St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church

St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. The Claretians began to minister to the Spanish and English speaking in the suburb of Fresno in 1951. During this year a temporary building was created that would eventually house the permanent building which now stands today. The church was the first to be named by the U.S. Claretians. Over time improvements were made and a site was purchased that would eventually house a permanent parish.

Although the parish is part of the official Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno it holds loose ties to the dioceses. Its parish priests are assigned and directed by the Claretian U.S. Western Province in Los Angeles California.

The parish boasts a strong growing Hispanic community, under the current direction of Rev. Gabriel Ruiz, CMF with assistance of associate pastors Rev. Ralph Berg, CMF and Rev. Albert Vázquez, CMF.

Past Parish Priests

Rev. Ron Alves, CMF
Rev. Cecil Barron, CMF
Rev. Robert J. Billett, CMF
Rev. Brian Culley, CMF
Rev. Tony Diaz, CMF
Rev. Dennis Gallo, CMF
Rev. Art Gramaje, CMF
Rev. Henry J. Luna, CMF
Rev. Darrin Merlino, CMF
Rev. Quyen Nguyen, CMF
Rev. Anthony Okolo, CMF
Rev. Valentín Rámon, CMF
Rev. José Sánchez, CMF
Rev. Rosendo Urrabazo, CMF
Rev. Fernando Vega, CMF

External links

• Claretian Missionaries of the U.S. Western Province
• Diocese of Fresno official website

Diocese of Fresno Bishops Timothy Manning Hugh Aloysius Donohoe José de Jesús Madera Uribe John Thomas Steinbock Armando Xavier Ochoa Churches Cathedral St. John Cathedral Parishes St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church, Fresno Education High School Garces Memorial High School, Bakersfield San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno Catholicism Portal