About St. Mary [Good Shepherd Parish] · Visalia, California
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish is a large, tri-site Roman Catholic parish in Visalia, California, in the Diocese of Fresno, formed by uniting the historic parishes of Holy Family, St. Mary's, and St. Thomas the Apostle with the mission church of St. Charles Borromeo. It serves an estimated 14,000 families across Visalia and Goshen, welcoming nearly 10,000 people to Sunday Mass each week in both English and Spanish. The parish operates George McCann Memorial Catholic School, runs the Bethlehem Center food-and-clothing mission in North Visalia, and is now home to St. Charles Borromeo Church — the largest Catholic parish church in North America, dedicated in February 2023 and seating more than 3,200.
- Established
- 1861 (St. Mary's, the earliest constituent parish)
- Patron
- Good Shepherd
- Rector
- Father Alex Chavez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish welcomes roughly 10,000 people to Sunday Mass, with vibrant Masses celebrated in English and Spanish across three church sites. Parishioners can pray before the Blessed Sacrament daily in the Sacred Heart Adoration Chapel at St. Mary's, send their children to the parish's George McCann Memorial Catholic School, and serve neighbors in need through the Bethlehem Center, which feeds and clothes the poor of North Visalia every day of the year. With a pastor and clergy dedicated to evangelization, robust faith formation for children and youth, the Ablaze Catholic campus clubs at local high schools, RCIA inquiry, and an annual parish festival, the parish offers something for every age and walk of life in the Visalia area.
Mass times at St. Mary [Good Shepherd Parish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Monday – Friday
- 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM, Thursday
Adoration times
- Sacred Heart Chapel: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Monday – Wednesday
- Sacred Heart Chapel: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Friday
- Sacred Heart Chapel: 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Thursday
- Holy Family Church: Thursdays only (consult bulletin for hours)
Parish History & the St. Charles Borromeo Project
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish was created by uniting three historic Visalia-area parishes and a mission church — Holy Family, St. Mary's, St. Thomas the Apostle, and St. Charles Borromeo — to better serve the Catholic faithful of the greater Visalia area and to ensure the financial sustainability of shared ministries. St. Mary's dates to 1861, making it the oldest Catholic congregation in the Visalia area; Holy Family was founded in 1950 (church dedicated in the 1960s); and St. Thomas the Apostle's parish was founded in 1963 with its church dedicated in 1962. The signature chapter of the parish's story is the construction and 2023 dedication of St. Charles Borromeo Church. The diocese had purchased land for a central Visalia church beginning in the 1940s; Bishop Steinbach first envisioned the project, Bishop Ochoa carried it forward, and Bishop Joseph V. Brennan shepherded it to completion. Father Eric formally launched the project on May 12, 2017, with an anticipated budget of $16 million; construction began in 2019 and ran into pandemic-era delays. The final cost, including furnishings, was $28 million. Bishop Brennan celebrated the dedication Mass on February 2, 2023, attended by about 3,200 people, and St. Charles Borromeo — seating more than 3,200 — surpassed St. Matthew in Charlotte, North Carolina, to become the largest Catholic parish church in North America.
- St. Mary's parish founded 1861
- Holy Family parish founded 1950 (church dedicated 1960s)
- St. Thomas the Apostle parish founded 1963 (church dedicated 1962)
- St. Charles Borromeo project launched by Fr. Eric on May 12, 2017
- Construction began 2019; delayed by COVID-19
- Final cost: $28 million (~$21M initial building + furnishings)
- Dedicated by Bishop Brennan on February 2, 2023
- Seats 3,200+; largest parish church in North America
- Debt service + utilities: ~$368,000/month (~$85,000/week)
Clergy & Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor with support from parochial vicars, deacons, a parish administrator, and a leadership team. The diocese's bishop, currently Bishop Joseph V. Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno, appoints the pastor.
- Fr. Alex Chavez — Pastor (civil engineer from Porterville; entered formation 2006; first assignment Sacred Heart, Merced; rector of St. John's Cathedral, Fresno before Good Shepherd)
- Fr. James Tasy — Parochial Vicar (ordained May 27, 2023; former music teacher at Clovis Unified; M.Div. and M.Th. from Mount Angel Seminary)
- Fr. Michael I. Egelamba, SMMM — Parochial Vicar (ordained July 20, 2013 in Nigeria; arrived in U.S. November 2024; also serves hospital ministry)
- Deacon Henry Medina — Administrator (also area director of the Bethlehem Center)
- Deacon Gary Hunt — began serving as deacon October 2019; 30-year law-enforcement veteran; passion for evangelization
- Deacon Paul Marquez — ordained October 1, 2022; retired Cal Fire chief (30 years of service)
Administrative & Faith Formation Staff
Good Shepherd's staff supports the day-to-day operation of the parish, religious education for children and families, and the parish's communications and facilities.
- Dr. Clarita Lilia Encomio — Director of Catechesis & Evangelization
- Asusena Briseno — Assistant Director of Catechesis & Evangelization
- Adriana Noricumbo — Family of Faith Formation Coordinator
- Henry Medina — Administrator
- Ruthanne Parlier — Administrative Assistant
- Eddie Rodriguez — Facilities Manager
- Gabriel Tayagua Abarca — Media Coordinator & IT Specialist
- Patty Call — parish office contact ([email protected])
Worship Sites (Churches)
Good Shepherd Parish worships across multiple historic and new sites in Visalia. Each retains its own character while being one unified parish community.
