In the early forties a group of people were convinced that this area was in need of a Catholic Church. Services were held in an old store in Galena Park and in the elementary school in Jacinto city. At this time these were considered missions.

On July 16, 1946 land was purchased in Galena Park between 8^th and 10^th streets east of Main. On the same date Bishop Byrne appointed Fr. Joseph P. Walsh, Pastor. The first Mass was celebrated August 12, 1948 by Fr. Kermit of St. Mary’s Seminary, even though the building did not have a roof. Fr. Bernard Roemer was appointed to serve although he was then pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus’ Church of Highlands. Under the guidance of Fr. Roemer the Church was completed as well as quarters for the priest.

On March 2, 1949, Fr. Joseph O’Sullivan was appointed as the second pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church. During the tenure of Fr. O’Sullivan plans for a school began in 1949.

On June 21, 1958, Fr. Peter S. Harnett was named the third Pastor by Bishop Nold. By this time the parish had grown in numbers prompting Fr. Harnett to organize a pledge drive for a new Church. The contract was let in February and work commenced in March 1959. The new church to accommodate 700 opened its doors on December 23, 1959, for novena services and before midnight the following night for the first early Christmas day Mass on December 25, 1959. A rectory was built in conjunction with the new church.

Its contemporary style is patterned after Our Lady of Humility Church in Chicago, Illinois, at the express desire of Bishop Nold. The interior features heavy exposed wood beams. The windows are, Cathedral glad from Cologne, Germany, depicting in story “The Apostles Creed”. The three marble altars, communion rail, and baptismal font are imported from Italy; the altar accessories with fleur-de-lis design from France. The wood carved statuary is from Italy.

The Stations of the Cross, wood carvings from Italy, were donated by a woman whose son lost his life in World War II. Most of the statuary and the four-colored mosaic of Our Mother of Perpetual Help were donated by generous parishioners. The crucifix hanging majestically over the high altar is wood carved, twelve feet high.

On February 14, 1961, His Excellency Bishop Nold came to Galena Park for the canonical erection of the Stations of the Cross, for the solemn dedication of the church, and for the first confirmation held in the new church. Just thirty years after our Lady appeared to the three children in Fatima, a parish in her honor was created in Galena Park…at the twilight of 1959, the permanent shrine to Our Lady of Fatima in Galena Park become a reality. To those who witnessed the humble beginning and the glorious ending it is truly a labor of love.