Churches of Queens:
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH OF EAST ELMHURST
25-02 80th Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370
Service hours: Sunday Liturgy – Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m. (family liturgy from September through May), 12 p.m., and 7 p.m. Weekdays – Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
Contact: 718-899-2801
Parish web site: www.olfparish.catholicweb.com
SPIRITUAL LEADER: The administrator of the parish has been Monsignor John E. Mahoney. “I was appointed in June 2010,” Mahoney said.
LOCATION YEARS: “The church has been here since 1948,” said Mahoney. “The building was built and dedicated on May 28, 1961 and we are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the church.”
CONGREGATION SIZE: “There are 1,400 registered families,” Mahoney said. On hearing of the church’s upcoming celebration of half-a-century of service to the community, New York State Assemblymember Michael DenDekker felt a sense of pride. “The Church of Our Lady of Fatima is a very special place to me,” said DenDekker. “Not only was I among the first to be baptized at the church immediately following its completion, but I was married in the church, and my children were also baptized there.”
CONGREGATION UNIQUENESS: “The diversity of the congregation,” according to Mahoney, is what makes the church unique. “We have people who were here from the very beginning of the church,” said Mahoney. “A variety of Latin American countries comprise over 50 percent of the congregation, parishioners from Asia and older parishioners – Irish, Italian and Croatian – an international flavor to the parish.”
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF SERVICE: According to Mahoney, the most memorable moment of service is the yearly mass for the victims of the September 11 attacks. “We had a few people who were victims of 9-11,” said Mahoney. “Each year we have the annual anniversary mass and some of those people live and are connected to the parish.”
LARGEST TURNOUT: Mahoney indicated the congregation’s largest turnout had been on Easter Sunday. “We had 2,500 to 2,600 people here, at various masses,” Mahoney said.
WORDS OF INSPIRATION: “Although the parishioners come from many different backgrounds,” said Mahoney. “They all have great devotion to Mary and under our Lady of Fatima, a great devotion to the blessed mother.”
MOST POPULAR GATHERING SPOT: There have been two areas, Mahoney indicated, where the parochial community has gathered. “For religious celebration, it would be the church,” said Mahoney. “For social, it is Donnelly Hall, which is named after Father Eugene F. Donnelly, a priest who has been serving the parish since 1965.” As acknowledged, “Our Lady of Fatima Church has kindly served as a meeting spot for a host of community events, both religious and secular,” said DenDekker. “In this way it’s not only a partner in faith, but a partner in kindness to the whole Jackson Heights-East Elmhurst community.”
UPCOMING EVENT: “We are going to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Queens, beginning May of 2011 and concluding in May of 2012,” said Mahoney. “The first event is a special mass on Sunday, May 29 at 12 p.m., where Bishop Thomas V. Daily will be the principal celebrant of the mass.” Refreshment will be served at Donnelly Hall, adjacent to the church, after mass. “An antique car show will be held on Saturday, July 30,” said Mahoney. “The first annual Parish golf outing, on Monday, September 26, and a special fundraiser card party, on Saturday, October 22.” For further details, please call the rectory office at 718-899-2801.
