The Catholic Leader - 22 April

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The Catholic Leader, April 22, 2018
Regional - Northern NSW
GRATITUDE and good-wishes
flowed for retiring parish priest Fr
Leo Donnelly, who was presented a
major Papal Award by Lismore Bish-
op 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 in
1888 by Pope Leo XIII and honours distinguished
service to the Church and is only awarded by the
Pope.
Tom and Terry Quinn and Brian and Lesley
Tierney presented the award alongside the Bishop,
who were all closely involved with ‘Father D’, as
he’s known, during his tenure as parish priest.
Parishioner Jim O’Brien expressed his gratitude
on behalf of the parish for Fr Donnelly, who
retired after 48 years of service as parish priest.
“As a parish, we are pleased that Father D has
the opportunity to finally retire in his own time,”
Mr O’Brien said.
“We are delighted that a wonderful priest in
Fr Paul Gooley has been appointed as Father D’s
successor and share Father D’s confidence in him.
“We will miss having Father D as our leader
and pastor as he is the only (parish priest) most of
us have known in Port Macquarie.
“During his nearly five decades as (parish
priest), Father D has led the transformation of this
Parish into an amazing complex of service and
education entities that touch the lives of thousands
from the youngest to the oldest residents of the
Port Macquarie Hastings area.
“We will miss his visionary leadership, his wis-
dom and problem-solving ability, his no nonsense
pastoral approach and his extraordinary ability to
identify a need and reach out to so many in our
community to meet that need.”
Bishop Homeming said the Croce Pro Ecclesia
et Pontifice was a fitting testament to Fr Don-
nelly’s commitment to the parish and the diocese,
having served as a priest for the past 68 years.
“The true measure of Father Donnelly’s com-
mitment is not in time but through his actions,”
Bishop Homeming said.
“Father D is a pastor whose love for his parish
has been so evident.
“Each time I have visited Port Macquarie I
recognise and have been impressed by the work
of the Holy Spirit here in the man who has been
your pastor.”
Fr Donnelly credited many others with the
achievements of St Agnes’ Parish.
“I can think of no greater privilege than to be
called to lead a faith community, but with that
comes the responsibility to do your very best for
the people of that community,” he said.
“Looking back, I think we can claim that,
together, we have kicked a few goals.
“None of it would have been possible without
the loyalty, support and deep faith of this faith
community.”
Fr Gooley came to St Agnes’ Parish with the
skills and know-how of the local region, having
spent the last ten years in Macleay Valley Parish,
Kempsey and the previous ten at Our Lady of
Lourdes Parish, Wauchope as parish priest.
“I was assistant priest to Father Donnelly at St
Agnes’ Parish from 1990 to 1995 so it feels like I
have come full circle,” he said.
“Father Donnelly and I have been firm friends
since that time and I am pleased that he now has
the opportunity to slow down a bit.
“One of my priorities as I settle in is to get to
know the parish community, some are familiar
faces but there are also many new ones to get to
know.”
St Agnes’ chief executive officer Adam Spencer
said no one deserved the blessings of a peaceful
retirement more than Fr Donnelly.
“Our parish is fortunate that a man of Father
Paul’s calibre has been appointed as Father D’s
successor – he will be a great asset to the parish,”
he said.
“I look forward to working closely with Father
Paul to serve the needs of our parish and the com-
munity.” Fr Donnelly has retired close by at The
Francis Retreat in Bonny Hills.
Papal honour for ‘Father D’ as parish says farewell
Port Macquarie
The heart and soul of Port
Thanks and welcome: Bishop Gregory Homeming (centre) welcomes the community at the Installation Mass, flanked on the left by Fr Leo Donnelly, now emeritus parish priest, and on the right by Fr
Paul Gooley, the new parish priest of St Agnes’ Parish. Also pictured, Father Felix Ekeh (far left) and Fr James Foster (far right).
Gratitude: Bishop Greg
Homeming presents Fr Leo
Donnelly with the Croce
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
award.
Honoured: Fr Leo Don-
nelly receives the citation
accompanying the award
from Brian and Lesley
Tierney.