History

1940s & 50s

In the 1940’s, people were moving in increasing numbers from the central part of Huntington to the southeastern part of town. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling was aware of this population trend and, in 1950, Archbishop John J. Swint purchased a two-and-three quarter acre tract of land on Norway Avenue, in the city’s rapidly growing southeastern section.

In the spring of 1951, a temporary gray-metal church building and a permanent red brick rectory were begun. Footers for the buildings were poured on June 14, 1951.

Original Church Building

For the temporary church, “a prefabricated metal building was purchased from Armco (a steel company in Ashland, KY) and erected by them,” states parish historical material. The records add that “a local builder, Harry Shamblin, and his company finished the interior.” The architectural firm of Vecellio and Kreps of Charleston “drew up plans for the rectory and the construction contract was awarded to E.P. Leach and Sons, Huntington contractors,” states the historical data. The church building and rectory were begun shortly after the footers were poured, and “by the end of November, both buildings were practically completed,” states parish history.

Mr. James E. Leach recalled that at the same time that his company was building the rectory, the temporary church was being assembled on-site, with the interior later completed by the Shamblin Company. Mr. Leach stated that Father Tierney obtained the original pews from a church in Wheeling and the Stations of the Cross came from his previous parish church. Some of the original pews can now be found in the choir loft in the church.

Father James F. Tierney

The new parish, placed under the patronage of Our Lady of Fatima, was officially established on October 22, 1951. Formed from the mother parish of St. Joseph’s at 6th Ave. and 13th St., Our Lady of Fatima included most of the southeast section of Huntington and adjacent parts of Cabell County.

Father James F. Tierney, a native of Weston, WV, was appointed pastor effective November 1, 1951. Father Tierney came to our Parish from St. Anthony Parish in Grant Town, WV, where he had been pastor for six years.

The first Masses were celebrated on December 2, 1951, the First Sunday of Advent, in the temporary church on Norway Ave. at the intersection of Avondale Rd. At that time, some 200 Catholic families lived within the boundaries of the new parish.

Our Lady of Fatima School

In 1952, steps were taken to provide a grade school for the children of the parish. Building plans were approved on March 15, 1953, and the contract was awarded to E. P. Leach & Sons in August; groundbreaking took place on September 4, 1953. The new school was dedicated on Sunday, September 5, 1954, and opened on September 7th with six grades and 90 pupils. The school was placed under the direction of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters whose motherhouse was located in Huntington at that time. By September 1955, the seventh and eighth grades were added, increasing enrollment to 140 students..

The parish continued to grow, and on November 28, 1954, a third Sunday Mass was added, celebrated by Father Lambert Erkins, S.A.C., chaplain of the Pallotine Sisters Novitiate. By 1957, a fourth Sunday Mass was added, celebrated by Father Vincent Piskula, S.A.C., chaplain of St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington.

1960s

Father Tierney watching the house being moved

By 1960, the number of Our Lady of Fatima parishioners had doubled. The temporary church building was outgrown and more land was needed. Four additional lots, fronting some 175 feet to the east along Norway Avenue, were purchased. The architectural firm of Vecellio and Kreps, Charleston, WV, was commissioned to begin plans for a new church building.

Father Burke blessing the cornerstone

In August 1962, Archbishop Swint signed the construction contract awarded to E. P. Leach & Sons. The building was staked out on October 1, 1962. On Sunday, April 28, 1963 after the rectory building had been moved some 150 ft to its present location, Father George Burke, pastor of the mother church, Saint Joseph, Dean of the Huntington deanery, and delegate of His Excellency Bishop Hodges, blessed and laid the cornerstone of the new church. Very appropriately, the first Mass in the completed building was celebrated by the pastor, Father Tierney, on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1963. The church was filled with what was probably the largest congregation ever to attend a Mass indoors in the City of Huntington.

On Sunday, April 19, 1964, the Most Rev. Joseph H. Hodges, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling, officiated at the dedication of the new church, with the sermon given by Father Joseph B. Bell.

1970s

Rev. Cesidio J. Federico

On May 9, 1975, Father Tierney, our pastor for 24 years, was appointed pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Fairmont, WV. On that same day Father Cesidio J. Federico, formerly pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish, Wheeling, WV, was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. In its 29 years of existence, our parish had grown from 120 families to approximately 700 families.

All the funds that were required to build these facilities were raised by parishioners, without professional help, and were paid off by 1977. Further expansion and modernization of the existing buildings was now planned and undertaken. In 1974 and again in 1977, parishioners made substantial pledges toward a building and maintenance fund. Out of this strong base of funds, the church sanctuary was completed, some long-needed improvements were made in the rectory, and a three-phase plant expansion program was begun. In 1978, the school was modernized and greatly expanded by the addition of classrooms, a kindergarten, and a library. Phases II and III of the program included a gymnasium and a parish hall.

