In 2017, Our Lady of Victory marked its 60th anniversary as a parish. Like so many of our ancestors, our Lady of Victory had a humble start. The first Masses of our newly formed parish were celebrated in 1957 in the just completed church basement. It would be a number of months before the upper church was finished are ready for worship. Our first altar and pews were given to us by St. James Parish in New Bedford.
Fr. Howard Waldron was named pastor of this new parish in Centerville and remained so until 1964. Fr. Waldron’s first year found him without a permanent home as he oversaw the construction of the church. In the summer months he stayed at “the Fitzgerald’s” cottage on Lake Wequaquet. Then as the cooler months of autumn rolled in, he moved to a “heated” home offered by the Scaramelli family. It wasn’t until mid-1958 that Fr. Howard had his first permanent residence.
Once the church was finished, there was no stopping the dynamic growth of Our Lady of Victory. In 1960 our boundaries expanded to encompass Our Lady of Hope Chapel on the north side of the Cape. Like Our Lady of Victory, Hope was home to a large number of summer residents and vacationers.
The parish continued to grow rapidly as new interstate highways brought more permanent and seasonal residents to Cape Cod. It was an exciting time as we grew from 75 families in 1957, to 1,600 by 1983 and more than 2,700 today. As we grew, so did our facilities. The basement of the church was reconstructed to create classrooms and meeting facilities. Then, in 1983 our former pastor, Fr. John A. Perry, started construction of the new Parish Center and annex, with a large hall, kitchen facilities, and more classrooms.
Our Lady of Victory continues to respond to the spiritual and social needs of its families and surrounding community. Through the leadership of our former pastprs and our Mass assistants, along with Deacons and pastoral staff, and countless parish volunteers, we have truly become “a light on a hill” to thousands of Cape Codders. Fr. John J. Perry, having served previously at Our Lady of Victory Church, was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Community in June of 2014. Upon his passing Rev. Gregory A. Mathias was appointed Pastor in 2021.
We will continue to grow spiritually and send forth God’s love under his leadership.
Bearing Fruit By Streams of Water
A History of The Diocese of Fall River
By Barry W. Wall