Carol Briscoe: It all began with a small ‘yes’ During this Jubilee Year of Hope, Carol Briscoe, who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2025 Australia Day Honours List, reflects on her time as a volunteer with St Agnes’ Catholic Parish in Port Macquarie and what brings her hope for the future. Modest [...]
People just keep coming back to The Francis Retreat The Francis Retreat in Bonny Hills is celebrating another successful summer season as, year after year, families and community organisations keep coming back to this picturesque location. During school terms the retreat is kept busy with groups of students visiting for camps and excursions. The summer holidays are [...]
Creating Green Connections: ISS’s New Grounds and Landscaping Service at St Agnes’ Since September, ISS has been thrilled to deepen its partnership with St Agnes’ Catholic Parish by taking on grounds and landscaping services in Port Macquarie on the Mid-North Coast. This expansion allows ISS to bring its personal touch to the cherished spaces that mean so [...]
‘Empowered to Excellence’ is Parish value in focus for 2025 This year’s value in focus, ‘Empowered to Excellence’, was chosen by Parish Priest, Fr Paul Gooley, and CEO, Tony Leahy because: The Catholic Church is celebrating a Holy Year in 2025, the Jubilee of Hope. It is hope that inspires us to strive for positive outcomes in [...]
Graduates celebrate success at 2024 JHI graduation ceremony The 2024 ceremony for graduating students at John Henry Institute (JHI), held on Tuesday 20 November at St Agnes’ Catholic Parish Hall in Port Macquarie, marked the graduation of the first group of JHI plumbing apprentices, the second group of Ni-Vanuatu aged care workers, and more than 40 other [...]
John Henry Institute comes through Smart & Skilled review with flying colours Congratulations to the team at the John Henry Institute (JHI) for successfully fulfilling their Smart & Skilled Contract. JHI received a satisfactory rating in the latest NSW Department of Education review. The results of the 2023 Student Outcomes Survey were considered as part of the [...]
International Volunteers’ Day was the perfect opportunity for St Agnes’ Parish volunteers to get together for afternoon tea and a pre-Christmas catch up. United Nations’ International Volunteer Day (IVD), held on 5 December each year, is a global celebration of the vital role volunteers play in addressing the world’s challenges. It highlights the power of volunteering to strengthen communities and [...]
Thirteen plumbing apprentices graduate in first JHI cohort The mid north coast can celebrate the graduation of thirteen fully qualified plumbers thanks to the John Henry Institute (JHI) plumbing apprentices’ training program. At a ceremony for the 2024 graduating students at John Henry Institute (JHI), held on Tuesday 20 November at St Agnes’ Catholic Parish Hall in [...]
Inaugural ‘Christ the King’ community celebration exceeds all expectations St Agnes’ Catholic Parish ‘Christ the King’ celebration held on Sunday 24 November at St Joseph’s Regional College Port Macquarie exceeded all expectations with around 650 people attending the event. Fr Paul Gooley, Parish Priest of St Agnes’ Catholic Parish, said the parish had chosen the Solemnity of [...]
Official opening of Emmaus Village and Community Centre marks new era in dementia care Emmaus Village and Community Centre, which offers an innovative alternative mode of care for people living with dementia, was officially opened at 16 Colonel Barney Drive in Port Macquarie on Wednesday 2 October 2024. Based on best-practice models such as the world-leading The Hogeweyk® [...]
St Agnes’ Catholic Parish acknowledges the Birpai people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work, and serve. We acknowledge their deep connection to this land — its waters, skies, and stories — nurtured with wisdom, care, and resilience for countless generations. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. And as an organisation committed to care and service, St Agnes’ is dedicated to walking alongside First Nations peoples — listening, learning, and building genuine relationships grounded in respect and understanding.
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