Eastern Link

October 2020

 


Eastern Link banner light blue 1000If you or your Circle is doing anything that might be of interest to other Circles, social activities, new ideas, keynote speakers coming up, helpful tips, or just of general interest,  please share that information and photos (if possible) through Eastern Link by emailing p21.newsletter@thecatenians.org.au

Without your stories Eastern Link doesn't exist.


Contents:


 "What if?" wins Truthful Jones Trophy for Parramatta Circle
IMG 20201008 214232 100Harbourside North Circle had the pleasure of hosting the Province 21 Truthful Jones Trophy on Thursday 8th October at it's Mosman Community Centre and Art Gallery venue. A strong field of six contestants attended to compete for the trophy.
 Virtual Trek for Timor 2020 - An Opportunity to join or sponsor Province 21 Secretary John Tweedie on his new Trek for Timor
john 100One evening in late July 2017 I stood before a gathering of people in Hatobuilico, a village high up on the slopes of Mt Ramelau in the hinterland of Timor Leste. I spoke to the gathering, of the friendship between our Blue Mountains community and the people of Hatobuilico.
Hornsby Circle 30th Anniversary Dinner
The Hornsby Circle (317) of The Catenian Association (which was inaugurated on the 5th Nov 1990) is honoured to extend this invitation to you to attend its 30th Anniversary meeting. There will be a (three-course) dinner at the same venue at the conclusion of the meeting. It will be a Ladies evening. Suggested dress – jacket and tie.
 20 years of Carlingford Coffees
20200922 104029 100A group of Carlingford Brothers get together every Tuesday morning at 10.00am at the Cucina de Luca cafe in the Carmen Drive Shopping Centre at Carlingford, just South of the M2 Motorway and West of the Oakes Road underpass of the M2. 
 Catenian Purpose (or Mission)
Catenian Purpose 09Jun2020 100Canon Law indicates this should be 'for purposes of charity or piety or for promotion of the Christian vocation in the world' (Can. 215). Association statutes should include a 'purpose or social objective' to that effect (Can. 304§1).
Parramatta Catenians Ladies' Night - Face to Face
Our first Ladies Night for the Pandemic Year! Come along to our next Dinner & Meeting with your beautiful women folk on Thursday 22nd October at St. Joseph's Retreat Centre, Baulkham Hills at 6:30pm. Guest speaker Patrice Moriarty will talk about Caritas and Social Justice issues in the Parramatta Diocese.
 St Johns College Chapel, The University of Sydney
st johns 100Continuing a series of pencil sketches from Graham Short, Province 21 Membership Officer and Harbourside North President. Gothic Revival, 1857, William Wilkinson Wardell Architect. The College of St. John the Evangelist was founded by Archbishop John Bede Polding, who named it after the author of the fourth Gospel.
 News from around the circles
fish 100News items gathered from Circle newsletters and Notices sent to Circle secretaries.

 One Pan Brunch Bake Recipe
brunch 100Packed with fresh veggies and smoky bacon, this hearty one-pan bake is perfect to rustle up for a weekend brunch with family and friends. It's gluten and dairy-free, and lightly spiced with a paprika, cumin and chilli, so everyone's sure to enjoy this easy breakfast recipe.
 Regular Circle Social gatherings
If your circle is doing any regular activities please email newsletter@thecatenians.org.au to be included in this list. Please contact the various Circle secretaries if you would like to visit any of the gatherings listed
 Prayers ...
hands 100Please remember in your prayers members of various Circles in Province 21 listed

"What if?" wins Truthful Jones Trophy for Parramatta Circle.


IMG 20201008 214232 500Harbourside North Circle had the pleasure of hosting the Province 21 Truthful Jones Trophy on Thursday 8th October at it's Mosman Community Centre and Art Gallery venue.

A strong field of six contestants attended to compete for the trophy.Talks ranged from financial shenanigans to lost love, and being promoted beyond one's competence.

The winner Peter Moriarty of Parramatta Circle won with a talk on "What if Pontius Pilate had acted on his acceptance of Jesus speaking the truth and found him not guilty and not washed his hands?"

