History of Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Roman Catholic Church

Around the year 1973 the Portuguese community began to gather in the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located on 70 Park Hill Ave, Yonkers, NY to begin celebrating their Catholic faith in their own language, particularly the Portuguese. After obtaining permission from the Archdiocese of New York, the community was spiritually assisted by Reverend Father Joaquim Olendsky. The community began to grow considerably and was organized at that location remaining there until 1977.

As a result of the growth of community, organizational skills and strong desire to maintain the traditions and culture, in 1978 the Archdiocese of New York granted permission to carry out the purchase of a building located at 355 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY, and granted a loan of $ 30,000 for the purchase of the building. When construction was completed the building was registered under the name of Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Roman Catholic Center. The first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve, at midnight on December 24, 1977. May 4, 1980 the church was opened with the blessing and dedication to Our Lady of Fatima, presided by Auxiliary Bishops Reverend Anthony Mestice and Theodore McCarrick. The Archdiocese of New York appointed the Reverend Father Joaquim Olendsky as Administrator and appointed as his assistant the Reverend Father Francisco Dos Santos Jorge.

In 1977 the Reverend Father Joaquim Olendsky was replaced for health reasons by Father Francisco Dos Santos Jorge as administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Center. The community continued to grow requiring more space. In its continuous efforts to accommodate the needs of the community, bought two more buildings, adjacent to 355 South Broadway as well as expanded and extended the original and a little old building. To assist Reverend Father Francisco Dos Santos Jorge with his pastoral work the Reverend Father Derbal Paula worked with the Portuguese community for approximately four years. During this time Father Jorge fell ill and returned to Portugal. The Archdiocese of New York appointed the Reverend Father Thomas Reynolds as administrator. Due to commitments with his religious order Fr. Reynolds had to return to Brazil. In 1999 the Archdiocese appointed Reverend Father Osvaldo Franklin, JCD, as administrator of the Portuguese Center of Our Lady of Fatima.

The Reverend Father Osvaldo Franklin, a young priest, dynamic and dedicated, with a doctorate in Canon Law from the beginning received the affection, respect, and admiration of the entire community. Because of the administration the community was renewed with a new spirit of enthusiasm. Institutions that already existed were revitalized and more energetic. New services and commissions were been created and all the religious activities of the center were reorganized.

Father Osvaldo Franklin is assisted by a new Pastoral Council with dedicated members. When they decided to resume the construction of the church and the center, Father Osvaldo received unconditional support and commitment of many professionals and friends. He had the assistance of immense business partners, under the direction of Mr. William Farren, Business Manager, who works with the cemetery Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Also with the experience of Project Director, Architect Luis Mendes, at the time the Commissioners of the city of New York. There were many more assistants with extensive experience in the construction field and in all facets of the industry, using their years of experience, training and work in the construction of the project. Father Osvaldo feels exceptionally confident in the moral and professional support and experience of qualified individuals, not only supporting this effort, but also his pastoral ministry.

In this new phase of its history the community grew united and determined to complete the construction of the Church. The Center of Our Lady of Fatima began a campaign to raise funds for the construction. However, with some money saved, an office, two bathrooms and a reception area was built. All documents and important files are safely kept in the office.

Currently there are approximately 300 people who attend Sunday Masses. In addition there are also several ministries and commissions such as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, acolytes, choir and organist. There is also the Group Charismatic Movement, Cursista, the Divine Mercy group, Our Lady of Sorrows Fraternity, Youth Group and Religeous Education with over 100 children involved this year. Other cultural activities consist of two folk groups (a group of young and adult) and many other social services as well.

An account has been created for Campaign Fundraising for the construction of the Church. A Finance Committee was instituted to assist with financial matters related to the construction of the project. The building plans were delivered to City Hall Yonkers and obtained the necessary permits for construction. We've been waiting for the approval of His Eminence Cardinal Archbishop of New York, Edward M. Egan, to negotiate a bank loan to start the construction phase of the project.

In March 2002 we received permission from the Archdiocese of New York to begin the hard work of restoring and renewing the Church, after getting a loan from the Bank of Hudson Valley in the amount of $1,020,000 ($145,000 to pay off the mortgage of the building where the offices are located, and $875,000 for the construction of the Church). Thanks to the generosity of the community by means of offerings at Mass, money donations to the Building Fund for the Tree of Life, offers memorials seats, windows, statues, etc., on behalf of loved ones, finished the objective we made for ourselves, that is, the construction of the Church.

On March 30 of the year 2003, the Portuguese Church of Our Lady of Fatima on 355 South Broadway in Yonkers, was inaugurated and blessed with a ceremony presided over by His Excellency Reverend Robert Brucato, Bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York.

About 1000 people participated in the inauguration ceremony.

Then there was a reception at the Portuguese Club of Yonkers and the hall of the church attended by about 700 people.

On February 22, 2008 the kitchen was inaugurated around the building next to where the offices and halls of catechesis of our children.

We continue with our religious activities and movements of the apostolate.  We also have two processions throughout the year in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, the 13th day of May (to celebrate the first apparition of Our Lady in Fatima, Portugal ) and the 13 October (to celebrate the last) each year.  On the 13th of October we also celebrate the Nossa Senhora Aparicida with good participation.

On October 4, 2011 Father Osvaldo Franklin was appointed Pastor of this church by the Archbishop of New York, Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan. The installation was scheduled for December 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the presence of Fr. Leonard Villa, Vicar of Yonkers, representing the Archbishop of New York.

May God our Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, continue to bless this work of love to our Portuguese church, Our Lady of Fatima, a true legacy we leave for our future generations, and to serve as a testimony of love and faith that unites us as people of God. May we pass this testimony on to our children with pride and with the certainty that the Portuguese language, customs, and religious traditions are forever present in the Archdiocese of New York.

Prepared By:
Manuel Oliveira, Joe and Veronica Faraci and Manuel Cardoso

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