PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT PGP MIKE O'MALLEY AT 50

The presentation of a scroll to acknowledge Mike's fifty years in the Association was done in an unconventional way recently.  Normally the National President would talk about the recipient before handing over the scroll but in the case of Past Grand President (PGP) Mike O’Malley of Lytham St Annes (LSA) Circle the accolades were given by his two fellow PGPs Tony Godden and David Rowley also of LSA Circle prior to the presentation.  Mike, a Yorkshire man, joined Oldham Circle whilst a practising GP and took on various roles at a local and provincial level before being elected to the Grand Council and ultimately became Grand President in 2006.  In his retirement he and Anne-Marie moved to St Joseph’s parish, Lytham where he again has taken on various roles and is currently Provincial President, Province 10.  Mike’s life has been one of service to the Church, to Medicine and the Catenian Association combined with love and support for his family.

 

PGP Tony Godden, PGP Mike O'Malley, GBNP Mark Conroy, PGP David Rowley

TOP DOG FIGHT

The two principal officers of Province 10, Provincial President PGP Mike O’Malley and Director Terence Donnelly, staged a verbal re-enactment of the War of the Roses at Huddersfield Circle’s Yorkshire Neet.  With much information being given to fill an encyclopaedia with Freddie this and Freddie that (Flintoff and Trueman), castles here and mills there, inventors on both sides of the Pennines, it was difficult to say who won.  I can say however that despite the rivalry everyone had a most enjoyable evening.

 

Brother Deacon David

The latest Brother of Lytham St Annes Circle to become a Deacon is Bro. David Pope.  The Circle presented him with a two-sided stole, green and white, to celebrate the event.  As you will see from the foot of the stole it has been embroidered with the Catenian logo. 

 

Special Celebrations for Preston 14 Circle

On Sunday July 23^rd the members of Preston 14 Circle with their families and friends celebrated two special occasions and both took place at St. Clare’s Fulwood.

The Circle President, Barry Clayton and his wife Louise, arranged to have his President’s Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr Talbutt at 11.00 a.m.

After the Mass and presentation everybody enjoyed lunch at Ferrari’s Restaurant in Longridge.

At the Mass there was a presentation to a former altar server of St. Clare’s, Isaac, son of Louisa and Michael Swift, of a Bursary Award from the Catenian Association. Michael was the immediate past President of the Preston Circle.

The presentation of the award was performed by the Trustee/Secretary of the Fund, Terence Donnelly, who is also a member of the Preston 14 Circle.

Isaac had applied for an award from the Fund to help his individual project in taking part in a challenging and cultural project between Stonyhurst College and St. Ignatius’ college in Sydney, Australia for a nine month period. This will involve teaching in the Junior school on a full-time basis both in the academic and sporting activities offered by the college in Sydney.

The Catenian Bursary Fund receives its donations from money raised by the members of the Association and it supports young Catholics between the ages of 16 and 25 who wish to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes or who wish to help others, like Isaac, to make a difference in our world.

Terence suggested to Isaac that with the help of his supportive parents and the Bursary Fund he was being given the opportunity to go where he wouldn’t normally be able to go and to do what he wouldn’t normally do and in that way he would find out what he was truly capable of doing. Everyone in church gave their best wishes to Isaac as he set out to carpe diem (seize the day) or in the words from Stonyhurst Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

 

LSA CIRCLE RAFFLE

No we did not raffle off Carlos and Emma Bonixo's three boys.  They are pictured getting ready to help sell tickets having receiving instructions from PGP Mike. The second photo shows them drawing the winning tickets at the Circle's PRESIDENT'S SUNDAY AND LADIES DAY.  This was the first time that children had been invited to attend and it will now become a regular feature following the same format as our very successful Family Christmas Lunches. 

LSA CHARITY PRESENTATION

One of the charities supported by the Circle for the year 2022/23 was LET THE CHILDREN LIVE!.  This was PGP Mike O'Malley's charity (we had two Presidents that year).  It was also the charity of PGP Tony Godden in his role in leading St Annes Rotary during the same period.  Unfortunately Tony couldn't be there that evening

The charity was set up to help the homeless and uncared for children living on the streets of a town in Colombia.  The photo shows Pauline Allan from the charity receiving a cheque for £1,000 from Mike .

 

PROVINCIAL BOWLS FINALS 2023

The Province held its annual Crown Green Bowls finals day at St Michael’s on Wyre Bowling Club with GB National President Mark and Maxine Conroy in attendance.  Mark was playing for his Circle Burnley.  Four circles had battled through earlier rounds to make to the semi finals.  Accrington played local rivals Burnley and Preston 14 played their local rivals Garstang.  Accrington and Preston made in to the final with Preston 14 running out the eventually winners. Just as the last bowl was sent down the heavens opened so the trophy had to be presented in the pub by Provincial President Mike O’ Malley to Team Captain Paul Garstang. A damp Provincial group enjoyed a good meal organised by Lawrence and Barbara Turner of Garstang Circle. A good time was had by all.

Team members pictured. Paul Garstang (seated), Francis Wilding, Jim McNeilly, Andrew Shore, Tom McAuley