- St. Mary's (historic church, parish office) — 608 N. Church St., Visalia, CA 93291
- St. Charles Borromeo (largest parish church in North America) — 5049 W. Caldwell Ave, Visalia, CA 93277
- Holy Family — 1908 N. Court St., Visalia
- St. Thomas the Apostle — 6735 Avenue 308, Visalia
Bethlehem Center — Service to the Poor
The Bethlehem Center is the parish's principal outreach to the poor of Visalia, a mission of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish dedicated to providing food and clothing to those in need in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. Meals are served in its dining hall seven days a week, 365 days a year; pantry food is offered daily through the on-site resource center and intake office.
- Located at 1638 N. Dinuba Blvd., Visalia
- Formerly known as the Good News Center and, earlier, as Sister Ursula's Kitchen
- Operated by the Daughters of Charity and its successor, Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno
- Became a ministry of the Catholic Church of Visalia in 2010
- In 2012 alone, served more than 60,000 meals, distributed 124,000 lbs of pantry food, and provided 12,500 articles of clothing
- Area director: Deacon Henry J. Medina — (559) 734-1572, [email protected]
- Website: www.bethcenter.org
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's Catechesis & Evangelization Office coordinates faith formation for children, youth, and adults, using a 'Family of Faith' model alongside the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and prepares candidates for the sacraments of Initiation.
- Director of Catechesis & Evangelization: Dr. Clarita Lilia Encomio — (559) 205-2442
- Assistant Director: Asusena Briseno
- Family of Faith Formation Coordinator: Adriana Noricumbo
- Year 2 First Communion program with annual retreat ('Taste and See')
- High School Confirmation with annual retreat (180 students in March 2025)
- Adult Confirmation available
- RCIA / Inquiry for adults considering becoming Catholic (begins the Monday after Easter)
- Annulment Support Ministry informational workshops
Youth Ministry — Ablaze Catholic Campus Clubs
Good Shepherd's youth ministry meets teens where they are — on local high school campuses — through the Ablaze Catholic Club program.
- Ablaze Campus Club chapters at El Diamante High School and Redwood High School
- Mrs. Jacobsma — El Diamante Campus Club Advisor ([email protected])
- Mrs. Medina — Campus Club Coordinator & Redwood Campus Club Advisor ([email protected])
- Open invitation for Catholic students/teachers at other Visalia high schools to start additional chapters
Liturgical Ministries & Devotions
Parishioners are invited to serve the liturgy through a full range of lay ministries and to join regular devotions throughout the year.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors / Readers
- Sacristans
- Greeters
- Eucharistic Adoration (Sacred Heart Chapel coordinator team)
- Rosary Pledge Campaign
- Pro-Life Rosary and Dignity of Life Mass (with Bishop Brennan)
- Bereavement Ministry / Remembrance Service
- Serra Club — vocations support
George McCann Memorial Catholic School
George McCann Memorial Catholic School (also called The Catholic School of Visalia – George McCann Campus) is the parish's pre-K through 8th-grade elementary school, dedicated to forming faith-filled, active Catholics, lifelong learners, and responsible citizens.
- Address: 200 E. Race Ave., Visalia, CA 93291
- Phone: (559) 732-5831
- Grades served: PK–8
- Principal: Mrs. Karen Rosa ([email protected])
- National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) member
- Open admission regardless of race, color, or national/ethnic origin
- Website: https://catholicschoolvisalia.org/
Getting Involved & Parish Life
The parish runs an annual Parish Festival, hosts an array of retreats and small communities oriented toward evangelization, and offers several lay fraternal and devotional organizations. Newcomers are encouraged to consult the bulletin for the latest dates and contacts.
- Annual Good Shepherd Parish Festival (open to all parishioners)
- Evangelization Retreats & Small Communities
- Franciscan Seculars / Order of Secular Franciscans
- Serra Club of the Tulare/Kings Vicariate
- Advisory Councils (pastoral, finance, school)
- Bethlehem Center volunteer corps
- Hospital ministry (Fr. Michael)
- RCIA inquiry teams
- Ablaze Club and Confirmation/First Communion retreat teams
Parish Directory & Contact
Parish office hours, mailing address, and primary contact information for Good Shepherd Catholic Parish.
- Parish office: 608 N. Church St., Visalia, CA 93291
- Phone: (559) 734-9522
- Email: [email protected] (Patty Call)
- Faith Formation Office: (559) 205-2442
- Website: http://www.gscparish.com
- Bethlehem Center: (559) 734-1572, [email protected]
- School: (559) 732-5831, [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eric
Launched the St. Charles Borromeo construction project on May 12, 2017, with an anticipated cost of $16 million.
- Fr. Alex Chavez
Current pastor; appointed by Bishop Brennan after serving as rector of St. John's Cathedral, Fresno; previously associate pastor in Visalia. His tenure coincided with the completion and dedication of St. Charles Borromeo.