South Valley churches consolidated into one

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An historic moment Sunday as four churches were consolidated into one parish with one administrative office.

Photos from a mass at Saint Mary's show where bishop Armando Ochoa signed a document this morning to make the consolidation official.

It brings three churches in Visalia and one in Goshen together as the newly named Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. This is the first time the Catholic Diocese of Fresno has consolidated multiple churches as a way to deal with a shortage of priests, which exists nationwide.

A spokesperson says the success of this process in the south valley could mark the start of a new trend.