Pope Francis has named Jesuit Father Michael Barber, 58, a member of the Jesuit Province of California and director of spiritual formation at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton (Boston), Massachusetts, as bishop of Oakland, California. The appointment was publicized in Washington, May 3, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

On Saturday, April 27, fifty-six students graduated from the Vino Nuevo and New Wine ministry formation program at St. Charies Boromeo Church in Visalia. Bishop Armando X. Ochoa presented certificates to those completing the three-year diocesan formation and certification program for lay ecclesial ministry, which provides human development, theological and spiritual formation for those who are or wish to be serving in church ministry.

These sacred days are moments of faith. These days we move with the mystery of the human Jesus in his personal journey to complete on earth, the mission of sanctification and unification of God’s people. During Lent we have reflected on our sins. We have prayed fervently to change our hearts and minds so as to reflect the heart and mind of Jesus. We have questioned our personal response to the suffering in the world. We have taken time, particularly this year to pray for a retiring Pope, and to pray with great earnest for a new leader to carry the Church into the future. We have been reminded in the press that we are a sinful people, always in need of reconciliation, and that all levels of the Church, from cardinals to bishops, to priests and the laity, there is much to be done to turn to justice. Jesus simply walked, prayed, cured, forgave, and suffered. It was his lot, but it is our lot. His humility is to be our humility.

Mandatory Safe Environment Training for All Clergy, Employees and Volunteers throughout the Diocese is Completed! Since the fall of 2012, 89 parishes and their missions and all 22 Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese of Fresno have been extremely busy complying with the mandatory Safe Environment Training for their employees and all volunteers who have contact with minors. Read more...

Bishop Armando X. Ochoa, D.D. and all present at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Visalia, witnessed over two hundred forty-plus couples renew vows on their wedding anniversaries, ranging from 25 to 73 years on World Marriage Day, at the Bishop’s Annual Anniversary Mass of Married Couples, February 10, 2013. The Catholic Church of Visalia.

February 1, 2012 , our Bishop Armando Ochoa gathered with a good number of the Pastoral Center staff and other concerned friends to bless the new Bishop Steinbock Center. A special guest was Fr. Leo Steinbock from the Los Angeles Archdiocese, a brother of our beloved former bishop.