The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You

THEY gathered, foot-stomping and singing, their thurible reimagined as a smoke-machine, with untamed school-holiday haircuts and fluoro wrist-bands; and they radiated a festival fervour suggesting Jagger or Bowie was up next – this was Ignite Conference 2019.  More than 1500 young people from across Queensland and New South Wales gathered for four days of sacraments, music and workshops at Mueller ... Read More »

FATHER Leo Francis Donnelly’s life was big – he was a big man with a “big heart” and “big achievements”. Lismore Bishop Gregory Homeming said Fr Donnelly exemplified megalopsychia – his body was not big enough to contain his soul.  His capacity for goodness was so great it burst out of him, Bishop Homeming said. “Such people do exist, but ... Read More »

A HUMBLE man who lived his life in service of God and others – this was how Fr Leo Donnelly was remembered at his Requiem Mass on Friday, February 1. More than 1500 people attended his funeral and it was broadcast live on St Agnes’ parish website and streamed on Facebook, with viewers as far as the United States and ... Read More »

DROUGHT has struck at the heart of many farming communities and families throughout western NSW, and Port Macquarie parish priest Fr Paul Gooley decided to do something about it. Fr Gooley launched the Bale Out appeal in early July and it was embraced enthusiastically by the parish and the Port Macquarie community. It has spread throughout the Lismore diocese with ... Read More »

NATIONAL Volunteer Week 2018 was celebrated with gusto at St Agnes’ Parish, Port Macquarie, where the parish thanked its volunteers with a recognition Mass. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Paul Gooley and Fr Peter Wood, who went with the national theme – Give a little, change a lot. It was a time to reflect on the importance volunteers have ... Read More »

GRATITUDE and good-wishes flowed for retiring parish priest Fr Leo Donnelly, who was presented a major Papal Award by Lismore Bishop Greg Homeming at a Mass held at St Agnes’ Parish on March 23. The same Mass installed the new parish priest, Fr Paul Gooley. The Croce Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (the Cross for the Church and Pontiff) was established ... Read More »

CENTACARE staff in Port Macquarie met with the head of Catholic Social Services Australia recently to discuss the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. CSSA chief executive officer Jesuit Father Frank Brennan visited Port Macquarie for the discussions and toured facilities in Port Macquarie and Kempsey. Centacare general manager Tony Davies said part of the reason for Fr Brennan’s ... Read More »

LISMORE Bishop Gregory Homeming blessed and opened a new lifestyle gateway for Catholic Care of the Aged services for St Agnes Parish in Port Macquarie in August. For more than 40 years Catholic Care of the Aged in Port Macquarie has championed the mission of St Agnes’ Parish to be the face of Christ in our community through serving others. ... Read More »

FATHER Bernard (Bernie) Kenny, who died on June 10 aged 86, was known as a notable preacher and for his ministry to the sick and aged. Fr Kenny had been living in Port Macquarie, and his funeral Mass was held at the city’s St Agnes’ Church on June 23. Lismore Bishop Gregory Homeming, priests of the diocese and visiting clergy ... Read More »