18th Eastern Link - Province 20 Catenians of Western Australia

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EASTERN LINK The Catenian Association Strengthening family life through friendship and faith PROVINCE 21 From. . . Brother Robert Butler GRAND VICE-PRESIDENT The Catenian Association Kathy and I are very much looking forward to our first visit to Australia next year. In the meantime, there is much to be done to move our Association forward, and I am hoping for a considerable input from you all before September. The Rules Group of Grand Council were asked to review our Rules and Regulations, which we have done, but we also considered the conduct of meetings, admissions process, dress code, small Circles, and the status of Groups. In tackling these, we bore in mind several quite separate key points, and constantly referred back to them; 1. The world and the Church will move on, with or without the Catenian Association. 2. We must not become a curiosity, a dying relic of past times, irrelevant in the modern world. 3. There is an irreducible minimum standard below which we cease to be the Catenian Association and become just a Lads’ Night Out. 4. We must keep our identity, which marks us out as the Catenian Association. On the Catenian website under Downloading Information, you will see ‘Moving On’, which contains our discussion papers. We looked at who we are, what we do, and how we do it. The emphasis has moved from Grand Council to members and Circles. Our Circles will have more freedom to choose how they admit members, how they run their meetings, what they wear, and what insignia they use. In discussions with Kevin Doherty and others from Australia, I am encouraged by the way you look beyond the obvious, and see the potential of our Association for contributing to the future strength of the Church. In the England of 1908 the Church was strong and confident. We were a minority, but we were united in our unshakeable faith. In 2013 the Church is marginalised, Mass attendances are falling, and the clergy do not have the aura of invincibility of previous years. The Catenian Association stands out as a potentially powerful body which can have an important role, as long as we are willing to engage with fellow Catholics. Instead of rejecting men whom we consider to be unworthy, we could try to encourage those who are clinging to their faith and offer support and friendship. As my daughter tells me, “You only look down on someone when you are offering your hand to help him up”. In Australia you do not have the weight of a century of Catenianism. Your oldest Circle dates from 1971, and many are of quite recent origin. Your nation looks to the future, and I am hoping that you will contribute to moving our Association into this century. You have much to offer. JUNE Page 10 2013
EASTERN LINK The Catenian Association Strengthening family life through friendship and faith PROVINCE 21 NEWS FROM PROVINCIAL COUNCIL PROVINCE 21 AUSTRALIA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL Provincial President: John Tweedie Provincial Vice-President: Michael Tan Provincial Past President: Paul Despoges Provincial Secretary George Kazs Provincial Treasurer: Paul Day Provincial Chamberlain Robin Wells Provincial Membership Officer: Paul Despoges Provincial Publicity Officer: Peter Cash Provincial Record Officer: Pat Moran Province Director: Kevin Doherty PROVINCIAL COUNCIL REPORT Provincial Council Meeting No 104 held at the offices of APICS – 111 Phillip Street Parramatta on Monday 29 April 2013. Summary of outcomes Note that a separate report has already been published on the outcomes of the consideration of the strategic plan. Bro President installed Bro Warren Clarke as Provincial Councillor (Parramatta). He noted that because of their absences, Brothers John O’Grady (Carlingford), Russel Cooper (Canberra Molonglo) and Kevin Devine (Gold Coast Tweed) would need to be installed at a subsequent meeting. Following a Council resolution on certain appointments, Bro Paul Despoges then installed Bro John Tweedie as President of Provincial Council and in turn Bro John Tweedie installed Bro Michael Tan as Vice President, Bro Paul Day as Treasurer, Bro Paul Despoges as Membership Officer and Bro Robin Wells as Chamberlain. Bro John Tweedie presented miniatures to Bro Paul Despoges (bar), Bro Peter Gialouris (Treasurer), Bro Peter Moriarty (Councillor, Parramatta); he would ensure Bro Laurie de Ambrosis received his miniature (Councillor, Manly) at a suitable occasion. Bro Peter Cash (Provincial Publicity Officer) had already been presented with his miniature at the recent workshop. Bro John Tweedie paid tribute to Bro Paul Despoges for his term as president, Bro Peter Gialouris as treasurer and to the retiring members of Council (Rob Haddad (Carlingford), Peter Moriarty (Parramatta), Laurie de Ambrosis (Manly) and Ray Finnegan (Canberra Molonglo)). He advised Council that the updated membership of Council’s committees for 2013-14 would need to be finalised to accommodate the new Councillors. He welcomed new Councillors and Officers to Council 1 . Confirmation of Minutes of the 24th Annual General Meeting held on 30 April 2012 Council resolved that the minutes of meeting 103, as circulated, be confirmed and signed as a true record of proceedings. 1 Now attached. /Continued on next page JUNE Page 11 2013
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18th Eastern Link - Province 20 Catenians of Western Australia

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