Dear Parishioners,

The twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus provides us with the foundation for how the Israelites celebrated their fiftieth year – a jubilee year marked by the renewal of God’s people and their community. As we commemorate Our Lady of the Mission’s fifty years since 1974, we reflect on God’s goodness in our lives, embrace the present with joy, and look forward to the future with renewed courage and hope.

I am deeply honoured and humbled to lead our parish community during this significant moment in its history, following in the footsteps of dedicated clergy like Fr. McSweeney, Monsignor Tim Corcoran, Fr. Geoff Aldous, Fr. Joe Tran, and their assistant priests. Their legacy has laid a strong foundation for the vibrant community we are today in this northern corridor.

We owe immense gratitude to our Archbishops — late Archbishops Goody, Foley, Emeritus Archbishop Barry James Hickey, our current Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, and Bishop Donald Sproxton, his auxiliary bishop — and the Archdiocese administration for their unwavering support of our Catholic identity, which forms the core of who we are as a parish.

Today, we celebrate each and every parishioner of OLM, our primary schools – PCPS and WCPS — our Catholic colleges, and above all, our enduring faith in Jesus Christ that has sustained us over these past fifty years.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Parish Pastoral Council, parish staff, and countless volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort behind the scenes to plan and bring these celebrations to fruition.

To all who have called OLM their parish, both present and past members, thank you for celebrating with us. Let us remember in our prayers all deceased members of our parish, and I entrust all of us present here to the powerful intercessions of Our Lady of the Mission and Saint Joseph, her blessed spouse and patron Saint of the universal Church.

Happy and blessed Golden Jubilee to all!

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Fr. Cyprian Malongo Shikokoti,

Parish Priest