About Our Lady of Fatima · Seattle, Washington
Our Lady of Fatima Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, established in 1952 and part of the Archdiocese of Seattle. Worshipping today from a beautiful church on West Barrett Street directly across from Magnolia Playfield, the parish family numbers about 974 households and is grouped in Parish Family 16 alongside Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Anne parishes under the Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning process. The parish is staffed by a pastor, parochial vicar, deacon, and a robust lay ministry team, runs an affiliated Preschool–8th grade parish school, and centers its life on the Eucharist, faith formation, community, and service to others.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick W. Freitag
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is a multi-generational Catholic community in one of Seattle's most scenic neighborhoods, centered on the Eucharist and devoted to nurturing faith, building community, and serving others. The parish welcomes newcomers with an active Welcome Desk after weekend liturgies, weekly Coffee and Donuts after the 9 AM Sunday Mass, and a vibrant music ministry (choirs for the 5 PM Saturday and 9 AM Sunday liturgies) under Music Director Sung Lee. Its affiliated Preschool–8th grade parish school, faith formation for ages 3–13, the EDGE middle school youth group, RCIA inquiry sessions running from September to Pentecost, and outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, the Magi Project, St. Martin's Shelter Meal Program, and the Queen Anne Helpline make it easy to plug in, belong, and serve.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (in the Reconciliation Chapel at the back of the church)
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (see parish office for schedule)
About Our Lady of Fatima Parish
We, as stewards of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, keep Jesus Christ at the center of our lives by celebrating the Eucharist, nurturing our faith, building community, and serving others. Founded in 1952 in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, the parish has grown from a scattered flock of St. Margaret's parishioners into a multi-generational community of nearly 974 households. The parish is now part of Parish Family 16 in the Archdiocese of Seattle, alongside Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Anne parishes, under the Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning process.
- Founded 1952 by Archbishop Connolly
- First pastor: Father Emery 'Doc' Blanchard
- Part of Parish Family 16 (with Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Anne)
- Approximately 974 households
Parish History
Our Lady of Fatima began in 1952 with a Mass at the American Legion Hall on 32nd and West Barrett, then moved to the Magnolia Theatre, where parishioners knelt in the aisles for over a year. Archbishop Connolly laid the cornerstone of the first church in 1954, and the parish school opened in January of that same year. The current splendid church and rectory were later dedicated, a Parish Center opened in February 1986, and the school underwent a three-phase expansion culminating in a new gymnasium in 2005.
- First Mass: January 27, 1952 (American Legion Hall)
- Moved to Magnolia Theatre by March 1952
- Construction began May 1953; first church Mass on Christmas Eve 1953
- Cornerstone laid by Archbishop Connolly, 1954
- Parish school opened January 1954
- Parish Center dedicated February 1986
- New school gymnasium completed 2005
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Patrick W. Freitag, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Anthony M. Kitema and Deacon Angus McDonell serving as Pastoral Associate. A team of lay staff supports parish operations, music, faith formation, evangelization, school administration, and finances, with shared staff supporting the broader Parish Family 16 collaboration.
- Rev. Patrick W. Freitag – Pastor
- Rev. Anthony M. Kitema – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Angus McDonell – Pastoral Associate
- Philip P. Hasenkamp – Pastoral Assistant for Administration
- Sung Lee – Music Director
- Leslie Simons – Bookkeeper
- Ericka Lamsek – Youth Ministry
- Jessica Harris – Director of Evangelization
- Mark Abadir – Director of Parish Operations
- Brigid McMahan – Director of Finance
- Bri Jones – Office Manager
- Karianne Earnest – Principal
- Ann DeVita – Communications and Development Manager
Our Lady of Fatima Parish School
Located at 3301 W Dravus Street in Magnolia, the parish school serves Preschool through 8th Grade students in a supportive, caring community and safe environment. The curriculum is rigorous and includes Spanish, art, music, physical education, and robust technology, with an Extended Care program for Preschool through 3rd Grade. While Catholicism is the foundation, families of all faiths are welcome to apply. The school completed a three-phase expansion culminating in a new gymnasium in 2005.
