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Proclaim the Good News

The Diocese of Fresno's Weekly Newsletter, published every Monday morning.

December 4, 2023

The Pastoral Center will be closed on Friday,

December 8, 2023 in observance of the Solemnity

of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Office of the Bishop

Join us for the Ordination of our Diocesan Transitional Deacons!


Bishop Brennan and the Diocese of Fresno cordially invites the Faithful to the Ordination of Our Diocesan Transitional Deacons.


The Ordination Mass will be on Saturday, December 9th at Holy Spirit Church in Fresno at 10:30am. 


Please join us in celebration of our two candidates, Mr. Joseph Klinge and Mr. Adrian Arreola, as they begin their new journey as Transitional Deacons.


For those who are unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available on our website.

Learn more!

Happy Retirement to Rev. Msgr. Scott Daugherty


Bishop Brennan and the Diocese of Fresno wishes Rev. Msgr. Scott Daugherty a happy and blessed retirement. Thank you for your years of ministry and service to the Lord.

Advent Gospel Reflections

Watch the Latest Video!


The Diocese of Fresno's Advent Gospel Reflections are back!


Each week throughout the Advent Season, a special guest from the Diocese will give a reflection.


Check out the 1st Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflection from Fr. Bryon at the St. Paul Catholic Newman Center in Fresno!



The Feast Day of the

Immaculate Conception of Mary


The Diocese of Fresno commemorates the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, December 8th.


The Daily Reading is available on the USCCB website here.

View Prayers

Bishop Brennan Congratulates All Clergy Who Celebrate Anniversaries in the Month of December

Office of Communications


Diocesan Magazine OUT NOW!

Central California Catholic Life


The Advent/Christmas edition of our Central California Catholic Life magazine is now available digitally on our website.


Our magazine is a great place to discover stories from our Catholic community!

Read Here!

Parish Focus

Fr. Javier's Installation Mass

St. Mary's, Sanger


Bishop Brennan celebrated the Installation Mass of Fr. Francisco Javier Flores Lopez, R.C.J. to Pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Sanger. Congratulations, Fr. Javier!

Courtesy of Noemi Baca

Courtesy of Francie Mazanares, Bulletin/Website, Holy Spirit Church, Fresno

Blessing of Bambinelli

Holy Spirit Church, Fresno


Holy Spirit Church in Fresno invites you join them for Mass on the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) for the Blessing of Bambinelli.


Children are encouraged to bring the baby Jesus from your nativity set to Mass for a special blessing. All are welcomed to join in!


Mass Times:

  • December 16, 2023 at 4:00 PM
  • December 17, 2023 at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM


View the Flyer!



Knights in Action

Christmas Toy Donation


The Knights of Columbus Council John T. Steinbock #9525 donated toys for the children of the residents at C.A.P. Recovery Home. 


It is a joy to know that there will be smiling faces on Christmas morning thanks to the generous donations from the parishioners of St. John's Cathedral in Fresno and the Knights of Columbus!


Courtesy of Mary Harguindeguy, CDA Court St. John #2526

Random Acts of Prayers

St. Patrick's Church, Merced


The Our Lady of Peńafrancia Prayer Team and St. Patrick's Parish of Merced invite you to participate in Random Acts of Prayer! This campaign is done annually through December as a reminder to pray and act for others.


A Random Act of Prayer is a prayerful gift to a stranger in need - the homeless individual looking for a warm place for the night, the patient next to you in a doctor's waiting room, a driver on the road beside you, etc.. Even a silent prayer can do a lot for someone's day.  

Our Lady of Peńafrancia Prayer Team members visit Parishes throughout Merced county to promote Random Acts of Prayer and hope you will join in. We always pray for our loved ones - friends, family and ourselves - but this is an opportunity to focus our intentions on a stranger each day through the month of December. December can be a very difficult and lonely month for many people and we will never know how much a prayer will do.


Courtesy of Our Lady of Peńafrancia Prayer Team and St. Patrick's Church, Merced

Keep Christ in Christmas

Rosary Rally


You're invited to the Keep Christ in Christmas Rosary Rally on Saturday, December 9th beginning at 12pm.


