I am originally from the east coast of Mexico, the City of Matamoros, in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is situated across Brownsville, Texas. I am the youngest of eleven, thirteen, including mother and father. My family and I immigrated from in 1980 and settled in the City of Porterville. I was only 7yrs old at the time. I attended Belleview Elementary from 2nd grade thru 6th. I then attended Bartlett Middle School and graduated from Porterville High School in 1991. I was then blessed with the opportunity to attend Fresno State University, where I majored in Civil Engineering in the fall of 1997.

I worked approximately 8 years as a Civil Engineer for the California Department of Transportation. I worked in three of their units, they are: Construction, Project Management, and Design. The last project I worked on was the preliminary design work of the 6 mile stretch of Highway 101 in the City of Prunedale, where 156 and 101 merge.

I started discerning this awesome call to the priesthood months after I had graduated from college, and as I was working as an engineer.  I finally responded to our Lord’s call to follow Him as a priest and entered priestly formation in 2006.

I attended St. John’s Seminary, in Camarillo, Ca. I was ordained a priest in 2012 and since I have and continue to be extremely honored, grateful, and joyful to have received and responded to our Lord’s invitation to serve him as an ordained priest.

My first priestly assignment was in Merced at Sacred Heart parish, which I refer to as my first love. 10 months after a need arose in Huron, Saint Francis Cabrini parish, and I was sent by our bishop there. I served there for 1yr and 3 months until another need arose and bishop assigned me here to the beautiful City of Visalia as associate pastor.

It was a great joy to have worked with Fr. Eric for 2 yrs here at Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. I then was asked by bishop Armando to be rector of St. John’s Cathedral. I was there for the last 3 years. I was asked by Bishop Brennan to be the pastor of this our parish. I have only been ordained for 8 yrs and my experiences have been beyond all my expectations. I praise God our Father for that. I return to you as your pastor with great enthusiasm and joy. I know the challenges ahead are monumental, but with God not insurmountable. Together, guided by God’s infinite grace, we will accomplish that which our Lord through his Church asks of us.

Rest assured of my daily prayers for each and everyone of you, my dear parishioners. I ask for your continual prayers as well.

May God continue to bless, guide, and protect us all, Fr. Alex Chavez 

Originally considering a career in law and government, Father Dalton was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fresno on May 28, 2022. Born in Visalia in 1993, Father Dalton is the second of three children with which the Lord chose to bless Tony and Penni Rogers. Raised in the Porterville/Terra Bella area as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, Father Dalton attended St. Anne's Catholic School, where he was eventually received into the Catholic Faith. Very active in the leadership of his high school, parish, and community, he decided to pursue studies at U.C. Merced, where he earned his B.A. in political science. God kept tugging at his heart until he couldn’t resist the call to discern whether he might best serve the Lord as a priest. In 2015, Father Dalton entered priestly formation at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon. There he completed the M.A. in Philosophy (2018), M.A. in Theology (2022), M.Div (2022), and S.T.B. (2022). Fr. Dalton is excited to begin his priestly ministry at Good Shepherd Catholic Parish of Visalia.

We are working on gathering more information about Fr. Jose Maria Carrillo's background. Please check back soon for his full story!

On the 22nd day of January, 1980, Rev. Fr. Michael Ibeawuchi Egelamba, SMMM was born into the family of Late Mr Vincent Machiadighikwe Egelamba Nzenwa and Mrs Clementina Egelamba of Nsugbu na Nruru, Umuehem Obokwu in Ezinihitte Mbaise L.G.A., Imo State of Nigeria. He is the 4th child and 3rd son of the family.

As soon as his hands were able to hold and motion the determined course of chalks and pencils, Fr Michael was sent to Obizi Central School (Omega) where he was taught to crackle and unravel the mystery of ABC. His success in this field of initiation into the ‘obscured world’ of figures and alphabetic combination spurred him into quest for a secondary education. Thus, he proceeded to Udo Secondary Technical School where he distinguished himself in character and learning.

