heritage seeking a parish that takes both Marian devotion and cultural heritage seriously, the Shrine offers a living bridge between the Central Valley and the islands of the Atlantic.
Mass times at Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM (per Discover Mass/CatholicChurchTimes)
History of the Parish & Shrine
The Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles began in 1907 as a mission of St. Joachim's Church in Newman under the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Father John Leal built the original Church of the Holy Ghost in 1912; it was dedicated on the First Sunday of Advent by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan. The mission became a parish in 1924 under the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. In 1981 Monsignor Joseph Pacheco renamed it Our Lady of Miracles to reflect the devotion that had anchored the parish since 1936, and in 2008 Father Leonard Trindade secured its elevation to the status of a diocesan Shrine. The parish celebrated its 100-year anniversary around 2019 with the assignment of Rev. Isaque Menezes as pastor.
- 1907 — Archdiocese of San Francisco purchases land from Miller & Lux for $10 in gold coin
- 1912 — Church of the Holy Ghost dedicated on First Sunday of Advent by Archbishop Riordan
- 1919 — Mission served by Rev. Joannes Maiztequi; three Mexican priests serve Newman
- 1924 — Transferred to Monterey-Fresno Diocese; becomes a parish under Rev. J. J. Thummel
- 1936 — First OLM Celebration in Gustine organized by Manuel B. Sousa and friends
- 1981 — Parish renamed Our Lady of Miracles; Altar Society chartered with 80 members
- 2008 — Elevated to Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles under Fr. Leonard Trindade
- 2019 — 100-year anniversary; Rev. Isaque Menezes assigned as pastor
Legend of Our Lady of Miracles (Serreta, Terceira)
According to parish tradition, the devotion to Our Lady of Miracles began in 1694 in the Azorean village of Serreta, where a young man tried to withdraw into the countryside to meditate; villagers persuaded him to return, and a small chapel was built at Canada das Vinhas. The statue was later moved to the nearby church of Doze Ribeiras, where in 1764 townspeople vowed to honor Our Lady each year if their island were spared from foreign attack — taking the title 'Escravos de Nossa Senhora' (Slaves of Our Lady). A church was completed in Serreta in 1842; Serreta became a separate parish on December 24, 1861; the present Serreta church was begun April 29, 1895, and blessed August 31, 1907. In 1980 an earthquake destroyed most of the church, but the wall holding the niches survived and only Our Lady's statue remained standing. Azorean immigrant Manuel B. Sousa brought the devotion to Gustine in 1936, commissioning a duplicate statue and replicating the Terceira festival.
- 1694 — Origin of devotion in Serreta, Terceira
- 1764 — Vow of the 'Escravos de Nossa Senhora' to honor Our Lady annually
- 1842 — First church completed in Serreta
- 1861 — Serreta declared a separate parish (Dec 24)
- 1895–1907 — Present Serreta church built and blessed
- 1980 — Earthquake destroys most of Serreta church; statue miraculously preserved
- 1936 — Manuel B. Sousa brings the devotion to Gustine, California
Annual OLM Celebration (Festa)
The Our Lady of Miracles Celebration has been held in Gustine every year since 1936 on the second Sunday in September — a date intentionally chosen so that it would not conflict with other Portuguese Festas across the U.S. During the eleven-day event, Gustine's population triples as thousands of pilgrims arrive. The Festa opens with a nine-day novena of rosaries and Masses, mostly at the Shrine, and culminates in the 4 a.m. Sunday Mass, a candlelight procession, the Bodo de Leite parade (with cows pulling decorated milk carts and the distribution of sweet bread and milk), fado singing and a Cantoria ao Desafio (improvised singers' challenge), and concluding bloodless bullfights on September 15. Gustine's Festa was the first in the U.S. to host a bullfight and to fly in authentic singers from the Azores.
