

Our Lady of Fatima Church
50 Kane Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106


Parish History
In the 1950's many Portuguese immigrated to the United States, and specifically to the Hartford, Connecticut area. A group of Catholics who felt the need for cultural and spiritual guidance in their language came together and contacted the Roman Catholic Church in Hartford and in Portugal asking for a Portuguese speaking priest. God sent Father José Dias Martins da Silva to answer the call.

Father José Dias Martins da Silva
Born: January 8,1926, Estarreja, Portugal. Studied: Seminário de Vila Viçosa and completed his Theology studies in Seminário Maior de Évora. Ordained as Priest: Sé de Évora on June 29, 1951. Celebrated his first Mass: July 15,1951, Igreja de S. Tiago, Beduido, Estarreja. He served the Igreja no Alentejo for six and half years at the service of the Brothers of Portel, Coruche e Sé de Évora, before coming to the States. He entered into eternal rest on December 7, 2006. May he be given the promised glory of eternal life. Father Silva led the Portuguese community into an organized parish for the Portuguese speaking community to worship freely amidst the language and culture that is our heritage. Father Silva paved the way. It is up to us to support our present leader Father António Jorge Tchingui to continue the journey. Our Church, our Community Center are tools in which we can grow as we look to the future with full faith in God cumulating on the richness of our heritage as we bequeath our culture and language to generations to come.
Our Church (Present)
It was a $2.5 million project and had the seating capacity of five hundred and fifty parishioners. After 12 years of planning and four years of construction, opening ceremonies were held on April 30,1988.


Our Community Center
Today with the Portuguese population having reached third and fourth generation, and yet with many of the original members, we are still at the heart of the Portuguese community. To house the various programs that make up our Church life, the parishioners approved a $2M+ Community Center.
Father António Jorge Tchingui
Rev. Antonio Jorge Tchingui has been Parish Administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Hartford, Connecticut, since September 1, 2005. He was elevated to this position by The Most Reverend Henry Joseph Mansell, Archbishop. On June 25, 2003, the Most Reverend Daniel Cronin had bestowed on him the position of Parochial Vicar. Since that time, the Rev. Tchingui has served the community of over 1,000 households, or over 5,000 Portuguese-speaking parishioners. The Reverend is in charge of overseeing all of the Church's activities, including the Portuguese School, the Our Lady of Fatima Day Care, the Church's CCD program, and all other functions. EDUCATION: After graduating High School in 1986, he entered the Minor Seminary of Bom Pastor in Benguela, where he majored in Philosophy. He graduated in 1991. He further studied at the Cristo Rei Major Seminary of Theology, graduating in 1996. He was born December 3, 1967 in the Province of Benguela-Angola. Rev. Tchingui was ordained a Deacon on August 4, 1996, by the Most Reverend Oscar Lino Lopes Fernandes Braga, Bishop of the Diocese of Benguela. On August 31, 1997 he was ordained a Priest in Benguela by Bishop Braga. He was assigned as Pastor to a small rural town called Balombo, 140 miles east of Benguela. In addition to the parish responsibilities, he administered to an orphanage that sheltered over 150 children. From June 27, 1999, until September 6, 2000, Rev. Tchingui was assigned by Bishop Braga as Pastor to the Divino Espírito Santo parish. He was then selected to come to the United States where he would pursue a Masters degree in Philosophy at De Paul University in Chicago. While pursuing his studies, he was a resident priest at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, where he ministered to a mostly Spanish-speaking community. Also, he served as chaplain at Saint Elizabeth, Saint Anthony, and Holy Cross Hospitals, all in the Chicago area. Rev. Tchingui is fluent in Portuguese, Umbundu (mother tongue), English and Spanish. He is also knowledgeable in French and Italian languages. He is now studying Greek. PERSONAL HISTORY: He is the fifth of nine children. His older brother Mario Lukunde was ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Menongue in Angola on October 9, 2005. One of his sisters, Conceição, also serves in a religious community in Angola.
Father António Jorge Tchingui


Portuguese School
Approximately 50 Students in grades pre-K to 6th grade. There have been over 1,500 students since 1972. http://escolaportuguesadehartford.weebly.com/index.html
CCD RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Spiritual Retreats: * Emaus, for teens (future link), * Cursistas for adults (future link) | Sacraments: * Baptism * First Communion * Confirmation * Weddings * Funerals

Church Ministry
Sacerdote da Igreja: Rev. A. Jorge Tchingui,
Presidente: Gracinda Lavado,
Vice-Presidente: Emília Silva,
Secretária: M. Júlia Milheiro,
Vice-Secretária: M. Augusta Bernardino,
Conselho Económico: Adriano Mendes,
Trustees: Manuel A. Milheiro, Gerard Martins,
Acólitos: Daniel Vala,
Catequese: Luana Ribeiro,
Centro de Ultreia/ MCC: Maria Augusta Bernardino,
Escola Portuguesa: Melissa Costa,
Grupo Coral: Fernanda Pereira,
Relações Públicas: Bina Marques,
Grupo dos Jovens: Madalena Oliveira,
Rancho O.L.F.: Joao Daniel Louro,
Jardim Infantil: Susan Rosa,
Leitores: Isabel Vala,
Asseio Interior da Igreja: Fernanda Pereira,
Ministros da Eucaristia: Teresa Duarte,
Oração Diária: Irene Pires,
Pastoral Familiar: Anabela Machado,
Preparação do Baptismo: Elisabete Antunes,
Sacristia: José Pereira,
Trabalhos Exteriores: Fernando Cabral, Tony Santos,
Centro do Dia: Conceição Dias,
Secretaria da Igreja: Teresa Costa.
Conselho Económico:
Rev. A. Jorge Tchingui, Reinaldo Amaral, Adriano Mendes, Fernando Rosa e Maria Serrambana.

Archdiocese of Hartford
467 Bloomfield Ave.
Bloomfield, CT. 06002
HOW TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL ABUSE
TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD
If you have knowledge or suspect that a minor or vulnerable adult (an adult with an intellectual disability) has been sexually abused, in any manner, by personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford, you are urged to report this information to:
Kathleen D. Nowosadko
Victim Assistance Coordinator
860-541-6475
In addition, you will be asked to follow up in writing with a detailed description of the facts involved in the incident. Specifics of this written report can be found in the Policies and Procedures of the Archdiocese of Hartford Relating to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Involving Minors and Vulnerable Adults. This document is also available online at www.archdioceseofhartford.org. The Archdiocese of Hartford will report any and all incidents to the proper civil authorities.
Mandated reporters in the State of Connecticut are required by law to report any incident of sexual abuse involving a minor or vulnerable adult. We encourage any Non-Mandated persons to report such incidents to the proper authorities as well. We support your right to do so.
Incidents involving sexual abuse of minors (persons under the age of 18) should be reported to:
State Department of Children and Families Care-line
1-800-842-2288
Incidents involving sexual abuse of vulnerable adults aged 18 – 59 should be reported to the:
Connecticut Department of Developmental Services – AID Division
for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
1-844-878-8923
Incidents involving sexual abuse of vulnerable adults aged 60 and over should be reported to:
Department of Social Services for the Elderly
1-888-385-4225
Once a written report of an incident of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult has been received, an investigation will be undertaken by, or on behalf of, the Archdiocese of Hartford.