About Our Lady of Fatima · Lafayette, Louisiana
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church is a mid-sized Roman Catholic parish in Lafayette, Louisiana, part of the Diocese of Lafayette. Established in 1949 and formally dedicated with its present church building on November 21, 1958, the parish currently serves roughly 1,040 families (about 3,468 members) on Johnston Street. Its mission statement emphasizes forming 'missionary disciples…Centered in Christ' through the sacraments, prayer, education, faith formation, stewardship, and service. The parish campus is also home to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (PreK–8) and an active Knights of Columbus council.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Voorhies
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana
Why belong here
Fatima is a long-established Johnston Street parish where families can grow in faith together: daily and weekend Masses with a wide confession schedule, OCIA for adults entering the Church, CCD and Confirmation preparation for children, a Come, Lord Jesus! Bible Study program (with both men's and women's groups meeting multiple times per week), and a Catholic school right next door. Active lay groups — Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Legion of Mary, and a Prayer Team — give parishioners concrete ways to serve the parish and the wider Lafayette community, from Sacred Heart Home Enthronements to ministries for the sick and homebound.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday and Wednesday: 5:45 am – 6:10 am
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 4:30 pm – 5:25 pm
- Saturday: 7:30 am – 7:50 am and 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
- Sunday: 8:30 am – 8:50 am, 10:30 am – 10:50 am, and 4:00 pm – 4:50 pm
Adoration times
- First Saturday of the month: 7:30 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the Rosary (followed by 8:00 am Mass)
Parish History
Our Lady of Fatima Parish was established by decree of Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, carved from the Cathedral Parish of St. John the Evangelist with 700 families. Founded under Monsignor Michael J. Benedict and made possible by a 12-acre Whittington Family land donation, the parish broke ground on October 25, 1949, dedicated its school on October 7, 1951, and formally dedicated its present church and convent on November 21, 1958. Today it serves approximately 1,040 families in the heart of Lafayette.
- Founded April 17, 1949 (Easter Sunday)
- Land: 12 acres donated by the J. L. Whittington Family
- Groundbreaking: October 25, 1949
- School dedication: October 7, 1951
- Church and convent dedication: November 21, 1958
Mission & Identity
The parish's published mission is to fulfill the Great Commission by inviting each parishioner to become a missionary disciple through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, nurtured by the sacraments, prayer, education, faith formation, stewardship, and service within a community of faith. Its motto is 'Forming Catholic Missionary Disciples. Centered in Christ.'
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Fr. Thomas Voorhies and Deacons Timothy Maragos (also Director of Ministry & Formation) and Stephen Van Cleve. The parish staff includes a bookkeeper, director of communications, director of youth and family, director of music/organist/choir master/bulletin editor, religious education coordinator, and a facilities maintenance technician.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Voorhies — Pastor (ext. 117, [email protected])
- Deacon Timothy Maragos — Director of Ministry & Formation (ext. 121)
- Deacon Stephen Van Cleve
- Annie Governale — Bookkeeper (ext. 118)
- DD McElligott — Director of Communications (ext. 123)
- Calista Beverly — Director of Youth and Family (ext. 114)
- Keith D'Anna — Director of Music, Choir Master, Organist, Parish Bulletin Editor (ext. 111)
- Elaine Trahan — Religious Education Coordinator
- Kim Broussard — Church Facilities Maintenance Technician (ext. 113)
Sacramental Programs
The Office of Religious Education coordinates sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, and OCIA. Parents of second graders receive First Communion preparation through parish education or CCD, and 8th graders are eligible for Confirmation (Spring 2027 Confirmations enrolling Summer 2026). The parish also welcomes adults into full Church membership through the OCIA process.
- Baptism (Diocese of Lafayette prep classes required)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Eucharist (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- CCD for students not in Catholic schools
Bible Study, Organizations & Devotions
The parish runs an unusually wide range of lay-led Bible study and devotional groups. 'Come, Lord Jesus!' (CLJ) Bible Study follows the three-year Sunday reading cycle and offers multiple weekly groups for both men and women. The Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Legion of Mary, and a Prayer Team give parishioners structured ways to serve and pray. Special devotions include Sacred Heart Home Enthronements, the Blessing of the Child in the Womb at the Marian Altar, and home visits with a statue of St. Peregrine for those diagnosed with cancer.
