Today the Catholic community of north eastern Tuolumne County is known as the Parish of All Saints' Twain Harte and St. Joseph's Tuolumne. Although the parish was formally erected in 1962, the origins of the community can be traced to 1907 with the construction of St. Joseph's Church in Tuolumne City. So the parish consists of elder and younger sister communities, legitimate offspring of the mother Church of Tuolumne County, St. Patrick's Sonora. Whereas it might have been expected, the senior sibling would be designated the parish center, as in the case of Esau and Jacob, the lot fell to the younger. St. Joseph, patron of the Church universal yielded graciously to the more numerous "communion of saints."

As in every family each member is unique with distinct characteristics, so in this parish. Tuolumne has celebrated its centenary with a strong sense of identity rooted in its own history. The Church itself is proud symbol of the dedicated pioneer ancestors who built it, setting the tone for the present generation. A lumber mill town in origin, Tuolumne retains a quiet atmosphere of unity, friendship, neighborliness. These traditions enhanced by faith, sustained by common memory and historical relics, express the stability and fidelity of the community.

The origins of Twain Harte - named after Mark Twain and his contemporary Bret Harte - were miners' shacks and loggers' camps deep in the forest. No traditional grid plan spreading from a center exists here. The pattern of dwellings amongst the trees prevails to the present. The automobile brought access to urban folk who built their summer cabins accordingly. A man-made lake completed the picture of the idyllic mountain resort. Many residents are the retired descendants of the original families, having upgraded their cabins to comfortable homes. They are very tolerant of the present day "flat landers" who make their annual summer pilgrimage. First moves to acquire land and build a church came from the original "summer folk" - a tribute to their faith and energy. Mass was first celebrated in a meadow, since become a golf course - a "sacred place" still to many.

The Altar Society, now grown into All Saints' Parish Ladies' Guild flourishing today with sixty members, predates the parish. The task of forming the Parish was effectively and colorfully performed by the late Fr. George Lacey who served the community conscientiously for twenty-one years. His successor, Fr. William Ryan, during ten years of loyal service enhanced and completed the fine Parish plant. Fr. John Fitzgerald is the third Pastor ably assisted by Deacon Joe Gomes. Deacon Eddie Zoma (R.I.P.) preceded him serving joyfully for twelve years.  At his death he was the longest serving deacon in the country having been ordained as a permanent  deacon in the Chaldean Rite, the heritage of St. Thomas the Apostle in the Middle East.  A Chaldean cross has been donated to the Parish, a reminder to all of the East to West history of the Church.

The Parish is proud to have given two daughters to servee God and Church in religious life. Sr. Claire Rozier the late who achieved her golden jubilee as a Holy Cross sister, 

Sr. M. Dismas Rager, of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's nuns) who has celebrated her silver jubilee [and] continues to serve the poor.  In their generous response to God, they represent past generations of the Parish on whose foundations we stand today.  Brother Justin (Tony) Alarcon who made final profession as a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal is currently studying for the priesthood.  Our prayer is that more young men and women respond to the invitation of the One of whom it is said "how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news".