The modest south Central Valley agricultural town of Visalia, California, is now home to North America's largest Catholic parish church.

The Diocese of Fresno celebrated the dedication Mass of St. Charles Borromeo last week, where the 34,000 square foot church now accommodates 3,200 Catholics each Mass.

“This Church is a physical manifestation and powerful symbol of hope in its own right,” said Diocese of Fresno Bishop Joseph V. Brennan. “Thousands of people will come here to be fed and nourished by Word and Sacrament. Thousands more will be nourished, spiritually and physically, by those whose lives and ministry will be shaped and inspired by what takes place here.”

St. Charles is one of four churches in the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Visalia and will serve the area’s 14,000 Catholic families.

In addition to its large size, the Church features artistic elements that pay homage to the local landscape. The tabernacle is made of local Sequoia redwood dating back 1,500 years.

The handcrafted mural on the back of the Church represents the heavens and the Central Valley’s landscape and agriculture, including dairy cattle, orange trees, the Sierra Nevada mountain range, field crops, and beef cattle. There are also oak trees, a protected species in the Central Valley.

The cupola features a painted mural of the four Gospel writers, surrounded by stars and a rendering from the Hubble Space Telescope. Future plans include shrines to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Fatima and four smaller shrines dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Divine Mercy, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. These will be positioned for parishioners to see on their way back to the pews after receiving communion.

Click here to see the video of the dedication Mass and a special message from Bishop Brennan.

More than 30 California Catholics were in Washington, D.C., last week for the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering.

The delegates met with Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Diane Feinstein’s offices to ask for their support on three issues: strengthening the Child Tax Credit, supporting robust international humanitarian assistance, and providing Afghan nationals with a pathway to citizenship.

“It was a great opportunity to connect with the California Senators’ offices and advocate for relief for so many who are suffering,” said California Catholic Conference Director of Social Justice and Environmental Stewardship Linda Wanner. “We hope to have even more join us next year to make even more of an impact on our federal political landscape.”

On February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated large areas of central Turkey and northwest Syria. The death toll has surpassed 22,000 and continues to climb. The earthquake was the worst to strike Turkey in the last century, and the region experienced a second magnitude 7.7 quake later that day.  
 
The devastation has affected all aspects of life in the countries. Across affected areas in both countries, apartment buildings and schools have been leveled. For Syrians, the damage occurred in regions already devastated by years of war. In Turkey, Anatolia's airports and high roads are closed, and most hospitals are unusable. Schools have been closed across the country. 
 
Catholic Relief Services is supporting local relief efforts. Please consider donating right now. Your gifts will help partners provide safe shelter and access to food, clean water, and hygiene supplies while the countries recover.
 

National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, Feb. 12) are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. The theme for 2023 is " Marriage…one flesh, given and received."

The USSCB offers resources to bishops, priests, deacons, married couples, and laymen and women to help celebrate, including posters in English and En Español, social media graphics in English and En Español, and prayers for married couples. 

Visit ForYourMarriage.com for more information and other creative ways to celebrate for those who are dating, married couples, and parents. 

It’s tax season again, and as you prepare your taxes or assist others with theirs, please keep in mind the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), a generous tax credit available depending on income level.

Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) are for working people with low to moderate income. Because it is a credit and not a deduction, the EITC will put money back directly into the pockets of families.

Other credits to consider are the federal Child Tax Credit and California Young Child Tax Credit for parents.

In addition, the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer qualified individuals free basic tax return preparation.

To learn more and to see if you qualify, visit CalEITC4me.org. A social media toolkit is also available to help spread awareness of EITC and VITA in parishes and communities.

World Day of the Sick is being observed Sunday, Feb. 11, providing us with an opportunity to remember the ill and the dying, caregivers, and all those who struggle with health issues.

In his message on World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis lamented that we are “rarely prepared for illness. Our vulnerability frightens us and the pervasive culture of efficiency pushes us to sweep it under the carpet, leaving no room for our human frailty. In this way, when evil bursts onto the scene and wounds us, we are left stunned. Moreover, others might abandon us at such times. Or, in our moments of weakness, we may feel we should abandon others to avoid becoming a burden. This is how loneliness sets in, and we can become poisoned by a bitter sense of injustice as if God himself had abandoned us.”

The day coincides with the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is an important opportunity for those who serve in Catholic health ministry to reflect on caring for those who are sick and those who provide care to them.

The Catholic Health Alliance of the United States has prayer cards available in English and Spanish to celebrate World Day of the Sick.

Earlier this week, President Biden responded to a reporter’s question about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion:     

REPORTER: “Catholic bishops are demanding that federal tax dollars not fund abortions.”  

BIDEN: “No, they are not all doing that. Nor is the Pope doing that.”

Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released the following statement:

“As we are taught by Jesus, human life is sacred. God calls us to defend and nurture life from the moment a new human being is conceived. The Catholic Church has been clear and consistent in this teaching. The Catholic bishops of the United States are united in our commitment to life and will continue to work as one body in Christ to make abortion unthinkable. As the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has said, ‘It is not right to ‘do away with’ a human being, however small, in order to solve a problem. It is like hiring a hitman.’ Taxpayer funding of abortion would force people of good conscience to participate in this grave evil against their will. It would contradict our right to live in accord with the tenets of our faith. Our nation is better than that. I pray that we will protect every child no matter his or her age, and open our hearts to respond to mothers in need with love and support rather than the violence of abortion.”

Additional information and resources on taxpayer funding of abortion are available at the following links:

• U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Expresses Support for “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion”
• https://www.notaxpayerabortion.com/learn  
• https://www.respectlife.org/no-taxpayer-abortion

Additional Resources and Articles 

USCCB Letter in Support of Educational Choice for Children Act - Learn More