St Agnes’ Parish at the time was typical of most parishes in country towns.

Fast forward 48 years and the area and St Agnes’ Parish have flourished.

Father Donnelly has retired at the age of 90 after devoting almost five decades as parish priest.

“I feel I have been uniquely privileged to have been here in Port Macquarie in charge of this parish and to be able to participate in all of the things that have been happening,” he said.

A special Papal Award recognises Father Donnelly’s extraordinary service to the church.

Father Donnelly has led the development of an extensive range of parish services and facilities, and a strong asset portfolio.

“We are conscious of the fact as a parish, just like any parish, we are called to outreach,” he said.

That means services including education, aged care, child care and Centacare.

“They all grew out of a perceived need in the community, which we as a faith community felt that we should and could respond to,” Father Donnelly said.

“A real church is an outreach church.

“We baptise them and we bury them and we look after them in between if we can.”

Father Donnelly said the parish is very strong.

“There is a great faith community – that’s the real engine room of the parish,” he said.

Father Donnelly takes pride in Newman Senior Technical College.

“That has been a great contribution to the young people of this town,” he said.

Father Donnelly’s vision was instrumental in establishing the then vocational college in 1979.

The college, from humble beginnings, has developed into a leader in its field.

Newman Senior Technical College students gain national qualifications alongside their HSC studies.

“It’s our pride and joy,” Father Donnelly said.

The college is part of the parish’s education system which has more than 4000 students, while St Joseph’s Family Services caters for 850 children.

Aged care is the other end of the spectrum.

The first seeds of ministry of caring for the aged were sown, under Father Donnelly’s guidance, in 1973 with the 30-bed Lourdes House Hostel. Today the parish is the largest provider of aged care on the North Coast.

Community leaders have paid tribute to Father Donnelly on his retirement.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said the leadership that Father Donnelly had shown over the past 48 years as parish priest had deservedly earned him the gratitude of local parishioners, as well as the highest respect of the entire community.

“Father D, as he is affectionately known, has been an outstanding and dedicated representative of the Catholic Church,” she said.

Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker says Father Donnelly is a great visionary, an astute businessman and someone who has contributed greatly to the community.

“I think the foresight he showed in developing Newman College really set the gold standard for getting young people into VET careers," he said.

“That is just one of the many examples of what Father Donnelly has achieved.”

Lyne MP Dr David Gillespie said Father Donnelly is an exceptional man and a unique man, and has been an exceptional and visionary parish priest.

Dr Gillespie said Father Donnelly had established virtually a cradle to grave care system, both spiritually and physically, from early childhood learning through to primary and secondary education, aged care facilities, community welfare and support organisations that were second to none.

Mayor Peta Pinson said not only is Father Donnelly a Father in a spiritual sense, he has always been a father of leadership.

“He has given so much to us all and he has been so selfless in his service, not only in his faith but to our community, it’s his time now to rest and enjoy,” she said.

Father Donnelly is considering writing a book in his retirement.

The new parish priest is Father Paul Gooley. 

The parish border stretches from Port Macquarie to Lord Howe Island, Bonny Hills and Telegraph Point.