Fairy Meadow was established as a parish in 1947. Father W. Neilson was the first parish priest but Father W. McCormack, “the builder”, built the present church of Saint John Vianney, the school, the Convent and the present church of Mater Dolorosa.
There is the strong presence of the Italian Community who have weekly Sunday and Thursday Mass. The Vietnamese Community celebrates Mass every Sunday. Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School opened its doors on the Fairy Meadow site in 2012. It combined the best of the Good Samaritan tradition at both Saint John Vianney and Saint Francis Xavier’s schools.
Today, St John Vianney Co-Cathedral Fairy Meadow is part of the Lumen Christi Parish, established by Bishop Brian Mascord in January 2022. Lumen Christi Parish includes the four worshiping communities of:
- St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Wollongong
- St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow
- Mater Dolorosa Church, Balgownie
- St Brigid's Church, Gwynneville
