Eastern Link
April 2023
Share your stories of Circle activities and anything that might be of interest to our fellow Catenians, stories and news of upcoming events, and guest speakers that might be of interest, reports on any events that might be of interest.
Email Eastern Link at p21.newsletter@thecatenians.org.au with your stories and photos (as seperate files please).
Thanks, Paul
Without your stories Eastern Link doesn't exist.
Contents:
What do Circles want? The Province 21 workshop this year asks just that question - "What do Circles want" - or need - for their growth. and therefore survival. An invitation for Circle Presidents, Provincial Councilors, Circle Council members, any Catenian who has ideas for the future of Catenians. Nothing is off the table for this discussion. Bring your ideas, without them there won't be much of a discussion. If you don't ask, you can't get. |
CAMINO OF ST. JOSEPH 2023 - Online Registrations OPEN Now ** This annual overnight walking pilgrimage for MEN (18yrs plus) in honour of St Joseph the Worker is on Friday April 28 to Saturday April 29. Bigger than ever we will start on Friday April 28 with 8.30pm Holy Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney |
Implications of Catholic Legal Philosophy: From Mabo to the Voice 2023 Law Night with the St Thomas More Society and Sydney CateniansA Dinner with Dr. James Franklin. Date: Wednesday, 3 May 2023. Time: 6:45 pm for 7:15 pm. Venue: Fairmont Restaurant in the Occidental Hotel, |
City of Sydney Circle Business Night - Into The Storm. A Story of Triumph & Tragedy On Wednesday, 1 February brothers of the City of Sydney Circle and their ladies were joined by Province President Geoff Young, Australian Director Graham Short and 36 guests from the Sydney business community for the Circle's inaugural Business Night. |
Sangria helps Broken Bay pilgrims to Portugal for World Youth Day The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima was the largest miracle witnessed by mankind. On a MUCH smaller scale, the Warringah Circle 328 are going to turn wine into sangria, to help send our Broken Bay Pilgrims to Portugal for World Youth Day in 2023. Our Woodfired Pizza Event is World Famous (in Frenchs Forest), and will include Brother Sam North (secretary of Warringah Circle) playing live music, while the Pilgrims will be serving the pizza, Sangria and Dessert. |
Pittwater's Ken Halliday's journey to the Olympics In 1995 at the age of 43, I had a significant career change. Whilst manager of a powder coating plant in Brookvale, NSW, I had a nagging urge and desire to change my career, and do something more worthwhile for the community. As a result I left the powder coating company, and started work as a community support worker, caring for people with Cerebral Palsy in community homes at the Spastic Centre (now known as Cerebral Palsy Alliance). In 1999 I was asked to assist the residents in one of the homes to play Boccia. From the first day I was hooked. |
Nazareth Catenians begin in Ausralia While on a visit to Melbourne, Australia, in 2014, I was invited to give a talk at a Catenian Circle in the Beaumaris area about the Palestinian Christians in Israel. After the meeting, I was invited to a Brother's house and was encouraged to start a Catenian Circle in the Holy Land. I took the idea back, received the blessings to go forward from our parish priest, and recruited some parish men to join. |
Australian Catenians host the International Rosary on 28th January. The Rosary were organised by Bro Martin Stebbings of KuRingGai Circle in conjnction with Bro Eugene Das. ANC Vice President Bro Graham Short welcomed the about 50 Zoom international participants and recited the 1st decade of the Joyful Mysteries. Bro Peter Moriarty, Parramatta Circle, recited the 3rd decade and Bro John Tweedie, |
What is a Polish Easter Basket? Święconka, meaning "the blessing of the Easter baskets", is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions on Holy Saturday during Easter. With roots dating back to the early history of Poland, it is also observed by expatriate and their descendants Poles in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and other Polish communities in the world. |
2022/23 Catenian Golf finally tees off After several postponements and the eventual cancellation of the 2022 comp after the continual inclement weather, we were finally able to hold the annual Province 21 golf competition at the Gordon Golf Club on Friday 10 March. Whilst attendance was a bit down compared to previous years, those that attended had a great day out with splendid weather and course conditions. Ku-ring-gai won the day (Charlie Murton and Stim Robinson - sorry no photo) with The Hills (Victor Gauci on the left and George Doublesin 3rd from left) coming in second place. |
Malta Week is back Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to change the original dates. This will now be from 18th November till the 25th November 2023 For further details please contact Bro. Joe Caruana by email at maltaweek2023@gmail.com |
GB National President, Roger Lillie, visits Province 21 Great Britains' National President visited Province 21, along with a group of fellow Catenians, as a part of his research on a proposed research paper on Catenian restructure, commissioned by Catenian Central Council. Canberra Circle 331 was honoured to host the Catenian Great Britain National President and his delegation on his visit to Canberra |
Carlingford's 400th Meeting Commemoration Finally Carlingford Catenian Circle was able to commemorate our 400th Meeting, which was actually held on the 19th of April 2022. The meeting was held at our 410th meeting help on 21st March 2023 due to backlog of Catenian functions ... |
| GB National President visits Province 21Great Britains' National President visited Province 21, along with a group of fellow Catenians, as a part of his research on a proposed research paper on Catenian restructure, commissioned by Catenian Central Council. Canberra Circle 331 was honoured to host the Catenian Great Britain National President and his delegation on his visit to Canberra |
"Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?'" Harbourside North Circle had the pleasure of hosting the Little John Mug on Thursday 9th February . A torrential thunderstorm, earlier in the evening, did not deter the 37 attendees including visitors from Hornsby, Ku-Ring-Gai, Manly, Pittwater and Parramatta Circles. Visitors were warmly welcomed by Circle President Bro Phil Guiney who, doubling as Catering Officer put on a delightful dinner |
Why men have few friends In 2009, an unknown Australian palliative care worker went viral. Bronnie Ware published a post on her blog entitled "Regrets of the Dying". Based on her own conversations with patients, it recounted the most five common regrets experienced by those at the end of their lives. All of them are striking and important. Four are focused mostly on a personal shortfall or underachievement in their own lives. |
Bro DON MEES, 12th April 1927 - 2nd November 2022.  The Brothers of Carlingford Circle were saddened by the passing of their elder statesman, Brother Don Mees at the age of 95 ½ years. The eldest of four children, Don was raised in suburban Melbourne. He excelled academically, graduating in Science from the University of Melbourne. He was later admitted as a Member of Institution of Engineers, Australia in recognition of his contributions to the development of electronic engineering, computers and radar. |
| Around the Circles News gathered from Circles through Circle Newsletters from Cairns to the Shire |
What do Circles want?
The Province 21 workshop this year asks just that question - "What do Circles want" - or need - for their growth. and therefore survival.
An invitation for Circle Presidents, Provincial Councilors, Circle Council members, any Catenian who has ideas for the future of Catenians.
Nothing is off the table for this discussion.
Bring your ideas, without them, there won't be much of a discussion.
If you don't ask, you can't get.
What will the Catenians look like in 2 years, what could we look like in 2 years?
Yes it's that urgent.
It's been said many times if we don't change we die, are we already too late?
Being in the Catenians revolves around connections, connections from GBNC, ANC to Province to Circles to members and Circles back to Province, all enhanced by good communication, effective sharing of information.
This is our chance to have an open discussion including all Circles and the Provincial leadership.
How can we make it better?
How can we be more relevant?
What tools are needed to help us make it better?
What can Province do better, in the way it communicates with Circles and the resources it provides to help communication with potential new members?
Are Circles looking for printed flyers, invitations, book marks, banners etc. to use as marketing material for morning coffees after Masses?
How can Circles help themselves?
We would like all Circles and Groups to be represented in view of the critical role and responsibility that Circles and Groups play in keeping the Association viable and growing and fun to be a part of.
Province 21 Annual General Meeting, Workshop and lunch
Saturday 6 May commencing 10am
St Joseph's Centre
33 Barina Downs Rd,
Baulkham Hills NSW
RSVP
cob Friday 28 April 2023 to John Tweedie, Provincial Secretary
p21.secretary@thecatenians.org.au
0407 288 957
Lunch is provided, so please advise any dietary requirements when responding.
CAMINO OF ST. JOSEPH 2023 - Online Registrations OPEN Now **
This annual overnight walking pilgrimage for MEN (18yrs plus) in honour of St Joseph the Worker is on Friday April 28 to Saturday April 29.
Bigger than ever we will start on Friday April 28 with 8.30pm Holy Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney celebrated by Bishop Richard Umbers. Confession will be available from 7.30pm and the Cathedral Crypt will be open for private prayer.
Pilgrimaging by foot overnight to a total of 9 churches including St Benedict's Broadway, St Joseph's Camperdown, St Brendan's Annandale, St Fiacre Leichhardt, St Thomas of Canterbury Lewisham, St Brigid's Marrickville, St Paul of the Cross Dulwich Hill and finishing at St Joseph's Enfield with 6.30am Holy Mass and hot BBQ breakfast feast and celebration afterwards.
Come, experience and see the Church fully alive visiting some of the most beautiful and oldest churches in Sydney.
Starting and ending with mass but at each church stop in between we will be spiritually nourished by our priests waiting for us at each location with the Blessed Sacrament Exposed followed by a short reflection on St Joseph, prayer and silence!
Why not join us for MASS if you can't pilgrimage.
Not to be missed, REGISTER NOW - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1032826
Implications of Catholic Legal Philosophy: From Mabo to the Voice
2023 Law Night with the St Thomas More Society and Sydney Catenians
A Dinner with Dr. James Franklin.
Date: Wednesday, 3 May 2023.
Time: 6:45 pm for 7:15 pm.
Venue: Fairmont Restaurant in the Occidental Hotel,
Level 1, 43 York, Sydney.
Cost: $98.00 – Three course dinner and table wine.
Dr. James Franklin is an Honorary Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New South Wales. His research covers the philosophy of mathematics, extreme risk theory, ethics, Australian Catholic history and the history of ideas.
Dr. Franklin is the author of ten books. His book, The Science of Conjecture: Evidence and Probability Before Pascal (2001), centres on the medieval law of evidence and was cited in the High Court's 2017 decision in The Queen v Dookheea.
He is an editor of the journal Law, Probability and Risk and editor of the Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society. Dr. Franklin was appointed a Fellow of The Royal Society of New South
Wales in 2019.
Registration: As venue capacity is restricted registration is essential. Registrations will close on Wednesday, 26 April, or when sold out.
To register please click on the following link:
https://www.trybooking.com/CHDGX
Parking: The closest night parking stations are Sun Parking, Westpac Building, 261 – 293 Kent Street; Amora Hotel Car Park, Jamison Street; or Wilson Parking, 86 Sussex Street.
Should you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact Brian Skinner on 0412 123 799, or via email at skinner8@me.com .
City of Sydney Circle Business Night - Into The Storm. A Story of Triumph & Tragedy
L to R Geoff Young, Peter Tilbrook, guest speaker Arthur Psaltis and Graham Short. On Wednesday, 1 February brothers of the City of Sydney Circle and their ladies were joined by Province President Geoff Young, Australian Director Graham Short and 36 guests from the Sydney business community for the Circle's inaugural Business Night.
The event was presented as the second stage in the Circle's Development Plan as a contribution to the life of the community of Catholic professional and business people who conduct the business in the City.
The occasional address was presented by ocean racing yachtsman Arthur Psaltis, a crew member on the winning yacht in the in the ill-fated 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race.
In his address, Into The Storm. A Story of Triumph & Tragedy, Arthur told his personal story on surviving the 1998 Sydney to Hobart superstorm and how it influenced his life and the trajectory it's taken. In doing this he not only told a story of survival, teamwork and endurance, but also that of the toughest race on record and the largest peacetime maritime rescue in Australia's history.
He concluded his address by presenting his key learnings from this race and how he had been able to apply those to business, including decision-making in a crisis and performing under pressures which is out of your control.
Sangria helps Broken Bay pilgrims to Portugal for World Youth Day
The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima was the largest miracle witnessed by mankind. On a MUCH smaller scale, the Warringah Circle 328 are going to turn wine into sangria, to help send our Broken Bay Pilgrims to Portugal for World Youth Day in 2023.
Our Woodfired Pizza Event is World Famous (in Frenchs Forest), and will include Brother Sam North (secretary of Warringah Circle) playing live music, while the Pilgrims will be serving the pizza, Sangria and Dessert.
The location of this event, at 13 Rangers Retreat Road Frenchs Forest, is like a Mediterranean villa in the forest.
100% of all ticket sales go to the Pilgrims, and most importantly there is no further fund raising occurring during the event.
Please assist our Broken Bay Pilgrims get to WYD by purchasing a ticket for this unique event at 12.30pm on Saturday 15th April 2023.
Please book by scanning the above QR code.
Pittwaters' Ken Halliday's journey to the Olympics
Jamieson and Daniel with their assistants Amanda and Ashlee and Head Coach Ken HallidayAs told to Mike Maynard, Pittwater President
In 1995 at the age of 43, I had a significant career change.
Whilst manager of a powder coating plant in Brookvale, NSW, I had a nagging urge and desire to change my career, and do something more worthwhile for the community.
As a result I left the powder coating company, and started work as a community support worker, caring for people with Cerebral Palsy in community homes at the Spastic Centre (now known as Cerebral Palsy Alliance).
In 1999 I was asked to assist the residents in one of the homes to play Boccia. From the first day I was hooked.
Boccia is a Paralympic sport played by athletes with a significant physical impairment. It is played indoors on a basketball court surface with athletes using soft leather balls.
The aim of the game is to get the balls as close as they can to the white target ball or jack.
Ken with the ramp used by athletesAthletes compete in singles, pairs and team events. For competition purposes the players are classified according to their disability. BC3 class athletes have significant limitations in arm and leg functions and poor or no trunk control. I was an assistant for these athletes who were allowed to use a ramp and assistant because of their severe inability to use all four limbs.
For many years I assisted athletes to compete in State, National and international competitions as a coach as well as a ramp assistant before taking on the role as State Head Coach and President of Boccia New South Wales in 2016.
I accepted the role of Head Coach for the Australian National Team in 2018, and have since attended many international competitions in that role, including World Cup Competitions, the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
The highlight of my Boccia career so far happened last December at the World Championships in Rio, Brazil.
