Eastern Link
February 2020
Content for Eastern Link is gathered from circle newsletters and notice of meetings, could circle and group secretaries please add p21.newsletter@thecatenians.org.au to your distribution list, we can also publicise your meetings if a calendar of upcoming speakers and events is included in your circle newsletter.
Contributions to Eastern Link are welcome, if you have an article that might be of interest to other circles please send a Word document and any photos to p21.newsletter@thecatenians.org.au
Contents:
Catenian Bursary Fund recipients and a Manly win at the Griffiths Virgona Shield trivia At its January 2020 joint meeting with Harbourside North Circle meeting, Manly Circle presented cheques to 3 Catenian Bursary Fund recipients - Lachie Powe and Samuel Potter (Manly Circle) and Will Hyde (Harbourside North Circle). |
What? – Another Lunch at the Occidental?  Make it your 2020 New Year's resolution to catch up with brothers and friends more often and start by coming to our February lunch at the Occidental. |
Province 21 Golf Championship The hotly contested Province 21 Golf Championship is on again at Muirfield.When: Friday 13th March 2020 Where: At Muirfield Golf Club, Barclay Road North Rocks |
Three new brothers for the Shire Group Recent pulpit presentations at St Patrick's Parish in Sutherland and St Bernadette's Parish in Carlton has given Shire Membership Officer Kevin Dougherty a new pool of Catholic men to invite to our meetings. |
Catenian Volunteers put their BBQ skills to work in the name of charity! For six consecutive weekends, Catenian volunteers dedicated their time to help at CatholicCare's Christmas charity BBQs across three Harris Farm Market locations to help raise funds for Sydney families in need. |
Cairns' December dinner at Bishop James Foley's house Bishop James thanked all the Brothers and their loved ones for the support the Catenians give the Diocese and Brother President Joe thanked Bishop James for his support over the years for the City of Cairns Catenians. |
Highlights from around the Circles A snapshot of activity, social activities, visitors and events around Province 21 circles. |
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Editors Note: |
Catenian Bursary Fund recipients and a Manly win at the Griffiths Virgona Shield trivia win
At its January 2020 joint meeting with Harbourside North Circle meeting, Manly Circle presented cheques to 3 Catenian Bursary Fund recipients - Lachie Powe and Samuel Potter (Manly Circle) and Will Hyde (Harbourside North Circle).
(Left to right) Cardoner Project CEO Robbie Graham, Lachie Powe, Sam Potter and Manly Acting President Peter Williams.
Sam is going to Thailand for a year, while Lachie is going to Darjeeling in India. Will is going to Vietnam for 3 months to do some teaching.
Harbourside North Acting President Ed van Riet, Will Hyde and Cardoner CEO Robbie Graham.
All three young men are members of The Cardoner Project which has as its Mission "to deepen the human, spiritual and intellectual formation of young adults, grounding them in a love of the poor in the service of the Church".
Robbie Graham, CEO of The Cardoner Project, https://www.thecardonerproject.org/, also attended the meeting.
The Project is a not-for-profit, student-focused hub for volunteering, founded in 2010 by Jesuit priest, Fr David Braithwaite SJ.
Michael Bowyer from Manly Circle was the winner of this years hotly contested Griffith Virgona Trivia Trophy.
Manly Acting President Peter Williams (left) looks on as, Helen Griffiths (left) and Penny Virgona present the trophy to Manly winner Michael Bowyer.
What? – Another Lunch at the Occidental?
Brothers and wives of City of Sydney Circle were joined by Province 21 President Chris Vale and Membership Officer Graham Short at its quarterly luncheon held at the Occidental Hotel, Wynyard on Tuesday 19 November.
Of course – Catenians and the Occidental are natural partners when it comes to lunch!
Following the success of our Circle's lunch-time get-togethers last year, City of Sydney Circle is pleased to offer brothers, wives, family and friends an opportunity to continue to share in the friendship of our Circle and The Catenians.
Make it your 2020 New Year's resolution to catch up with brothers and friends more often and start by coming to our February lunch.
In particular, those brothers who find it difficult to make the evening meetings and dinner can find lunch a more convenient way to maintain contact with The Catenians and share a meal with family and friends .
When: 12 Noon on Tuesday 18 February, 2020
Where: Occidental Hotel, Corner of York & Erskine Streets, Sydney in the Fairmont Restaurant on Level 1 – same place as our Circle meetings.
Menu: A main course, sides and tea or coffee for $40.
Extras: Drinks, additional sides, dessert or any other additions are optional and you can order and pay for these extras as you wish.
