The life of the Church is not measured only by statistics or reports. It is seen in the simple witnesses of those changed by faith in Jesus Christ. This can be the constancy of a vibrant parish at the heart of a community, or the joy found on pilgrimage. Faith, received as a gift of our loving God, has the capacity to regenerate our hearts and sets us on a new course. Throughout 2025, the community that is the Diocese of Westminster walked together as pilgrims into a hopeful future.
5,677
Young people attended diocesan retreats
500+
Adults entered the Church at Easter
50 Years of Our Lady of Fatima, White City
At the heart of White City since 1955, the parish of Our Lady of Fatima offers a compelling example of a Church deeply embedded in the life of its neighbourhood. Founded as a spiritual home for the area’s Irish Catholic community, the parish today serves a richly diverse population drawn from across the world. While the skyline and demographics of White City have changed dramatically, the parish’s commitment to loving God and neighbour has remained constant.
Alongside its sacramental life, Our Lady of Fatima has developed a wide-ranging programme of social action responding directly to local needs. The parish centre operates as a vibrant community hub, hosting shared meals, social and seniors’ groups, skills workshops, environmental initiatives and a weekly foodbank supporting hundreds of local residents. These activities foster connection, combat isolation and build relationships across cultures and faiths.
A recent volunteer-led photography course, culminating in an Advent exhibition entitled White City: Then, Now, Always, captured this spirit of encounter. Participants, long-standing residents and newcomers alike, shared personal stories of belonging, resilience and hope, reflecting a parish that journeys with its community through change.
During the pandemic, support from Caritas Westminster enabled the parish to appoint a part-time Community Support Worker, strengthening and coordinating its outreach. This work is sustained by a dedicated team of volunteers, many inspired through participation in Caritas Westminster’s Love in Action programme.
As the parish centre temporarily closes for redevelopment, it does so with confidence and hope. When it reopens in 2026 as a renewed community hub, Our Lady of Fatima will continue to embody a living Gospel presence at the heart, and as the heart, of White City.
“We are at the heart of the community physically, but we are also the living heart of this community, trying in ways that are right for today to be that Gospel presence.”
— Fr. Richard Nesbitt, Parish Priest
Pilgrims of Hope
In 2025, the Church marked a Year of Jubilee under the theme Pilgrims of Hope. Christian hope, described by Pope Benedict XVI in Spe Salvi as a “distinguishing mark of Christians”, was celebrated across the Diocese in prayer, pilgrimage and practical action, especially among our young people.
On 24 June, Westminster Cathedral hosted a Festival of Hope, welcoming pupils from 130 schools. Students encountered diocesan charities and initiatives, exploring how faith is lived out through service and social mission. The day connected worship with action, inviting young people to see themselves as active participants in the Church’s work.
That same spirit was evident at the Caritas Ambassadors Festival, which brought together 360 pupils leading social action projects in their schools. Across the Diocese, more than 800 Ambassadors have organised initiatives including supporting foodbanks and homeless projects, campaigning for Fairtrade, caring for the local environment, running activities for elderly parishioners and care home residents, and providing practical support for families in need.
For many schools, these projects are becoming embedded in school life, shaping a culture of service that will endure beyond a single year group. In this Jubilee year, our young people have shown that hope is not abstract, but active: rooted in faith and expressed in love.