About St. John the Evangelist · Tipton, California
St. John the Evangelist is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural farming community of Tipton, California, in the Diocese of Fresno (Tulare Vicariate). The parish was established on September 28, 1945, rooted in the Portuguese-Azorean immigrant community that began settling the Tipton area in the 1890s. From its main church on South Adams Road, the parish also shepherds two mission communities: St. Francis of Assisi in Woodville and Our Lady of the Assumption in Pixley. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, and the parish describes itself as a "small, faithful and devoted community striving for holiness."
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist (the Apostle and Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Loji Pilones (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno (Tulare Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a welcoming, bilingual Catholic home in a small rural town, with Mass in both English and Spanish. Its family-friendly schedule, multiple weekly Masses, regular Thursday adoration, and the wider community it serves — including the missions at Woodville and Pixley — make it a stable spiritual anchor for farm-country families of the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History and Portuguese Heritage
St. John the Evangelist traces its roots to the Portuguese-Azorean families who began settling the Tipton area in the 1890s and organized fraternal and parish life over the following decades. The parish was organized in the 1930s for these immigrant families, with the church formally dedicated in 1945. The parish's story is preserved in the Portuguese Historical Museum's 'Power of the Spirit' exhibit, which highlights the role of Portuguese immigrant parishes in the Central Valley.
- Portuguese settlers arrived in the Tipton area in the 1890s
- Fraternal councils organized by 1913
- Parish organized in the 1930s for Portuguese immigrants
- Church dedicated September 28, 1945
Three Communities, One Parish
From its church on South Adams Road in Tipton, the parish provides pastoral care for two mission communities in the surrounding farm country. St. Francis of Assisi Mission serves the small community of Woodville, while the Station of Our Lady of the Assumption serves Pixley. Together, the three sites make up one parish family under the Diocese of Fresno.
- St. John the Evangelist — Tipton (main church)
- St. Francis of Assisi Mission — Woodville
- Our Lady of the Assumption Station — Pixley
Sacramental Life
Confessions are heard regularly throughout the week, with multiple opportunities on Thursday and before Friday evening Mass. Eucharistic Adoration is offered Thursday evenings before the Spanish Mass, giving the parish a regular hour of prayer with the Blessed Sacrament.
- Confessions: Thursday 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
- Confessions: Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Confessions: Friday 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Adoration: Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish Leadership
The parish is currently led by Rev. Loji Pilones, who serves as Administrator of St. John the Evangelist and its mission communities.
- Rev. Loji Pilones — Administrator
Contact and Location
St. John the Evangelist is located at 232 South Adams Road in Tipton, California. The parish office can be reached by phone at (559) 752-4544, with fax at (559) 752-4313. The parish is part of the Diocese of Fresno and belongs to its Tulare Vicariate.
- Address: 232 S. Adams Rd., Tipton, CA 93272
- Phone: (559) 752-4544
- Fax: (559) 752-4313
- Diocese: Fresno (Tulare Vicariate)