About St. Joseph · Firebaugh, California
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish located at 1558 12th Street in Firebaugh, California, a small farming community in western Fresno County. It belongs to the Diocese of Fresno and serves its largely Hispanic congregation with a schedule heavy in Spanish-language Masses while still offering English celebrations. The parish sits at the corner of 12th and P Streets and historically has been paired with a parish school for the education of local children.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Joseph (spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus Christ; patron of the universal Church, fathers, and workers)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, family-style parish where the Eucharist is celebrated up to nine times each week, with the majority of Masses offered in Spanish and others in English to serve the bilingual community of the western San Joaquin Valley. The parish maintains an active sacramental life — including weekday and Sunday Mass, Wednesday bilingual confessions, and Thursday Eucharistic Adoration — and connects with its members through regular bulletins and an active Facebook page for news and livestreamed updates.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Bilingual)
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish under the Diocese of Fresno, located at 1558 12th Street in Firebaugh, California. Founded in 1950, the parish has long served the farming community of western Fresno County and works in close partnership with local families to nurture faith, education, and service.
- Founded 1950
- Diocese of Fresno
- Bilingual: English & Spanish
- Address: 1558 12th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
- Corner of 12th and P Streets
Parish Mission & Values
The parish and its associated school are dedicated to cultivating a Christ-centered community that fosters spiritual growth, academic excellence, and service. Its stated mission is to provide a faith-filled environment that develops critical thinkers, fosters a commitment to the Catholic faith, and encourages a strong, community-oriented spirit. Core values emphasize Catholic doctrine, reverence, responsibility, and service to others.
- Catholic doctrine
- Reverence
- Responsibility
- Service to others
Parish School (closed)
St. Joseph's School, the parish's K–8 elementary school, was operated under the Diocese of Fresno and registered with the California Department of Education on July 1, 1980. According to the CDE school directory, the school was closed on April 28, 2009, after several decades of service to parish families.
- K–8 elementary school (private)
- Operated under Diocese of Fresno
- CDE registered July 1, 1980
- Closed April 28, 2009
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Pastoral leadership for the parish is provided through the Diocese of Fresno. A current pastor is not listed on the public websites surveyed; the parish has historically been served by priests of the diocese, with subsequent assignments reflecting the broader personnel needs of the diocese.
- Pastors assigned through the Diocese of Fresno
- Rev. Msgr. Craig Harrison served as pastor 1992–1999
- Rev. Guillermo Preciado served before his March 2021 assignment to St. John the Evangelist, Wasco
Communications & Social Media
The parish maintains an active web and social media presence through its official website and Facebook page. The Facebook feed is integrated into the parish website as a live feed, and the parish also publishes weekly bulletins online.
- Official website: https://www.stjosephfb.org/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eran100ovejasfanpag/
- Online bulletin page
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone during business hours. The church is located on 12th Street near P Street in Firebaugh, with parking available on site.
- Phone: (559) 659-2225
- Address: 1558 12th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
- On-site parking available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Craig Harrison1992–1999
Served as pastor of St. Joseph in Firebaugh; later incardinated as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Bakersfield. The Diocese of Fresno reopened allegations of past abuse alleged to have occurred at St. Joseph during his tenure in 2019.
- Rev. Guillermo Preciado
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico; educated at St. Joseph Seminary in Guadalajara (high school through seminary). Served St. Joseph Firebaugh before being assigned in March 2021 as parish priest of St. John the Evangelist in Wasco.