On 19 September, White City celebrated multiple anniversaries. It was the Diamond Jubilee of the parish, as well as the Golden Jubilee of Our Lady of Fatima Church and St John XXIII Primary School. Cardinal Vincent was the principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving, along with current and past Parish Priests, Fr Richard Nesbitt and Fr Keith Stoakes, Fr Ephrem Andom of the Eritrean Chaplaincy and other priests of the diocese. Parishioners past and present filled the church to overflowing as they gave thanks for blessings and sacraments received at the church. Among the returning parishioners was Sr Mary Kenefick of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God who served the parish and school during the early years.
The Cardinal blessed the newly refurbished sanctuary with a repositioned tabernacle.
After Mass, children, parents and staff from St John XXIII school were invited to follow the Cardinal in procession to the school where the Cardinal blessed the foundation stone of a new building. He then blessed the school’s peace garden. The celebrations continued with a magnificent buffet and party.
In the spring, as part of the year of Jubilee celebrations, the parish made a pilgrimage to Fatima to the shrine of their patron saint.
