Our Lady of Fatima Parish History

Lady of Fatima Parish has come a long way since its humble beginning in the converted carport of its first rectory. On August 13, 1958, Archbishop Urban J. Vehr established the parish, selecting Father Robert Syrianey as founding pastor. The parish consisted of approximately 250 families, most of whom came from Sts. Peter & Paul, St. Bernadette, St. Mary Magdalene or St. Joseph. Daily Masses, weddings and baptisms were conducted in the carport chapel. Sunday Masses were held in the Lakewood High School auditorium.

The parish building committee selected John K. Monroe to design a combination church, school, and parish center. Construction began in July 1959. The complex consisted of a church that could be converted into a gymnasium, four classrooms, a kitchen and a cafeteria.

Father Syrianey celebrated his first Mass in the new building on June 26, 1960. It included First Communicants' reception of the sacrament. Archbishop Vehr formally dedicated the facility on September 19, 1960. The original rectory was converted into a convent for Benet Hill Benedictine Sisters Irmina and Mary Giles and a new rectory was purchased across the street from the church. The nuns and two lay teachers began holding classes for grades one through four in September.

Embarking on an active fund-raising campaign, the parishioners held the first parish dinner at the Brown Palace Hotel in the fall of 1960. These efforts enabled the parish to build a new convent, eight additional classrooms, school offices, a library and a faculty lounge. By 1964, the parish had grown to approximately 1,200 families. With the addition of two nuns and five lay teachers, the school expanded to include all eight grades.

Monsignor J. Harley Schmitt became Our Lady of Fatima's second pastor in July 1970. By then, St. Jude Parish had been established in the southern part of the "Fatima" territory. Despite the opening of this new church, the Fatima Church was still overflowing. It was evident that a new church was needed. In 1975, another building committee was selected to begin planning a new church. Four parishioners: architects David E. Fritz, John F. Milan, Thomas E. Reck, and Ralph Santangelo, formed the design committee.

Archbishop James V. Casey dedicated the new church on the Parish's 20th anniversary, August 13, 1978. Considered one of the finest pieces of modern church architecture in the Archdiocese of Denver, the new church featured a band of beautiful stained glass windows three-and-a-half feet tall and 92 feet long. With more than 1,400 pieces of hand-faceted Dalle glass, these clerestory windows portray the miracle of "the dancing sun," as seen on October 13, 1917, by the three Portuguese children and many pilgrims at Fatima, Portugal.

In 1987, the Parish completed its last construction project, adding a parish center and rectory in time to celebrate the Parish's 30th anniversary on August 13, 1988. By then the parish had grown to approximately 1,800 families.

In the fall of 1988, parishioners rejoiced at the news that longtime pastor Father Harley Schmitt had been elevated to the rank of Monsignor.

Father Melvin Thompson became pastor in 1989. Father Mel, with his quick wit and love of everything Irish, found the parish quick to embrace his fun-loving ways and his compassion for the sick and suffering. Many parishioners enjoyed their first glimpse of the "Old Country" with Father Mel as their guide. During Father Mel's twelve-year tenure (1989-2001), Jefferson County, and thus Our Lady of Fatima Parish, experienced an enormous increase in population. The parish grew to more than 2,300 families.

In June 2001, Monsignor Walker Nickless succeeded Father Thompson as pastor. Monsignor Nickless was no stranger to the parish. During his assignment as Vicar for Clergy and Seminarians and Vicar General of the Archdiocese, he lived at Our Lady of Fatima Rectory. On his first Sunday as pastor, he had to deal with a major leak from the air conditioning system that caused considerable damage to the rectory roof. Since that fateful day, however, Monsignor Nickless has led the parish in adopting the new liturgy, revitalized the junior and senior high school youth groups and has been very involved in the parish school. He has overseen many needed improvements to the school's physical plant, all while still fulfilling his responsibilities as Vicar General.

Our Lady of Fatima has long been dedicated to helping the poor. The parish holds two yearly food drives that benefit the less fortunate in our own, and sister, parishes; the Little Sisters of the Poor; Sacred Heart House; and many others. Committed staff members and a cadre of volunteers provide RCIA programs, religious education for our youth, and continuing education to the adults and senior members of Our Lady of Fatima. Outreach to, and support of, the homebound and ill is a major ministry. Opportunities for parishioners to give of their time and talent abound. The parish has a very active Altar and Rosary Society, Knights of Columbus Chapter and supports both Boy Scout and Girl Scout activities. New programs for young children ages 4-9 and our junior and senior high parishioners have recently been added. Our Lady of Fatima continues to grow both in numbers and ministries-an excellent testimony to God's call to service for all.

Our Lady of Fatima Grade School continues to provide solid, Catholic, values-oriented education for children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Although the school has been staffed and guided by lay men and women since the Benedictine Sisters left in 1984, Catholic values and high educational standards are still emphasized. With the addition of an extended day program, our working parents are assured their children will receive safe, high-quality care before and after school.

Plans for the future include youth group activities for both junior and senior high parishioners; exploring opportunities for Fatima to become a full stewardship parish; remodeling and updating the religious education center to provide additional space for parish activities; and continuing to strengthen and expand ministries and outreach programs.