About Our Lady of Fatima · Newark, New Jersey
Our Lady of Fatima is a Roman Catholic parish in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, canonically founded on June 29, 1955 as the Archdiocese of Newark's first separate Portuguese-language parish. The church at 85 Jefferson Street was dedicated on December 14, 1958 and remains the spiritual home of a vibrant bilingual (Portuguese/English) community whose liturgy, devotions, and parish life center on the Marian apparitions at Fátima, Portugal. Today the parish offers multiple Sunday Masses in Portuguese and one in English, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, a CCD/Religious Education program, traditional irmandades (brotherhoods) and parish ministries.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima (Nossa Senhora de Fátima)
- Rector
- Fr. António F. Da Silva
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is one of the oldest and most established Portuguese-speaking parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark, with daily Mass in Portuguese, four Sunday Masses (three in Portuguese, one in English), a strong CCD program for children, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, the Rosary every day, and traditional Portuguese devotions such as the Irmandade de Santo António de Lisboa and the Monte Tabor charismatic prayer group. The parish is a gathering place for Portuguese and Brazilian Catholics of the Ironbound and greater Newark who want to raise their children in the faith, hear the Gospel in their mother tongue, and belong to a parish family with seven decades of history.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- 1st Friday of the month: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of the month: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Welcome & Parish Identity
The parish greets visitors in both Portuguese and English: 'We are glad you are here. Our Lady of Fatima is a vibrant parish family with a strong history, lively present, and hope-filled future. We exist to build up the Body of Christ here in Newark through worship, community, service, and living the Word.' The parish's identity is rooted in the Fátima apparitions — the homepage quotes Sister Lúcia's promise: 'I will never leave you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path that leads you to God!' The parish logo unites three symbols: the Virgin Mary beside the Cross of Christ (John 19:25), the Archdiocese of Newark emblem, and the Shrine of Fátima in Portugal.
- Canonical foundation: June 29, 1955
- Church dedication: December 14, 1958
- Languages: Portuguese and English
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark
History of the Parish & the Portuguese Community of Newark
Portuguese immigration to Newark's Ironbound dates to the 1920s, when Portuguese migrants — many arriving from New Bedford and Pawtucket — settled near the city's docks and rail yards. The Archdiocese of Newark created Saint Joseph's Spanish-Portuguese Parish in the Ironbound in 1926 to serve them. After World War II the Portuguese community grew rapidly: by 1955 the Archdiocese erected Our Lady of Fatima as its first separate Portuguese-language parish; the church was dedicated on December 14, 1958. In 1966 Saint Joseph's was renamed Immaculate Heart of Mary and became a Spanish-speaking parish; Our Lady of Fatima has remained the principal Portuguese parish of Newark ever since. A second Our Lady of Fatima parish was created in Elizabeth in 1973 as the Portuguese community expanded.
- 1926 — Saint Joseph's Spanish-Portuguese Parish founded in the Ironbound
- 1955 (June 29) — Our Lady of Fatima canonically erected
- 1958 (December 14) — Parish church dedicated
- 1966 — Saint Joseph's becomes Immaculate Heart of Mary (Spanish); Fatima becomes the principal Portuguese parish
- 1973 — Second Our Lady of Fatima parish created in Elizabeth
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The parish offers an unusually full Mass schedule that reflects its bilingual, Portuguese-led character: a Saturday Vigil Mass, four Sunday Masses (three in Portuguese, one in English), and a twice-daily weekday Mass schedule in Portuguese Monday through Friday. The parish publishes its schedule bilingually on the official website.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:30 PM (bilingual)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM (Portuguese), 9:00 AM (Portuguese), 10:15 AM (English), 11:30 AM (Portuguese)
- Weekday Masses: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM and 7:30 PM (Portuguese); Saturday 9:00 AM (Portuguese)
- Live stream of Mass via Canal Luso Mais
Religious Education / CCD (Catequese)
The parish CCD program, directed by Co-Parish Catechetical Leaders Ana Garrido and Iris Novo, serves students from First Grade through Confirmation who do not attend Catholic schools. The parish partners with parents in handing on the Catholic faith: 'At their child's Baptism, parents undertake the responsibility of providing for his/her Christian formation.' Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation each requires two consecutive years of catechesis, with mandatory parent meetings or retreats. The next parish First Communion is scheduled for May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM as a bilingual (Portuguese/English) Mass; rehearsal is April 30, 2026.
- Office: Our Lady of Fatima Parish Center, 82 Congress Street, Newark, NJ 07105
- Phone: 973-589-8433
- Email: fatimachurchnewark@gmail.com
- Ana Garrido — Catechetical Leader
- Iris Novo — Catechetical Assistant
- Two-year preparation required for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Parents' meeting: February 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM
- First Communion: May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM (bilingual)
Parish Ministries & Brotherhoods (Irmandades)
Our Lady of Fatima's ministries combine classic Portuguese devotional brotherhoods with practical parish service groups. The Irmandade de Santo António de Lisboa organizes the annual Santo António festa (May 29–31), with its first annual collection on the weekend of February 21–22. The Grupo de Oração Monte Tabor, a Catholic Charismatic Renewal prayer group, meets every Monday at 8:15 PM in the church for praise, adoration, and lectio divina. The Limpeza e Zeladoria da Igreja (church cleaning and care) team — coordinated by Eneida Merendeiro — meets Tuesdays after the 7:30 PM Mass and welcomes new volunteers.
- Irmandade de Santo António de Lisboa — annual festa May 29–31
- Grupo de Oração Monte Tabor — Monday nights, 8:15 PM
- Limpeza e Zeladoria da Igreja — Tuesdays after 7:30 PM Mass (coordinator: Eneida Merendeiro)
- Apelo Anual da Arqudiocese — Annual Appeal
- Music Ministry — 973-589-8433
Sacraments & Sacramental Records
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments and maintains official sacramental records for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Records are released only through the parish office; no information is given over the phone. Families are encouraged to register as parishioners before scheduling baptisms, weddings, or religious education.
- Baptismal Record
- First Communion Certificate
- Confirmation Certificate
- Matrimony Certificate
- Records requests: call the parish office at 973-589-8433
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish welcomes visitors in person during regular office hours and by phone or email throughout the week. The church stands on Jefferson Street in the Ironbound, while the rectory and parish center — the hub for CCD and parish business — are a short walk away on Congress Street.
- Church: 85 Jefferson Street, Newark, NJ 07105
- Rectory / Parish Center: 82–84 Congress Street, Newark, NJ 07105
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Phone: 973-589-8433 (parish business, clergy, music ministry)
- Email: fatimachurchnewark@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.fatimachurchnewark.com/