Multicultural Ministry/Campesino

• Forms and trains teams in parishes and deaneries for evangelization among campesinos.
• Supports social justice issues related to campesinos.
• Supports and provides training for Comunidades de Base.
• Serves as contact for ministerial groups.
• Liaison with cultural groups in the Diocese.

Multicultural Ministry

We seek to integrate all ethnic groups into the Diocesan Church while helping them preserve the diverse values and traditions that enrich the Church.  The diverse milieu of the state of California has had a large impact on the diocese. In 2008,  CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.)  ranked us as one of the top ten dioceses in the nation with the largest number of immigrants. 

Campesino Ministry

A special need in the Diocese of Fresno is the large population of migrant farm workers, many of whom are from Mexico and South and Central America. With some 250 camps housing 5,000 to 20,000 campesinos and their families, they are challenged by their undocumented status, lack of English skills, and low wages for seasonal work.

The Diocese formed parish teams to evangelize and organize base communities for the mutual support of migrant workers and to offer sacramental preparation.

Currently we have several teams and religious orders from parishes offering catechesis, sacramental preparation, basic needs, advocacy and social service referrals.