Contestants pictured Left to Right -

John Boland, KuRingGai Circle, Victor Gauci, The Hills Circle, Peter Moriarty , Parramatta Circle, Chris Bradley, Harbourside North Circle, Chris Vale, Hornsby Circle and President Province 21 , Gavin Williamson, Pittwater Circle.

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Virtual Trek for Timor 2020 - An Opportunity to join or sponsor Province 21 Secretary John Tweedie on his new Trek for Timor


One evening in late July 2017 I stood before a gathering of people in Hatobuilico, a village high up on the slopes of Mt Ramelau in the hinterland of Timor Leste. I spoke to the gathering of the friendship between our Blue Mountains community and the people of Hatobuilico.

The gathering included many of the students and teachers from the local Catholic Senior Secondary School.

old school new 1000The Old Taurema school (pictured left) and the new Taurema school funded by Trek for Timor.

john 227wJohn Tweedie on his latest trek to TimorI was in Hatobuilico with a number of Australian friends including Graham Short, a fellow Catenian from Harbourside North Circle. Graham was on his second visit to Timor Leste with me.

I had travelled to Timor Leste many times since my first visit there in 2002, and had acquired sufficient of the local language Tetun to be making my short speech that evening in that language. I really felt I was part of the community that evening.

graham 250Graham Short with students from the Catholic Senior Secondary School in Hatobuilico at farewell night - July 2017I always felt so very welcomed in Hatobuilico. I sometimes visited there with friends from Australia (including my earlier trip with Graham in 2004 and a memorable walking trip for Blue Mountains residents in 2013. Other times I was there by myself - but I never felt alone.

As with many who have visited Timor Leste, a love for the country and its people started from my very first visit and only grew stronger over time. I was always seeking reasons to visit and when I joined the local Blue Mountains support group I had the opportunity to visit on a number of occasions (at my own expense of course).

Whilst I had been involved with some personal projects, such as assisting the English teachers at the Senior Secondary School in their day to day teaching, the focus of my recent visits to Hatobuilico had been the projects supported by the Blue Mountains community, particularly through the fundraising from Trek for Timor. One of those projects was to provide significant material support to the Senior Secondary School, for example through payment of salaries for many of the teachers.

timor1 400Opening of new buildings at Senior Secondary School January 2017Trek for Timor funds were instrumental in getting this school up and running and in making its ongoing existence viable. From very rudimentary beginnings less than 10 years ago, it is now strong and expanding.

There have been, and continue to be, many other projects in Hatobuilico supported by the Blue Mountains community. These include a new primary school at the nearby village of Taurema; support for a preschool; support for women's business ventures and, with generous assistance from Blue Mountains City Council, support for university scholarships for local students.

If you would like more information on how the funds from the 2018 Trek for Timor have been used please follow this link: http://trekfortimorbm.org.au/projects-in-east-timor/plans-for-funds-from-the-2018-trek/ .

I recall that July evening in 2017 as a very joyful one, with much singing and dancing in typical Timor style. But for me it was tinged with sadness. As I spoke to the group, I wondered whether I would be able to return.

I had for some years been aware that I was prone to develop a type of blood cancer – multiple myeloma. I had a condition described as "smouldering myeloma". While I was in Timor that July, word came through that I needed to see my haematologist urgently. Recent blood tests showed my smouldering myeloma had developed into a conflagration.

As you can imagine, even though I was already prepared for the possibility, when the news came it was devastating. I am so very thankful that I had Graham with me. We had been friends since I first joined the Catenians 20 years ago, and for the few days before I returned to Australia I really needed his friendship.

antonio 250With Timorese friend Antonio on the 2013 Blue Mtns walking trip to Timor. Antonio has been an important link between the Hatobuilico and Blue Mtns communities. Three years on after much chemotherapy and double stem cell transplants, I am in complete remission from the cancer and feeling very fit. So what to do with that fitness!

