About St. Joseph · Los Banos, California
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish serving the city of Los Banos and surrounding rural communities in western Merced County, California, within the Diocese of Fresno. The current parish church stands at 1621 Center Avenue and offers a robust schedule of daily, weekend, and Holy Day Masses in both languages, along with weekly Confession, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and an extensive network of parish ministries, sodalities, and outreach programs. The parish also operates the adjacent Our Lady of Fatima School (Preschool through Grade 8), founded in 1950, and is closely tied to the cultural heritage of Portuguese, Italian, Mexican, and Basque families who have populated the San Joaquin Valley town for generations.
- Established
- 1891 (first church built; GCatholic records parish from 1905)
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Dalton Rogers (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
Saint Joseph is one of the most welcoming bilingual parishes in western Merced County, offering eight weekend Masses in both English and Spanish every Saturday and Sunday, plus a full daily Mass schedule, daily Confession opportunities several days a week, and a chapel open for Eucharistic Adoration every Friday. Members find community through a rich mix of parish ministries: the Mother Teresa Food Pantry (distributing over 100 bags of groceries weekly), Knights of Columbus Council 3726, the Guadalupana Society with its traditional Posadas and feast-day celebrations, the Portuguese DES Association, the Italian Catholic Federation Branch 31 Santa Lucia, Youth Group 4:12, the Warriors of Christ Cursillo movement, the Altar Society, and a full team of liturgical ministers (lectors, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, cantors and musicians, sacristans, and ushers). The parish's 175-year story — from Father McNamara's 1874 letter and Henry Miller's $500 donation, through the 1923 Charles Fantoni Romanesque church, to today's Center Avenue campus with its parish school — gives new members a deep sense of continuity and place in the San Joaquin Valley.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Holy Days, Solemnities, Triduums, Novenas and special feast days — see parish bulletin, website calendar or Facebook for times.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration every Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the Chapel
- First Friday of the month: extended Adoration from 9:00 AM Friday through 7:30 AM Saturday
History of St. Joseph Parish
Catholic life in Los Banos began in 1874 when Father Michael McNamara of Merced wrote to the Archbishop of San Francisco reporting that rancher Henry Miller had offered $500 and two town lots to build a Catholic church in the settlement. The first St. Joseph's Church was built in 1891 but was badly damaged by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake; it stood in poor condition for years before being wrecked in August 1922. Ground was broken for the present historic church on September 11, 1922, and it was completed in 1923 for about $38,000 under the supervision of Rev. Joseph M. Phelan. The new Romanesque Revival church served the growing parish for 72 years before a new, larger worship space was built on Center Avenue in 1994–1995 and the historic stained glass windows were transferred to it. The 1923 building was saved from demolition and now houses the Ted Falasco Arts Center; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 2004.
- 1874 — Father McNamara writes to Archbishop of San Francisco; Henry Miller donates $500 and two lots
- 1891 — First St. Joseph's Church built
- 1906 — First church damaged in San Francisco earthquake
- August 1922 — Old building wrecked; construction of new church begins September 11, 1922
- 1923 — Present Romanesque Revival church completed; designed by Charles Fantoni, built by Guy H. Wilson
- Late 1930s — Stained glass windows donated and installed by parishioners
- 1962 — Original high altar replaced and communion rail removed following Vatican II
- 1994–1995 — New Center Avenue church built; stained glass moved
- 1994 — Old 1923 building saved from demolition by community group
- 2004 — 1923 church added to U.S. National Register of Historic Places (July 8)
The 1923 Romanesque Church — Architecture & Heritage
Designed by San Francisco architect Charles Fantoni and built by local contractor Guy H. Wilson, the 1923 St. Joseph's is a symmetrical three-nave basilica plan in the Romanesque Revival style, with rounded arches and vaults on both the exterior and interior, a clerestoried central nave lit by round windows, a barrel-vaulted apse, low-pitched aisle roofs, and a single steepled bell tower. It is one of only three surviving Fantoni designs — alongside Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco and Our Lady Help of Christians in Watsonville — and the only Romanesque Revival ecclesiastical building in Los Banos and the surrounding communities within about 35 miles. The building is now the Ted Falasco Arts Center under the Los Banos Arts Council.
- Architect: Charles Fantoni (Swiss marble cutter turned San Francisco Italian-American architect)
- Builder: Guy H. Wilson of Los Banos
- Style: Romanesque Revival / Romanesque ecclesiastical
- Construction cost: about $38,000
- Notable features: rounded arches, interior and exterior vaults, clerestoried nave, barrel-vaulted apse, single steepled bell tower
- NRHP reference No. 04000330; listed July 8, 2004
Parish Staff & Clergy
Saint Joseph is currently led by Parochial Administrator Fr. Dalton Rogers, assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Guillermo Preciado and Permanent Deacon Leon Miller. Seminarian Victor Espitia is also on assignment to the parish. The lay staff includes the Director of Religious Education and her assistant, the parish office manager/bookkeeper, the parish secretary who also serves as Safe Environment manager, and a custodian. The Religious Education Office and Our Lady of Fatima School each maintain their own phone lines and staff.
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Dalton Rogers
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Guillermo Preciado
- Permanent Deacon: Leon Miller
- Seminarian: Victor Espitia
- Director of Religious Education: Sophie Delgado
- DRE Assistant: Juana Jimenez
- Office Manager/Bookkeeper: Angeles Leon
- Parish Secretary / Safe Environment Manager: Isabel Winchester
- Custodian: Lorenzo Mendoza
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms require pre-registration in the parish office at least two months in advance plus a preparation class. Marriages must be arranged with at least nine months' notice so the couple can complete marriage preparation. Confession is available five days a week (see the schedule above). The Anointing of the Sick is available by appointment, and an emergency sick/hospital line (209-710-0645) is staffed outside office hours.
