About St. Genevieve · Fresno, California
St. Genevieve is a tiny but remarkable Roman Catholic parish tucked into Fresno's Chinatown at 1127 Tulare Street, part of the Diocese of Fresno. The brick church, built in 1938 and formally established as a parish in 1941, is widely described as one of the smallest parishes in the world and is the only Catholic church in North America designed in a distinctively Chinese architectural style — a pagoda-influenced building painted in vermillion, cobalt blue and gold. Today the bilingual Chinese-English parish is administered by Rev. Victor T. Dinh, whose small multicultural flock gathers around a long Sunday Mass that remains at 10:30 AM, a time chosen decades ago to suit the late-night schedules of Chinatown restaurateurs.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- St. Genevieve (of Paris)
- Rector
- Rev. Victor T. Dinh (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
St. Genevieve offers something rare: a tiny, close-knit parish where, as one longtime parishioner put it, 'everyone knows your name.' Mass is celebrated bilingually in Chinese and English, and the congregation itself is a living cross-section of Fresno — about a quarter Chinese American, a quarter Anglo American and half Hispanic or Latino — worshipping together inside one of the only Catholic churches in the Western Hemisphere built in Chinese architectural style. The 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, unchanged for decades, was originally scheduled to fit the late-night schedules of Chinatown's restaurateurs, and that unhurried, multigenerational character still shapes the community today. For anyone who wants a parish that feels 'like an expansion of your family' rather than an anonymous congregation, St. Genevieve is a Fresno treasure.
Mass times at St. Genevieve
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM (before Mass)
- Tuesday–Saturday by appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM (before Mass)
- Tuesday–Saturday by appointment
Parish Identity & History
St. Genevieve Catholic Church sits in the heart of Fresno's Chinatown at 1127 Tulare Street, on a single city block at the corner of Tulare and C Streets. The brick, pagoda-style church was opened in 1938 and formally erected as a parish in 1941. It is widely cited as one of the smallest parishes in the world and is the only Catholic church in North America built in a distinctively Chinese architectural style — painted in vermillion, cobalt blue and gold, with intricate lanterns, dragons and red tassels inside. The building is listed on Fresno's local register of historic resources.
- Built 1938; parish formally established 1941
- Single city-block campus at Tulare & C Streets
- Listed on Fresno's local register of historic resources
- Often called one of the smallest parishes in the world
Origins in Depression-Era Chinatown
In 1932 and 1933, elderly Chinese laborers living in the Tong houses of China Alley were left without food after the gambling houses that had traditionally fed them could no longer afford to. Mrs. Allen Mar Sr., a local Catholic, turned to Catholic Charities, and then asked for help teaching the women and children English, sewing and catechism. Bishop P. Scher granted her request, and the Sisters of the Holy Family opened a small school on February 24, 1934, in a rented storeroom. The Chinese children began to come, and the foundation for what would become St. Genevieve's was laid.
- Outreach began 1932–1933 through Catholic Charities
- School opened February 24, 1934, in a rented storeroom
- Sisters of the Holy Family served as teachers
The Church Building & Chinese Design
Four lots at C and Tulare streets were acquired for a chapel, which was built in Chinese style and painted in vermillion, cobalt blue and gold. It seats about 200 people. Wooden statues of Our Lady and St. Joseph with Chinese features were imported from Italy; the Stations of the Cross, also with Chinese features, along with statues of Mother Mary, were brought from Taiwan. The color red — associated with happiness, prosperity and celebration in Chinese culture — is prominent throughout the sanctuary.
