About St. Mary (Old Church) · Sanger, California
St. Mary's Parish in Sanger, California is a historic Catholic community established as a parish on August 10, 1922, with roots going back to 1901 when 'Aunt' Mary Lafferty helped build Sanger's first Catholic mission church. The parish has been served by the Rogationist Fathers (R.C.J.) since July 1, 1978, and today worships at two locations: the Old Church on O Street (828 O Street) and the newer St. Mary's Church at North & Bethel Avenue, consecrated by Bishop John T. Steinbock on January 11, 2000. The parish also oversees mission churches of St. Katherine in Del Rey and St. Hannibal Chapel at St. Anthony's Ranch, and serves a vibrant bilingual (English/Spanish) congregation in the eastern San Joaquin Valley.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. John Bruno, R.C.J. (Vicar Forane)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish with deep roots in the Sanger community dating to 1901, and the spiritual and charitable reach of the Rogationist Fathers since 1978. Parishioners can worship at either the historic Old Church on O Street or the newly consecrated New Church at North & Bethel, attend daily Mass in either language, and grow through RCIA/OCIA, faith formation, a thriving youth ministry (Agape), and dozens of parish groups and choirs. Outreach flows through the Fr. Hannibal House and Social Center and Thrift Store, which serve those in need across Sanger and surrounding towns — making St. Mary's a parish where one can both encounter Christ and put faith into concrete service.
Mass times at St. Mary (Old Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:30–6:45 pm (O Street)
- Thursday 6:00–6:45 pm (O Street)
- Saturday 2:15–3:15 pm (O Street)
- Saturday 6:00–8:00 pm (New Church, 6:30–7:00 pm per bulletin)
Adoration times
- Thursday after 5:30 pm Spanish Mass (O Street)
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 pm Adoration and Benediction, bilingual (O Street)
- 1st Saturday of the month after 6:30 pm Mass
Parish History & Heritage
St. Mary's Parish traces its roots to 1901, when 'Aunt' Mary Lafferty gathered funds to build Sanger's first Catholic mission church on Seventh Street. For 20 years the mission was served from Fresno, Reedley, and Clovis until it became an independent parish on August 10, 1922, under Reverend J.W. Smiers. The parish grew rapidly through the 20th century, building the present O Street church in 1947, expanding to mission work in Del Rey in 1944, and dedicating a new church at North & Bethel Avenue in 2000. The Rogationist Fathers have served the parish since 1978, and on August 10, 2021, the community opened the celebration of its centennial year.
- 1901 — 'Aunt' Mary Lafferty founds first Catholic mission in Sanger
- 1922 — Established as a parish, August 10
- 1944 — Del Rey mission (St. Katherine's) established under Fr. Robert H. Lewis
- 1947 — First Mass in new O Street church, April 6
- 1963 — St. Mary's Hall groundbreaking (Feb 10), first banquet October
- 1972 — Golden Anniversary celebrated under Monsignor Maurice Lahey
- 1978 — Rogationist Fathers (R.C.J.) arrive July 1
- 1989 — Fr. Hannibal House and Social Center founded
- 2000 — New St. Mary's Church consecrated January 11 by Bishop John T. Steinbock
- 2021 — Centennial opening Mass on August 10 with Bishop Joseph Brennan
Our Clergy & Religious
The parish is entrusted to the Rogationist Fathers, a religious congregation founded by St. Hannibal Di Francia and devoted to prayer for vocations and service of the poor. Father John Bruno, R.C.J., serves as Pastor and Vicar Forane; he is assisted by Rogationist parochial vicars and deacons, along with the Sisters of the Divine Zeal.
- Rev. John Bruno, R.C.J. — Pastor, Vicar Forane
- Rev. Denny Joseph, R.C.J. — Parochial Vicar, Superior
- Rev. Devassy Painadath, R.C.J. — Parochial Vicar, Missionary
- Rev. Mark Robin Destura, R.C.J.
- Rev. Rene Panlasigui, R.C.J.