I have been involved to a greater or lesser extent with every Trek for Timor since the first was held in 2010 - either as a volunteer or as a trekker.  Whilst my life had very much been turned upside down by my tumultuous personal events over the past few years, I knew that the Trek for Timor is held every second year and that 2020 would be a Trek year. I wondered whether I would be able to participate again, and help raise funds for the ongoing needs of the projects in Hatobuilico.

The Trek itself was also affected this year by tumultuous events of its own. With bush fires, track washaways due to storms and finally the pandemic, it looked like the Trek would go the way of the Olympic Games and have to be delayed by a year. But the needs of our friends in Timor and the projects we have been supporting would not then be met this year. What to do?

When the decision was made by the Trek committee to hold a "virtual Trek for Timor" in October, I immediately wanted to be a part of it. The virtual Trek would take the participants on a "virtual" 100km journey from Dili up to Hatobuilico and Mount Ramelau.

I decided to challenge myself by mirroring this virtual journey with a real 150km trek over a number of days from the Sydney suburb of Chatswood all the way up to my Blue Mountains home in Blackheath.  My Trek will start on 17 October and friends and family have offered to join me on all or part of the journey.

I'm hoping that sponsors will now get behind me and help make this year's Trek for Timor as successful as the past Treks. If you would like to sponsor me just follow the link to the virtual Trek for Timor webpage at https://trekfortimorbm.org.au/virtual-trek/ .

With fellow hikers Susan and Lesley on 2013 walking trip in front of the statue of Our Lady of Ramelau on the top of Mt Ramelau - at 2,983 metres the highest peak in Timor Leste. Hatobuilico is on the slopes of Mt Ramelau.

TREK DETAILS

If you would like to join John on the trek or any day thereof please contact him on 0407 288 957‬ to arrange the meeting details.

John and the team will average over 20 km each day.

John training copyOn a training walk for the Trek – Queen Victoria lookout Wentworth Falls 5 October 2020Day 1: Saturday 17 October - Chatswood to Baulkham Hills via Lanecove National Park, Beecroft and Darling Mills Creek walking tracks.

Day 2: Sunday 18 October – Baulkham Hills to St Marys via Toongabbie Creek walking tracks, Seven Hills, International Peace Park, Blacktown, Doonside, Western Sydney Parklands, Plumpton, Whalan Reserve.

Day 3: Monday 19 October – St Marys to Blaxland via Great Western Highway, Penrith, Nepean River walking bridge, Emu Plains, Knapsack Reserve and Viaduct, Lapstone Zig Zag, Darks Common, Glenbrook Gorge, Glenbrook, Glenbrook Lagoon.

Day 4: Tuesday 20 October – Blaxland to Faulconbridge via Cripple Ck reserve, and trail, Long Angle Valley, Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Creek.

Day 5: Wednesday 21 October – Faulconbridge to Wentworth Falls via Sir Henry Parkes Grave, Linden, Paradise Pool, Edith and Hazel Falls, Hazelbrook, Lawson, Bullaburra, Blue Mountains Creek.

Day 6: Saturday 24 October – Wentworth Falls to Blackheath via Valley of the Waters track, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Katoomba, The Gully, Medlow Bath.

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Hornsby Circle 30th Anniversary Dinner


The Hornsby Circle (317) of The Catenian Association (which was inaugurated on the 5th Nov 1990) is honoured to extend this invitation to you to attend its 30th Anniversary meeting.

There will be a (three-course) dinner at the same venue at the conclusion of the meeting. It will be a Ladies evening. Suggested dress – jacket and tie.

The Circle has decided to celebrate with a combined 30th Anniversary and Christmas function.

Any Covid restrictions will be applied according to advice at the time.

Date: Thursday, 3rd December 2020
Time: 7.00pm for 7:30pm
Dinner: 7:30pm to 9.45pm -10.00pm
Venue: The Warrawee Club (formerly described as the Warrawee Bowling Club)
1479 Pacific Hwy, Warrawee NSW 2074 [enter from Pacific Hwy – heading towards Turramurra]
Co$t: Only $60 per person (incl of GST), includes table wines (red & white), orange juice and water + coffee (tea on request)

RSVP: Monday 23rd November 2020
Catering Officer: Greg McNally gmcnally46@optusnet.com.au
Payment by direct debit to: Catenian Association Hornsby Circle
BSB: 062 784 Account number: 264 882 00

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20 years of Carlingford Coffees


20200922 104029 1000(Left to Right) John Vassett, John O'Grady (side profile), Warren Clarke, Laurie Burns, Tony Vaz, Noel White and Bill Carpenter (in cap).

