In the midst of Gandhipuram’s hustle and bustle, Our Lady of Fatima church stands tall, all decked up for Christmas. The church carries a rich history, spanning over 60 years. The story dates back to 1955 when a bishop named Savarimuthu allocated five acres of land to a group of Capuchin friars, who belonged to the Franciscan order of the Roman Catholic church. They were tasked with constructing a church and a seminary, while also taking care of the St Mary’s school, that stands opposite to the church to this day.
Father Peter Damian, a priest from the Kumbakonam diocese, took charge of the desolate land with thorny bushes, transforming it into the magnificent church it is today with the help of Fr Cassian from Canada. They dreamed of building a church dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, a title used by Catholics for Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. Before the completion of the church, Fr Damian used to conduct masses at the school. It is said that the friars were so dedicated that they slept under the open sky during the church’s construction.