- Seating capacity approximately 200
- Statues of Our Lady and St. Joseph imported from Italy
- Stations of the Cross and Marian statues imported from Taiwan
- Brick exterior with pagoda-style roofline and red/green trim
Notable Visitors & Clergy Through the Years
The little Chinatown parish has hosted extraordinary visitors over its history. In August 1939 — the year after the church opened — it welcomed Bishop Paul Yu-Pin of the Nankin (Nanjing) Catholic Churches, who was also a special envoy of the Chinese government to America; Yu-Pin would later be made a Cardinal. Years later, a young priest named Roger Mahony served at St. Genevieve's from 1964 to 1968, according to the Diocese of Fresno; he went on to become Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles. The current administrator, Rev. Victor T. Dinh, celebrated the 10th anniversary of his ordination at the parish's 75th anniversary Mass in July 2013.
- Bishop (later Cardinal) Paul Yu-Pin visited in August 1939
- Roger Mahony served here 1964–1968 (later Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles)
- Rev. Victor T. Dinh is the current Administrator
- 75th anniversary celebrated July 7, 2013
Languages & Liturgy
All Masses at St. Genevieve are celebrated bilingually in Chinese (Cantonese) and English. The parish is listed by GCatholic under the languages English and Chinese, and longtime parishioners still use Cantonese-language hymnals and prayer books with phonetic transcriptions to help non-native speakers join the chant. The parish's bilingual character is at the heart of its identity, even as the surrounding demographics have shifted over the decades.
- Bilingual Chinese/English Masses
- Cantonese-language hymnals and prayer books still in use
- Choir has led 'Holy, Holy, Holy' chants in Cantonese
The Parish Community Today
St. Genevieve remains a tight-knit, multigenerational parish where, as one long-time member put it, 'everyone knows your name.' Pastor Rev. Victor T. Dinh estimates the congregation today is roughly a quarter Chinese American, a quarter Anglo American and about half Hispanic or Latino — a demographic evolution visible in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that hangs above the exit doors. Many elderly Chinese parishioners have moved away or passed on, and some now find the stairs up to the sanctuary difficult to climb, but the sense of family remains strong. Professors from Fresno City College and Fresno State bring students to the parish basement for Chinatown walking tours, and the parish has been described as 'a window in time' — preserving Cantonese-language worship even as Mandarin spread after the Chinese Cultural Revolution of the 1960s–70s.
- Roughly 25% Chinese American, 25% Anglo American, 50% Hispanic/Latino
- Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe above the exit doors
- Basement used as a meeting space for Chinatown heritage tours
- Richard Fritas serves as a subdeacon and Franciscan brother associated with the parish
Visiting & Contact
St. Genevieve is located at 1127 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93706, on a one-block square campus in Chinatown at Tulare and C Streets. The parish office can be reached at (559) 486-2988 or by email at [email protected]. The official diocesan listing is maintained by the Diocese of Fresno at dioceseoffresno.org. Visitors should be aware that the sanctuary is reached by stairs and may be difficult for some elderly or mobility-limited guests; the parish welcomes calls in advance to arrange accommodations.
- Address: 1127 Tulare St., Fresno, CA 93706-3242
- Phone: (559) 486-2988
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan page: dioceseoffresno.org (Fresno Metropolitan Vicariate)
- Note: sanctuary is on an upper level — call ahead for accessibility needs
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, St. Genevieve celebrates the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession), typically on Sundays before Mass or by appointment during the week, and Eucharistic Adoration at the same time. For Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick and other sacramental needs, parishioners are encouraged to contact Fr. Victor Dinh directly through the parish office to arrange preparation and scheduling.
- Confession: Sundays 9:45–10:15 AM and by appointment Tues–Sat
- Eucharistic Adoration: Sundays 9:45–10:15 AM and by appointment Tues–Sat
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick: contact the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul Yu-PinAugust 1939 (visit)
Bishop of the Nankin (Nanjing) Catholic Churches and special envoy of the Chinese government to America; later became a Cardinal. Visited St. Genevieve's shortly after it opened.
- Rev. Roger Mahony1964–1968
Served as a priest at St. Genevieve's before becoming Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles.
- Rev. Victor T. DinhOrdained 2003; pastor by 2013
Celebrated 10th anniversary of ordination at St. Genevieve's 75th Anniversary Mass in July 2013; current administrator of the parish.