A group of Carlingford Brothers get together every Tuesday morning at 10.00am at the Cucina de Luca cafe in the Carmen Drive Shopping Centre at Carlingford, just South of the M2 Motorway and West of the Oakes Road underpass of the M2.

The practice started some 20 years ago to allow sick Brothers who were unable to come along to evening dinner meetings to have a get-together with some of their Brothers for an hour or so over a cup of coffee.

It is now a weekly get-together for any Brothers who care to attend.

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Catenian Purpose (or Mission)


Article 2 in a Series by Phil Murray, Canberra Circle

As outlined in August's Eastern Link, Vatican II stressed that lay associations should contribute to 'the Church's mission to the world' (Apostolicam Actuositatem (AA), 1965, n19).

Canon Law indicates this should be 'for purposes of charity or piety or for promotion of the Christian vocation in the world' (Can. 215). Association statutes should include a 'purpose or social objective' to that effect (Can. 304§1).

While our Association has not articulated a central Purpose, its official documents identify two possibilities:

The internal support it offers members in living out their faith in the world.

The external support it offers the clergy, young Catholics and charities.

Which one is our ultimate Purpose?

Documentary Evidence
In examining our official documents, I separated our activities from their end results including those reported by members on websites. I put these into diagrammatic form using the design of our logo.

Catenian Purpose 09Jun2020 600

The central elements summarise the activities that bring us together regularly, leading to faith-based friendships. Through these friendships, we become role models to each other, learning from each other and becoming 'better' in living out our faith in various facets of our lives.

This suggests that the Association's internal support to members is its ultimate Purpose. The external support (charity), though important, is only one part of our practical method of faith formation, helping our members improve their personal commitment to people in need.

This seems obvious. The impact of our external support must always be small compared with that of members living out their faith in their lives more fully, day after day. This is why Vatican II:

Regarded the 'individual apostolate' as 'the starting point and condition of all types of lay apostolate, including the organised apostolate; nothing can replace it…' (AA, 1965, n16); and

Strongly preferred lay associations 'which favour and promote a more intimate unity between the faith of the members and their everyday life' (AA, 1965, n19).

Historical Evidence
This perspective has been evident from the Association's early days:

In 1912, the founder, John O'Donnell, wrote: '…one who lives up to the true spirit of our Brotherhood must naturally become a better son of the Church and a better citizen' (Hagerty, 2007, p26).

O'Donnell thought the Association should be 'a haven where men might find mutual support in social intercourse, a haven from which they might go refreshed to become: better fathers and husbands…better Catholics and citizens' (Lane, 1982, pp164-165).

In the 1930s, Bishop Burton of Clifton noted: 'In their socialising…they learned from one another, each providing the example for the other and providing by that example the support many needed to carry their Catholic principles into practice in their daily lives…so that its value was limitless' (Lane, 1982, p141).

'The Catenian contribution to the life of Church and country has tended to be through individuals rather than through the Association' (Hagerty, 2007, p180).

This enduring feature, emanating from our charism of faith-based friendship, bears the hallmark of the Holy Spirit.

Emergent Purpose
We can express this Purpose as follows:

To strengthen the lived faith of lay Catholics in the world, through faith-based friendship.

Implications
Without a Purpose or Mission, Circles and members may be tempted to adopt good, but lesser, activities that result in mediocre contributions to the Church's mission. Indeed, the Church repeatedly warns associations to avoid 'dissipation of their energies' (Cann. 321§2, 325§1 & 328).
A central Purpose or Mission becomes our highest priority, demanding that we assess whether current arrangements support it adequately.

To assist with this, in subsequent issues I will test whether our Membership Eligibility, Member Services and Governance remain appropriate.

