18th Eastern Link - Province 20 Catenians of Western Australia

EASTERN LINK The Catenian Association Strengthening family life through friendship and faith PROVINCE 21
Report from Brother Kevin
on the Catenian UK annual Conference continued…
I found it very interesting and I, like the editor of Catena would recommend that you read it. Brother Grand
President, John is taking a different approach to his predecessors and will be looking to grow the
membership of Association during his year in office.
Manchester proposal
After the keynote address and other formalities, and before the Manchester motion was put, the attendees
were informed of the information that Grand Council had received from Fr. Andrew Moss, Bishop John
Arnold and Mgr. Marcus Stock.
The motion was then put; there were about three speakers for and three against the motion before a brother
from Eastbourne proposed that the motion be put. I cannot remember the exact numbers but the motion was
defeated by an approximate ratio of two to one.
Rules, Regulations Policies and Procedures
The newly elected Vice President Brother Bob Butler had included his committee’s Green Paper on
proposed changes in the conference papers. He stated that he was not proposing the changes at the
conference but that he would like to get an indication on how the 450 or so members present felt about them.
Each attendee had been issued with three coloured cards. They were required to show a green card if they
agreed with the changes, Red if they were opposed to the change and yellow if they were undecided or
wished to abstain.
As each proposed change was read out, the brothers attending held aloft their cards and the results were
counted. They were mostly in favour of the proposed changes. I do hope that the July issue of Catena will
feature this part of the conference because if those brothers attending are indicative of Catenians in the UK
then it is now obvious that the majority of Catenian Brothers want change and want the Association to move
forward.
Youth Matters
Brother Provincial Director, David Rowley was the last speaker and he brought the conference up to date
with what the Association in the UK is doing to support Catholic Youth in the UK Community. If you would
like to know more about this then read Brother Grand President, John Rayer’s introduction in the members
section of the Catenian Web Site. We in province 21 are behind our brothers in Western Australia and far
behind the UK in these matters. We do have Circles that conduct speaking competitions but we need to coordinate
our efforts and get the news about the Bursary Fund out to the colleges, the parents and the
schools alumni
Summary
The Grand Council Executive Committee are examining the letters concerning “Practising” Catholic. They
may resurrect the Membership Eligibility Criteria Committee to examine the way forward and no doubt we will
be informed as soon as a decision is reached.
The Mass in Westminster Cathedral was awe-inspiring and the two choirs made the mass a truly spiritual
happening. I do hope that Catena publish the Homily delivered by the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. He
had certainly completed his homework on the Catenian Association. He gave us all his Blessing and hope for
the future.
Province 21 Director Brother Kevin Doherty
JUNE Page 5 2013