Sandra Wilson reflects on meeting Pope Francis Maryknoll resident Sandra Wilson counts herself fortunate to have met the Pope Francis when she visited Rome in 2016. After his passing in April, she wrote this personal reflection on that experience: In 2013, my very good friends Carmel and Mary approached me with the idea to travel overseas. On [...]
Relocation of St Joseph’s Primary School The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Ltd (DLCSL), with St Agnes’ Catholic Parish (SACP), has announced plans to relocate St Joseph’s Primary School to a new, purpose-built campus in Thrumster/Sovereign Hills. Originally approved when St Joseph’s Regional College moved in 2009, this long-planned project will cater to growing communities, reunite the [...]
Reflecting on a year of service: 2024 year in review At St Agnes’ Catholic Parish, we are proud to be known for our strong and trusted aged care services, including innovative dementia care, quality retirement living, residential aged care, and home care. While aged care remains a vital part of our identity, it is just one chapter [...]
Sue Williams on her role as a volunteer Volunteering is part of my family history. I learned through the example of my parents, especially my mum, Norma Williams, who did all sorts of volunteering and received a Premier’s Award through local government for her efforts. When the time came in my life when I was able to [...]
Building pastoral skills through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Five members of the St Agnes’ Care & Lifestyle Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team (Justine, Roy, Rebecca, Steve and Beth) and Fr Alejo Despacio Jr participated in 40 hours of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training over 3 months with Reverend Canon Roger Zorab (Deputy President of the NSW College [...]
Staff long service milestones recognised at Mass St Agnes’ Catholic Parish celebrated its annual Staff Long Service Awards on 26 March 2025 with the celebration of Mass, the presentation of Service Awards and supper in the Parish Hall. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Paul Gooley (Parish Priest) , Fr Prodencio Bognay and, newly ordained deacon, Shane [...]
A lifelong connection to St Agnes’ Catholic Parish For Belinda Howell, being part of St Agnes’ Catholic Parish isn’t just a job – it’s a deep part of who she is. A proud Port Macquarie local, Belinda’s connection to the Parish began in early childhood when she attended St Joseph’s Preschool, the Parish’s first early education centre. [...]
Online religious education resource secures subscription for all schools in Brisbane diocese Understanding Faith, an online religious education platform, has secured a 12-month subscription agreement with Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) to provide access to the Understanding Faith religious education resource for 2025. Understanding Faith was established by St Agnes’ Catholic Parish in Port Macquarie in the 1990s [...]
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 [...]
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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