1980s

In 1980, Bishop Joseph H. Hodges established St. Stephen’s Parish in the eastern part of Our Lady of Fatima Parish and named Father Larry Dorsch its first pastor.

By 1984, the beautiful gymnasium, with its accompanying office, storage, shower, and bathroom facilities, was completed and dedicated. By January 1988, phase III, the dream of a large and functional parish hall, had become a reality and its dedication was celebrated with a wonderful party for the parishioners whose time, treasure, and talent had produced it.

In June of that year, our pastor of over 14 years, Father Federico, was appointed pastor of St. Michael’s parish in Vienna, WV. On July 22, 1988, Father John C. McGinnity became our third pastor in 37 years, assuming at the same time the appointment as Dean of the Huntington deanery.

1990s

Father Joseph L. Peterson

On June 20, 1990, Father Joseph L. Peterson was appointed our pastor. A renovation program was undertaken over the next decade, including several rooms in the church, rectory, and parish hall; additionally, a church sign and patronal statue of our Lady of Fatima enhanced the landscaping.

In 1992 the Parish school received the distinguished Blue Ribbon Award in ceremonies at The White House, Washington, D.C.

2000s

In anticipation of our parish’s 50th anniversary celebrations scheduled for the fall of 2001, a major renovation of the church began immediately after Christmas 2000. The project included relocating the sanctuary, a new main altar, and a new baptismal font as well as new tile flooring. The renovation was completed in a few months. The first Mass in the renovated church was on April 14, 2001, the Easter Vigil.

The new altar was dedicated on September 9, 2001 by the Most Rev. Bernard W. Schmitt, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

AltarConsecrated by the Most Rev. Bernard W. Schmitt

Altar Consecration

Renovations

Rev. James M. Sobus

In June, 2004, Father James M. Sobus, was appointed our pastor. He was formerly pastor of St. Michael’s parish in Wheeling, WV. Under the direction of Father Sobus, the parish turned our attention to the needs of those in the surrounding communities. The parish actively supported the Right to Life movement through prayer and action. Additionally, we “adopted” the ECCHO food pantry in Milton, WV, as a special need. Food and monetary drives were held throughout the year with special programs at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

2010s

In June, 2013, Father Paul Yuenger was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Fatima. He was formerly pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish in Oak Hill, WV. Father Yuenger took on the repair and modernization of our parish campus. He relocated the rectory offices to a home owned by the parish on Green Oak Dr. The former rectory was completely remodeled and then converted into Parish Offices along with meeting rooms. The Parish database system was switched to ParishSoft and the parish worked with the Diocese to stabilize the Parish School. The signage in front of the church was redesigned and the children of Fatima were added to the statuary.

Rev. Paul Yuenger

Children of Fatima

Later the Diocese purchased a home at 521 Norway Ave. and Father Yuenger moved the Parish Rectory there after extensive repairs and remodeling. He also oversaw the remodeling of the Parish Hall and Parish Hall kitchen. He was instrumental in establishing Knights of Columbus Council 17096 at the parish in 2018. With the aid of the Knights of Columbus, the parish took over responsibility for the Catholic Cemetery in the Guyandotte area of Huntington, variously known as Everrett Cemetery or St. Joseph Cemetery. The parking lots were resurfaced and a new lot was added on the corner of Jackson St.

2020s

Father Yuenger guided the Parish through the lockdowns of 2020-2021 due to Covid-19. He retired in July 2021 and settled in Proctorville, Ohio.

Father Tijo George, M.C.B.S.

In June of 2021, Bishop Mark E. Brennan announced that in consultation with the Very Rev. Joseph Thottankara, M.C.B.S., provincial superior of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Zion Province in Kerala, India, Father Tijo George, M.C.B.S., was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Huntington and St. Stephen Parish in Ona with residence at the parish rectory in Huntington, effective July 14, 2021. Father George was formerly pastor at St. Anthony’s in Charleston and Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Elkview.

Father George built the the new Mary’s Grotto on the side of the church to be used for May Crowning and private prayer. He oversaw the addition of a Christ Crucified Cross to the front of the church and the relocation of the Risen Christ statue to hang over the choir loft. He also acquired beautiful new vestments for our priests and 2 angel statues to address the tabernacle. Father George worked with the school to hire a new Principal and return stability. This was one of the best and most important things he was able to do for Fatima Parish and School.

In June 2025 Father George was transferred to Wheeling where he became pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish.

Fr. Martin J. Smay

On June 18, 2025 Father Martin J. Smay, formerly pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Thomas, WV, and Our Lady of Mercy Mission, Parsons, WV, became the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Huntington and St. Stephen Parish in Ona with residence at the parish rectory in Huntington.

Today, our parish serves over 600 families and more than 1,200 parishioners.