Phil Murray BA (Econ), MA (Theol Stud)
Phil is Membership Officer, Canberra Circle 331 and author of 'Friends for Life: Catenians in the 21st Century', 2018. His career included 10 years as a senior manager in the Church's national peak body that supports its social welfare services throughout Australia.

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Parramatta Catenians Ladies' Night - Face to Face


Our first Ladies Night for the Pandemic Year!

Come along to our next Dinner & Meeting with your beautiful women folk on Thursday 22nd October at St. Joseph's Retreat Centre, Baulkham Hills at 6:30pm.

Join us for a Ladies' night where our guest speaker Patrice Moriarty will talk about Caritas and Social Justice issues in the Parramatta Diocese.

Cost $40 per person all inclusive.

The night begins at 6:30pm for commencement of dinner at 7pm followed by the meeting at 8pm followed by our Guest Speaker, Patrice Moriarty (daughter of Brother Peter Moriarty) who will be speaking on the work of Caritas.

Brothers from other Circles who may wish to attend with their Ladies (or not) are most welcome. Cost $40 per head which includes meal, wine and soft drink. 

Please RSVP to Brother Mel Waters  (Email: melwaters702@gmail.com , Mobile: 0433 887 645), City of Parramatta Catering Officer by this Friday 16th October as our venue does require numbers well in advance.

Any special dietary requirements such as vegan or gluten-free should also be made known to Brother Mel at the time of RSVP.

October 22nd, 2020, 6:30pm for 7 Dinner
St Joseph's Centre 33 Barina Downs Road, Baulkham Hills NSW
RSVP to Mel Waters, Treasurer by Friday 16th October
Email: melwaters702@gmail.com
Mobile: 0433 887 645
Circle 333 account details for EFT payments:
BSB 067 950
Account Number: 0000 2608

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St Johns College Chapel, The University of Sydney


Continuing a series of regular contributions from Graham Short, Province 21 Membership Officer and Harbourside North President

st johns 600Gothic Revival, 1857, William Wilkinson Wardell Architect

The College of St. John the Evangelist was founded by Archbishop John Bede Polding, who named it after the author of the fourth Gospel.

The symbol of St John's College is the eagle, the traditional symbol of St. John. St. John's is the oldest Catholic tertiary educational institution in Australia, and the first Catholic college to be established in a preexisting, non-Catholic university in the English-speaking world since the Reformation.

In 1854, the first effort to establish a Catholic college within the University of Sydney was made at a meeting in old St Mary's Cathedral.

The New South Wales government promised a pound-for-pound subsidy capped at a £20,000 limit, if at least £10,000 were raised by public subscription. The amount was met within six months from July 1857.

On 15 December 1857, the act to incorporate St John's College as a college within the University of Sydney passed in the Parliament of New South Wales, and received the Royal Assent from Queen Victoria. The proclamation of the St John's College Council took place on 1 July 1858.[1]

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News from around the Circles


Cairns:

fish 300As seen in the Cairns Post, Matthew Parrish and his son Harvey had a great time at the recent Big Boys Toys Expo at Barlow Park in Cairns.

Blimey Matt!!!

Couldn't you catch a bigger fish than that!!!!

Anyone fancy Fish and Chips, hahahaha

Parramatta:

Parramatta Catenians Ladies' Night

Our first Ladies Night for the Pandemic Year!

Come along to our next Dinner & Meeting with your beautiful women folk on Thursday 22nd October at St. Joseph's Retreat Centre, Baulkham Hills at 6:30pm.

Join us for a Ladies' night where our guest speaker Patrice Moriarty will talk about Caritas and Social Justice issues in the Parramatta Diocese.

Cost $40 per person all inclusive.

The night begins at 6:30pm for commencement of dinner at 7pm followed by the meeting at 8pm followed by our Guest Speaker, Patrice Moriarty (daughter of Brother Peter Moriarty) who will be speaking on the work of Caritas.

Brothers from other Circles who may wish to attend with their Ladies (or not) are most welcome. Cost $40 per head which includes meal, wine and soft drink. 

