On July 1, 2022, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Pedro de Oliveira, OFM Conv. will begin his new assignment as the pastor of our newest pastoral ministry of the province ~ Our Lady of Fatima Parish, in Ludlow, MA. The parish campus is comprised of the Main church, Parish Rectory, Parish Center, Chapel of the Little Shepherds, Fátima Museum, outdoor Shrine to Fátima, and an outdoor Chapel (a replica of the Fátima chapel in Portugal, used for outdoor Mass). Inaugurated in 1949, Our Lady of Fatima Parish celebrates Mass in both English and Portuguese. On the July 2-3rd “Welcome Mass” weekend, Friar Pedro will celebrate the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass (English), the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass (Portuguese), and the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass (English) for the first time.

In May 2022, Most Rev. William D. Byrne (Bishop of Springfield) and the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Minister Provincial Emeritus) announced to the people of Our Lady of Fatima Parish that effective July 1, 2022, Friar Pedro would serve as their new pastor. Born in 1972, on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal, Friar Pedro emigrated as a child, with his parents and siblings, to Massachusetts. He professed his Simple Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual in 1994, and was Ordained as a friar priest in 2000. Since 2018, Friar Pedro has been serving as pastor of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, in Pt. Pleasant, NJ. Later in the year, Our Lady of Fatima Parish will also welcome a friar of our Province’s Immaculate Conception Custody (Brazil) ~ Frei Luiz Fernando Lina Rangel, OFM Conv., to serve as parochial vicar.

Get to know our new pastoral ministry: This year marks the 74th Anniversary of the Parish’s FESTA; a special celebration preserving the memory of Fatima, Portugal. FESTA will be held Thursday – Monday, September 1-5, 2022, and all are encouraged to gather for live music, food, and dancing, as well as Sunday’s Open Air Masses and candlelight procession. More Details