About OLF

The land, on which the church, school, and convent stand, was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Harry Owen. In the spring of 1948, a surplus army building was prepared by the Mission Mass League for us as a combined church, school, and rectory. This building, known as “The Barracks,” was in use until 1983 for many parish activities. The first Mass was celebrated on January 3, 1949, and the parish was named on July 1, 1949.

School construction was made possible by a fundraising campaign sponsored by the new parish and St. Charles Borromeo Parish, our brother parish. His Excellency, the late Archbishop Edwin Byrne, broke ground on July 3, 1949. “Heights Catholic School,” as it was then called, enrolled its first pupils in the fall with Sister M. Ignatius as its first principal. The school, formally dedicated on January 29, 1950, had 157 students in four grades taught by three nuns.

The new Convent for the Dominican Sisters of the Grand Rapids was blessed and dedicated in December 1951. In 1954, four classrooms were added to the school and the rectory was purchased. In its newly improved building, the school had grown to the full eight grades.

Discussion of plans for the present Church edifice was begun in 1953, when the Archdiocesan Fund Campaign was held. Rev. Msgr. Jose Garcia, V.G., broke ground and construction started on January 19, 1957. In May of that year, the “Fight to Furnish” campaign was conducted to provide the necessary furnishing and equipment for the new Church. The Church was formally dedicated on May 4, 1958, by the late Archbishop Byrne. The relics of Saints Vincentius and Charus are in the main altar; Saints Felix and Laetus are in the east altar; Saints Beatus and Clementis are in the west altar.

The parish grew continuously through the years. In 1980, a gift bequest from the Helen T. Gallagher Estate led to the construction of Fatima-Gallagher Hall. The multipurpose parish center was dedicated on January 4, 1984. Many parishioners joined in the campaign, “Project Parish,” to provide the necessary funds for the construction.

In 1996, the portable building being used by the school was replaced with an addition of three new classrooms. This addition was made possible by the efforts of Rev. Clarence Galli.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Charewicz, V.F., served as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish from its beginning until March 1, 1970. In 1970, the Very Rev. Lucian C. Hendren became pastor until 1977. Msgr. Sipio Salas took over and was pastor until 1985. In June 1985, Rev. Donald R. Kapitz became pastor and served until August 1988. Rev. Clarence Galli followed Rev. Kapitz and served as pastor until 1997. Msgr. Francis Eggert is our present pastor.