The best way to keep Jesus Christ in our Christmas celebrations is to have him present in our daily lives. After all, He is our greatest gift and in keeping with the true spirit of Christmas and our Christmas celebration. Let’s share the good news by keeping Christmas focused on Jesus!


For more information, please view the flyer.


Courtesy of Mary Harguindeguy, Rally Captain

Learn More!

Religious Life

Candlelight Rosary Celebration

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary


The Sisters of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master invite you to a special celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.


Join them for a Candlelight Rosary Celebration on Friday, December 8th from 6PM -7PM at the PDDM Rosary Garden in Fresno.


Please view the flyer for additional details.

Courtesy of Sr. Mary Margaret, PDDM

View the Flyer!

Diocesan Retreat Centers

Advent Family Retreat

Register Today!


Join St. Anthony Retreat and Conference Center in Three Rivers for their FIRST Advent Family Retreat on December 10th from 10am to 4pm! It's just around the corner!


Spend a day preparing for the birth of our Lord with the whole family! There will be fun activities for children of all ages as well as for parents and grandparents. Retreat costs are $30 per adult and $15 per child.

Learn more and register!

Catechetical Ministry

Quick Catechesis

Family Activities during Advent


We are about to end the liturgical year and that means we begin a new one with Advent. This season of preparation for the coming of our Savior should be done as a family. If our children are young, it is sometimes difficult for them to fully understand the meaning of Advent. That is why it is important that we explain to them that Advent means a journey of preparation, that we must spend the following weeks with a different attitude to prepare our hearts and make them worthy so that baby Jesus can dwell there.


If our children are older, we can explain to them that it is necessary to work to improve our way of being and that we must also offer all our efforts so that Jesus is the master of our life.


Another important point is that we must create awareness in our children that the event that is going to take place on the night of December 24, is the birth of our Savior, the birthday of Jesus, so each one of us must give him a gift that night and that is why we prepare during that time, to give the best gift of ourselves which is a pure heart.


Article by Roman Flores, Catechetical Ministry Coordinator

Read More (ENG/ESP)

Catholic Charities

15th Annual Catholic Charities and KSEE24 Turkey Drive

Serving Families in the Greatest of Need


The 15th Annual Catholic Charities and KSEE24 Turkey Drive was a great success!


Due to the outstanding amount of support received, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fresno was able to distribute turkeys and Thanksgiving meals to more than 2,800 families in Fresno, Merced and Bakersfield.


Thank you to all who helped make this day possible!

Pictured Above: Bishop Brennan giving a blessing before the distribution of Thanksgiving meals.

Prayer of the Week

Events

Event Name

Location

Time

More Info

Candlelight Rosary Celebration

PDDM Rosary Garden, Fresno

December 8, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

View the Flyer

The Diocese of Fresno's Transitional Diaconate Ordination

Holy Spirit Church, Fresno

December 9, 2023

10:30 AM

View the Flyer

Keep Christ in Christmas

Rosary Rally

See Flyer for Details

December 9, 2023

12:00 PM

View the Flyer

Advent Family Retreat

St. Anthony Retreat Center, Three Rivers

December 10, 2023

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

View the Flyer

2nd Grand

Simbang Gabi

St. Charles Borromeo Church, Visalia

December 15, 2023 6:00 PM

View the Flyer

Blessing of the Bambinelli

Holy Spirit Church, Fresno

December 16-17, 2023

See Flyer for Details

View the Flyer

6-Day Silent Directed Retreat

St. Anthony Retreat Center, Three Rivers

January 28 -

February 3, 2024

View the Flyer

Have Something Special to Share?

We want to know! Share what's happening around our Diocese.


Contact Samantha Mejia, Promotion & Marketing Specialist at [email protected]

MISSION STATEMENT / DECLARACIÓN DE LA MISIÓN



"As God's beloved people we are called in and through the Spirit to live in unity and love and to proclaim the


Good News of Jesus, especially amongst the poor and marginal of our society."



“Como pueblo amado de Dios estamos llamados en y a través del Espíritu Santo a vivir en unidad y amor, y para anunciar la Buena Nueva de Jesús, especialmente entre los pobres y los marginados de nuestra sociedad.”

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Address


1550 North Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93703-3788


Phone: (559) 488-7400

Fax: (559) 488-7464

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