Name of Church Our Lady of the Assumption
Address 2602 S. Walnut Road, Turlock, CA 95381
Phone number (209) 634-2222
Website www.olassumption.net
Mass times Saturday vigil 7:30 p.m. (Portuguese); Sunday 9:30 a.m.; 11:15 a.m. (Portuguese); 6 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. (Portuguese), Wednesday, 6 p.m. Thursday & Friday, 7:30 p.m. (Portuguese). There is a Sunday Latin Mass at 10 a.m., time subject to change due to clergy availability. Contact Manuel Nunes to confirm time: [email protected] or (209) 535-4499.
Confessions Thursday through Saturdays, 7-7:30 p.m., Sunday, 5:30 – 5:45 p.m., Mondays, 7:30 p.m. (during ARMEE)
Names of priests Fr. Manuel Fontes Sousa. Fr. Sousa is an immigrant from Portugal, and attended Our Lady of the Assumption in his youth. He went to seminary at St. Patrick’s in Menlo Park and was ordained in the 1980s. He came to the parish as a co-administrator in 1987; in 2019, he celebrated his 30th anniversary as pastor. He is friendly to tradition.
Special parish groups ARMEE (Adoration, Reconciliation, Mass, Eucharist, Evangelization), Daughters of Mary, Teams of Our Lady, Sienna’s Walk, Carnaval, Festa, Knights of Columbus, Mar Alto, Portuguese Language School, Stephen’s Ministry, VALER.
Music Portuguese choir (with members who have been around since the 70s)
Fellow parishioners Welcomes many with a Portuguese background, and those attracted by the Latin Mass.
Parking Ample parking along two sides of the church.
Cry room Yes.
Additional observations Turlock is a community in California’s central valley near Modesto, in the Diocese of Stockton. The church began as a Portuguese Cultural Center in 1972, and became a church in 1981. Although its apostolate is specifically to the Portuguese-speaking, all are welcome to attend. It is in the Diocese of Stockton. Take a tour of the church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjYweMYcFpk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyWozH7u_0o. Visit their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJybBbuWFalFKDa3uIyYCeLmg0Pr5-rvi.
Interesting that there is Portugese community in Turlock. Many assume that only Spanish settled California.
In my opinion, keeping the tradition and the language going is important. Also good that a Latin Mass is available.
Certainly worth visiting if ever in the neighborhood.
I have been to this church many times in my lifetime. It’s definitely worth a drive for mass. My brother has been attending for years. The people that come together at this church are very nice and honest.