About Our Lady of Fatima · Modesto, California
Our Lady of Fatima is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Stockton serving the west side of Modesto, California from its campus at 505 W. Granger Avenue. Founded in 1951 by Father William P. Kennedy to relieve the growing St. Stanislaus Parish, it has grown into a large, multicultural community celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese — including a long-running Vietnamese Mass every Sunday at 3:30 PM. The parish runs an attached parish school (K–8), religious education, RCIA/OCIA, music and youth ministry, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, monthly Nocturnal Adoration, and a Knights of Columbus council, making it a full parish hub for the Granger/West Modesto neighborhood.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Rector
- Rev. Khoi Pham
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is one of the most linguistically welcoming parishes in the Modesto area, with weekly Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, weekday Spanish Masses, and an active Vietnamese community — a real home for immigrant and English-speaking Catholics alike. The parish grounds host a K–8 Catholic school, a religious education program for parish children, an OCIA/RCIA process for adults, Music Ministry, Youth Ministry, a Linen Ministry, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who bring the Eucharist to the homebound and hospitalized, and a Knights of Columbus council — so a family can find formation, service, and fellowship all on one block of West Granger Avenue.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- By appointment: Call or text 209-485-2059
Adoration times
- Thursday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Adoración Nocturna — every third Saturday of the month, 7:30 PM – 5:00 AM (contact Rosario Ramos, 408-832-4665)
History of Our Lady of Fatima Parish
Our Lady of Fatima Parish was established on October 1, 1951 by the Archdiocese of San Francisco to relieve St. Stanislaus Parish and serve the growing Catholic population in the newer west-Modesto residential areas, where at the time only about 200 families lived within parish boundaries. Founding pastor Father William P. Kennedy arrived with a small altar stone under his arm, set up a temporary rectory in a parishioner's home, and celebrated the first two Sunday Masses beginning October 14, 1951 in the Sylvan Club at McHenry Avenue and Sylvan Road. Within a year he had organized a five-man Advisory Committee of leading parish businessmen and the Fatima Guild of women, sold an unsuitable nine-acre tract at a profit, and purchased eight acres on West Granger Avenue for the permanent church and school campus that still serves the parish today. Auxiliary Bishop Hugh Donohoe of San Francisco dedicated the new permanent church in April 1954.
- Oct 1, 1951 — Parish founded; Father William P. Kennedy arrives from San Francisco with the altar stone
- Oct 14, 1951 — First two Sunday Masses celebrated in the Sylvan Club
- Dec 1951 — Eight acres purchased on West Granger Avenue for $29,000
- Jan 1952 — House at 400 W. Granger bought as temporary rectory
- April 1954 — New permanent church dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop Hugh Donohoe
- 1957 — Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School opens with the Daughters of Jesus teaching grades 1–3
- 1963 — First 8th-grade graduation; second school wing added
- 1986 — Parish Hall completed
- 2005 — Father Khoi Pham appointed pastor
- 2006 — Multi-purpose building completed from the 2000 Capital Campaign
- 2007–2008 — School 50th anniversary celebrated
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Khoi Pham, who has served as pastor since 2005. He is assisted by Rev. Madhu Appanapalle as Parochial Vicar, Rev. Editho Mascardo in Residence, and two permanent deacons: Deacon Jim Johnson and Deacon Juan Vargas. Parishioners may request a priest in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese by telling the Parish Center receptionist which language they need so the priest on call can be matched appropriately. For urgent needs (the dying or those in deep grief) or emergencies such as Anointing of the Sick at Doctor's Medical Center, the on-call priest line is 209-485-2059.
- Rev. Khoi Pham — Pastor (since 2005)
- Rev. Madhu Appanapalle — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Editho Mascardo — In Residence
- Deacon Jim Johnson
- Deacon Juan Vargas
Sacraments
The parish prepares families and adults for all the Sacraments of Initiation and Marriage. Infant baptism (birth through age 6) requires a pre-baptismal class for parents; baptisms are celebrated on Sundays at 1:30 PM, with Spanish-language baptisms on the first Sunday and English-language baptisms on the fourth Sunday. Couples should contact the Parish Center at least six months before their intended wedding date. Adults (age 7 and older) seeking to become Catholic or complete their Sacraments of Initiation are invited into the OCIA/RCIA inquiry process.
