Father Patrick Hannon became pastor of St. Norbert Parish and St Michael Mission in 1949 and in 1950 Bishop Edward Ryan appointed Father Robert Hammond, a newly-ordained priest, as curate at St. Norbert. After consultation with Bishop Ryan, Father Hannon and Father Hammond conducted a census in the Craftsbury population and found there were enough Catholics to justify the celebration of Mass there on a regular basis.
It was held in the auditorium at Craftsbury Academy with about 100 in attendance. Father Hannon then rented the Craftsbury Grange Hall where Mass was celebrated every Sunday. Catechism classes were also held at the Grange Hall. During the summer of 1950, the Grange Hall was filled to overflowing because many summer residents attended the Masses.
In January 1951 property between the Grange Hall and the Craftsbury Graded School was purchased. In April 1951, Father Hannon was reassigned to another parish and Father Leo Gingras was appointed by Bishop Ryan to succeed him in Hardwick. The new church dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima was built in the summer of 1951. It was completed on Nov. 8, 1951 and shortly after, Bishop Ryan came to bless the new chapel and celebrate a High Mass. In the summer of 1952, Father Hammond was reassigned to Notre Dame des Victoires in St. Johnsbury and Father Robert Whalen was named to succeed him in Hardwick. Father Whalen remained for two years. He and Father Hammond are the only priests who ever served as curates at St. Norbert and its mission churches.