About St. Paul the Apostle · Coalinga, California
St. Paul the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in the small city of Coalinga, California, located in the western part of Fresno County. It is one of two parishes in the Coalinga–Avenal cluster of the Kings Vicariate of the Diocese of Fresno. The parish is served by Conventual Franciscan friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) and ministers to a bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking community. In addition to its church on Sunset Street, the parish reaches out beyond its walls with Mass celebrated at the Coalinga State Hospital and a migrant camp Mass in Spanish.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Friar Viktor Pérez, OFM Conv.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno (Kings Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Paul the Apostle welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in and around Coalinga with a full weekly schedule of Masses in both languages, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and Saturday confessions. Beyond the parish church, the friars bring the Eucharist to patients at Coalinga State Hospital and to migrant workers at a local camp — so belonging here means joining a community whose pastoral reach extends well beyond the church walls. The Conventual Franciscan leadership brings a strong tradition of music, spiritual direction (Cursillos, Spanish Marriage Encounter, Secular Franciscans), and ministry to the poor and marginalized.
Mass times at St. Paul the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Weekdays by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday after the 8:00 AM Mass, ending with Benediction at 4:30 PM (Spanish)
Parish Overview & History
St. Paul the Apostle has been the Catholic home of Coalinga's faithful since 1907, when the first church was built. The current church at 637 Sunset Street was constructed in 1949 when the parish outgrew the original structure. Today the parish is part of the Diocese of Fresno's Kings Vicariate and is one of the western anchor parishes of the diocese, sharing the vicariate with parishes in Avenal, Hanford, Lemoore, Corcoran, Laton, Riverdale and Huron.
- Church originally built 1907
- Current church built 1949
- Member of Kings Vicariate, Diocese of Fresno
Clergy & Franciscan Leadership
The parish is served by Conventual Franciscan friars (OFM Conv.) from the Province of Saint Joseph of Cupertino. The pastor is Fr. Viktor Pérez, OFM Conv., a Conventual Franciscan friar who grew up in New Mexico and earned his MDiv at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He has served in prison and hospital chaplaincy, and as a pastor in New Mexico, California and Nevada. Fr. Viktor spent over two years in Rome hearing confessions as an extraordinary confessor at the Sacred Penitentiary at St. Peter's Basilica, and previously managed the Sister Thea Bowman Food Pantry at St. Paul of the Shipwreck parish in San Francisco.
- Pastor: Rev. Friar Viktor Pérez, OFM Conv.
- Resident friar / Hospital chaplain: Br. Andrés Amador, OFM Conv. (Chaplain, Coalinga State Hospital)
Outreach: Hospital & Migrant Ministries
St. Paul the Apostle's pastoral reach extends well beyond the church walls. Br. Andrés Amador serves as chaplain of the Coalinga State Hospital, and a Sunday Mass is celebrated there at 1:30 PM for patients and staff. The parish also celebrates a 5:00 PM Sunday Mass in Spanish for migrant workers at a local camp, reflecting the agricultural character of the Coalinga area.
- Sunday 1:30 PM Mass at Coalinga State Hospital
- Sunday 5:00 PM Spanish Mass at migrant camp
Apostolates & Spiritual Direction
Through its pastor, the parish is connected to several wider faith-formation movements. Fr. Viktor Pérez serves as spiritual director for Cursillos, Spanish Marriage Encounter, and the Secular Franciscan Order, and as chaplain to the 'Hermanos de la Luz' — the Penitentes brotherhood of New Mexico. He is also a gifted musician who plays violin and sings bass with the Fresno Master Chorale and the Coro Piccolo Ensemble.
- Cursillos
- Spanish Marriage Encounter
- Secular Franciscan Order
- Hermanos de la Luz (Penitentes) chaplaincy
Vicariate & Diocese
St. Paul the Apostle belongs to the Kings Vicariate of the Diocese of Fresno, led by Rev. Michael Moore, V.F. Other parishes in the vicariate include St. Joseph in Avenal, Our Lady of Lourdes in Corcoran, Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Brigid in Hanford, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Laton, St. Peter Prince of Apostles in Lemoore, St. Ann in Riverdale, and St. Frances Cabrini in Huron.
- Diocese of Fresno
- Kings Vicariate, led by Rev. Michael Moore, V.F.
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is located at the church, 637 Sunset Street at the corner of Sunset and Jefferson in Coalinga, California 93210. The mailing address is P.O. Box 812, Coalinga, CA 93210-0812. The parish can be reached by phone at (559) 935-1872 or by fax at (559) 935-3763, and by email at [email protected].
- Address: 637 Sunset St., Coalinga, CA 93210
- Mailing: P.O. Box 812, Coalinga, CA 93210-0812
- Phone: (559) 935-1872
- Fax: (559) 935-3763
- Email: [email protected]