- Rev. Peter Quinto, R.C.J.
- Deacon David Alanis
- Deacon Cesar Gonzales
- Sr. Noemi Luna, Srs. of the Divine Zeal
- Minnie Kirsch — Business Manager
- Lulu Torres — Parish Secretary
Worship Times & Locations
St. Mary's Parish worships at three locations: the Old Church at 828 O Street, the New St. Mary's Church at 12050 E. North Avenue (North & Bethel), and mission churches in Del Rey and at St. Anthony's Ranch. Mass is offered in English, Spanish, and bilingual (children's) formats throughout the week.
- New Church (North & Bethel): Sat 5 pm English, 6:30 pm Spanish; Sun 7:30 am English, 9 am Spanish, 11 am English, 1 pm Spanish, 6 pm Bilingual Children's Mass
- Old Church (O Street): Mon–Fri 7 am English; Thu 5:30 pm Spanish
- St. Katherine's (Del Rey, 5375 Carmel Ave): Sat 5:30 pm Spanish, Sun 9:30 am English; Wed 5:30 pm Spanish; 1st Fri 5:30 pm Spanish
- St. Hannibal Chapel (St. Anthony's Ranch, 2688 S. Newmark Ave): Contact rectory for schedule
Faith Formation & OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA) is the formal process by which adults and teens enter the Catholic Church — whether they are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist. St. Mary's invites anyone with questions about God, faith, and the Church to come and discern.
- Coordinator: Millie Munoz, 559-240-7006
- Email: [email protected]
- Open to unbaptized adults, baptized non-Catholics, and baptized Catholics seeking full communion
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Mary's offers more than thirty parish ministries and groups spanning youth, family, liturgical, devotional, social, and charitable work — offered in both English and Spanish to serve the parish's bilingual community.
- Youth: Agape Youth Group, Teen Angels, Altar Servers (SMAS)
- Vocations: LARVA — Lay Rogationist Vocation Animators
- Devotional: Divine Mercy, Legion of Mary, Grupo de Oración, Padres y Madres Orantes, Sociedad Guadalupana, Consagrados al Inmaculado Corazón de María, Grupo Preciosa Sangre, Adoración Nocturna
- Family: Marriage Preparation, Marriage and Family Counseling, Quinceañera Coordinator, Silver Stars (Senior Citizens)
- Service: Knights of Columbus (English & Spanish), Catholic Daughters, Italian Catholic Federation, Mission Tonala, Altar Society
- Liturgical: Lectors & Commentators (English & Spanish), Sociedad de Altar (Del Rey), parish choirs
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Multiple choirs serve the parish's English and Spanish Masses, giving parishioners of all ages a place to participate in the liturgy through sacred music.
- Adult English Choir (7:30 am) — Efren Rubio, 488-6683
- Children's Choir (11:00 am, 2nd Sunday) — Beth Musgrave, 876-3936
- 11:00 am Choir (1st & 3rd Sundays) — Julie Mendoza, 824-4280
- 11:00 am Choir (4th Sunday) — Teresa Castillo, 365-3160
- Adult Spanish Choir (Sun 9 am) — Mary Lombardo, 940-0207
- San Pedro Choir (Sun 1 pm) — Rolando Rodríguez, Juan Silva
- Blanca Almaraz Choir (Sat 7 pm) — 284-4599
- Del Rey Choir (Sat 5:30 pm) — Lourdes Chavez
Mission Churches & Outreach
Beyond its two Sanger church sites, St. Mary's Parish shepherds two mission communities and runs an outreach ministry for the poor that has served Sanger and surrounding towns since 1989.