- Baptism — pre-register 2 months ahead + preparation class
- First Communion — through Religious Education
- Confirmation — through Religious Education
- Confession — five days a week (see schedule)
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment; emergency line 209-710-0645
- Matrimony — contact parish office at least 9 months before the wedding date
- Holy Orders — information via the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education program, directed by Sophie Delgado with the assistance of Juana Jimenez, prepares the parish's children and youth for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation and supports ongoing faith formation for families. The DRE office can be reached at 209-826-1512 and at [email protected].
- Director of Religious Education: Sophie Delgado
- DRE Assistant: Juana Jimenez
- Phone: 209-826-1512
- Email: [email protected]
Our Lady of Fatima School
Adjacent to the church on the parish campus at 1625 Center Avenue, Our Lady of Fatima School has provided Catholic education to Los Banos since 1950. The school offers Preschool and TK–8 classes and serves parish families as well as the broader community. The school gives admissions priority to siblings of current students, children and grandchildren of OLF alumni, members of St. Joseph's Church, members of other Catholic parishes, and then non-Catholic students. Office hours are 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and the office is closed in July.
- Serving Los Banos since 1950
- Address: 1625 Center Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635
- Phone: 209-826-2709 · Fax: 209-826-7320
- Principal: Karen Forte ([email protected])
- Office Manager: Caroline Cota ([email protected])
- Programs: Preschool and TK–8
- Admissions priority: current-student siblings, OLF alumni family, St. Joseph's parishioners, other Catholic parishioners, non-Catholics
Fellowship Ministries
Saint Joseph's fellowship ministries bring parishioners together in prayer, service, and cultural celebration. The parish lists Altar Society, Guadalupana Society, Knights of Columbus Council 3726, Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the Mother Teresa (St. Joseph) Food Pantry, Youth Group 4:12, the Young Ladies Grand Institute Council 169 The Mystical Rose, the Warriors of Christ (Cursillistas), and the Danza Alma Guadalupana among its fellowship groups.
- Altar Society
- Guadalupana Society — promotes devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe through prayer, evangelization, and charity; sponsors the 46 Rosaries, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Mañanitas, Las Posadas, La Rosca de Los Reyes, Día de la Candelaria
- Knights of Columbus Council 3726 — parish and community service, food drives, Special Events volunteering
- Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel — promotes devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
- Mother Teresa Food Pantry — distributes 100+ grocery bags weekly to needy families; donations of rice, beans, flour, pasta, masa, cereals, and monetary gifts welcomed
- Youth Group 4:12 — teen faith formation, spiritual enrichment, and community service
- Young Ladies Grand Institute Council 169 The Mystical Rose — supports Church work, members and their families, seminarian education, and scholarships
- Warriors of Christ / Cursillistas — Cursillos de Cristiandad movement
- Danza Alma Guadalupana — Aztec dance ministry honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful serve the parish's liturgical life as Altar Servers, Cantors and Musicians, Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Sacristans, and Ushers. Altar Servers must have received their First Holy Communion and serve at weekend Masses, reconciliation services, and other liturgical celebrations such as Stations of the Cross; adults commonly serve at the daily morning Mass. Ushers welcome worshipers and assist with collections; Sacristans prepare the books, vessels, and collection bags; Eucharistic Ministers also bring Holy Communion to the sick and homebound.
- Altar Servers (children who have received First Communion, plus adults at daily Mass)
- Cantors and Musicians (vocalists and instrumentalists)
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion (including ministry to the sick and shut-ins)
- Lectors (proclaim Scripture and the General Intercessions)
- Sacristans (prepare and clean up books, vessels, and sanctuary)
- Ushers (welcome, seating, collection, hospitality)
Catholic Organizations & Outreach
The parish connects its members to a wider network of Catholic organizations and apostolates serving the San Joaquin Valley and beyond. These include Catholic Charities, the Italian Catholic Federation Branch #31 Santa Lucia, the Los Banos Portuguese DES Association, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Respect Life, Catholic Answers, Catholic Engaged Encounter, Retrouvaille, and Right to Life of Central California.
- Catholic Charities — serves those in need across the eight-county San Joaquin Valley
- Italian Catholic Federation #31 Santa Lucia — promotes Catholic faith, Italian American heritage, and charitable works
- Los Banos Portuguese DES Association — promotes Portuguese religious traditions, Saints processions, food for the poor, academic scholarships
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter — proclaims the value of Marriage and Holy Orders
- Respect Life — teaches and protects respect for all human life
- Catholic Answers — media apologetics ministry
- Catholic Engaged Encounter — marriage preparation weekend retreat
- Retrouvaille — program for struggling marriages
- Right to Life of Central California — pro-life advocacy, education, and outreach
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael McNamara
Pastor of Merced who in 1874 wrote to the Archbishop of San Francisco launching the effort to build a Catholic church in Los Banos.
- Rev. Joseph M. Phelanc. 1922–1923
Pastor of St. Joseph's during construction of the 1923 Romanesque Revival church on Center Avenue; oversaw much of the building work himself.
- Rev. Fr. Dalton Rogers
Current Parochial Administrator.
- Rev. Fr. Guillermo Preciado
Current Parochial Vicar; named as 'Father Guillermo' on parish bulletins.