Why not help out a "brother or sister in need" and share a car, a cab/Uber or travel together by train/bus/ferry and make the trip to the City a little easier and more enjoyable. You can count on a warm welcome and an afternoon in good company.
RSVP: to Peter Gialouris at peter.gialouris@cadtre.com.au or on 0400 332 495 by Friday 14 February, 2020
Province 21 Golf Championship
The hotly contested Province 21 Golf Championship is on again at Muirfield.
When: Friday 13th March 2020 Where: At Muirfield Golf Club, Barclay Road North Rocks
7.30am Tee Off
Lunch Will Be Served In The Club Function Room And Will Be Followed By The Presentation Of Prizes
GOLF INCLUDING LUNCH $95.00 GOLF ONLY $60.00 GOLF CART (Optional) $25.00 (per player)
LUNCH ONLY $40.00
THE COMPETITION – Individual Stableford over 16 holes (See below)
- Director's Trophy – Best aggregate score of any two Catenians from the same circle
- The Ray Weekes Memorial Trophy – Circle Runners-Up Trophy
- Vice-President's Trophy – Best individual Catenian score
- Individual Catenian Runner Up
- Best individual visitor
- Individual visitor Runner-Up
- Best Lady score
- Best individual Catenian - front nine
- Best individual Catenian - back six (10 - 16)
- Best individual visitor - front nine
- Best individual visitor - back six (10 - 16)
- Longest drive - on the 12th
- Nearest the Pin - on the 2nd, 6th, 9th, 11th and 15th
Note:
We are trying a slightly different approach to minimise complaints about how long the Catenian competition takes. This year the competition will be based on all players completing holes 1 to 16. For those not familiar with the course, the 16th green is very near the club house.
Any players that can complete their full 18 hole round inside the expected 4 to 4 ½ hours are welcome to play the 17th and 18th holes.
GENERAL:
Please do all you can to come up with a minimum of four players from each circle.
There is no maximum number per circle.
Ladies are welcome to participate.
No limit on invites for visitors.
Non AGU handicap players are welcome. The maximum allowable handicap is 32 for 16 holes and 36 for 18 holes.
Prizes will be spread across some categories so more players share in the awards.
Speed of Play concerns:
All players are requested to be familiar with the need to keep up with the group in front. If your group is lagging behind, please speed up. For instance, if you have played too many shots to score any points on that hole, please pick up your ball so that you can catch up to the group in front.
There is a maximum of three minutes allowed for looking for your ball. If you think your ball may be hard to find, consider playing a provisional ball.
Each Entry Form must be completed and returned with payment by the closing date 4 March 2020.
ORGANISER:
STIM ROBINSON
Email stimrobinson@hotmail.com
Mob. 0401 058 329.
Please contact me if you need any assistance.
Three new brothers for the Shire Group
From left to right: - John Tweedie (acting Chairman), Kevin Redman, Garry Vernon, Peter Mazurek and Kevin Doherty (membership Officer)Recent pulpit presentations at St Patrick's Parish in Sutherland and St Bernadette's Parish in Carlton has given Shire Membership Officer Kevin Dougherty a new pool of Catholic men to invite to our meetings.
The three new members are all parishioners of St Patrick's in Sutherland.
This Parish is a very vibrant and we are hoping that more men who are yet to be or who have been visitors to our gatherings will become members.
One of our new Brothers, Peter Mazurek is semi retired from the Legal profession. He has recently published a book titled "Modern Catholic Concerns"; he will be talking about his book at the January Meeting (22/1/20).
The Shire Group commenced in June 2016 with four local members and four Joint members. We have lost a few and gained a few since that time and moved venues twice.
"We are now ten in number."
Catenian Volunteers put their BBQ skills to work in the name of charity!
For six consecutive weekends, Catenian volunteers dedicated their time to help at CatholicCare's Christmas charity BBQs across three Harris Farm Market locations to help raise funds for Sydney families in need.
Money raised from the BBQs went towards fresh Gift of Goodness food hampers for families doing it tough. Over $58,000 has been raised to date which helped provide almost 400 families with fresh nutritious food for the Christmas table. For families caught in the crises of homelessness, domestic violence isolation and addiction with hardly any money to spare for the essentials, these food hampers were a lifeline at Christmas time.
The CatholicCare Gift of Goodness campaign is proudly supported by Harris Farm Markets, which offered a new opportunity to fundraise at their stores in 2019. As Jonathan Melrose-Rae, Executive Manager of Fundraising and Philanthropy at CatholicCare stated;
"This year we tried something new. We partnered with Harris Farm to raise money through a BBQ sausage sizzle, but we quickly realised we needed more man power. We reached out to the Catenians and they were only too happy to help."