- Come, Lord Jesus! Bible Study — multiple weekly groups
- Catholic Daughters of America — Court Our Lady of the Rosary #1613
- Knights of Columbus — meets 2nd Monday, 6:30 pm at KC Hall, 111 Goodnight Dr.
- Legion of Mary — Friday 1:15 pm in the Knight Hall Conference Room
- Prayer Team
- Sacred Heart Home Enthronements
- Women's Spiritual Direction (Kathy Purpera)
- Blessing of the Child in the Womb at the Marian Altar
- St. Peregrine home visits for cancer patients
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
The parish campus is home to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (PreK–8), located at 2315 Johnston Street, just adjacent to the church. The school admits students of any race, color, or national/ethnic origin and maintains a non-discriminatory admissions policy. Main office: (337) 235-2464; [email protected]; website fatimawarrior.com.
- PreK through 8th grade
- Opened in 1950 with 123 students under the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament
- Sister Sacred Heart Ott, M.H.S. — first principal
- Adjacent to the church on Johnston Street
- St. Thomas More High School listed as partner high school by the parish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Guided by Proverbs 7:2 ('Keep my commands and live my teaching as the apple of your eye'), the parish Office of Religious Education offers formation for both children and adults. Children are served through CCD and sacramental preparation; adults and young adults have Bible study, women's and men's formation studies, and a well-stocked Parish Library. The office stresses that faith formation is a partnership between parish and family.
- CCD for school-age children
- Boys' Bible Study and Girls' Bible Study
- Adult Bible study classes
- Parish Library
- Religious formation studies for women and men
- Contact: Religious Education Coordinator Elaine Trahan
Youth & Family
Calista Beverly serves as Director of Youth and Family, coordinating Youth Group, Vacation Bible School, and seasonal Bible studies. The parish has historically supported a LifeTeen-style teen program alongside Vacation Bible School and Boys' and Girls' Bible Studies that meet in the spring and fall.
- Youth Group (fun nights and Bible study)
- Vacation Bible School
- Boys' Bible Study (RSVP)
- Girls' Bible Study (RSVP)
- Director of Youth and Family: Calista Beverly
Parish Outreach & Community
Long-standing outreach ministries include the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, Fatima Seniors 50+, the Catholic Daughters, and a meal ministry for parishioners recovering from illness or surgery and for bereaved families after the death of a loved one. Ministers also visit the homebound and pray daily for the confidential prayer requests of others. The parish also maintains an Our Lady of Fatima Endowment.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference
- Fatima Seniors 50+
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Meal ministry for the sick and bereaved
- Homebound ministry
- Online Giving available through the parish website (tech support: 1-800-348-2886 ext. 2)
- Our Lady of Fatima Endowment
Visit, Contact & Office
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Phone: (337) 232-8945; Fax: (337) 232-0323; email: [email protected]. A 'recorded Mass' of the Sunday 11:00 am Mass is referenced on the parish website for those who cannot attend in person. New parishioners can register online through the parish website.
- Address: 2319 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503
- Phone: (337) 232-8945
- Fax: (337) 232-0323
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–4:00 pm; Fri 9:00 am–12:00 pm
- Recorded Sunday 11:00 am Mass available online
- New parishioner registration form on website
- Online Giving supported; tech line 1-800-348-2886 ext. 2
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Michael J. Benedict1949–founding era
Founding pastor; chose the name 'Our Lady of Fatima' after the Portuguese apparition; oversaw groundbreaking Oct 25, 1949 and the Oct 7, 1951 dedication.
- Msgr. Glen Provost
Led the 'Fulfilling the Fatima Promise' parish campaign referenced in earlier parish highlights.
- Rev. Fr. Michael J. Russothrough June 30, 2019
Served 12 years as pastor; his last official day was June 30, 2019. A 2019 bulletin farewell reflects on his priesthood begun at the Borghese Chapel, Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome.
- Rev. Msgr. Jefferson DeBlanc2019 (per Oct 6, 2019 bulletin)
Listed as Pastor in October 2019 bulletin, with Rev. Fr. Nathan Comeaux as Parochial Vicar.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Voorhiescurrent (per parish website)
Current pastor; serves as ext. 117, [email protected].