Please RSVP to Brother Mel Waters  (Email: melwaters702@gmail.com , Mobile: 0433 887 645), City of Parramatta Catering Officer by this Friday 16th October as our venue does require numbers well in advance.

Any special dietary requirements such as vegan or gluten-free should also be made known to Brother Mel at the time of RSVP.

October 22nd, 2020, 6:30pm for 7 Dinner
St Joseph's Centre 33 Barina Downs Road, Baulkham Hills NSW
RSVP to Mel Waters, Treasurer by Friday 16th October
Email: melwaters702@gmail.com
Mobile: 0433 887 645
Circle 333 account details for EFT payments:
BSB 067 950
Account Number: 0000 2608

City of Sydney:

cup 300In November our meeting will be a first, in that we have organised a lunch time event on Tuesday 3rd November at 12 midday.

It is the Melbourne Cup on that day and we are inviting all the wives and brothers from other Circles to join us for this historic occasion.

Please mark it in your calendar now.

The Wine and Cheese night on the 18th Sep. went according to plan. The three wines and the cheeses arrived from Tom Mazzei with some help with the deliveries from his Dad – Tony. For a very first, the night turned out excellently with the fine wines matched to the delicious cheeses. Tom is very knowledgeable on wines and gave us many tips about the wines and the tastings. We had a gathering of 6 people, Elaine and Ron Daly and our two neighbours in our apartments. We all enjoyed the zoom experience and continued with a meal and finished the wines. Thanks to Bro. President Peter for showing the initiative to organise such an event in these Covid times and to Tom Mazzei for his valued input.

Zoom has been a godsend in this period of isolation to the Catenians, business, family and communications.

We had not even heard of it in January but now the program and other similar ones dominate our "keeping in touch".

In our Association it has allowed our brothers from all continents to attend meetings that normally are so distant as to preclude our presence. The UK brothers have to start their computers in the early mornings to attend our Australian meetings. It has also allowed our brothers from Inia to take part in our ceremonies. We had one face/face meeting at the Occidental where we had the computer logged in to the internet and bothers from UK and India could partake in the event.

The wonders of modern communication!

Ku-Ring-Gai:

peterPlease note the next meeting will be held on Monday October 12th. Again it will be a virtual meeting via Zoom, commencing at 7.30pm.

We are delighted to have Peter McNamara (pictured opposite), State President of St Vincent de Paul as our guest speaker.

Please advise Brother Catering Officer if you would like to attend virtually so that he can send the Zoom link. Brother Andrew's phone number is 0419 812 112 or email at asim@simtecit.com.

With the lessening of Covid restrictions, the St Ives Club restaurant is due to open again soon. We are hopeful of being able to return to a physical meeting in November, but that is subject to confirmation.

September Circle Meeting on Zoom
randazzo 250We had 26 Ku-ring-gai Brothers, 8 wives and two visiting Brothers who attended our September Zoom Circle meeting on Tuesday, September 15th to hear our special guest Bishop Anthony Randazzo give an enlightening and passionate address and respond to audience questions. We were also delighted to welcome our visitors, ANC President George Kazs (Canberra Circle) and Peter Gialouris (President, City of Sydney Circle).

After relating a short history of his life's journey to his current appointment as Bishop of Broken Bay, Bishop Anthony followed with his thoughts on several challenges relating to faith and the church in today's world, including the impact of the coronavirus, sexual abuse by members of the clergy, falling attendance at Mass and the lack of priests. Whilst not shying away from any of these challenges, Bishop Anthony focused on opportunities created by each of these situations to work towards a healthier church in the Diocese of Broken Bay, challenging each of us to be part of that mission.

Whilst Bishop Anthony insisted that he was happy to speak to us for free, the Circle made a $500 donation to the Diocese's Charitable Works Fund. We are also happy to report that Bishop Anthony looks forward to a time in the near future where he can join us at a physical meeting and enjoy a meal together.

The Hills:

Br President immediately following the close of the September meeting welcomed Br Eugene Das , President AC31 India and member of Central Council from Andheri & C of P/matta Circles , to give a PowerPoint presentation on the status of The Catenians in India. This was viewed by those present at the centre & brothers on Zoom.

Br Eugene detailed
..the history of the Association in India, since 2009 has expanded to 15 Circles with 350 plus brothers.
.. He went on to highlight relevance of 1st Indian national conference 2018.
..Detailed their growth plans, goal is for 20 circles with 600 brothers by 2023
.. highlighted their strengths & flexible approach
.. detailed their charitable works e.g., relief work during COVID 19
..Developing relationships with Australia – purpose & benefit
.. Highlighted the benefits of been an International Association, especially through Friendship & Benevolence.

He concluded with a challenge

"How can the Catenians in India/Australia join hands in working together to build the Association in the Asia/Pacific region"

Carlingford:

At our October meeting there will be discussions on whether we can resume face-to-face meetings, possibly in November.

This will depend on a relaxation of the Government venue booking limits at clubs and restaurants.

Many of you will also have received an email from the Carlingford Sports  and Recreation Club advising that "the club now has total control of all  catering duties" – this presumably means they have had a change of caterers, again!- and that, after a brief closure, its bistro will re-open on 9th October with a limited menu for lunch and dinner. It thus appears that our arrangements with the club will need to be re-visited.
Notes on what some other Sydney Circles are doing are included at the end of this Newsletter.

8 Brothers and 3 guests will compete in our annual Golf Day at Sefton Golf Course on Sunday, 11th October. The weather forecast is promising. A BBQ lunch will follow.

The 10.00am Tuesday morning get-together at Cucina de Luca, the Carmen Drive, Carlingford café and coffee shop retains its popularity as a means of keeping in touch.

  • The September minutes of The Hills Circle record that they had 9 Brothers attend face-to-face, plus 3 local Brothers and 4 International Brothers on Zoom at their September meeting. The minutes also noted that they were awaiting a response from the City of Parramatta to their proposal for the 2 Circles to hold joint meetings at St Joseph's Centre, Baulkham Hills.
  • The invitation from Hornsby Circle to attend their 30th Anniversary Dinner at the Warrawee Club on Thursday night 3rd December 2020 has been circulated to all Brothers. $60 per head. Ladies night. Jacket and tie. RSVP and payment due by 23rd November. Details on invitation circulated.
  • The Ku-Ring-Gai Circle hopes to resume face-to-face meetings at the St Ives Club (formerly the St Ives Bowling Club) in November, subject to confirmation.
  • The City of Sydney will welcome face-to-face visitors at its meetings at The Occidental Hotel, opposite Wynyard Station, as they need 17 attendees to open the hotel restaurant.

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One Pan Brunch Bake Recipe


Packed with fresh veggies and smoky bacon, this hearty one-pan bake is perfect to rustle up for a weekend brunch with family and friends.

It's gluten and dairy-free, and lightly spiced with a paprika, cumin and chilli, so everyone's sure to enjoy this easy breakfast recipe.

brunch 400Ingredients:

  • 4 sweet potatoes, washed and diced
  • 2 yellow peppers, sliced
  • 1 red onion, cut into wedges
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp chilli powder
  • 230g pack sweet vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered
  • 4 rashers smoked back bacon, fat removed, roughly chopped
  • 50g baby spinach
  • 4 eggs
  • fresh coriander, finely chopped, to serve
  • 1 avocado, sliced, to serve (optional)
  • sriracha chilli sauce, to serve (optional)

Method…

  1. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Put the sweet potato, peppers and onion in a large non-stick roasting tin. Drizzle with the oil, scatter over the spices and toss to coat; season. Bake for 15 mins, then add the tomatoes and bacon; bake for a further 15 mins.
  2. Stir through the spinach, then make 4 gaps and crack an egg into each. Return to the oven and bake for 4-5 mins or until the spinach is wilted and the egg white is set but the yolks are still runny. Scatter over the coriander and spoon onto plates. Serve with the avocado and chilli sauce, if using.

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Regular Circle Social gatherings


If your circle is doing any regular activities please email newsletter@thecatenians.org.au to be included in this list.

