The merger of parishes (also known as "clustering") is an innovative and practical concept meant to provide a superior level of service to God's people in a time of limited personnel and rising costs. It has been successful for many years in dioceses throughout the United States where there is a critical shortage of priests.

With the blessing and encouragement of the Bishop, our parishes, without losing their individual identities, have united under one, common administration and are being served by a team of priests. With the help of our dedicated deacons, women religious, pastoral staff and a host of enthusiastic volunteers, we have eliminated duplication of services and provided a more cost-effective administrative model. At the same time, working together as one, unified Catholic Community, we are also able to better serve not only our Catholic people, but the entire Visalia community with a common voice and a common Catholic vision.

By combining our financial and human resourses, we have more efficiently directed our efforts to serve the Catholic Community through the celebration of the Sacraments, sound Catholic Faith Formation, a continuing dedication to the poor, and the active witness to the Gospel for all our people.

This new direction has been a bold step toward the future.  With complete trust in the Lord and in the good will of our people, this endeavor has proved to benefit our Catholic community. May God, our good and gracious Father, watch over us and bless us all with wisdom and courage to faithfully continue to do His Holy Will.