About Our Lady of Fatima · Cumberland, Rhode Island
Our Lady of Fatima Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the Valley Falls neighborhood of Cumberland, Rhode Island, within the Diocese of Providence. It was the first Catholic congregation in the United States to take Our Lady of Fatima as its patroness, founded to serve the Portuguese immigrants who settled in northern Rhode Island in the early 20th century. Today the parish continues as a Eucharistic community offering Masses in both English and Portuguese, weekly adoration, faith formation for children and adults, and a strong devotional life centered on the rosary and the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. Father Fernando A. Cabral serves as the current pastor.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Rector
- Father Fernando A. Cabral
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is one of the few parishes in the United States where English and Portuguese Masses are celebrated side-by-side, and where the rosary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary remain a daily, lived devotion. The parish offers a full sacramental life — weekday Masses, Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses in both languages, Friday adoration and Benediction, Saturday confessions, baptisms, a two-year Confirmation program, and a six-month-prep marriage process — together with faith formation for children and adults, a children's liturgy at the 11:00 am Mass, and a SPRED program that welcomes parishioners with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is a community that describes itself as a 'bilingual, Eucharistic community rooted in Roman Catholic traditions,' where families from many backgrounds are invited to pray, serve, and grow together in the heart of Valley Falls.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament
- Friday 5:00 PM: Holy Hour and Benediction
- Friday 6:00 PM: Mass
About Our Lady of Fatima Parish
Our Lady of Fatima Church describes itself as a 'bilingual, Eucharistic community rooted in Roman Catholic traditions and devoted to serve God through our time, talent, treasure, and faith.' Located in the heart of Valley Falls in Cumberland, Rhode Island, the parish serves both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking parishioners with daily Masses, devotions, religious celebrations in both languages, and a variety of organizations and parish events. Father Fernando Cabral invites newcomers to come visit this 'beautiful jewel in the heart of Valley Falls.'
- Bilingual, Eucharistic Roman Catholic community
- Located in Valley Falls, Cumberland, Rhode Island
- Part of the Diocese of Providence
Parish History
The parish's roots reach back to a Portuguese-immigrant mission church of the late 1930s, but Our Lady of Fatima was canonically erected as its own parish on February 24, 1953, by Bishop Russell J. McVinney — the first Catholic parish in the United States dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title of Fatima. The original church at Broad and Meeting Streets burned on New Year's Eve 1962. A new church at One Fatima Drive was begun with a groundbreaking on June 24, 1965, and opened in 1966 under founding pastor Father José P. Barbosa, who had served the community since 1950 and continued as pastor until 1987.
- Mission church established late 1930s for Portuguese immigrants of the Blackstone Valley
- Canonically erected February 24, 1953 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney
- First Catholic parish in the U.S. dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima
- Original church at Broad and Meeting Streets destroyed by fire December 31, 1962
- Groundbreaking for the new church: June 24, 1965
- Founding pastor Father José P. Barbosa (1953–1987)
- 70th anniversary celebrated in 2023 with Bishop Richard G. Henning
Patron and Devotions
The parish takes its name from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in honor of Our Lady's call for the conversion of sinners, reparation of sins, and total obedience and devotion to God. Our Lady came as the Lady of the Rosary, and the parish keeps that devotion alive — visitors can often find parishioners on their knees praying the rosary before the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The parish also holds public processions through the streets of Cumberland with devotees praying the rosary aloud, and continues yearly feasts, Christmas bazaars, and other traditional celebrations.
- Patron: Our Lady of Fatima
- Feast day celebrated October 13
- Rosary devotion before the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Public rosary processions through Cumberland
- Yearly feasts and Christmas bazaars
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Fernando A. Cabral, pastor, and supported by two trustees, a coordinator of adult and family evangelization, a finance director, parish secretary, and directors of music for both the English and Portuguese communities.
