2025 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CELEBRATION
October 3rd - October 12th, 2025
This year marks the 78th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima Celebration, a traditional 10-day Portuguese "festa" (religious festival) celebrating Our Lady.
The OLF Celebration is hosted by the Our Lady of Fatima Society, a group of St. Joseph's parishioners who banded together in 1946 with dual missions: honoring Our Lady through prayer, and raising money to build and support Our Lady of Fatima School. The Society's members have raised more than $1 million for OLF and the Celebration is its largest annual fundraiser.
The Celebration is a special time for strengthening bonds between our school and parish supporters. It is therefore essential that OLF families show our appreciation not only by volunteering but also by participating in as many of the Celebration events as we are able.
This year's festivities will be held at St. Joseph's Church and on the Our Lady of Fatima School campus.
Please carefully read this entire page for important information regarding volunteer sign-ups, Bake Sale obligations, student attendance at the Novenas and much more.
EVENT PROGRAM
sign up for a volunteer shift
Staffing the Celebration's weekend festivities is a collaborative effort between the OLF Society and our Parents Club. Earn credit toward your Parent Hours requirement by helping with event setup or clean-up, staffing the Bake Sale, Bazaar or Snack Bar, or assisting with food service.
K-8 families on Tuition Plan A must work at least 4 volunteer hours during the Celebration. Your family's hours may be worked by a parent, grandparent, step-parent or legal guardian. Alternatively, a relative who is 18 or older (e.g., an older sibling) can work your family's hours with prior approval from the Parents Club Board.
Unworked mandatory hours will be billed at the rate of $125 per hour. A $100 flat fee will be added for families who no-show a scheduled shift.
Clean up shifts earn time-and-a-half. You'll get 1.5 Parent Hours for each hour of clean-up work.
Questions?
Cassidy Carter
Parents Club Board Member
(209) 509-8746
Sign-Up Online
SUNDAY MASS AND PROCESSION
All OLF families are encouraged to join us for a special Mass honoring Our Lady of Fatima at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 12th at St. Joseph's Church. Students who attend Mass dressed in Formal Uniform, and who participate in the subsequent procession from the church will receive Free Dress the following Tuesday.
Bazaar & Auction Donations
If you have new or gently used items like housewares, toys or apparel, consider donating them to the OLF Celebration Bazaar. You may bring items to the School Office this week. We are also accepting donations for our Oral Auction, such as: wine baskets, themed food baskets, home and garden items, etc.
BAKE SALE
For the Celebration Bake Sale, TK-8 families on Tuition Plan A must contribute either (1) one baked good per family or (2) a $20 donation. Preschool families are not required to participate but may choose to donate a baked good.
The Bake Sale will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday, October 13th at St. Joseph's Church. Baked goods and donations should be delivered to the Church between 6:30 and 7:15 that morning.
Please carefully read the FAQs below for important information.
Questions?
Albina Palominos
Bake Sale Chairperson
408-315-0879
Please avoid bringing items that must be kept at a cool temperature. The Bake Sale will be outdoors, without refrigeration.
Items that usually sell well include:
- Fresh donuts
- Cookies
- Loaf breads (e.g., Banana, Pumpkin, Portuguese Sweet Bread)
- Cakes
- Muffins
- Cupcakes
- Brownies
- Lemon Bars
- Traditional Portuguese or Mexican baked goods
Yes, but homemade items sell better. Buyers are less likely to pick items they can get from a grocery store bakery. If you don't personally enjoy baking, consider asking a relative or friend to prepare something.
The requirement is "one baked good." But if you're bringing an item like cookies or brownies, consider bringing at least a half-dozen or up to one dozen treats.
If you're opting to donate $20 instead of contributing a baked good, then you can bring a cash donation to the Bake Sale coordinators on Sunday, October 8th at St. Joseph's Church. If you neither drop off a baked good or donation that day, your FACTS account will be charged $20.
Bake Sale staff will have a list of all school families. When dropping off baked goods or cash donations that morning, please wait and be sure staff have checked off your family. Those without record of a donation will be charged $20 through FACTS.
Please drop off your baked goods between 6:30 and 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, October 8th at St. Joseph's Church. The Bake Sale opens to customers at 8 a.m. Early drop-off gives staff time to price and organize items.
Yes. Please bring goods already wrapped in clear cellophane or clear bags, boxes or other containers. Packaging that allows the customer to see the goods is preferred. For individual items like cookies, it's helpful to sell varying quantities. You can package them in 2-packs, 4-packs or 6-packs.
When it comes to appearance, a little pretty goes a long way. Consider buying an inexpensive Dollar Store tray or container, or including decorative bows and ribbons when wrapping.
The Bake Sale is one day only, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 8th, at St. Joseph's Church.
No, we have no place to store baked goods in advance. That's why everyone must bring items between 6:30 and 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, October 8th to St. Joseph's Church. If you can't make that window, consider coordinating with another parent to deliver on your behalf or contact one of our Chairpersons.