- Preschool through 8th Grade
- Spanish, art, music, physical education, and technology
- Extended Care for Preschool through 3rd Grade
- All faith families welcome
- Phone: 206-283-7031
- Email: [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of Fatima spans childhood through adulthood. Children's Faith Formation offers Sunday classes for children ages 3 through 13, September through May, helping them be initiated into the traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Faith. Adults seeking to embrace the Catholic faith are welcomed through RCIA, with eight months of weekly inquiry and catechumenate sessions running from September through Pentecost, generally culminating at Easter. Middle school students can join the EDGE youth group, which meets Sunday afternoons (typically every other week) from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and rotates between six event types: EDGE Days, Offsites, Challenge Days, Socials, Service Days, and Cooking with the Saints.
- Children's Faith Formation (ages 3–13, September–May)
- RCIA (September through Pentecost)
- EDGE Middle School Youth Group (Sundays 3:00–5:00 PM)
- Director of Evangelization: Jessica Harris
Music & Liturgy
The Music Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima is led by Music Director Sung Joon Lee and is described on the parish site as vital to parish life. The parish family choirs sing for the Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, with practice times on Sundays at 8:30 AM and Saturdays at 4:00 PM, and a supplementary rehearsal on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. New singers of every level are warmly welcomed — 'sometimes softly, sometimes loudly. When the last note has faded, and the last F-sharp has turned into a G-sharp, there is still time for a chat and a drink.'
- Music Director: Sung Joon Lee ([email protected])
- Sunday choir practice: 8:30 AM
- Saturday choir practice: 4:00 PM
- Thursday supplementary rehearsal: 7:00–8:30 PM
Parish Ministries & Service Groups
Our Lady of Fatima has an unusually rich slate of ministries spanning liturgical service, faith formation, youth, outreach, and community life. Liturgical ministers include Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, and Altar Care. Hospitality and welcome are provided by Hospitality Ministers and the Welcome Desk, staffed after weekend liturgies. Outreach flows through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Magi Project (which brings Christmas to over 80 needy families annually), the St. Martin's Shelter Meal Program (twice-monthly meals delivered via the parish bus to CCS's St. Martin de Porres Shelter in SODO), and the Queen Anne Helpline, which serves Magnolia, Queen Anne, and South Lake Union. Youth sports run through the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), and the Fatima Quilters — founded February 2007 — meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 AM, donating their quilts to the Magi Project.
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Altar Care
- Hospitality Ministers and Welcome Desk
- Ministry to the Sick and Home-bound
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (first Wednesday, September–May, 7:00 PM, Parish Library)
- Magi Project (Christmas assistance to 80+ families)
- St. Martin's Shelter Meal Program (twice monthly)
- Queen Anne Helpline (Magnolia, Queen Anne, South Lake Union)
- CYO sports programs
- Fatima Quilters (first Tuesdays, 10:00 AM, Parish Office Classroom)
- School Commission
Getting Involved & Newcomers
Newcomers are greeted at the Welcome Desk after weekend liturgies, where volunteers can help answer questions and request Mass intentions. Coffee and Donuts are served every Sunday after the 9:00 AM Mass — volunteers are needed to pick up the donuts, set up, host, and clean up afterward, and can sign up through the parish's online link. There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and all parish volunteers are required to complete a background check every three years, attend the Archdiocese of Seattle Safe Environment Program class 'Protecting God's Children,' and complete online Safe Environment refresher training every three years through Virtus.
- Welcome Desk after weekend liturgies
- Sunday Coffee and Donuts after the 9:00 Mass
- Virtus Safe Environment training required for volunteers
- Background check every three years
Visit, Contact & Location
The church stands at 3218 (parish records show 3226) West Barrett Street, directly across from the north side of Magnolia Playfield in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, with the parish office at 3307 W Dravus Street (mailing address) and the parish school at 3301 W Dravus Street. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 PM, and can be reached at 206-283-1456 or [email protected]. Sacramental records requests are handled through the parish office.
- Church: 3218 W Barrett Street (across from Magnolia Playfield)
- Parish Office: 3307 W Dravus Street, Seattle, WA 98199-2624
- School: 3301 W Dravus Street, Seattle, WA 98199
- Office hours: M–F 9:00 AM–noon and 1:00–3:00 PM
- Phone: 206-283-1456
- Fax: 206-299-3202
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Emery 'Doc' Blanchard1952–
First pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, appointed by Archbishop Connolly to found the new parish in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood.