The Catenian Association is an international body of proudly Catholic laymen and permanent deacons who meet at least once a month in local groups called Circles, to enjoy each other's company and thereby strengthen their family life through friendship, faith and fun! It is open to practising Catholic laymen from the age of 18 years. Many of the Circles’ activities involve the members’ wives and families.
Garstang Circle held a charity concert by Pilling Silver
Band at Garstang Country Hotel and Golf Club recently and raised £1335.00 for
MacMillan Cancer Support. The photograph
shows the Circle President Gerard Power presenting a cheque to the local
fundraising group in Preston to Dorothy Bonser, the treasurer of the group. Standing
on the right and watching is Jill Armer their fundraising coordinator.
The final of the competition for the winter of 2022-23 was eventually held in September 2023 at Moor Park. The finalists, who didn't have far to travel, were Preston 14 and Preston South. The trophy is now allegedly in the hands of Preston South, it was nowhere to be seen at their first meeting following their success. The trophy was presented by Provincial Secretary Mike Grayston and observed by Provincial Membership Officer Robert Thompson (behind the camera).
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| L to r Prov Sec Mike Grayston, President Steve Edwards, Chris Hill, Peter Gildert (captain), Richard Yates, Joe Flood. |
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| L to r Mike Grayston, Chris Webb, Tom McAuley,Paul Garstang, Francis Wilding, Andrew Shore. |
PGP Tony Godden, PGP Mike O'Malley, GBNP Mark Conroy, PGP David Rowley
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.
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.
On Sunday July 23rd 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.
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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.
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 .
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
Burnley Circle held their first family bowls day for five years.
On 11th June Chorley Circle President Bill Critchley celebrated his President’s Sunday. The day started with Holy Mass at St. Gregory’s Church, Weldbank, Chorley, followed by lunch in a marquee in the Parish gardens. The event was attended by 42 ladies, brothers, relatives and friends, including Canon Peter Stanley, Fr. Graeme Dunne, and Monsignor Michael McKenna who, on 8th June, had celebrated the Diamond Anniversary (60 years) of his ordination. The day was a great success, enjoyed by all, as can be seen from the following photographs.
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| The conference top table. Bros Andrew Sowerby, GBVNP, David Baldam, Secretary, Mark Conroy, GBNP, Roger Lillie, Imm Past GBNP, Denver Dias, Treasurer | |
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| Burnley Circle relaxing in the hotel bar. |
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| Further evidence! |
These photographs were taken by Bro. Paul Abbott, the official Association photographer. Paul also took the group photo of most of province standing at the entrance to the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria Hotel shown on the first set of conference photos.
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| The moment of the transfer of power. |
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| Well done! |
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| Province 10 at the Conference reception |
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| Lytham St Annes Circle at the Conference reception |
The Phil Morris Darts & Dominoes annual competition took place again at BAE's Canberra Club, Salmesbury. Whilst the numbers were lower than in the past the evening was a great success. The hotpot and apple pie for £7 was a bonus.
Westmorland Circle celebrated its 40th anniversary on 30 May 2023 at the Stonecross Manor, Kendal and as part of the celebrations two 40-year scrolls were presented to two founder members, Paul Bates and John Kitchen. This was a lunch time event as the Circle now normally meet in the afternoon. To help the circle celebrate there were various Provincial Officers, including the Provincial President, Circle Presidents and other members from circles around Province.
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| Jose & Paul Bates, Director Terence Donnelly, John & Christine Kitchen |
The annual conference and AGM was held in Sheffield where Mark Conroy was installed as GB National President. The photo below, taken outside the entrance to the conference hotel, Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria, shows most of those from Province 10 that attended.
Mark & Maxine Conroy (centre) with Terry & Janet Hephrun (left) and Peter & Margaret Nuttall
A week after organising his successful Provincial weekend Bro. John Waddingham handed over the reins of Province to Bro. PGP Mike O'Malley. The event took place at Ferrari's Restaurant on Sunday 2 April and after the excellent meal the proceeding began.
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| 'Retiring' Provincial President Bro. John Waddingham |
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| Incoming Provincial President Bro. PGP Mike O'Malley |
Following the changeover of power, each incoming Circle President, or their representative, introducded themselves and their lady and gave a brief summary of their main events for the coming year. Below are two of the photos taken during this part of the evening.
Initially 65 rooms had been booked at Celtic Manor Hotel, Caernarfon but some had to cancel due to illness etc.
Those who did attend the event had a marvelous time. Some spent the Saturday traveling by narrow gauge steam train the 25 miles to Portmadoc and back through the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park on the first day of its operation in 2023. Others visited the nearby magnificent castle, drove onto Anglesey, went to Conwy [that's the Welsh spelling].
The Gala dinner was excellent and the dancing superb with just the right music for those assembled.
The Mass on the Sunday morning was celebrated by the local priest and was a really joyous occasion.
Also, two Chorley Brothers received scrolls and miniatures to mark their 40 years’ membership of the Association, all with Chorley Circle. Eddie Brierley should have received his in June 2022, but Covid struck, and Eddie decided to postpone his presentation to coincide with that of his good friend, Brother Bob Hodgson. In fact, Bob should have received his in January but he was out of the country, at his daughter’s wedding. Bob now lives in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, but remains a member of Chorley Circle, and made the journey specifically to receive the presentation. 34 Brothers and Ladies enjoyed dinner to celebrate the occasion. Bob (on the left) and Eddie (on the right) are photographed receiving their scrolls from Chorley President, Peter Hughes, and Director of Province 10 and Chorley Brother, Terence Donnelly, respectively.