Daniel Michel from Australia won the Gold Medal in the BC3 Male individual Championship, Jamieson Leeson from Australia won the Silver Medal in the BC3 Female Individual Championship and together Daniel and Jamieson won the Gold Medal in the BC3 Pairs Competition.
Australia finished on top of the Medal tally beating athletes from over 40 of the best Boccia playing countries in the world.
I have been coaching Daniel for 10 years and Jamieson for 5 years. They both have Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a condition affecting the muscles involved in movement, which progressively weaken and become wasted over time. They are both confined to a wheelchair and have next to no control of their limbs.
Both Daniel and Jamieson are an inspiration to myself and to many others as they continue to excel not only in Boccia but also in their ability to accept all that life has to offer.
I feel privileged and honoured to be part of the team.
My passion for the sport of Boccia has helped me remain committed to helping our athletes achieve their goals.
As for my future in the sport, I look forward to sharing more treasured moments with our Australian Boccia Team.
Nazareth Catenians beginnings in Ausralia
With my wife Gosayna, she grew up in Mulgrave, Vic, and went to Avila high school, then Swinburne Uni, at the statue of the Blessed Virgin right outside of Her House.An article submitted by Habib Karam, Nazareth Circle 373
While on a visit to Melbourne, Australia, in 2014, I was invited to give a talk at a Catenian Circle in the Beaumaris area about the Palestinian Christians in Israel. After the meeting, I was invited to a Brother's house and was encouraged to start a Catenian Circle in the Holy Land.
I took the idea back, received the blessings to go forward from our parish priest, and recruited some parish men to join.
In 2016 we were inaugurated as the first Circle in the Middle East. As a founder of Nazareth Circle, I was selected to be the first President.
A pilgrimage from the UK Catenians, including a Bishop and the Grand President, was scheduled to the Holy Land, and we managed to have the inauguration of the Circle coincide with the pilgrimage.
Our Circle currently has 26 members and we are in the process of adding 2 more members. We meet on the first Thursday of the month and are active in our parish community giving support to youth activities and needy families.
During the COVID pandemic, schools chose to hold classes via Zoom. Some of the needy families either had no computer at home or had three or four schoolchildren with only one computer at home.
Our Circle raised funds and bought and distributed over 30 Laptops to schoolchildren. At Christmas and Easter, we distribute food packages to needy families. We have raised funds to help schoolchildren and college students with their tuition. We assemble a Christmas Cart every year and walk in the yearly Nazareth Christmas parade.
Catenian families in BethlehemWe support our parish Scouts and we and our families joined a weekend pilgrimage to Bethlehem and Jerusalem during the Lenten season, which will be repeated every year.
WorldWay Tours (www.worldwaytours.com) is owned and operated by three brothers from the Nazareth Circle (Tony Salem, Fady Badaan and myself). WorldWay Tours specializes only in providing full Tour/Accommodation services within the Holy Land. Our prices are unforgivingly very competitive and do also include a donation from every booking going into our circle's charity solely to benefit the less fortunate Catholic School children with their educational costs.
I was the founder member of Nazareth Circle and currently hold the post of Permanent Secretary and the IRC representative for the Holy Land.
Having met many Catholic pilgrims in Nazareth, I realized there was a niche for more intimate and more personalized group tours taking in sites of natural interest and history that only Catholics will be interested in, therefore, mainstream operators do not offer and will not owing to the lack of kickbacks from such places of interest to just Catholics.
"St. Charles de Foucauld" monastery in Nazareth.In my opinion, these mostly missed sites are therefore easier to visit due to the lack of the masses of visitors and are not offered the privilege to visit such wonderful places also of real interest from Christians.
The Catholic gem is called the "St. Charles de Foucauld" monastery in Nazareth. He is a newly ordained saint who lived and worked in this place for 3 years.
Therefore, I am hoping I can induce groups of brothers from provinces, or towns close by and maybe their parishes to come together to visit The Holy Land in groups from 20 people upwards.
Download a brochure PDF here.
Habib's contact details are -
Habib Karam
Incoming Department Manager
WorldWay Tours
Mobile: +972 504899823
habib@worldwaytours.com
www.worldwaytours.com
Australian Catenians host the International Rosary on 28th January.
The Rosary was organised by Bro Martin Stebbings of Ku-Ring-Gai Circle in conjnction with Bro Eugene Das.
ANC Vice President Bro Graham Short welcomed the about 50 Zoom international participants and recited the 1st decade of the Joyful Mysteries.
Bro Peter Moriarty, Parramatta Circle, recited the 3rd decade and Bro John Tweedie, Harbourside North Circle and the Shire group, the 5th decade.
An Australian flavour was added in the power point presentation by Bro Deacon Rev Michael Tan, Parramatta Circle, with the depiction of an indigenous Nativity scene. (Download the Powerpoint here)
At the conclusion of the Rosary prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of Pope Benedict, who had canonised Australian Catenians' Patron Saint Mary MacKillop, and of Cardinal George Pell.
Prior to Leaving the meeting the Chat area lit up with thanks and blessings from participants.
What is a Polish Easter Basket?
- A contribution from Mariusz Twomey, a regular Zoom visitor to many P21 circle hybrid meetings
Święconka, meaning "the blessing of the Easter baskets", is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions on Holy Saturday during Easter. With roots dating back to the early history of Poland, it is also observed by expatriate and their descendants Poles in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and other Polish communities in the world.
The tradition of food blessing at Easter, which has early-medieval roots in Christian society, possibly originated from a pagan ritual. The tradition is said to date from the 7th century in its basic form, the more modern form containing bread and eggs (symbols of resurrection and Christ) are said to date from the 12th century.
Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen. Poles take special pride in preparing a decorative and tasteful basket with crisp linens, occasionally embroidered for the occasion, and boxwood and ribbon woven through the handle. Observing the creativity of other parishioners is one of the special joys of the event.
The food blessed in the church remains untouched according to local traditions until either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.
2022/23 Catenian Golf finally tees off
Stim Robinson and Graham ShortAfter several postponements and the eventual cancellation of the 2022 comp after the continual inclement weather, we were finally able to hold the annual Province 21 golf competition at the Gordon Golf Club on Friday 10 March.
Left to right - Victor Gauci, Stim Robinson, George Doublesin and Graham ShortWhilst attendance was a bit down compared to previous years, those that attended had a great day out with splendid weather and course conditions.
Ku-ring-gai won the day (Charlie Murton and Stim Robinson - sorry no photo) with The Hills (Victor Gauci on the left and George Doublesin 3rd from left) coming in second place.
Stim also won the Best Catenian score.
Good to have Br Graham Short in attendance to present the trophies.
A key purpose of the day is for brothers and visitors to relax socially after the game together with any non-playing brothers taking up the open invite to join the group for lunch.
We had a ball.
Malta Week is back
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to change the original dates.
This will now be from 18th November till the 25th November 2023
For further details please contact Bro. Joe Caruana by email at maltaweek2023@gmail.com
GB National President visits Province 21
Great Britains' National President visited Province 21, along with a group of fellow Catenians, as a part of his research on a proposed research paper on Catenian restructure, commissioned by Catenian Central Council
Canberra Circle 331 was honoured to host the Catenian Great Britain National President and his delegation on his visit to Canberra from Sunday 19th February to Wednesday 22 February. The delegation included Roger and Margaret Lillie (GBNP and Circle 12), Peter and Lonia Daniels (Circle 280 and Province 11 Director), Malcolm Forster (Circle 12 President), Ralph and Liana Fitzpatrick (Circle 297 and Australian National Council President). John Tweedie (Circle 330 and P21 Secretary) was also able to attend on the Tuesday.
On the Monday and Tuesday our visitors were given a taste of the diversity of Canberra visiting our National Parliament, National Museum and National Capital Exhibition on the Monday and, on the Tuesday, visits to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (getting up close to our iconic kangaroos and koalas) and the National Arboretum.
We were honoured that our fellow Catenian visitors were able to attend our Circle meeting and then join us and our spouses for dinner on the Tuesday night. Roger Lillie provided the dinner speech.
Left to right - Canberra Circle members Norm Russell and John Grubb with GBNP Roger Lillie. Photo by John WilsonBrother Roger believes that the Association in Great Britain and Australia have much in common and we have a particular friendship. We share the same challenges especially in this time of transition. Great Britain and Australia need to work together closely so that the Association modernises so that we remain relevant as a Catholic organisation with relevant aims and values based on our Faith.
He urges members to be open minded and receptive to change and that, although there is much to be done, he believes that we have a strong future if we work together, act in friendship in Faith and continue to be proudly Catholic.
Great Britain National Council President Roger Lillie visits the Northern Beaches
Pittwater, Warringah and Manly Circles hosted lunch for the touring party in Dee Why on Sydney's Norther Beaches.
It was a most enjoyable lunch with over 50 attending.
ANC President Ralph Fitzpatrick introduced Roger Lillie to the gathering. Roger said he would speak for a short time and then be happy to take questions. He said the Association was going through a period of major change. He said it needed to engage more with young people and this was a challenge. The issue of women members was also a challenge (see below). Roger said the Association needed to work together across the globe (eg Great Britain, Australia and the International association) as it faces many of the same issues everywhere.
Roger is a member of Southampton Circle and said his Circle has a strong association with the university there. He noted that Parramatta Circle is looking to forge links with the university there too.
Women members: Roger said he is open-minded about this but he was of the view that women members are not the answer per se to the issue of membership in the association. He said having women members would show the Association is gender-inclusive which is perhaps more pertinent to the younger generation. However, he stressed that he did not want to force Circles to do things.
Roger said Great Britain intends to trial women members in several Circles although women members should not be forced on Circles that don't want it. Roger said that, in reality, he could not see the likelihood of a rapid influx of women members. He acknowledged the strong position taken by Canberra Circle in favour of admitting women members.
Roger was asked if Canberra Circle could be part of the UK women members' trial. Roger said Canberra could possibly be part of the UK trial. While saying that Circles should not rush into this, Roger said there are quite a few Circles in Great Britain that want women members.
John Formosa Warringah President, Roger Lillie, Mike Maynard Pittwater President, David Addington Manly President and Ralph Fitzpatrick ANC PresidentWarringah President John Formosa said women members would change the dynamic of a Circle. A number present agreed with this and Roger acknowledged the point.
Roger acknowledged that the women member issue was a "very difficult issue to get over". He said India is in favour of women members but other countries might be different.
Graham Short said he will be taking over as ANC President from Ralph in May 2023 and he is keeping an open mind on the issue, but will be guided by members. He said he did not want to impose this on Circles.
Roger reiterated his view that women members was not the solution to the membership issue although it would show that the Catenians were inclusive. He said we should not get bogged down with the issue.
Other matters: Roger was at pains to stress that Circles have great flexibility regarding things like meetings, use of regalia, etc. He said Circles should not think they have to follow the Rule Book to the letter on these matters. He said the basic ethos must be there (being a Catholic association), including prayers.
On the "practising Catholic" vote, Roger said he knew Australia had voted for it but that Great Britain didn't see it as that important an issue. He said being committed to the Catholic faith was the issue.
Left to right at back: Warringah Circle President John Formosa, GBNC President Roger Lillie, Mike Maynard (Pittwater), David Addington (Manly President), Ralph Fitzpatrick (ANC President). Front: Liana Fitzpatrick and Paul Pearson (Manly).
Hawkesbury River Cruise
A 37 strong Catenian group of Australian and UK Brothers and family members, including a significant Ku-ring-gai Circle contingent, departed Brooklyn Wharf at 11am, Sunday February 26 to enjoy a cruise and lunch along the magnificent Hawkesbury River.
The party included GB National President Roger Lillie, his wife and other accompanying UK participants. In ideal warm and sunny conditions, the party all had a wonderful time, as reported by Ku-ring-gai President, Malcolm McEwen, and as shown in the photos below.
Sincere congratulations are due to the organisers of the cruise, in particular Martin Stebbings who did much of the coordinating of the event and Treasurer, Ken Anania who handled the finances.
Carlingford's 400th Meeting Commemoration
Finally Carlingford Catenian Circle was able to commemorate our 400th Meeting, which was actually held on the 19th of April 2022. The meeting was held at our 410th meeting help on 21st March 2023 due to backlog of Catenian functions in province and some venue issues, this was the first opportunity.
Our Inaugural meeting was held on 21st November 1984 at Curzon Hall at Marsfield.
The Circle held a ladies night at the Carlingford Bowling club also attended by 2 of our local Priests in and some Catenian Notables.
Reverend Fathers Win Hoekstra and Ian McGinnity; Brothers Geoff Young (Provincial President, Hornsby) , Graham Short (VP ANC, Harbourside North), John Tweedie (Provincial Secretary, Harbourside North) Ian Goldthorpe (President, Parramatta) and Peter Moriarty (VP, Parramatta).
We were delighted that some of the founding members were able to attend this celebration of the 400th meeting and in attendance were Brother Tony Vaz, John O'Grady and Bill Carpenter and the wife of deceased bother John May, in Barbara May. Other brothers who are still current members in the Circle viz., Bro.' John Seckar, (who was the first name on the scroll), Warren Clarke and Laurie Burn were unable to attend owing being either out of station or due health reasons unable to attend.
A trivia Quiz was held that included questions about the Circles inaugural meeting and the 400 since.
"Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?'
Contenders - John White (KuRingGai), Ian Goldthorpe (Parramatta) and Michael Bowyer (Manly) , Manny Zarb ( Pittwater),Harbourside North Circle had the pleasure of hosting the Little John Mug on Thursday 9th February .
A torrential thunderstorm, earlier in the evening, did not deter the 37 attendees including visitors from Hornsby, Ku-Ring-Gai, Manly, Pittwater and Parramatta Circles.
Visitors were warmly welcomed by Circle President Bro Phil Guiney who, doubling as Catering Officer put on a delightful dinner of a pork and vegetables main followed by dessert of pavlova, strawberries and cream.
Province 21 President Geoff Young presents the winners Cup to Pittwater's Manny ZarbThere were four contestants Bros John White (KuRingGai), Ian Goldthorpe (Parramatta) and Michael Bowyer (Manly) , Manny Zarb (Pittwater), on the topic:
"Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat. 'I don't know,' Alice answered. 'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter."
Short version
"If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn't matter which path you take."
Adjudicators were Province 21 Bros President Geoff Young, Treasurer Paul Day and Director Graham Short.
