What is now the Fresno Diocese was once a very sparsely populated desert and forest land that was one portion of the vast Diocese of Guadalajara comprising some two-thirds of the total area of Mexico. In 1769, all of Upper and Lower California were added to it.

1770 The first Diocesan records are kept with the arrival of Blessed Junipero Serra, a Franciscan Missionary, and his companions.

1779 Guadalajara becomes an archdiocese, with a suffragan diocese, Sonora. This includes the Mexican States of Sonora, Sinola, and Upper and Lower California.

1784 Father Serra dies. During the course of his fourteen year ministry in “New Spain,” he establishes nine missions and baptizes over six thousand people.

1823 Mexico wins its independence from Spain.

1834 The Catholic hierarchy of Mexico proposes the “Diocese of the Californias” which includes Upper and Lower California. The See city is located in Santa Barbara. The first and only bishop of the new diocese is Francisco Diego y Moreno.

1846 The United States purchases “Upper California” from Mexico.

1850 Rome erects the Diocese of Monterey to embrace the entire State of California. The first Bishop of the Diocese is a Spanish Dominican, Rev. Joseph Sadoc Alemany. He had become a naturalized American citizen.

1853 The Archdiocese of San Francisco is erected. The Diocese of Monterey receives its first bishop, Most Rev. Thaddeus Amat.

1857 St. Joseph’s Church in Mariposa is established.

1859 Bishop Amat renames his jurisdiction as the Diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles. The Episcopal See moves to Los Angeles.

1861 St. Mary’s Church in Visalia is established.

1867 Our Lady of Mercy Church in Merced is established.

1868 The Diocese of Grass Valley is erected as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. It is renamed the Diocese of Sacramento in 1886.

1881 St. Joachim Church in Madera and St. Francis Church in Bakersfield are established.

1882 St. John’s {Cathedral} Church is established in Fresno.

1919 The Shrine of St. Therese is established in Fresno. It is the first parish in the world dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux.

1922 Rome erects the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno. The other ecclesiastical jurisdictions are Los Angeles-San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco. Most Rev. John J. Cantwell, Bishop of Los Angeles-San Diego, administers the affairs of the Monterey- Fresno Diocese.

1924 Most Rev. John B. MacGinley is installed as the first Bishop of the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. A serious cardiac condition causes him to resign in 1932. He dies in October, 1969. At the time of his installation, the diocese contains: 42 parishes, 22 missions, 11 parochial schools, 2 hospitals and 60 priests. The Catholic population reaches 50,000.

1933 Rt. Rev. Philip Scher, vicar-general under Bishop MacGinley, is consecrated Bishop of the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. At the time of his consecration, the diocese contains only four deaneries: Fresno, Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and Monterey. This includes: 54 parishes, 25 missions, 17 parochial schools, 4 high schools, 3 hospitals and 99 priests. The Catholic population is estimated to be 79,000.

1936 The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is erected. San Diego and Tucson become suffragan dioceses.
1938 Bishop Scher creates additional deaneries of Hanford, Merced and Santa Cruz.

1946 After leading and guiding the diocese for 13 years, including the years of the Depression and World War II, Bishop Scher’s health fails and he is hospitalized. Most Rev. Joseph T. McGucken, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, administers the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. In December, Most Rev. Aloysius J. Willinger, C.Ss.R., who had been Bishop of Ponce, Puerto Rico, is named Coadjutor Bishop of the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. The diocese contains 65 parishes, 43 missions, 21 Mass stations, 75 chapels, 40 parochial schools, 7 high schools, 5 hospitals, 130 priests, 14 brothers and 343 sisters. The Catholic population is over 167,000.

1955 The Diocese of Monterey-Fresno experiences rapid growth during this time. It boasts 99 parishes, 51 missions, 17 Mass stations, 75 chapels, 20 elementary schools, 9 high schools, 7 hospitals, 220 priests, 60 brothers and 480 sisters. The Catholic population exceeds 300,000.

1967 On October 25, Bishop Willinger resigns. The Diocese of Monterey-Fresno is divided into two Sees. 

On December 15, 1967, the Diocese of Fresno is erected and Bishop Timothy Manning, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, becomes the first Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno. The new diocese embraces eight counties: Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mariposa and Tulare, covering an area of over 35,000 square miles. The estimated Catholic population is 307,000. Bishop Harry A. Clinch, Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop Aloysius J. Willinger since 1957, becomes the first bishop of the new Diocese of Monterey.

1969 Bishop Timothy Manning is elevated to Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles and Most Rev. Hugh A. Donohoe is appointed the second Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno.

