About Our Lady of Fatima · Michigan Center, Michigan
Our Lady of Fatima is a Roman Catholic parish in Michigan Center, Michigan, in the Diocese of Lansing. The parish was canonically established on June 30, 1954, by Bishop Joseph H. Albers, who named Fr. Hugh Conklin of St. Mary's Parish in Williamston as its founding pastor. The parish was named in honor of the Blessed Mother's apparitions to three children in Fatima, Portugal, and it has served Catholic families in the Michigan Center / Jackson County area for more than seven decades through three generations of clergy and laity. After worshipping for decades in what was meant to be a temporary school-built sanctuary (opened Easter 1956), the parish moved into a brand-new, purpose-built church in June 2012 — the largest Catholic sanctuary in the Jackson area — and celebrated its 70th anniversary on May 13, 2024.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima (the Blessed Mother, honored under the title given to her following the apparitions to three children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917)
- Rector
- Rev. Dr. Amalorpavanathan Rayapillai, SdC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic parish that has served Michigan Center since 1954 and now worships in the largest Catholic sanctuary in the Jackson area. It offers daily and weekend Mass in English, weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Confession, a full Religious Education / Youth Ministry program, a returning-adult OCIA process, and an active Knights of Columbus council and St. Vincent de Paul Society that assist neighbors with food, utilities and furniture. A wide range of lay-led ministries — choir, cantors, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, readers, hospitality, Prayer Shawl, and the Pilgrims of Hope seniors group — make it easy for new parishioners to plug in, while retreats (such as a women's retreat at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Dewitt) and a gentle yoga class feed the body as well as the soul.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM (and following Mass on Wednesdays)
- First Saturdays after 8:30 AM Mass (per parish calendar)
- Lenten Penance Service (annual evening service with multiple priests)
Adoration times
- Saturdays 5:00–6:00 PM (after the vigil Mass)
- Wednesday evenings after the 6:00 PM Mass (with confessions)
- Other weekday hours per the parish calendar (e.g. 9:00–10:00 AM on some days)
Parish History
Our Lady of Fatima was canonically established on June 30, 1954, by Bishop Joseph H. Albers of the Diocese of Lansing, with Fr. Hugh Conklin of St. Mary's in Williamston as founding pastor. The first Mass was offered in the basement of the National Bank building on July 18, 1954. Faced with limited funds, parishioners chose Catholic education first, raised funds through a campaign that began March 20, 1955, and worshipped for the first time in the still-standing building on Easter morning, April 1, 1956. The companion Catholic School opened in 1960.
- 1954 — parish canonically erected; first Mass July 18 in the National Bank basement
- 1956 — Easter Sunday, first Mass in the flat-roofed school/church building
- 1960 — Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School opened
- 1970 — Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales take over the parish
- 1979 — parish celebrated its Silver Jubilee after major renovations
- June 2010 — Catholic School closes after 50 years
- June 2012 — new sanctuary dedicated by Bishop Earl Boyea ($3M project)
- May 13, 2024 — 70th anniversary procession and Mass
Pastor Succession
Nine successive clergy have shepherded the parish since 1954, including a long tenure by Fr. Andrew Dunne and the recent succession of Salesians of Don Bosco (SdC).
- Fr. Hugh Conklin (1954–1959)
- Fr. Paul Donovan (1959–1968)
- Fr. Sylvester Fedewa (1968–1970)
- Fr. Paul Gillespie, OSFS (1970–1974)
- Fr. Andrew Dunne (1974–2009, 35 years)
- Fr. Jeffery Robideau (July 2009)
- Fr. Timothy MacDonald (2010–2018)
- Fr. Satheesh Alphonse, SdC (June 2018 – Dec 2023)
- Fr. Amalorpavanathan Rayapillai, SdC (current)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Our Lady of Fatima runs a full catechetical program for children and adults coordinated through the Office of Religious Education (Amy Parrish, 517-764-1321). Programming includes catechists for parish children, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, and Adult Faith Formation, plus an OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking initiation or returning to the faith. The parish currently has an open position for a Director of Faith Formation.