One judge distinctly heard a reference to Purr..gatory!!! get it?
Bro Manny Zarb was the winner and the trophy was presented by Province 21 President Geoff Young.
Why men have few friends
From Mercatornet 30 January 2023
Many men die regretting that they had not worked harder on friendship
Billy No-Mates: How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem - By Max Dickins. Canongate. 2022. 336 pages
In 2009, an unknown Australian palliative care worker went viral. Bronnie Ware published a post on her blog entitled "Regrets of the Dying". Based on her own conversations with patients, it recounted the most five common regrets experienced by those at the end of their lives. All of them are striking and important. Four are focused mostly on a personal shortfall or underachievement in their own lives.
However, one regret reaches beyond the individual — "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends."
At the end of life, in the solitude of illness, Ware's patients wished they had worked harder to keep the fires of friendship burning.
For the people who spoke to Ware 14 years ago, work and money probably constituted their principal diversions from friendship. Today we can add gaming, the internet, and apps to the barriers that keep us from personal contact with others. Indeed, recent studies from Western nations confirm that our teens and 20-somethings are suffering increasingly from loneliness, and have significantly less developed friendship networks than prior generations. "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends" is a regret that will become more pronounced and more poignant in the decades to come.
Billy No-Mates by Max Dickins presents a timely study of this problem, particularly with regard to men. Men more than women, Dickins argues, are struggling with social isolation and establishing and maintaining healthy relationships throughout their lives. Based in London, Dickins is a published playwright, actor, and comedian. At first sight, he seems an unlikely source for a study of the increasingly impoverished world of male friendships. Nevertheless, the book is well researched (its substantial and extensive endnotes are almost as interesting as the main text itself). And it is written in lively and engaging prose. That it has already been translated into numerous languages attests to the importance of its subject matter. Each chapter interweaves plentiful biographical anecdotes with serious explorations of its theme.
The motivation for the book was Dickins' forthcoming marriage. He had just proposed to his girlfriend, Naomi. Naomi features throughout as Dickins' confidant and foil as he shares his lessons on friendship with her. A serious problem emerges as the big day looms: Dickins is unable to identify someone who is sufficiently "best man" material among his circle of mates and acquaintances. Drawing up a list, he realises that some are colleagues with whom he has little contact outside of work. Others he has not spoken to, in some cases, in over two years. As each potential candidate is scribbled on a post-it note on his bedroom wall and dismissed, Dickins is confronted by a stark "cemetery of friendships".
Reflecting on his social life, Dickins realises: "At some point I had either lost the knack of putting myself out there, or simply stopped bothering to try… Friendship has a rhythm and I had lost it. And the consequence, entirely by accident, was that I now had next to no social life." For a comedian and actor, an archetype of extroversion, this admission may seem unlikely or exaggerated. However, Dickins cautions that being in the company of others merely because of one's line of work does not equal friendship.
From these candid beginnings he sets out to rebuild his friendships and ultimately to choose a best man. Some of the book's chapters explore friendship from theoretical and scientific perspectives, involving critical analyses of recent decades of academic research, and interviews with sociologists and evolutionary psychologists, among others. Other chapters see Dickins attempting practical solutions, such as joining a men's choir, attending a hug therapy session, or literally renting a "friend" for a Saturday afternoon from an online service designed specifically for this purpose. While some of these pursuits are peculiar and marginal in the realm of human relations, Dickins' willingness to experience them and share his reflections of their uses (and users) adds a sense of humanity and even frailty to this study. A dreary academic tome this is not.
One of the best things about this book is its unwillingness to write off men's friendship struggles as rooted in modern concepts of gender (such as "toxic masculinity," etc.) Contemporary explorations of gender tend to refract men's activity and behaviour through the lens of gender roles and performativity. Men, it argues, think and act as they do due to societal conditioning. And if they can be conditioned into certain behaviours, then they can be conditioned out of them too. At its worst, this paradigm dupes us into the false and dangerous idea that sex and gender are ultimately plastic, and only tangentially connected to irreversible biological realities.
Dickins' book is refreshing in that it does not concede its argument to this paradigm but gives a fair hearing to an understanding of maleness and masculinity rooted in biological factors too. Perhaps this fearlessness stems from his day job — a comedian wading into contemporary gender wars has no skin in the game, no academic career to cultivate, and therefore nothing to lose. So he is not afraid to critique "the Vulnerability Industrial Complex" that prevails in contemporary discussions of masculinity and gender.
Drawing on research by social psychologists and sociologists, he argues that men and women tend to define intimacy differently.
Aggression among men, he suggests, "is employed not as the opposite of intimacy, but as a way to achieve it." In our vulnerability-soaked discourse, this can seem jarring. For men, "the more they like each other, the more bellicose they'll be." Reflecting on how this plays out in his own life, Dickins observes that the sometimes savage cut-and-thrust of male banter is "actually a perverse form of love. It is, in a real sense, intimacy in action, communicating both 'I know you' and 'I know you trust that I'm not being cruel, that I have permission, that we are playing a game.'"
Male aggression (or play-aggression) is not necessarily toxic, but paradoxically intimate.
Dickins proceeds to question the modern insistence that men open up and talk about their feelings more publicly: "Could it be that choosing not to talk about stuff is a form of intimacy in itself?" He marshals a striking image from C.S. Lewis" The Four Loves to describe such encounters: "We meet like sovereign princes of independent states, abroad, on neutral ground, freed from our contexts." In certain situations there is a value — and even a civic or societal necessity — to masking one's feelings.
Such are Dickins' findings on male friendship from the contemporary paradigm of gender roles and social constructs. So what insights about friendship can the "biological" paradigm yield? Dickins meets Robin Dunbar, Oxford anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, and originator of "Dunbar's Number" — the idea that there is a cognitive limit to the number of meaningful social relationships that a human being can maintain at any one time. In other words, how many friends can someone realistically have? (For the curious, the answer is 150. This number is not divided equally, but rather comprises layers or gradations of individuals who are in increasingly intimate relationships to us.)
Dickins shares fascinating learnings from Dunbar here. For example, his research shows that we devote about 40 percent of our social efforts to the five most significant people in our friendship network. And, depressingly, our friendship networks peak around our mid-to-late 20s before decreasing steadily with each passing year. And what is the price of love? Well, falling in love takes such a toll on our time and effort that it tends to (unintentionally) evict two of our existing friends or family members from the more intimate layers of our friendship network, pushing them closer to the margins of that 150.
What do Dunbar's findings suggest about male friendship? When it comes to "best friends", men often struggle to name any one individual: "Dunbar explains that this reflects men's preference for socialising in groups versus women's strong preference for one-on-one interactions." Dickins quotes Dunbar: "For men, talking to their friends makes absolutely no difference at all. Literally zero. What stops the friendship from declining is making an effort to do stuff together." Dunbar continues: "For women, it's talking to one another that creates and, crucially, demonstrates intimacy. For men, the point of talk is often just to exchange information, to move them towards the main course of the social feast: the organised activity."
Dickins reflects on how Dunbar's findings play out in that quintessential focal point of social life in Ireland and the UK: the pub. "It occurs to me that this is why the pub is such a crucible of many male friendships: there's loads of other stuff going on. An endless supply of conversational time-outs: pool, darts, quiz machines, sport on the big screen — even our drinks serve this purpose, as we sip to fill in the gaps. Pure, unfiltered chat is too intense: we need a third point of contact to relax things a bit."