1975 Most Rev. Roger M. Mahony is appointed Auxillary Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno.

1980 Auxiliary Bishop Roger M. Mahony is appointed Bishop of the Stockton Diocese. Bishop Hugh A. Donohoe retires and Most Rev. Joseph J. Madera, M.Sp.S., is appointed the third Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno. The diocesan catholic population is estimated to be 307,000. There are 85 parishes, 38 missions, 23 stations, 33 chapels, and 25 elementary schools.

1991 Bishop Joseph J. Madera, M.Sp.S., is transferred to the Archdiocese of Military Services, Washington, D.C.. Most Rev. Norman F. McFarland, Bishop of Orange, serves as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Fresno until the Most Rev.John T. Steinbock is appointed the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno. Prior to this appointment Bishop Steinbock was the Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. There are an estimated 330,416 Catholics in the Diocese of Fresno, 86 parishes, 39 missions, 8 stations, 23 elementary schools, 2 high schools and 3 hospitals.

2000 At the beginning of the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Fresno has an estimated Catholic population of 338,978. There are 82 active priests, 3 priests working/studying outside the diocese, and 21 retired, sick, or absent priests. Additionally, there are 52 religious and extern priests, yielding a total of 158 priests of the diocese. Twenty-five men are enrolled in seminaries. Four deacons, three brothers and 133 sisters serve the parishes, schools and other institutions. There are 84 parishes and 40 missions. Three Catholic hospitals, two health care organizations, one home for the aged, and one specialized home, provide health services within the diocese to 793,331 patients annually. There are eight social service and assistance organizations serving 303,097 individuals annually. Two catholic high schools and 23 elementary schools provide a catholic education to 7,262 students. 40,440 students are enrolled in CCD classes.

2003 On January 11, Bishop John T. Steinbock ordains 22 men to the Order of Permanent Diaconate, the first class ever formed in and for the Diocese of Fresno. On June 6, St. John’s Cathedral is rededicated on its 100th anniversary. St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery (Fresno) announces its first expansion in 25 years, adding 3,300 sites. The Diocese leases the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Three Rivers from the Franciscans who can no longer provide the necessary staff. The Diocese has an option to buy.

2004 The Pastoral Center Chancery celebrates the 50th anniversary of its relocation to the grounds of the Ryan Preparatory College and Minor Seminary on Fresno Street. The Catholic Community of St. Jude (Easton) and Our Lady of the Assumption (Caruthers) is established by joining the Catholic communities of Easton and Caruthers.

2005 Special Masses held throughout the Diocese upon the death in April of Pope John Paul II, as well as in honor of his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.

2006 Diocese purchases the St. Anthony Retreat Center, Three Rivers, from the Franciscans and makes plans for a youth center addition. Porterville’s second Church, Holy Cross, is completed and blessed.

2007 Ground is broken for the hall of The Catholic Church of Visalia’s fourth church, St. Charles Borromeo. The Diocese collaborates with Holy Names University (Oakland) and introduces a three-year Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Pastoral Ministries, beginning in January

2008. The classes are to be held at various sites in the Diocese. The Diocese of Fresno celebrates forty years as a Diocese.

2008 Two new parishes are established in Bakersfield: San Clemente (which had mission status for many years) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Diocese Channel KNXT 49 acquires Channel 38 in Bakersfield. The Holy Ghost Parish becomes Our Lady of Miracles Church in Gustine. It was later renamed “The Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles.”

2009 Most Reverend John T. Steinbock, Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, celebrates his 25th Episcopal Anniversary (July 14, 2009), having been consecrated by Timothy Cardinal Manning in Los Angeles, July 14, 1984.
Our Lady of La Vang Mission is created as a distinct mission, being separated from St. John’s Cathedral, Fresno. Groundbreaking takes place for St. Peter, Prince of Apostles, new church, Lemoore. Site work begins on the Santa Teresita Youth Conference Center at St. Anthony Retreat Center, Three Rivers.

2010 The Catholic Church of Visalia begins a year long celebration of 150 years of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in September. The construction of the Santa Teresita Youth Conference Center buildings at St. Anthony Retreat Center, Three Rivers, commences. Bishop John T. Steinbock, 4th Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, dies on December 5th. Msgr. Myron J. Cotta is elected Diocesan Administrator by the College of Consultors on December 7th. Ground breaking takes place for two new churches: St. Mary Queen of Apostles, Fresno and St. Anthony of Padua, Reedley.

2011 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Bakersfield, is renamed Our Lady of Guadalupe, Co- Patroness of the Unborn. St. Peter Prince of Apostles Church, Lemoore, is dedicated and consecrated on October 16th. St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community Center of Visalia is dedicated and blessed August 19th. Bishop Armando X. Ochoa, who was the Bishop of El Paso, is appointed on December 1, 2011 as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno.

2012 Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa was installed on February 2, 2012.

2019 Bishop Joseph V. Brennan was installed on May 2, 2019.