Est. 1971
On May 24, 1959, Vincentian Father Nelson Ribeiro, C.M., first gathered the Portuguese immigrant community for Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church, Waterbury. Portuguese people had also attended Father Ribeiro’s liturgies at neighboring St. Francis Church, Naugatuck. The Portuguese congregation at first numbered about 300 families. In 1971, Portuguese spiritual aspirations were crowned when Archbishop John F. Whealon created the parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Waterbury, naming Father Ribeiro as first pastor. As a national parish, Our Lady of Fatima was supported by the Portuguese of both Waterbury and Naugatuck. On Memorial Day 1971, Archbishop Whealon dedicated a new church.