- St. Katherine's Church, Del Rey (5375 Carmel Ave) — Saturday 5:30 pm Spanish, Sunday 9:30 am English; mission since 1944
- St. Hannibal Chapel, St. Anthony's Ranch, Sanger (2688 S. Newmark Ave, 559-875-5808)
- Fr. Hannibal House and Social Center (1989) — service of the poor
- Fr. Hannibal House Thrift Store — 1501 14th Street, Sanger, 559-875-0564
Sacraments
St. Mary's celebrates all seven sacraments, with preparation programs for baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, and quinceañera, plus OCIA for adults and teens. The Annual Confirmation Mass is celebrated by the Bishop of Fresno each year.
- Baptisms — call parish office
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation — Annual Mass with the Bishop of Fresno
- Weddings — call parish office
- Quinceañeras — Julia Flores, 559-643-7533
- Anointing of the Sick — call rectory
- OCIA / RCIA — Millie Munoz, 559-240-7006, [email protected]
- Holy Orders — Rogationist vocations supported through LARVA
Parish Office & Contact
The rectory is open weekdays for visits and calls; the parish communicates primarily through its website, email, and weekly bilingual bulletin.
- St. Mary's Rectory: 828 O Street, Sanger, CA 93657; P.O. Box 335
- Office: (559) 875-2025 — Fax: (559) 875-2618
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm (closed 12 noon–1 pm)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stmarysparishsanger.org
- Safe Environment: https://safeandsacred-fresno.org
- Rogationist Residence / Vocation Center: 2688 S. Newmark Ave, Sanger, CA 93657 — (559) 875-5808
Rogationist Identity & Centennial
Since 1978 the parish has been entrusted to the Rogationist Fathers (R.C.J.), a congregation founded by St. Hannibal Di Francia and devoted to prayer for vocations and service of the poor. The Fr. Hannibal House and Social Center, founded in 1989, gives concrete expression to that mission in Sanger. The parish celebrated the opening of its centennial year on August 10, 2021, with Bishop Joseph Brennan and a procession to a new mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe by artist Ramiro Martinez.
- Parish entrusted to the Rogationist Fathers (R.C.J.) on July 1, 1978
- Charism: prayer for vocations and service of the poor
- Fr. Hannibal House and Social Center founded 1989
- Centennial opened August 10, 2021
- Our Lady of Guadalupe mural unveiled by Bishop Brennan and Mayor Eli Ontiveros
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J.W. Smiers1922–1924
First pastor when the parish was established August 10, 1922
- Rev. Robert H. Lewis1935–
Guided the founding of the Del Rey mission, St. Katherine's Church (1944)
- Rev. Michael Managan1945–1953
Built the present O Street church and rectory; first Mass in new church April 6, 1947
- Monsignor Joseph Losada1959–1961
Negotiated purchase of 10 acres at North & Bethel Avenues; died in automobile accident in Spain Sept 1, 1961
- Rev. Francis J. Gallagherc. 1961–
Built St. Mary's Hall (groundbreaking Feb 10, 1963); renovated O Street church for Vatican II
- Rev. Harry L. Eggert1969–
Installed air conditioning and paved parking lot; elevated to Monsignor during tenure
- Monsignor Maurice Laheypost-1969
Led the parish's Golden Anniversary celebration in 1972
- Rev. Salvatore Ciranni, R.C.J.1978–1981
First Rogationist pastor; died in Messina, Italy, September 24, 2015
- Rev. Luigi Lazarri, R.C.J.1981–1984
Developed lay ministries including Agape Youth Group; now residing in Italy
- Rev. John Bruno, R.C.J.1984–2000
Began the fundraising campaign that built the new church; consecrated Jan 11, 2000; reassigned to St. Elizabeth's Van Nuys
- Rev. Vito Di Marzio, R.C.J.2000–2004
Succeeded Fr. Bruno as pastor
- Rev. Fillipo Puntrello, R.C.J.2004–2008
Pastor
- Rev. Peter Quinto, R.C.J.2008–2012
Pastor
- Rev. Rene Panlasigui, R.C.J.2012
Administered the parish awaiting Fr. Bruno's return
- Rev. John Bruno, R.C.J.2012–Present
Returned as pastor; Vicar Forane; led 100th anniversary celebration in 2021