Pastor  - Reverend Monsignor Raymond Dreiling

Parochial Vicar(s) - Father Rod Craig & Father Samuel Borbon

Deacon - Reverend Mr. Ken Ramage

Memorial to the late Reverend Monsignor Thomas G. Kleinhans

Monsignor Raymond Dreiling

Biography:

Msgr. Dreiling writes that he was born on September 15, 1948 in San Francisco, CA, to Paul G. Dreiling and Alberta (Holland) Dreiling (both of whom are now deceased). He has two sisters, Barbara L. Fish and husband, Phil, of Twain Harte, California; Paula M. Wolfe and husband, John, of Sanger; and one brother, Charles P. Dreiling and wife, Sheila, of Fresno. Msgr. Dreiling’s home parish is Sacred Heart in Fresno.

Msgr. attended the Sacred Heart School as well as public elementary and junior high schools. He entered Ryan Preparatory College, Fresno and then St. John’s Seminary College and Theology in Camarillo. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and a Master of Divinity in Theology.

Msgr. Dreiling was ordained on May 3, 1975, at St. John’s Cathedral in Fresno by Most Reverend Roger M. Mahony. His former assignments include: Associate Pastor, St. Aloysius, Tulare (1975-1977); Associate Pastor, St. Helen, Fresno (1977-1981); Diocesan Director of Vocations from 1980-1984; Director of St. John Vianney House of Formation from 1984-1990; Diocesan Vice-Chancellor from 1985-1988; Diocesan Chancellor from 1988-1992; and most recently, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Clovis (1991-2004).

Monsignor Ray officially began his pastorate at St. Mary’s, Visalia on February 27, 2004.

Father Rod Craig

Biography:

Fr. Craig was born to Dona Baughman and Tom Craig on September 22, 1951 and reared in Wasco, CA, the eldest of four boys. He attended both Catholic and public schools through the 9th grade in Wasco. Father also attended Ryan Preparatory Seminary in Fresno for three years, the Pontifical College Josephinum for college and Theological College at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. for Theology. 

Fr. Craig was ordained in Wasco on May 21, 1977 by Bishop Hugh A. Donohoe. His first assignment was to Our Lady of Victory, Fresno and then became chaplain and taught religion to Juniors and Seniors at San Joaquin Memorial High School from 1978-1983. 

Fr. Craig was assigned to Our Lady of the Snows in Yosemite National Park from 1980-1986, and did some work at St. Joseph’s in Mariposa. He also served at St. Anthony’s in Atwater from 1986-1994 and at that time was appointed as Director of Vocations for the Diocese, a position that he held through 2002. Fr. Craig later became administrator of St. Jude’s in Easton from 1997 through 2003 as well as served at St. Catherine of Siena in Dinuba in 2003. 

Fr. Craig began his journey in recovery from alcoholism in 1987 and his had his first stay at Guest House in Rochester MN in 1990. Fr. Craig returned there in 2001, 2002, & 2003. 

"I look forward to my assignment here at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, getting to know you in the parish, working in the local detention ministry and hospital. I am assigned here to also assist in my recovery. I will be giving attention to this basic need in my life and for my future in ministry.  I would ask that you please pray for me as I continue this journey and also so that I will be of service in this community in doing our Lord's work."

Father Samuel Borbon

Biography:

Father Samuel is here!  Check back for his biography!

Deacon Ken Ramage

Biography:

Ken was born in 1947 in Lindsay, California, and has a younger sister, Lynda.  Ken’s father, who passed away in 1997, was a farmer and a field manager for a packing house.  Ken’s mother, who passed away in 2004, was an executive secretary for many years.  

While growing up in Lindsay, Ken attended the Lindsay Presbyterian Church.  After high school, he attended Fresno State, and received a degree in Civil Engineering in 1969.  While attending Fresno State, he met a cradle Catholic named Judy Warren, who he married in 1968.  He entered the Catholic Church in 1971, but slowly let worldly matters take precedent over his religious convictions.  

Then, in 1991 his Catholic beliefs were challenged within his own family, and he began to study his faith in order to defend it.  It was during this time that Ken’s faith in Jesus Christ, and in His Church, was renewed.  He and his wife now help run the local Catholic non-profit bookstore, and are members of the Secular Franciscans Order.  In 1999, after completing a three year ministry formation course called New Wine, he was invited by our former pastor, Msgr. Tom Kleinhans to enter the Diocese’s three year deaconate formation class.  Along with twenty-one other men, he was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Fresno in January of 2003, and assigned to his home parish of St. Mary’s.   

Ken and Judy have three married children and seven grandchildren.  Tim, their oldest, is an Associate Pastor at a Presbyterian Church in Sonoma. Debi remains Catholic and is married to a Navy Seal in San Diego, where she was a social worker with at-risk youth before becoming a mom. Chad is the Youth Pastor at the Porterville Nazarene Church.  

Ken has been a civil engineer since graduating from college, and is currently the City Engineer for the City of Tulare.  He enjoys playing the guitar, listening to music, reading, taking trips with his wife, and being a grandpa.