Our Faith, Our Blessing, Our Commitment…

TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD

St. Joseph, Avenal, and St. Cecilia, Kettleman City, CA

St. Joseph & St. Cecilia Catholic Church began in 1941 with less than one hundred households. Today, we have about one thousand families and continue a path of growth. For years we have been planning and fundraising to better serve our increasing number of families and to expand our facilities. Like other Catholic communities in our Diocese, we realize with a larger church and parish facilities, we will be able to accommodate more people in a more safer way with fewer weekend masses.

St. Joseph and St. Cecilia’s is still operating out of the same facilities we initially started with. We have known for years that we are continuously outgrowing our church and parish facilities. To better serve our children, families, people, and community, we need to raise the necessary funding to move forward.

In 2008-09, Fr. Miguel Angel Gutierrez, MSC, searched for ways to build a new church at our current location. Bishop John T. Steinbock recommended a new site and land was purchased, one mile east of our present location.

In 2012-13, Fr. Leo Morales began the entitlement process and contracted with Lionsgate Construction, LLC to engineer the new property and create a master site plan.

In 2014-15, Fr. Santiago Iriarte completed the master site plan, the new church design layout, and site work (soil engineering, underground utilities, building pads, storm drains, sidewalks, and initial parking spaces).

In 2021, Fr. Henry C. Aguwa was appointed Parish Administrator. He and Parish leaders are enthusiastically moving forward with the master plan to build phase II, a NEW CHURCH.

Bishop Brennan approved St. Joseph to hire a campaign company to assist us raise the necessary capital to build our new church, on our new property. “Our Faith, Our Blessing, Our Commitment…
TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD,” began.

Our challenge is to attain the largest capital goal in St. Joseph and St. Cecilia's parish history:
Building a new Church and Parish facilities on our new property, over the next 5 to 10 years.

The new Parish Facilities will consist of:

- BUILDING A NEW CHURCH (Phase Il)
- A multipurpose hall & classrooms
- Office facilities
- Educational facilities
- The rectory (priests' residence)

Fr. Henry, the parish finance council and staff are working in conjunction with our campaign committees and the City of Avenal to diligently accomplish our vision, mission, and goals. Please join us in prayer, that God will graciously give us the time, talent, and financial resources, to fulfill the vision to build a new house of worship in Avenal! We place our trust in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and the people who will assist and support us in this effort.

If you would like to learn more about the building of the new Church and Parish facilities for Saint Joseph and Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, please contact Fr. Henry C. Aguwa.