- Father Fernando A. Cabral — Pastor
- Dora Fino — Trustee
- Jose Duarte — Trustee
- Melissa DiFonzo — Coordinator of Adult and Family Evangelization
- John Constantino — Finance Director
- Parish Secretary
- Susana Marcos — Portuguese Music Director
- Phil Silva — English Music Director
Sacraments
Our Lady of Fatima offers the full range of Catholic sacraments with attention to its bilingual community. Baptisms are celebrated on the first Sunday of the month in English and on the second Sunday in Portuguese, with preparation classes required for parents and godparents. Marriages must be arranged at least six months in advance, with the church date reserved before booking the reception. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons or by appointment; Anointing of the Sick, Confirmation, First Eucharist, and Holy Orders are available by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism: 1st Sunday English, 2nd Sunday Portuguese (prep classes required)
- Confirmation: two-year program for youth; adult inquiries welcomed
- Eucharist (First Communion): contact Faith Formation
- Marriage: 6 months advance, church date before reception
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM or by appointment
- Holy Orders: contact the parish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program at Our Lady of Fatima envisions 'a personal relationship with Jesus in us, in our children and in their parents.' Classes for grades 1–10 are coordinated by Melissa DiFonzo, with the 2025–2026 program beginning November 16, 2025. Sacramental years (grades 2, 3 and Confirmation I and II) include one retreat each year, and Confirmation students complete twelve service hours annually, six of which must be done in connection with Our Lady of Fatima. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass for children ages 5 and up.
- Coordinator: Melissa DiFonzo — [email protected]
- Grades 1–5 attend Children's Liturgy at 11:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Grades 6–10 host Mass on a rotating schedule (greeters, gift bearers, etc.)
- Confirmation is a two-year program with 12 service hours per year (6 in-parish)
- Parents attend monthly ALPHA sessions
- One retreat each year for sacramental years (grades 2, 3 and Confirmation I & II)
- Offertory envelopes used by all students to teach prayer for others and weekly Mass attendance
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry exists to 'provide an environment for the youth of Our Lady of Fatima Church to grow in their relationship with Christ, build relationships within their parish family and serve their community.'
- Faith, fellowship and service for parish youth
- Tied to Confirmation preparation and monthly ALPHA sessions for parents
SPRED — Special Religious Education
The parish participates in the Diocese of Providence's SPRED program, which helps parishes better serve parishioners with intellectual and developmental disabilities through adapted religious education and faith formation.
- Diocesan SPRED program hosted locally
- Welcomes parishioners with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Music Ministry
Music is a vital part of the parish's bilingual liturgical life, with separate music directors for the English and Portuguese Masses.
- Phil Silva — English Music Director
- Susana Marcos — Portuguese Music Director
Men's Group
Our Lady of Fatima hosts a Catholic men's association committed to spiritual growth, fellowship, and transformation in faith.
- Open to all men of the parish
- Focused on faith, fellowship and conversion
Parish Life & Community Events
Beyond Mass and devotions, Our Lady of Fatima gathers frequently as a community: the parish hosts an Annual Parish Picnic, sales of traditional Portuguese food, Christmas bazaars, and monthly movie/pizza nights. The parish communicates primarily through Flocknote for parish-wide information, event registration, and winter closure notices, and registration for Faith Formation and online giving is handled through the same platform as the parish phases out WeShare Online Giving.
- Annual Parish Picnic
- Sales of traditional Portuguese food
- Christmas bazaars
- Monthly movie/pizza nights
- Parish communication and online giving via Flocknote
Visit & Contact
New parishioners are warmly invited to register with the parish through Flocknote (which also registers children for Faith Formation) and to introduce themselves at the Rectory. The parish office can be reached by phone, fax, or email for any questions about sacraments, devotions, or parish life.
- Address: One Fatima Drive, Cumberland, RI 02864
- Telephone: 401.723.6719
- Fax: 401.723.1698
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://olfchurch.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father José P. Barbosa1953–1987
First pastor; born in Portugal 1915, ordained 1938, sent to the U.S. in 1950 to serve the Portuguese community of Rhode Island. Oversaw the parish's founding as well as the reconstruction after the 1962 fire.
- Father Fernando A. Cabral
Current pastor; concelebrated the 70th anniversary closing Mass with Bishop Richard G. Henning on February 25, 2023.