Please contact the various Circle secretaries if you would like to visit any of the gatherings listed -

Carlingford:

10:00am Tuesday mornings get-together at the Cucina de Luca, the Carmen Drive, Carlingford, café and coffee shop, using the footpath seating to uphold social distancing.

Manly:

Walks along Manly Beach continue every Tuesday amd Thursday at 7:15am, starting from Queenscliff Surf Club to Shelley Beach and return.

Virtual Trivia, every second Tuesday via Zoom.

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Prayers are requested for …


ron 300Ron Burke 07.1932 – 02.09.2020Ku-Ring-Gai:

Sadly we have to report the recent loss of three Ku-Ring-Gai brothers.

I have very sad news to pass on this morning. I was just advised that Br John Huggett passed away yesterday.
I'm sure this will come as a shock to you all, as it did to me, as we were unaware that John was ill. Apparently he went into hospital recently for an operation, appeared to come out of it ok, but then some days later there were complications from which he did not survive.
I will advise of funeral arrangements once I know what they are.
Please pray for John's soul and keep his wife Libby and family in your prayers at this difficult and sad time.

It is with great sadness that I advise of the death of Br Dan Gibbons. Br Dan passed away on Thursday October 1st.

 

Ron Burke

07.1932 – 02.09.2020

On September 2nd we lost Br Ron Burke at the age of 88.
Until relatively recently, he and Barbara were regular attendees at our meetings. We remember him as gregarious, full of fun and a willing contributor to Circle discussions. He will be greatly missed by the Circle.
Our sympathies and prayers are for his wife Barbara and their extended family.

May they rest in peace.

Cairns:

Please Lord Bless all our City of Cairns Circle Brothers and their loved ones, especially Brother Lui and Pam's little grandson Odin & Brother Tony McInnes Mum Marie Jose who is very unwell at the moment.

Brother Peter Duggan's wife Alma who is recovering from an operation.

Brother Mark Cavicchiolo's mum RIP who recently passed away, and Brother Stephen Devenish's family after Stephen losing his mum Carmel RIP, and for Fr Neil and his family after losing his mum Elizabeth RIP.

Brother Mark Freeman's mum Judy RIP who recently passed away.

City of Sydney:

Bro. Ian Milne is back at home with Gabrielle and is slowly recovering. He had an operation on the 3rd September when they inserted a shunt on the other side. They removed the staples on the 10th Sep. He is now doing exercises especially with the shoulders and some walking. Ian our thoughts and prayers are with you as you "go through the mill" with the medical profession.

Ku-Ring-Gai:

Our members, family and friends who are sick and in need of our prayers

Brothers Greg Scahill, John Szymanski, Jack Garcia, Dan Gibbons and Steve Swain.

Family members Marie Gibbons, Mariles Garcia, Barbara Burke, David Gardener, Gayle and Suzie Meagher, Rebecca Davies, Madeleine Szymanski and daughter Kate McRea, Margaret Marshall and Karen Tighe.

The Hills:

For the sick, Br Milan & Mary Bohman, Paul Roberts – parents & B.I.L. & global victims of COVID 19.

Carlingford:

The Kenny family have expressed their appreciation of Catenian prayers on behalf of Patrick Wheeler, Barbara Kenny's grandson, who has had some encouraging news of late. After a new type of treatment, no new tumours have developed and his existing tumours have shrunk. Let us pray that his improvement continues.

Bro Don Mees is in respite care at St Anne's Aged Services, Balaclava Road, Marsfield until 21st October. Visitors are welcome there only if they are "booked in" by Don's family and can verify that they have had the flu shot this year. Please ring Don's daughter Helen on 0419 786 730 and she will make the necessary booking if you are able to visit Don.

Bro Lindsay Gazzard has recovered well after his right knee replacement and will have his left knee replaced on 21st October at the SAN Hospital. We wish him all the best.

Judy Clarke is also recovering well after her knee replacement and should have now completed her physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Please also remember in your prayers Bros. Stan Burgin, Laurie Burns and Bill Carpenter together with Jan Burgin, Patrick Wheeler (grandson of Barbara Kenny), Timothy Carpenter, and Christopher Carter.

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