ST AGNES CATHOLIC CHURCH PORT  MACQUARIE

A Brief History

The Faith Community was established in 1888. The Sisters of St Joseph opened the first Catholic School in 1913 and the foundation stone of the current church building was blessed and laid by Most Rev John Carrol DD, Bishop of Lismore, in 1940.

The 1970's brought many changes following Vatican II. It led to the gradual transition to a celebratory and welcoming Parish with a high degree of participation by the parishioners in church and community activities. It was during this period that the first seeds of ministry for caring for the aged in this community were sown, later to grow into Catholic Care of the Aged - an organisation of significant repute in the Aged Care industry.

The 1980's and 90's continued to witness changes and growth in which the spiritual life of the Parish is lived through individual and community devotion to God's word and service to all, particularly those in need.

Parish Priest

Father Donnelly

Assistant

Father Alcock

St Agnes Catholic

Church Port Macquarie

Parish Profile

The Parish has 9,434 Catholics and an infrastructure that delivers services to the community covering the full spectrum of life. Thirty-six entities, employing approximately 520 staff and another 200 volunteers, provide services in ministry, education, childcare, aged care, family support, disability, employment and training. Its Care For The Aged program which began with the purchase of a small nursing home twenty years ago today cares for more than 550 frail and aged men and women in two retirement villages, five hostels, a 115 bed nursing home and sixty community aged care packages.

One of the latest Parish initiatives to prove a great success has been the purchase of the old RSL building now re-named Bourne House after Mary Bourne, the first catechist who came to Port Macquarie in 1871. Bourne House is an important landmark in downtown Port housing the Police and Community Youth Club (PCYC) which is run in conjunction with the Parish and has grown to a membership of 960 in under twelve months. The PCYC provides young people with a friendly and positive environment where they can try new experiences, develop skills, meet people, get advice, or just "hang out" as an alternative to getting into trouble on the streets.

Centacare, the Church's official welfare agency, has a branch in the Parish to oversee services to single mothers, the disabled, and people in need of psychiatric rehabilitation.

Education too plays a major role in Parish activity with two pre-schools, three primary schools, one high school with two junior and two senior campuses. With 1,200 pre-schoolers, 2,500 primary and secondary students and a waiting list for each coming year, the Parish boasts an envious record of quality education.

Parish structures actively involve representatives of the Parish Finance Committee and the Parish Pastoral Council enabling the faithful to exercise their right and duty to participate in, and share responsibility for, the life and mission of the Church.

"A common vision, teamwork and communication are essential ingredients in building effective organisations" says Fr Leo Donnelly, Parish Priest who has presided over and nurtured the phenomenal growth of St Agnes' for the past thirty-five years.