About Our Lady of Fatima · Birmingham, Alabama
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church & School is a historically Black Catholic parish in the Southside/Titusville neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, and the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the Diocese of Birmingham. Founded in 1905 as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, it has been served continuously by Josephite (Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart) priests since its establishment. The parish operates at 708 First Street South and its campus includes the church, a former school building, rectory, convent, Family Life/Parish Life Center, a private cemetery and a playground.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima (originally Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Kenneth Ikechukwu Keke, S.S.J.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham (Alabama)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima offers a deeply rooted, 120-year-old Black Catholic community in Birmingham's Southside/Titusville neighborhood, served continuously by Josephite priests with a special mission to African-American Catholics. The parish runs a wide range of ministries — from RCIA, CCD and youth/children's formation to Bible study, Liturgical Dance, Ladies Sodality, Season Stars seniors club, Bereavement, Greeters and Ushers — so there is room for every age and gift. A Family Life/Parish Life Center hosts community and social-justice outreach, and the mission statement commits members to proclaiming the Message and Mission of Jesus Christ through Sacramental, Educational and Pastoral ministries, service to those in need, and work for social justice.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil, Sunday morning)
- By appointment (call the Rectory)
- First Monday of each month, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (per diocesan directory)
Adoration times
- First Monday of the month, 1:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, per parish bulletin)
About Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church
Our Lady of Fatima is the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the Diocese of Birmingham, rooted in Birmingham's Southside/Titusville community. Originally founded as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in 1905 and renamed in 1949, the parish has been served by Josephite priests for 120 years. Its campus at 708 First Street South includes the church, the former school building (630 First Street South), rectory, convent, Family Life/Parish Life Center, a private cemetery, and a playground.
- Oldest African-American Catholic parish in the Diocese of Birmingham
- Located in Southside/Titusville, Birmingham, AL
- Mailed in continuity by Josephite (SSJ) priests since 1905
- Parish campus: church, school building, rectory, convent, Family Life Center, cemetery, playground
Parish History
The parish began in 1905 with a gift of $7,000 from Mother Katharine Drexel and the appointment of Josephite Father Francis J. Tobin by Bishop Edward Allen of Mobile. After operating as Immaculate Conception for decades, the parish was renamed Our Lady of Fatima in 1949 when Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen funded a rebuild on condition of the name change. The present church was dedicated in 1970 by Bishop Joseph Vath, the first bishop of the new Diocese of Birmingham. Key moments include the parish's role in the Pvt. Bill Terry Jr. desegregation case (1969–70), the 100th anniversary (2005), 110th anniversary (2015), incorporation as a nonprofit in 2023, and the appointment of Father Kenneth Keke, S.S.J. in 2025 as pastor.
- 1905: Founded by Josephite Father Francis J. Tobin, S.S.J.
- 1905: $7,000 founding gift from Mother (now Saint) Katharine Drexel
- 1949: Renamed Our Lady of Fatima at the request of Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen
- 1970: Solemn dedication by Bishop Joseph Vath
- 1969–70: Pvt. Bill Terry Jr. civil rights burial case
- 2005: 100th (Golden Jubilee) Anniversary
- 2015: 110th Anniversary celebrated
- 2023: Parish incorporated as nonprofit; property transferred from diocese
- 2025: Father Kenneth Keke, S.S.J. appointed pastor
Founding & the Sisters Who Built the School
A school for Black children at Avenue F (6th Avenue South) and 17th Street opened March 13, 1905 under the Sisters of Mercy, just months before the parish itself was formally established. By the second year enrollment had climbed to 117. The Sisters of Notre Dame of Covington, Kentucky took over in 1937 and expanded the upper grades by founding Immaculata Catholic High School. The Sisters of Notre Dame served for 64 years before withdrawing in 2001, and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (founded by Mother Katharine Drexel) returned to staff the school from 1998 until around 2012.
- Sisters of Mercy: 1905
- Sisters of Notre Dame: 1937–2001 (64 years)
- Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament: 1998–c.2012
- First lay principal: Nathan Wright (2005)
- First African-American woman principal: Velda Gilyot (2008)
Civil Rights Legacy: The Pvt. Bill Terry Jr. Case
In July 1969, Fatima parishioner Private Bill Terry Jr. was killed in combat in Vietnam. His widow and mother were denied a burial lot at Birmingham's all-white Elmwood Cemetery. Father Eugene Farrell, S.S.J. led the parish, civic leaders and supporters in peaceful prayer services and marches; the family sued in U.S. District Court and Judge Seybourn H. Lynn ruled in their favor. Pvt. Terry was reinterred from Our Lady of Fatima on January 3, 1970 before more than 1,000 mourners, with Father Farrell officiating and Bishop Joseph Vath presiding — a moment of national media attention to Birmingham.
- July 1969: Pvt. Bill Terry Jr. killed in Vietnam
- Family denied burial at Elmwood Cemetery
- Father Farrell led marches and prayer services
- Judge Seybourn H. Lynn ruled for the Terry family
- January 3, 1970: Reinterment Mass at Our Lady of Fatima
Josephite Heritage
Since 1905 the parish has been served by priests of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Josephites), a religious order founded in the U.S. specifically for ministry to African-American communities. After Father Linus Akpan served as the first non-Josephite pastor from 2022 to 2025, Bishop Steven Raica again appointed a Josephite — Father Kenneth Ikechukwu Keke, S.S.J., one of six Nigerian-born men ordained as Josephite priests in 2009 — effective July 1, 2025.
- Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (SSJ) since 1905
- Father Kenneth Ikechukwu Keke, S.S.J. — current pastor (2025–)
- Father Godwin Ani, S.S.J. — pastor 2014–2022
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and welcomes parishioners to begin preparation well in advance. Parents seeking Baptism arrange a required preparation class for parents and godparents through the Rectory. Couples must contact the Rectory at least six months before the intended marriage date. The Anointing of the Sick is brought to the home, hospital or nursing home on request, and funeral arrangements are made through the Rectory (funerals are not permitted on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation). RCIA is coordinated by Deacon Douglass Moorer.
- Baptism (with required parent/godparent class)
- Marriage (6-month notice)
- Anointing of the Sick (home/hospital visits)
- Funeral arrangements via the Rectory
- RCIA / Adult Initiation
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Our Lady of Fatima runs an unusually broad range of ministries for a parish of its size, including liturgical, faith-formation, youth, family, social-justice and outreach groups. Liturgical roles include Greeters, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Liturgical Dance and the Children's Choir. Faith formation includes CCD, RCIA, Bible Study (separate men's and women's groups), and Youth/Children's Ministries. Community life is supported by the Ladies Sodality, Season Stars (seniors club), Bereavement Ministry, Family Life/Social Concerns, Community Affairs, the Associates of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and a Building & Maintenance team.
- Liturgical: Greeters, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Liturgical Dance, Children's Choir
- Formation: CCD, RCIA, Bible Study (Men & Women), Youth & Children's Ministries
- Community: Ladies Sodality, Season Stars (Seniors), Bereavement, Family Life/Social Concerns, Community Affairs
- Outreach: Pastoral Care to the Sick, Associates of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
- Stewardship: Parish Council, Finance Council, Building & Maintenance
Parish School (Closed 2015)
Our Lady of Fatima School — the only African-American Catholic elementary school in Birmingham — was founded alongside the parish in 1905 and taught successive generations of Titusville and Southside children. After the Sisters of Notre Dame withdrew in 2001, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament staffed it until around 2012, and Beacon of Hope, Inc. (a nonprofit established by Bishop J. Baker and the Diocese's Department of Education and Lifelong Formation) administered it from 2010 to 2015. The school ultimately closed in 2015 amid declining enrollment; parts of the building have since been used for religious-education programs. In 2022 Memphis-based Freedom Preparatory Academy discussed acquiring the building for a charter school.
- Founded 1905 by the Sisters of Mercy (24 students)
- Sisters of Notre Dame: 1937–2001 (also ran Immaculata High School)
- First lay principal: Nathan Wright (2005)
- First African-American woman principal: Velda Gilyot (2008)
- Beacon of Hope administered school 2010–2015
- School closed 2015 due to declining enrollment
Campus & Facilities
The parish occupies a 5-acre campus at 708 First Street South that includes the church, the former school building (630 First Street South), rectory, convent, Family Life/Parish Life Center, a private cemetery and a playground. The Family Life Center, completed in the early 2000s under Father Paul Oberg, S.S.J., is the hub for parish gatherings, social concerns work, and reception events.
- Church (dedicated 1970)
- School building (630 First Street South)
- Rectory & convent
- Family Life / Parish Life Center
- Private parish cemetery
- Playground
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Rectory at (205) 322-1205 (fax 205-714-5056) or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and is closed on Mondays. The mailing address is 708 First Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205.
- Office: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (closed Mondays)
- Phone: (205) 322-1205
- Fax: (205) 714-5056
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 708 First Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205
Our Lady of Fatima in the Diocese & Community
Our Lady of Fatima is part of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and, together with other parishes, plays a role in the diocese's Office of Black Catholic Ministry. In 2025 the parish hosted the Commissioning Mass for the Black Catholic Consortium, celebrated by Father Kenneth Keke as pastor. The parish is also notable as a 2023 single-member nonprofit religious corporation that now holds the 5-acre church campus, valued at $3.48 million when transferred from the diocese.
- Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
- Hosts Black Catholic Consortium commissioning events
- Incorporated 2023 as nonprofit; property transferred from diocese
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis J. Tobin, S.S.J.1905–
Josephite founding pastor; appointed by Bishop Edward Allen of Mobile; offered first Mass October 1, 1905.
- Rev. Paul Downey, S.S.J.until 1966
Began planning the new complex; reassigned when Immaculata High School closed.
- Rev. Eugene Farrell, S.S.J.1965–early 1970s
Carried out Father Downey's plans; led the Pvt. Bill Terry Jr. civil rights effort; oversaw groundbreaking (1968) and opening (1969) of the present church.
- Rev. Meldon Elwood, S.S.J.1970–
Completed the rectory and convent; structured the first Parish Council.
- Rev. John Crotty, S.S.J.1978–
Retired the parish debt.
- Rev. Henry E. Dickson, S.S.J.after Crotty
Josephite pastor.
- Rev. John O'Rourke, S.S.J.1994–1997
Led 90th anniversary celebration culminating in a Unity Mass October 1, 1995.
- Rev. Paul Oberg, S.S.J.1997–2012
Parish's longest-serving pastor; organized Parish Life Center building project, welcomed Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament back to school, marked 100th anniversary.
- Rev. Peter Weiss, S.S.J.2012–2014
Repaired school roof and refurbished rectory; restructured Parish Council constitution.
- Rev. Godwin Ani, S.S.J.2014–2022
Led 110th anniversary (2015) under theme 'Reflecting on the Past, Celebrating the Present, Preparing for the Future.'
- Rev. Linus Akpan2022–2025
First pastor not from the Josephite order; temporary assignment.
- Rev. Kenneth Ikechukwu Keke, S.S.J.2025–present
Appointed by Bishop Raica effective July 1, 2025; Nigerian-born Josephite priest.