Fr. Alex Chavez was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and immigrated to Porterville, California, with his family in 1980 at the age of seven. The youngest of eleven siblings, he completed his primary and secondary education in Porterville before earning a degree in Civil Engineering from Fresno State in 1997. He worked for eight years at Caltrans in various departments, including Construction, Project Management, and Design, contributing to major projects like the Highway 101 redesign in Prunedale. While working as an engineer, Fr. Alex began discerning a vocation to the priesthood, eventually entering formation in 2006.

He was ordained in 2012 after completing seminary at St. John’s in Camarillo. His first assignment was at Sacred Heart in Merced, followed by service in Huron and then Visalia as an associate pastor. After a three-year term as rector of St. John’s Cathedral in Fresno, he was appointed pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish by Bishop Brennan. Grateful and enthusiastic, Fr. Alex embraces his priestly calling with deep joy and prays daily for his parishioners, trusting in God’s grace to guide them through all challenges.

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.

My name is Fr. Jose Maria Carrillo. I was born in Santa Cruz, California, but raised in Los Banos, California. Immediately after graduating from Pacheco High School in 2014, I entered the seminary and commenced my training for the priesthood. I was sent to Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 2018. Upon graduation, I was sent to St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, where I received a Masters of Divinity in 2023. I was ordained a deacon in 2022 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fresno. A year later, in May 2023, I was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest at St. Charles Borromeo in Visalia.

Over the course of my tenure as a parochial vicar, I have served in Sacred Heart Church in Bakersfield and Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Frazier Park, California. I am honored to be one of the parochial vicars to Good Shepherd Parish. As a co-worker with the pastor and a shared confidant in his solicitude, I offer my service in the pastoral ministry through mutual counsel and effort under his authority. In my leisure time, I can be found at my parents’ residence, in Oracle Park in San Francisco, or in Southern California, riding my longboard.

Fr. Michael Ibeawuchi Egelamba, SMMM, was born on January 22, 1980, in Imo State, Nigeria. From a young age, he demonstrated academic excellence and a deep devotion to faith, actively participating in Catholic associations and catechetical ministry. He began his religious formation with the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy Congregation in 2002, making his first profession in 2004. Fr. Michael pursued advanced studies in philosophy and theology, earning degrees from Benue State University, Imo State University, and the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome. His leadership roles in seminary life included positions as magazine editor, sacristan, and receptionist, highlighting his dedication and service.

Following extensive pastoral training across several Nigerian dioceses, Fr. Michael was ordained a priest on July 20, 2013. He served in various roles, including Parochial Vicar, Parish Administrator, and School Manager. In November 2024, he moved to the United States at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Brennan and was appointed Parochial Vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Visalia, as well as to the hospital ministry. Known for his joyful spirit, compassion, and service-oriented nature, Fr. Michael continues to live out his priestly vocation with humility, warmth, and unwavering faith.