On May 23, Bishop Alberto Rojas announced that “after significant reflection, consultation and prayer,” a new parish, St. Thomas More, to serve Catholics in north Rialto. The Easton Street church in Rialto had been one of two sites of St. John XXIII parish since 2006. The other site, located on Tamarind Avenue in Fontana, will remain St. John XXIII.
The full statement is below:
My Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. John XXIII Community,
Peace and well-being to you in this glorious Season of Easter. Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
In that spirit of renewal and rebirth I wish to share with you an important announcement about the Catholic communities of Fontana and north Rialto that have comprised this parish since 2006. I have made the decision, after significant reflection, consultation and prayer, to erect a new parish out of the Rialto Center of St. John XXIII. Acknowledging the rich historical context of the Easton Street church, this new parish will bear its former name, St. Thomas More. The Fontana Center will remain as the singular church site for St. John XXIII parish.
The formation of St. Thomas More parish is being done with the hope that it will help the Church better meet the needs of the fast-growing population in north Rialto. Due to the construction of many new homes, this population has grown by 25 percent over the past 15 years and is projected to increase another 12 percent in the next five years. We are blessed by the fact that both the Rialto and Fontana centers of this parish have been able to function independently and have done a wonderful job of providing for the ministerial needs of the Catholic faithful in these two cities, respectively. Therefore, we anticipate that the operations and liturgical rhythm of the two church sites will experience very little, if any, change.
When the two sites merged in 2006 it was intended that there would eventually be a new church site to bring both communities together. But due to financial and demographic factors, plans to build one parish site did not move forward. This fact weighed heavily in my decision to make these two centers separate parishes.
As we enter this new journey, I also thank Father Cletus Imo for faithfully leading St. John XXIII parish for the past 12 years. Fr. Imo has been a good shepherd in providing for the spiritual and pastoral needs of both church communities. I share with you that the new administrator of St. John XXIII parish will be Father Johnny Dang, and the new administrator of St. Thomas More will be Father Anthony Waturuocha. Let us pray for and welcome these holy priests as they begin their new journey in leadership of your parishes.
We are celebrating the recent election of our new Pope Leo XIV, who calls all of God’s people to live in the hope of Christ and to follow the path of the Gospel. Let us together as Catholics in Fontana and Rialto walk this new path of parish life with faith and trust in the Risen Lord.
In Christ’s love,
Bishop Alberto Rojas