- First held in 1936 by Azorean immigrants led by Manuel B. Sousa
- Held annually the second Sunday in September (and surrounding week)
- Novena of nine days of rosaries and Masses
- Candlelight procession
- 4 a.m. Sunday Mass during Festa week
- Bodo de Leite (blessing of the cows) parade — cows, sweet bread, milk
- Cantoria ao Desafio — improvised singers' duel
- Fado concert, live band in the park
- Bloodless bullfights (Sept. 15 closing)
Clergy & Staff
The Shrine is currently led by Parish Administrator Rev. Fr. Lenjenie Arcan, following the 2019 appointment of Rev. Isaque Menezes as pastor. The parish staff also includes Office Manager Marybeth Nunes (serving since 2007), Director of Religious Education Graciela Plata, and Principal Julie Barcelos of OLM Catholic School.
- Rev. Fr. Lenjenie Arcan — Parish Administrator (current)
- Rev. Isaque Menezes — Pastor (appointed 2019)
- Rev. Leonard Trindade — Pastor 1999–2020
- Marybeth Nunes — Office Manager
- Graciela Plata — Director of Religious Education
- Julie Barcelos — Principal, OLM Catholic School
Our Lady of Miracles Catholic School
Our Lady of Miracles Catholic School is the parish's parish school, serving families in Gustine and the surrounding west side of Merced County. Monsignor Joseph Pacheco expanded the school with new classrooms during his pastorate (1981–1992) and personally handled many of its repairs while teaching eighth-grade catechism. The school can be reached separately at 209-854-0017.
- Principal: Julie Barcelos
- Phone: 209-854-0017
- Parish-based PreK–8 Catholic elementary school
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond the Sunday liturgy, the Shrine sustains an active network of lay organizations. The Altar Society, chartered in January 1981 with 80 members, cares for the linens, vestments, and seasonal preparation of the altar. Catholic Daughters of the Americas maintains a Court at the parish. The parish choir provides music for English Masses. Religious Education supports faith formation, and the parish also runs an OLM Education Center.
- Altar Society — Olivia Amaral, 209-854-3448
- Catholic Daughters — Emily Alamo, 209-854-2133
- Parish Choir — contact parish office
- Religious Education / Faith Formation — Graciela Plata
- Friends of the Parish
- OLM Education Center
Visit, Contact & Visiting Hours
The Shrine is open to visitors throughout the year, with the parish office open Monday–Friday 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM. The Religious Education office keeps summer hours of Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and Thursday by appointment. Pilgrims planning a visit during the Festa should plan around the second Sunday in September, when the parish's Mass and event schedule is intensified.
- Address: 370 Linden Avenue, Gustine, CA 95322
- Phone: 209-854-0015
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Religious Education (summer): Tuesday & Thursday 10 AM – 1 PM
- Annual pilgrimage window: second week of September (OLM Festa)
Diocese of Fresno
The Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles is a parish and shrine within the Diocese of Fresno, having been transferred there from the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1924. The current diocesan bishop is Bishop Joseph V. Brennan, whose pastoral messages and communications are linked on the parish homepage. The Diocese of Fresno's central offices and resources can be found at dioceseoffresno.org.
- Diocese: Diocese of Fresno
- Diocese website: https://dioceseoffresno.org
- Bishop: Most Rev. Joseph V. Brennan
- Diocesan address: 1550 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93703
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Lealc. 1907–1919
Founder; pastor of St. Joachim's Newman, served both parishes, planned and built the original Church of the Holy Ghost, lived in the sacristy until rectory was built.
- Rev. Joannes Maiztequi1919–1924
Served Church of the Holy Ghost after transfer of priests from Mexico.
- Rev. J. J. Thummel1924–1925
First resident pastor after Gustine mission officially became a parish under the Monterey-Fresno Diocese.
- Rev. Monsignor Joseph Pacheco1981–1992
Changed parish name to Our Lady of Miracles; chartered the Altar Society (Jan 1981, 80 members); expanded OLM School; taught 8th-grade catechism.
- Rev. Leonard Trindade1999–2020
Native of Atwater; oversaw 2008 elevation to Shrine status, renovations, and the 100-year celebration.
- Rev. Isaque Menezes2019–present
Sent by the Bishop in 2019 to lead the parish into its next 100 years.
- Rev. Fr. Lenjenie Arcan
Current Parish Administrator per official website.