As tempus fugit in 2002, the congregation of Our Lady of Fatima will celebrate two anniversaries: in July 2002, the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of St. Elizabeth Parish, and in October 2002, the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of Our Lady of Fatima Church. The congregations of the past, present, and future, have and will celebrate joyous and mournful occasions in this revered House of Worship.

St. Elizabeth Church was a result of the dedication of its founding members who, at the turn of the 20th century, were settling in the borough of South Sharon, now known as Farrell, Pennsylvania. The surge in Irish Catholics immigrating to the Shenango Valley who came to find work in the bustling steel mills allowed the magnificent $50,000 Gothic church to be built on the corner of Roemer Boulevard (formerly Haywood) and Wallis Street. Designed by Oil City, Pa. architect, Joseph P. Brenot, the showplace house of worship was illuminated with over 2,000 electric light bulbs, quite a spectacle at that time. Built of Cleveland stone and Kittanning buff brick with cornices and finials of copper, the imposing ecclesiastical building was noted as one of the most beautiful church building in the state.

At the same time, a large number of Italian immigrants were locating to the village of South Sharon to find work in the steel mills. As a result, St. Anthony de Padua parish was created to fill the need for a Catholic church with an Italian-speaking pastor who understood their language and customs from back home. On March 5, 1952, Archbishop John Mark Gannon ordered the consolidation of St. Elizabeth’s and St. Anthony’s into one, unified church honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima, which would be housed in the former St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. In 1960, the Our Lady of Fatima elementary school, chapel and convent were erected. This would later be renamed Monsignor Geno J. Monti School in honor of Our Lady of Fatima Church’s first pastor. The congregation’s of the past, present and future, have and will celebrate joyous and mournful occasions in the revered house of worship. The magnificent Gothic church, both exterior and interior, like a piece of art or classical music, has endured the test of time. It is said that “a thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

Author and historian William Lombardo was born February 3, 1927, in Farrell, a son of the late Guiseppe and Assunta (Raimondi) Lombardo. He attended Farrell schools and was a graduate of the class of 1945. He graduated on May 22, 1945, and was inducted into the Army the very next morning, serving in Germany in the 71 Constabulary Armored Squadron. His education included receiving a degrees from Grove City College, Slippery Rock University, Westminster College, along with his master's degree. He then received his administrative certification from Penn State Main Campus. He was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Farrell. He served as usher, lector, and church historian. For the 100th anniversary of the church, he authored the book, The Mother Church.

Pages: 140

Publisher: Our Lady of Fatima Church

Imprint: NA

Series: Sacred Spaces

Publication Date: 1997, edited 2002

State: Pennsylvania

Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.25 in

ISBN: 0936369620

Format: Paperback

BISACs:
HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Middle Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA)
HISTORY / United States / 20th Century
RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic / General
RELIGION / Sacred Places