Our Lady of Fatima Church at 913 Napoleon Rd, Michigan Center, MI 49254 US - History of Parish
History of ParishJune 30, 1954, saw the canonical and official establishment of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Michigan Center, by Bishop Joseph H. Albers of the Diocese of Lansing. The new church and school, to be built on donated land, was named in honor of the Blessed Mother, who appeared a number of times to three children in Fatima, Portugal. On that same day in 1954, Father Hugh Conklin of St. Mary's Parish in Williamston was named the founding pastor. At 10:00 a.m., on Sunday, July 18, 1954, Father Conklin celebrated the first mass for the new parish. This mass was held in the basement of the National Bank building in Michigan Center. From that point on, parish unity, a sense of purpose, great excitement, and plans began to emerge. Fatima's initial structure was a stone-clad ranch home that served as the rectory. It was finished in the spring of 1955 and Father Conklin moved in. Funding was limited so a major decision needed to be made - church or school. During several parish meetings, parishioners strongly supported a decision favoring Catholic education for the parish children. The decision was made to build a flat-roofed school building that could serve temporarily as a church (folding chairs and all). Beginning March 20, 1955, a campaign to raise funds began. The building that still houses Our Lady of Fatima Church was completed and holy Mass was celebrated for the first time Easter morning, April 1, 1956. In 1959, following the reassignment of Father Conklin, Father Paul Donovan became pastor. In 1968, Father Donovan moved on, and Father Sylvester Fedewa became the new pastor. In 1970, Father Fedewa left and a new order of priests, the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, took over with the arrival of Father Paul Gillespie. In June, 1974, Father Gillespie returned to his home state of Oklahoma and was replaced by the new and current pastor, Father Andrew Dunne. With Father Dunne came a new look for the church with permanent pews, carpeting, cross, steeple, lighting, doors, an enclosed front porch, and finally, air conditioning! All this was just in t ime for the parish Silver Jubilee in 1979. Since then, Our Lady of Fatima Parish continues to grow. The parishioners are waiting with great anticipation for the year 2005 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the parish.
Pope John Paul II
Many will want his name to enter the history books as “Pope John Paul the Great”. He well deserves the title when one considers what he has given us. Many analysts will provide us with dazzling insights into this great world leader is erudite and arcane prose...