Our Lady of Fatima Church, Karachi is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. It was approved on 22 August 1953 when the Most Rev. Alcuin Van Miltenburg (the late Archbishop of Karachi) set the boundaries of the new parish. In May 1955 it became a chaplaincy under St. Patrick's Cathedral with resident priests. In September 1957 it became an independent parish.
On 13 July 1962, the foundation Stone of the present church building was blessed and laid by H. E. Mgr. Xavier Zupie, the Vatican Internuncio. On 8 September 1963, the Church was blessed and dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
This is the name given to the miraculous appearance of the blessed Virgin Mary in a small village of Fatima in Portugal. According to the legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to 3 shepherd children in 1917.
The church is in circular shape with large glass windows around the facade. The seating is in semi circular shape encircling the altar.[1]
The Parish comprises the following areas: Doli Khata, Misquita Housing Society, Plaza Quarters, Patrick Palace, Rehman Heights, Reno Centre, Al-Noor Centre, Rehman Plaza, Southern Cooperative Housing, Jubilee - Rivoli area, Police Headquarters and Tabela Basti.
The Parish Priests have been:
1957 - 1959 Rev Fr. Floregius Rypma OFM
1959 - 1961 Rev. Fr. Timothy Carney OP
1961 - 1967 Rev. Fr. Daniel McCaffrey OP
1967 - 1974 Rev. Fr. Kieran Smith OP
1974 - 1978 Rev. Fr. Finbar Carroll OP
1978 - 1982 Rev. Fr. Xavier P Hennessy OP
1982 - 1990 Rev. Fr. Canisius Mascarenhas
1990 - 1995 Rev. Fr. Melito Dias
1995 - 2001 Rev. Fr. Robert D’Silva
2001 - 2002 Rev Fr. Tony D'Cruz
2002 - 2006 Rev. Fr. Archie D’Souza
2006- Rev. Fr. Luis Esquinas Pajuelo
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Medical Mission Sisters, Archbishop Simeon Anthony Pereira of Karachi officiated at a Mass on September 30, 2000 at Our Lady of Fatima Church. The Holy Family Hospital, which is run by the Medical Mission Sisters, lies within the precincts of the parish.[2]
The parish is home to the Archdiocesan Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary. Fr. Luis Esquinas Pajuelo is the Rector.
The parish is also home to the Our Lady of Fatima School for girls.
Until his demise on 1 April 2006 Fr. Archie D`Souza was the parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church.[3]