Returning to the heated matter of gender, Dickins realises that Dunbar's findings erode some of the modern verities regarding gender roles and conditioning. Men don't struggle with intimacy because they are socialised to play a restrictive male gender role; rather, they are biologically less likely to have numerous intimate friendships.
Dickins refers to findings by Anna Machin, an evolutionary anthropologist, who posited that for women, friendships were associated with childcare, an activity necessarily dependent on some measure of intimacy and trust. For men, however, friendships were traditionally about alliance-building, fighting off other male threats, and maintaining their position in the hierarchy. From this perspective, men's struggles with friendship are not an exclusively modern phenomenon, or due to restrictive gender roles, or lack of intimacy or emotion.
Rather, despite the complexities of friendship in today's world, men may ultimately find themselves limited in their capacity for emotion, openness, and intimacy by the immoveable bedrock of biology and genetics.
The book is a lively exploration of the turbulent and impoverished world of men's friendships. It successfully manages to rise above the reductive paradigms of gender that enflame today's culture wars. Dickins does not profess to be an expert, and no one approach dominates his perusal of the subject. This is one of the book's great strengths, affording Dickins the liberty to approach the theme from many angles, sometimes at odds, sometimes in harmony. It makes his interviews with various experts, his critical readings of academic literature, and his attempts at practising friendship itself at times insightful, at times humorous, and at times even poignant.
Musing upon what he has learned about friendship, he accepts that different friends fulfil different roles at different times, and that it is rare to find a "one size fits all" friend except, perhaps, one's spouse. Different friends bring out different aspects of our selves: "we are different — sometimes a little, sometimes a lot — with different people. Each friend is like a mirrored wall in a decagon-shaped room: to see all of ourself, we need all of them."
The book is written from a secular perspective. Despite encouraging appearances from C.S. Lewis, Christianity does not overtly colour Dickins' argument. His eventual choice of best man was decidedly unorthodox, and his own marriage was a civil ceremony in a hotel.
Indeed, it is with regret that I must attach a content warning to the book. Unfortunately Dickins tries too hard when it comes to injecting humour into the narrative. Anecdotes that sound passable as part of a stand-up routine become crude and tasteless on paper. This veneer of blokey, sometimes lurid, and ultimately unnecessary jocularity really spoils the high quality, well-researched, and sensitively written prose that lies beneath it.
What's the bottom line?
Surveying his research and experiences, Dickins emphasises that friendship takes effort, especially in adulthood: "For Aristotle, Cicero, and their ilk, far from being something we grow out of, friendship is something we grow into. They thought the young lacked the chops for it, which could only be hard won through practice." Attempting to distil the book's freewheeling exploration of friendship into a few take-home messages, Dickins concludes with three terse instructions: "Show up, when asked. Go first, when not. Keep going, even when it's hard." Effort, initiative, and fortitude — three virtues by which to live, and live among others.
David Gibney David Gibney is a school teacher in Dublin. He holds a PhD in English literature
Bro DON MEES, 12th April 1927 - 2nd November 2022.
The Brothers of Carlingford Circle were saddened by the passing of their elder statesman, Brother Don Mees at the age of 95 ½ years.
The eldest of four children, Don was raised in suburban Melbourne. He excelled academically, graduating in Science from the University of Melbourne. He was later admitted as a Member of Institution of Engineers, Australia in recognition of his contributions to the development of electronic engineering, computers and radar.
After working briefly in Melbourne, Don joined the Australian Government's then newly established Weapons Research Establishment in South Australia, working both in Adelaide and at Woomera, some 400 Kms to the North. He first went to England in 1953 to work on radar research. On his return, he renewed his friendship with Maureen whom he then married in January 1955. Two daughters and three sons arrived before Maureen and Don established what was intended as their final home at Clearview in Adelaide.
However, the family pursued a career change at Mt Isa mines in Northern Queensland early in 1971. The summer heat made the 1700 Km trip via Alice Springs in Central Australia challenging not only for the family, but also for their car's engine which struggled to handle the air-conditioner installed specifically for the trip.
Then in 1973, the family finally settled in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood when Don accepted employment with an international electronics firm.
Don joined the Catenian Association's City of Portsmouth Circle on 24 April 1985 whilst again working in the UK. Returning to Sydney, he attended the 20th meeting of the Carlingford Circle in June 1986 before transferring to that Circle. During his 36 years' membership, Don was Carlingford's Membership Officer (1 year), Careers Officer (4 years), Vice President, Circle President, and then Secretary (5 years).
Golf was one of Don's enduring passions. He introduced the Callaway Handicap system to Carlingford's Annual Golf Day, a complicated system that gave social golfers as much chance of winning a prize as more competent players. In retirement, Don joined fellow Catenians for their monthly "Wine 'n Dine" when they played 9 holes of golf and then had a social BBQ telling stories from their lives, solving the world's problems and enjoying a drop, or two, of red wine.
Don and Maureen were active members of St Kevin's Parish at Eastwood where Don served for many years as an acolyte and communion minister. Don was also active in the Epping "Computer Pals for Seniors" using his expertise to help others share the benefits of modern technology. Following Maureen's death in 2012, Don continued to travel usually with one or more family member around Europe and Australia. In Croatia, Don had a fall that fractured his hip. After the hip was replaced in Germany, Don was medically evacuated for rehabilitation in Australia. That incident did not dampen Don's enthusiasm for golf which he continued to play until just before he reluctantly accepted that it was time to move to assisted living at Calvary Aged Care, Ryde.
His last attendance at Carlingford Circle was at the 2020 Christmas function.
Notwithstanding the COVID restrictions then still in place, Don's daughter, Helen, arranged for four Carlingford Brothers to visit and share with Don a slice of his favourite carrot cake on his 95th Birthday, 12th April 2022.
Helen's moving eulogy before his Requiem Mass at St Kevin's, Eastwood made it obvious why Catenian membership was so important to Don. His life truly reflected the cornerstones of Catenianism – faith, family and friendship.
Well done, good and faithful servant! May he rest in peace.
Around the Circles
News gathered from Circle Newsletters.
CAIRNS:
President's Mass and Breakfast at Chill Café…
What a fantastic Circle President's Mass and Breakfast we had. A very good attendance at Mass and our breaky afterwards at Palm Cove, Chill/Portofino never disappoints anyone. It was so nice to see Janet Johnson attending with us. Mark RIP is in our Prayers every day.
Our city of Cairns Catenian Circle does so much for others, so happy to see them enjoying themselves, and spending time together, they are an amazing bunch of people!!!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPER CIRCLE SECRETARY BROTHER GAZZA…
Brothers
We kicked off 2023 with President Joe's mass on Sunday and brunch afterwards at Brother Tony's Chill at Portofino Restaurant. It was a great day and wonderful to welcome Janet Johnston (Mark's widow). And so a new year and a new venue. We will now meet at The Benson. Brother Lui gave us the lead on this place and Brother Simon has been able to lock it in. The Benson Hotel is at 50 Grafton St. The venue looks great and the menu looks vastly better than our previous venture. The meeting will be on Wednesday 8th February and as usual, we will start at the bar from 5.30pm and the meeting will commence at 6pm. This month Deacon Mark Cavicchiolo will make a short presentation during dinner about the differences between the Old and New Testaments followed by a Q&A session. Please RSVP to me as soon as you can about your attendance. Fraternally, Gary Spencer
February meeting
Reverend Brother Deacon Mark Cavicchiolo gave an informative presentation, over dinner about some of the differences between the New and the Old Testaments of the Bible. Thanks so much Rev Brother Mark.
