The Congregation of the Divine Word was founded in 1875 under the direction of Father Arnaldo Janssen in Steyl, the Netherlands. From the outset, its mission has been dedicated to the poorest and most marginalized. Through international and multicultural communities, the Congregation has fostered a missionary spirit and a commitment to social responsibility.

In 1949, the Divine Word missionaries arrived in Portugal, where they continued their work of dedication to those in need. The community consolidated and expanded, extending its influence and mission throughout the country.

Unlike the seminaries in Tortosendo and Guimarães, the construction of the building in Fátima did not receive state support. This allowed the necessary autonomy to build a solid structure using noble materials, which were rare in the Fátima area, something that would have been impossible with public intervention. Bishop D. Francisco Hoowarts, from the Diocese of Tsaochowfu, China, blessed the foundation stone of the new Fátima Seminary. The stone, inscribed with the words “Mary, the House is Yours,” marked the beginning of a new chapter as a Marian missionary home. This stone remains on the building's portico to this day.

On September 21, 1954, the Fátima Seminary began its first academic year with the arrival of the first 10 novices of the Congregation in Portugal. In 1955, when construction was almost complete, a statue of Our Lady was placed on the front of the Seminary, a sculpture weighing nearly two tonnes.

Over the years, the Fátima building began to be used by pilgrims and church groups seeking accommodation. This change in focus led to several modifications in the building to better accommodate the needs of visitors, transforming it into a more welcoming place while preserving its original essence.

In the 1980s, the Fátima Seminary began to only host secondary school students. Finally, in 1989, this training cycle came to an end, and all students were transferred to the Seminary in Guimarães.