Still at his tender age, Fr Michael developed a deep-seated yearning for the service of God and humanity. Consequently, he did not only join but also became a very strong member of many Catholic Pious Association including the Catholic Biblical Movement (CBM) and Catholic Lay Readers Association. In addition, he devoted his time to teaching of Catechism and organizing the affairs of Block Rosary.

Subsequent upon his admission into the Sons Mary Mother of Mercy Congregation, he did his postulancy at Mercy Seminary Bende between the years 2002 and 2003. Then, he was admitted into the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy Novitiate for an uninterrupted Canonical Year of Novitiate at the end of which he had his first Religious Profession on 8th September, 2004.

After his Religious Profession he was sent to St. Thomas Aquinas major Seminary for his Philosophical Studies. There, Fr. Michael proved his outstanding brilliance and obtained his Bachelor of Arts (B.A) from Benue State University and a Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil) from Urbanian University Rome simultaneously. To match his proven intellectualism with the existential world of everydayness and practical living, he was sent to Holy Family Secondary School Umundugba for a one year Church Youth Service (Pastoral Year). There, he functioned as the School’s bursar, the Community Procurator and as an astute teacher. After the one year of pastoral experience, Fr Michael proceeded to Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri, in 2009, for his Theological Studies which concluded successfully with another Bachelor of Arts (B.A) from Imo State University Owerri and a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D) from the Pontifical Urbanian University Rome. While in the Seminary, he exhibited his high leadership qualities as is evident in the delicate functions he was entrusted with: he was the Secretary of his set, manager of the Community Computer Department, editor of the Voice of Mercy Magazine, Seminary Receptionist, Sanitary Inspector, and Sacristan, etc.

Fr Michael's training for the Catholic Priesthood was intermittently complemented by series of apostolic works where he gained adequate pastoral experience. He worked in these places:

• Mercy Seminary Bende, Umuahia, Abia State, 2002/2003 (Postulancy)

• Ss Peter and Paul Parish (Community) Umuawa Alaocha, Umuahia Diocese, 2005

• Mary Immaculate Parish Ugep, Ogoja Diocese, 2006

• Sacred Heart Parish Ubakala, Umuahia Diocese, 2007

• Holy Family Secondary School Umundugba, Orlu Diocese, 2008/2009 (Pastoral Year)

• Regina Pacis Parish Amaudara, Aba Diocese, 2010

• St. Joseph Parish Egbema Ozubulu, Nnewi Diocese, 2011

• St. Theresa’s Parish Amankwu Arochukwu, Umuahia Diocese, 2012.

As required by the Church, Fr. Michael progressed in ecclesiastical levels while hopefully marching towards answering God’s call. Accordingly, he was installed a Lector and an Acolyte in March 2011 and March 2012 respectively, professed perpetually on 14th December, 2012, and was elevated to the clerical state with his Diaconate Ordination on 15 December, 2012 and then was ordained a Catholic Priest on 20th July, 2013 at Mater Dei Cathedral Umuahia by His Lordship Most Rev. Dr Lucius I. Ugorji.

After his ordination to the Catholic Priesthood, Fr Mike had worked in the following places:

• St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Awarra - Owerri Nigeria (Parochial Vicar, 2013 - 2015)

• St. George Catholic Church Omoba  - Aba Nigeria (ParishAdministrator, 2015 - 2017)

• Holy Family Secondary School Umundugba (School Manager, 2017 - 2024)

As it pleases God, Fr Michael left Nigeria for the US in November, 2024 on the invitation of His Lordship Most Revd Joseph Brennan , the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno. On arriving the US, the Bishop appointed him to serve at Good Shepherd Parish Visalia as a Parochial Vicar and in the Hospital Ministry.

Fr. Michael is socially a marvelous, easygoing and compassionate fellow who is ever-ready to help others with his time, talent and treasures. His hobbies include: putting smiles on people, writing and reading of insightful stories, Listening to music and cracking incisive jokes. He is simply eco-friendly!