So wonderful to see Brother Gavin at our meeting after his illness and operations. Great to see you Gavin.
Congratulations to our Brother Gavin Carole and family...
For being named KING OF THE NORTH IN THE NATIONAL SAUSAGE COMPETITION HELD IN ADELAIDE
Congratulations from your fellow Brothers and loved one's on your great achievement in Adelaide, your food has always been amazing, well done.
March meeting
Peter Cash zooms in to the meeting from sunny BournemouthOur MARCH meeting was again an amazing event at our new venue; The Benson Hotel, we had a good turnout of Brothers and our Circle President Joe welcomed our guests. Once again, a huge thank-you to Brother Lui for arranging our new venue. It was truly an amazing evening with a accompanying amazing meal.
We have such an amazing friendship amongst all our Brothers and their families, we follow the endorsement of the Catenian Statement of; Support each other and their Families.
BROTHER GIOVANNI BATTIATO RIP
1968 – 2019
Remembering our wonderful Brother Giovanni RIP who departed from us on the 18th March 2019 to join God in Heaven. May He Rest in Peace. Amen. He has been sadly missed by his lovely family and Catenian Brothers of City of Cairns Circle. We all miss you Brother Giovanni you were a credit to our Circle!!!
A Mass marking the anniversary of Brother GIOVANNI RIP, Going to Heaven was said at St Monica’s Cathedral & followed by a breakfast celebration in his memory at Perrotta’s Café.
Giovanni’s lovely mother Maria with our President Joe (above) and on her right her partner Alfio. The Mass and Brunch went really well. Maria really was very appreciative.
GOLD COAST TWEED:
2 New Members at Gold Coast Tweed Circle's November 2022 meeting.
While meetings tend to the informal and casual in this part of the Catenian world, the Catenian spirit was in clear evidence all round.
Two Brothers were enrolled at this meeting continuing a welcome upward trend of membership recently.
Pictured left to right, acting President for the evening (and this year's VP) Brother Seamus McCarthy, Brother Chris Gallagher, Dino Christino, and Brother Darrel Green, Dino's sponsor.
Visiting from the UK was Brother Nigel Corby of Arundel Circle in Province (18) and was given the warmest of welcomes. Bro. Seamus also welcomed two visitors one of whom, Ian Duncan, gave a very interesting after dinner presentation and talk on his work as a certified Practitioner of Hypnoenergenics and Clinical Hypnotherapist. His presentation generated many questions from Brothers and he was thanked for his fascinating contribution by Brother Paul Bellhouse, whose birthday coincidentally it was that day which just added to the enjoyment of the evening.
Overall a standout meeting and fellowship!
A new Catenian Group for Lismore ?? During the meeting itself, Brother Nigel gave a brief presentation on the prospects of developing a new Circle based in the hometown of his daughter in Lismore, about an hour and 20 minutes' drive away. There have been some work done in recent years but sadly, Covid and the devastating floods in and around Lismore, which
seemed to occur just as CoVid restrictions.
put things on hold 'till quite recently. Brother Nigel hoped that, as the nearest Circle to Lismore, the Council of GCT would adopt and own this project, but of course that is entirely a matter for the Circle Council and Brotherhood and the Provincial Council concerned. He felt sure that it would provide an impetus to assist Brother Stephen Moran who lives locally to the Lismore Cathedral town and had made a start, prior to Covid, on contacting the Church authorities and who knows a few locals.
Stephen has the full support of Province 21 Council including Development Funds available to cover costs. He is certain that a Circle will flourish in this area provided the right leadership can be given, which would be greatly facilitated were GCT to lend its support. He is only sorry that he cannot be more involved, but he would be available for advice (from a distance!) and will be cheering from the side-lines of Province 18!
KU-RING-GAI:
January Meeting and Dinner
18 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, 4 visiting Brothers and one visiting gentleman, Peter Dewar from Waitara Parish. The 4 visiting Brothers were from Hornsby Circle were Ken Daniels (President), Pat Moran (Secretary), Pasquale Vartuli and Paul Meagher. Traditionally, The January meeting has been our joint meeting with Hornsby Circle, with each Circle taking its turn to host. However, circumstances had not made that possible this year. Nevertheless, President Malcolm McEwen warmly welcomed the Hornsby Brothers.
Vice President, John White, organised a trivia competition with prizes for the winning table as well as a couple of lucky draw prizes. An enjoyable evening was had by all who attended.
February Meeting and Dinner
23 Ku-ring-gai Brothers attended the February meeting and dinner. At the meeting it was reported that Vice President John White, accompanied by Bros David Conoulty and Chris Pitts, attended Harbourside North Circle on Thursday, February 9th, where John gallantly represented Ku-ring-gai in the Little John Mug speaking competition for incoming Presidents. The competition winner was Manny Zarb from Pittwater Circle, with John coming in an unlucky second!
A highlight of the February dinner was the presentation of a 40 years of membership framed certificate to Michael Burke. Garry McIntosh was the lucky winner of the prize draw for the bottle of wine.
March Ladies Night
52 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, wives and visitors attended the March Ladies Night held at the Turramurra Club on Monday, March 13th. The visitors were Patricia Kiely, Robert Jardine, Kevin Duffy's daughter Louise, Martin Stebbings nephew, Luke, Harry and Karin Hull's grandson, Harrison and Glenda Chidrawi's sister and brother-in-law, Ursula and Edward Khoury. President Malcolm McEwen extended a warm welcome to all wives and visitors.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of framed membership certificates to Kevin Duffy (40 years), Claude Jugmans (30 years) and Ed Wales (25 years).
Guest speakers for the evening were Malcolm and Karen McEwen who presented a very interesting account of their visit to Germany in 2022 for the Oberammergau Passion Play.
Luke Samson was the lucky winner of the prize draw for the bottle of wine.
MANLY:
A group of Manly Catenians enjoyed a trip to Scotland Island on a bright sunny day on 8 January 2023. Gary and Michelle O'Sullivan organised the day with lunch at the Waterfront Café and General Store at Church Point followed by a ferry ride around Scotland Island and the coastline.
Attendees were Gary and Michelle, Mike and Maryanne Guy, Janette and Mark Wall, Romano and Terese Di Donato, and Paul and Nuala Pearson. A great day was had sharing stories, laughs and enjoying some great food.
The 4th Wednesday lunch on 22 February saw several Manly Brothers gather for a very pleasant lunch and chat at the Forest Hotel. Below from left: John McCarney, Brian Hamer, Terry Hayes, Paul Pearson and Bob Rigon.