CatholicCare is the social services agency for the Archdiocese of Sydney.
CatholicCare's programs help families with:
- Relationship breakdowns
- Parenting challenges
- Ageing and loneliness
- Disabilities both intellectual and physical
- Addictions to drugs, alcohol and gambling
- Mental health concerns
"As well as raising much needed funds, the BBQ's also became an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends" said Jonathan.
CatholicCare are very grateful to the Catenians generous support and wish to say a special thank you to Paul Pearson, John Tweedie, Katherine Tweedie, Paul Meagher, Pamela Nash, Romano DiDonato, John Davis, Mary Davis and Jim Phelan, for their dedication to help families in need.
Cairns' December dinner at Bishop James Foley's house
Brother Joe presenting Bishop James with a present from the Circle On the right is Brother AlanWe were joined by our wives and loved ones. Brother President Joe presented the Bishop with a gift which Brother Secretary Mark organised.
Brothers Gavin, Tony (Cairns Circle Provincial Councillor) and President Joe.Bishop James thanked all the Brothers and their loved ones for the support the Catenians give the Diocese and Brother President Joe thanked Bishop James for his support over the years for the City of Cairns Catenians.
A note from Peter Cash Cairns Circle newsletter editor in Bournemouth, UK -"We shall miss him, since the time I asked him, can we start a Catenian Circle in Cairns, and he answered; 'what do you want from me', I replied your Blessing and he replied; 'you have it', that was the beginning of the Cairns Circle, both he and Fr Neil have been a tremendous help.
Thank-you so much Bishop James!!!
Highlights from around the Circles
The Hills:
4 prospective members in the pipeline, notice going in the Parish bulletin before each monthly meeting and socially, plans are underway for at least two combined events with Carlingford Circle in 2020.
Carlingford:
At the above joint meeing with The Hills, during the meeting The Hills Circle passed a motion:
"That all monies collected for tonight's meeting plus $1000 from circles bank account be DONATED to the AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS BUSHFIRE and DISASTER RELIEF FUND". Resulted in A$2,170 being sent to the appeal.
Future events:
After the Christmas hiatus Bro. VP Rob is busy scouting out some venues for a couple of morning gatherings before the end of this Catenian year – watch this space.
Initial planning for the 2020/2021 is also getting underway and Bros. Rob and Frank will be working closely with their counterparts at The Hills Circle to align both Circle's calendars so that we can readily support each other's functions.
Manly:
Catering Officer Romano Di Donato is back at work after suffering a heart attack while playing soccer at the end of last year. He was saved by a defibrillator at the ground. He then had a short spell in Royal North Shore Hospital where he had a stent inserted.
He came home on Friday, 3 January and is resting and recuperating and is in high spirits.
Our prayers and thoughts are with Romano, Terese and their family.
50 people, including 3 prospects, along with Tony Hall (Northampton Circle 35) and his wife Margaret, Manly Secretary and Tony Stevens (Wolverhampton Circle 56) and his wife Tessa, all enjoyed a terrific Presidents Mass and Christmas dinner at Manly Golf Club.
Left to right - Tony Hall (Northampton Circle 35) and his wife Margaret, Manly Secretary Terry Hayes (in Christmas attire!), and Tony Stevens (Wolverhampton Circle 56) and his wife Tessa
City of Sydney:
It took a combined meeting with the City of Sydney 263 and City of Parramatta 333 Circles to break Sydney's drought. Nine hardy brothers braved the elements to "go west young man" to Old Government House in Parramatta Park.
Those who attended were Bro Pres Frank Filocamo, Bro Vice Pres. Peter Gialouris, Brothers Brian Goodacre, Peter O'Reilly, Ron Daly, Tony Mazzei, Peter Tilbrook, Tony Stagnitta, Tom Boyce and Bob O'Mara.
The Parramatta President Michael Lilley opened the meeting with 21 brothers present including visits from Prov President Chris Vale (Hornsby), Brothers Brendan O'Connell (Hornsby & Harbourside North) Brendan Mulcahy (Shrewsbury UK).
Pittwater:
DUGOUT LUNCH 26TH FEBRUARY The next lunch at the Dugout is set down for Wednesday 26th February. This event is intended to reach out to those brothers who choose not to drive at night or who cannot get to regular night time meetings. If you would like to attend and need a lift please contact Peter Veney, Lionel Stacey, Tony Smith or Gavin Williamson.