- Baptism (birth–6): pre-baptismal class required; Sundays at 1:30 PM — Spanish (1st Sun), English (4th Sun)
- Marriage: contact Parish Center 6+ months in advance
- RCIA / OCIA: adult initiation process; inquiry sessions offered — 209-491-3468
- Anointing of the Sick: hospital and home visits by appointment
Religious Education, OCIA & Youth Ministry
Faith formation for parish children is run through the Religious Education office (209-491-3462), and adults seeking to enter or complete their initiation in the Catholic Church are welcomed into OCIA (formerly RCIA) inquiry sessions (209-491-3468). A dedicated Youth Ministry line (209-491-3465) supports the parish's middle- and high-school young people. All registered parishioners can also access free Catholic video, audio, and book content through FORMED.org using parish code F7GZ8R at olfmodesto.formed.org.
- Religious Education — 209-491-3462
- OCIA / RCIA — 209-491-3468
- Youth Ministry — 209-491-3465
- Music Ministry — 209-491-3466
- FORMED.org — free Catholic media access with parish code F7GZ8R
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School is a private K–8 parish school located directly across the street from the church at 501 W. Granger Avenue. It opened in the fall of 1957 taught by the Daughters of Jesus, a Canadian congregation, growing one grade at a time until the first eighth-grade class graduated in 1963. After the Daughters of Jesus returned to Canada in 1970 the school transitioned to an all-lay faculty. Today it is led by Principal Mrs. Pamela O'Brien (hired 2021) and was most recently re-accredited through June 2029 by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC). In 2012–13 the Diocese of Stockton entered a partnership with the University of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) to strengthen Catholic schools.
- 501 W. Granger Ave., Modesto, CA 95350
- Phone: (209) 524-4170 | Fax: (209) 524-7713
- Web: olfcatholicschool.com | Email: [email protected]
- Opened 1957 with the Daughters of Jesus
- All-lay faculty since 1970
- Accredited by WCEA/WASC through June 2029
- Principals over the years: Karen Ristau (1970), Sister Genevra Rolf CSC (1984–1990), Dr. Don Dirks (1990–94), Don Brimmer, Linda Partlow (1994–), Dr. Rex Wetzel (interim 2013), Melissa Neder (2015), Pamela O'Brien (2021–present)
Parish Service & Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, Our Lady of Fatima runs a Linen Ministry that cares for the altar linens from more than 12 weekly Masses (contact Lisa Rego at 872-1995), and a growing corps of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who bring the Eucharist to the homebound, hospitalized, and those in rehab and convalescent facilities (contact Kathy Sbragia at 604-8086). The parish also hosts an active Knights of Columbus council that supports parish fundraisers like the Fall Festival and contributes to community life in the Diocese of Stockton.
- Linen Ministry — Lisa Rego, 872-1995
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (homebound/hospital visitation) — Kathy Sbragia, 604-8086
- Knights of Columbus — parish council (Fall Festival support)
- Fatima Guild — parish women's service group, founded 1951 by Father Kennedy
Contact & Visiting
The Parish Office at 505 W. Granger Avenue is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and can be reached at (209) 524-7421. The School Office is across the street at 501 W. Granger Avenue, phone (209) 524-4170. Ministry extensions include Religious Education (491-3462), RCIA/OCIA (491-3468), Music Ministry (491-3466), and Youth Ministry (491-3465). After-hours emergencies (Doctor's Medical Center, Anointing of the Sick, or a priest for the dying) are reached by calling or texting the on-call priest line at 209-485-2059.
- Parish Office: 505 W. Granger Ave., Modesto, CA 95350 — (209) 524-7421
- School Office: 501 W. Granger Ave. — (209) 524-4170
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–5:30 PM
- On-call priest for emergencies: 209-485-2059
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William P. Kennedy1951–
Founding pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, arrived October 1, 1951 from the Archdiocese of San Francisco carrying the original altar stone; oversaw construction of the church (dedicated April 1954), the parish hall (1986), and the school (1957).
- Rev. Khoi Pham2005–present
Appointed pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in 2005; continues to serve as pastor per current bulletin and school history.