KU-RING-GAI:
January Meeting and Dinner
18 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, 4 visiting Brothers and one visiting gentleman, Peter Dewar from Waitara Parish. The 4 visiting Brothers were from Hornsby Circle were Ken Daniels (President), Pat Moran (Secretary), Pasquale Vartuli and Paul Meagher. Traditionally, The January meeting has been our joint meeting with Hornsby Circle, with each Circle taking its turn to host. However, circumstances had not made that possible this year. Nevertheless, President Malcolm McEwen warmly welcomed the Hornsby Brothers.
Vice President, John White, organised a trivia competition with prizes for the winning table as well as a couple of lucky draw prizes. An enjoyable evening was had by all who attended.
February Meeting and Dinner
23 Ku-ring-gai Brothers attended the February meeting and dinner. At the meeting it was reported that Vice President John White, accompanied by Bros David Conoulty and Chris Pitts, attended Harbourside North Circle on Thursday, February 9th, where John gallantly represented Ku-ring-gai in the Little John Mug speaking competition for incoming Presidents. The competition winner was Manny Zarb from Pittwater Circle, with John coming in an unlucky second!
A highlight of the February dinner was the presentation of a 40 years of membership framed certificate to Michael Burke. Garry McIntosh was the lucky winner of the prize draw for the bottle of wine.
March Ladies Night
52 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, wives and visitors attended the March Ladies Night held at the Turramurra Club on Monday, March 13th. The visitors were Patricia Kiely, Robert Jardine, Kevin Duffy's daughter Louise, Martin Stebbings nephew, Luke, Harry and Karin Hull's grandson, Harrison and Glenda Chidrawi's sister and brother-in-law, Ursula and Edward Khoury. President Malcolm McEwen extended a warm welcome to all wives and visitors.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of framed membership certificates to Kevin Duffy (40 years), Claude Jugmans (30 years) and Ed Wales (25 years).
Guest speakers for the evening were Malcolm and Karen McEwen who presented a very interesting account of their visit to Germany in 2022 for the Oberammergau Passion Play.
Luke Samson was the lucky winner of the prize draw for the bottle of wine.
GOLD COAST TWEED:
2 New Members at Gold Coast Tweed Circle's November 2022 meeting.
While meetings tend to the informal and casual in this part of the Catenian world, the Catenian spirit was in clear evidence all round.
Two Brothers were enrolled at this meeting continuing a welcome upward trend of membership recently.
Pictured left to right, acting President for the evening (and this year's VP) Brother Seamus McCarthy, Brother Chris Gallagher, Dino Christino, and Brother Darrel Green, Dino's sponsor.
Visiting from the UK was Brother Nigel Corby of Arundel Circle in Province (18) and was given the warmest of welcomes. Bro. Seamus also welcomed two visitors one of whom, Ian Duncan, gave a very interesting after dinner presentation and talk on his work as a certified Practitioner of Hypnoenergenics and Clinical Hypnotherapist. His presentation generated many questions from Brothers and he was thanked for his fascinating contribution by Brother Paul Bellhouse, whose birthday coincidentally it was that day which just added to the enjoyment of the evening.
Overall a standout meeting and fellowship!
A new Catenian Group for Lismore ?? During the meeting itself, Brother Nigel gave a brief presentation on the prospects of developing a new Circle based in the hometown of his daughter in Lismore, about an hour and 20 minutes' drive away. There have been some work done in recent years but sadly, Covid and the devastating floods in and around Lismore, which seemed to occur just as CoVid restrictions.
put things on hold 'till quite recently. Brother Nigel hoped that, as the nearest Circle to Lismore, the Council of GCT would adopt and own this project, but of course that is entirely a matter for the Circle Council and Brotherhood and the Provincial Council concerned. He felt sure that it would provide an impetus to assist Brother Stephen Moran who lives locally to the Lismore Cathedral town and had made a start, prior to Covid, on contacting the Church authorities and who knows a few locals.
Stephen has the full support of Province 21 Council including Development Funds available to cover costs. He is certain that a Circle will flourish in this area provided the right leadership can be given, which would be greatly facilitated were GCT to lend its support. He is only sorry that he cannot be more involved, but he would be available for advice (from a distance!) and will be cheering from the side-lines of Province 18!
HARBOURSIDE NORTH:
Little John Mug
We had a great turn out of Harbourside North brothers for the Little John Mug. There were 21 members present! In addition we had two visiting gentlemen and 14 visiting brothers (including the four speakers, Bros Ian Goldthorpe from City of Parramatta, Michael Bowyer from Manly, John White from Ku Ring Gai and Many Zarb from Pittwater).
The winner on the night was Bro Manny Zarb from Ku Ring Gai.
KU-RING-GAI:
January Meeting and Dinner
18 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, 4 visiting Brothers and one visiting gentleman, Peter Dewar from Waitara Parish. The 4 visiting Brothers were from Hornsby Circle were Ken Daniels (President), Pat Moran (Secretary), Pasquale Vartuli and Paul Meagher. Traditionally, The January meeting has been our joint meeting with Hornsby Circle, with each Circle taking its turn to host. However, circumstances had not made that possible this year. Nevertheless, President Malcolm McEwen warmly welcomed the Hornsby Brothers.
Vice President, John White, organised a trivia competition with prizes for the winning table as well as a couple of lucky draw prizes. An enjoyable evening was had by all who attended.
February Meeting and Dinner
23 Ku-ring-gai Brothers attended the February meeting and dinner. At the meeting it was reported that Vice President John White, accompanied by Bros David Conoulty and Chris Pitts, attended Harbourside North Circle on Thursday, February 9th, where John gallantly represented Ku-ring-gai in the Little John Mug speaking competition for incoming Presidents. The competition winner was Manny Zarb from Pittwater Circle, with John coming in an unlucky second!
A highlight of the February dinner was the presentation of a 40 years of membership framed certificate to Michael Burke. Garry McIntosh was the lucky winner of the prize draw for the bottle of wine.
March Ladies Night
52 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, wives and visitors attended the March Ladies Night held at the Turramurra Club on Monday, March 13th. The visitors were Patricia Kiely, Robert Jardine, Kevin Duffy's daughter Louise, Martin Stebbings nephew, Luke, Harry and Karin Hull's grandson, Harrison and Glenda Chidrawi's sister and brother-in-law, Ursula and Edward Khoury. President Malcolm McEwen extended a warm welcome to all wives and visitors.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of framed membership certificates to Kevin Duffy (40 years), Claude Jugmans (30 years) and Ed Wales (25 years).
Guest speakers for the evening were Malcolm and Karen McEwen who presented a very interesting account of their visit to Germany in 2022 for the Oberammergau Passion Play.
Luke Samson was the lucky winner of the prize draw for the bottle of wine.
MANLY:
A group of Manly Catenians enjoyed a trip to Scotland Island on a bright sunny day on 8 January 2023. Gary and Michelle O'Sullivan organised the day with lunch at the Waterfront Café and General Store at Church Point followed by a ferry ride around Scotland Island and the coastline.
Attendees were Gary and Michelle, Mike and Maryanne Guy, Janette and Mark Wall, Romano and Terese Di Donato, and Paul and Nuala Pearson. A great day was had sharing stories, laughs and enjoying some great food.
The 4th Wednesday lunch on 22 February saw several Manly Brothers gather for a very pleasant lunch and chat at the Forest Hotel. Below from left: John McCarney, Brian Hamer, Terry Hayes, Paul Pearson and Bob Rigon.