- Religious Education for children
- Adult Faith Formation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Youth Ministry / Youth Group
- Vacation Bible School
Liturgical and Music Ministries
Lay people serve the parish's worship through altar service, the Word, Holy Communion, hospitality, sacristy work, and music. Kathy Gostola directs the music program.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Readers (Lectors)
- Hospitality Ministers / Ushers
- Sacristans
- Adult and Youth Choir
- Cantor
Parish Life and Outreach
Beyond liturgy, the parish sustains active lay communities: the Pilgrims of Hope seniors group, Parish Life Apostolate, Funeral Luncheon Committee, Coffee Hour hosts, and a Prayer Shawl Ministry. Retreats and fitness-friendly gatherings (such as a Gentle Yoga Class Saturdays at 3:00 PM with a $5 donation) round out parish life.
- Pilgrims of Hope Seniors Group
- Parish Life Apostolate (Pam Roller, 517-536-4519)
- Funeral Luncheon Committee (Linda Weber)
- Coffee Hour (Amy Parrish)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (Linda Weber)
- Gentle Yoga Class (Saturdays 3:00 PM)
- Women's Retreat at St. Francis Retreat Center, Dewitt
Charitable Works
Our Lady of Fatima parishioners support neighbors in need through two well-known Catholic lay organizations active on site.
- Knights of Columbus (parish council)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — assists with food, utilities, and furniture within parish boundaries
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by Salesians of Don Bosco (SdC) clergy together with lay employees and contracted help. The parish office can be reached at 517-764-2088.
- Pastor: Rev. Dr. Amalorpavanathan Rayapillai, SdC
- Music Director: Kathy Gostola
- Administrative Assistant: Linda Weber ([email protected])
- Business Manager: Ann Kueffner ([email protected])
- Communications: Marie Skrobola ([email protected])
- Office of Religious Education: Amy Parrish (517-764-1321)
- Maintenance: Dave Zeemer
Building and Campus
The current worship space, parish hall and basement classrooms — including an elevator for accessibility — were dedicated in June 2012. The campaign and pledges funded the $3 million project, and Fr. Andrew Dunne (longtime pastor), Bishop Earl Boyea and general contractor Keith Smith were honored at the dedication Mass.
- New sanctuary dedicated June 2012
- $3 million project funded by parishioner pledges
- Parish hall and basement classrooms
- Elevator for accessibility
What We Believe
The parish website hosts an explanatory 'What We Believe' section covering the basics of the Catholic faith and answering common questions about Catholicism, the Catechism, and the sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Core Catholic beliefs
- The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- How to come back to the Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hugh Conklin1954–1959
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass on July 18, 1954 in the basement of the National Bank building.
- Fr. Paul Donovan1959–1968
Pastored the parish during the opening of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in 1960.
- Fr. Sylvester Fedewa1968–1970
Brief pastorate before the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales took over.
- Fr. Paul Gillespie, OSFS1970–1974
First of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales assigned to the parish; returned to Oklahoma in June 1974.
- Fr. Andrew Dunne1974–2009
Longest-tenured pastor (35 years); oversaw physical upgrades to the church and led the drive toward a permanent sanctuary.
- Fr. Jeffery RobideauJuly 2009–(brief)
Short tenure following Fr. Dunne's retirement.
- Fr. Timothy MacDonald2010–2018
Served as Temporal Administrator and then Pastor; pastor when the new church was dedicated in June 2012.
- Fr. Satheesh Alphonse, SdCJune 2018–December 2023
Of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SdC); presided at the 10th anniversary of the new church in 2022.
- Fr. Amal Rayapillai, SdCDecember 2023–present
Current pastor; SdC (Salesians of Don Bosco).