About Us - History

Archbishop Urban J. Vehr established Our Lady of Fatima Parish on August 13, 1958, appointing Reverend Robert M. Syrianey as the founding pastor. There were approximately 250 families in the newly founded parish. Father Syrianey moved into a house near the parish property and began offering daily Masses in the remodeled carport. This carport/chapel was used on weekdays, and Sunday Masses were held in the Lakewood High School auditorium.

Archbishop Urban J. Vehr established Our Lady of Fatima Parish on August 13, 1958, appointing Reverend Robert M. Syrianey as the founding pastor. There were approximately 250 families in the newly founded parish. Father Syrianey moved into a house near the parish property and began offering daily Masses in the remodeled carport. This carport/chapel was used on weekdays, and Sunday Masses were held in the Lakewood High School auditorium.

The school, with an additional eight classrooms, school offices, library and faculty lounge opened in September, 1964 with two nuns from the Order of Saint Benedict. Classes for grades one through four were held that first year with grades five and six added in 1965. In 1966, the school had classes for grades one through eight taught by four nuns, and nine lay teachers. By 1966, the parish included over 1,200 families. A new school addition for a library, science room and audiovisual facility was built in 1968.

In 1975, a building committee was formed to begin planning a new church. The windows were the focus of the church and contained 1,400 pieces of hand-faceted Dalle glass that portray the miracle of the dancing sun. Parishioner Regina Aducci designed and created the beautiful stained glass. Our Lady of Fatima Church was dedicated on August 13, 1978, the parish's twentieth anniversary. The former church is our current school gym.

The Benedictine Sisters guided Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School for eighteen years. The first lay principal was Donald McMaster who joined the school as principal in 1984 after teaching at the school for twelve years. Father Mel Thompson was pastor during his tenure.

From May 2001 to October 2005, Monsignor R. Walker Nickless was pastor until he was named Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa. Under his dedicated leadership, the parish began a cycle of extensive renovations refurbishing the parish and school facilities, including a capital campaign. He also established and provided initial funding for the Little Shepherds of Fatima Fund to support for the foreseeable future of the school and the Catholic educational mission at Fatima. Among other things, the fund provides grants to students for tuition support and other educational support services.

In 2004, Bishop Nickless selected Miss Lisa Taylor to be the school's principal and the school community continues to thrive and grow under her leadership. Through her able and enthusiastic efforts, the curriculum and school staff continues to develop and grow to meet the educational needs of Fatima school students.

In 2006, Father Jeff Wilborn was named pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Under the guidance of Father Jeff and the current principal, Miss Lisa Taylor, the school has been able to undergo positive changes to the plant and to keep the educational programs strong at Fatima. Through the generosity of school and parish families, the computer lab, science lab, gymnasium, playground and locker rooms were renovated. New HVAC units were installed in each classroom and two beautiful murals grace the school walls. We continue to graduate successful students who attend Holy Family, Mullen, Regis, St. Mary's Academy, the International Baccalaureate Program at Lakewood High School and many local high schools. Through all these years to the present, Our Lady of Fatima School has been blessed by wonderful families and a top notch corps of loving, skilled, and dedicated teachers who provide an outstanding education to our children in a faith-based Catholic environment.

On August 10, 2008 Our Lady of Fatima Parish celebrated 50 years of service to the Lord. The parish has over 2000 registered families and enrollment in the school continues to steadily increase.