Here for Good: A family connection across generations
For eight generations, Ray and Janice Gaul’s family story has been shaped by faith, community and a sense of belonging in Port Macquarie.
Yet through decades of change, one constant has remained during their story: St Agnes’ Catholic Parish.
Ray still remembers when Mass was celebrated in Latin and, as an altar boy, having to follow along with a small Latin book to learn the language.
He has watched the Parish grow from one church and school community into the network of schools and services it is today.
Ray’s connection to the Parish began as a student at St Joseph’s Convent School, which is now home to the Parish Administration Centre on Hay Street. More than 70 years later, he remains a dedicated parishioner, attending Mass every Sunday – though these days, he no longer has to translate it from Latin.
“It’s incredible how it’s grown,” Ray said. “But you still have that sense of community, everything is there for people, and you can get involved in a lot of things.”
Janice’s journey started as a Methodist in Comboyne, later embracing the Catholic faith after meeting Ray – a decision that quickly felt like the right one.
She said: “I was never a Catholic, I was a Methodist.
“I went through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, and I became an automatic Catholic as if I’d been there for years.”
Janice instantly became an integral part of Parish life, supporting Masses by managing the overhead projectors and other technology, dressing altar servers and helping collect donations.
For Janice, that sense of welcome and community is at the heart of both the Parish and the Catholic faith – and it’s something she misses when she is unable to attend Mass.
Janice and Ray were married at St Agnes’ Church in 1992 by Fr Donnelly. Since then, they have raised two daughters within the Parish community and seen their granddaughters embrace it too.
Watching their family grow as part of the Parish brings a huge sense of pride for Ray and Janice.
That growth has continued through their daughter Belinda who now works at the Parish, granddaughter Maddie who chose to be baptised as a teenager after taking part in a school faith formation program, and granddaughter Millie who attends a Parish early education centre.
“It puts them on a good course,” Ray said. “There’s so much around today that could change that course, but they have chosen well.”
Their story is a reminder that being Here for Good means walking alongside families through every stage of life.
Our Here for Good campaign reflects our ongoing commitment to serving our community now and into the future.
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