18th Eastern Link - Province 20 Catenians of Western Australia

EASTERN LINK
The Catenian Association Strengthening family life through friendship and faith
PROVINCE 21
The Catenian Association
Province 21 – Eastern Australia
PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT PAUL’S FINAL REPORT
AT AGM 25 - 29 TH APRIL 2013
We have witnessed a year of change and challenge at all levels of the Association, some planned and others
unexpected. It is pleasing to report irrespective of the level of challenge; it has been met in the true Catenian
spirit.
We started our year with a workshop for all within Province 21, titled Challenge/Change/ Implementation. It
could be debated, what was new with such an approach. Well I can report that each of the three components
were actioned and progress was witnessed, so much so that we have concluded the Catenian year with
another workshop, on this occasion it was focused on our strategy for the upcoming 5 years. Full report on
this workshop will be circulated to all Circles and in a special edition of Eastern Link, due in the main to the
efforts by our Provincial Secretary Br George Kazs.
Within the Provincial Council, change has taken place with our management structure; we now have five
committees formed to manage the operations of the Province with the desire to see a more proactive Council
in operation. The respective Committees are - Executive; Membership & Strategic; Church Liaison & Social
Events; Communications & Publicity and Finance & Budgets.
It is pleasing to witness the immediate impact these committees have made, especially the Church Liaison &
Social Events, under the leadership of Br John Tweedie we are now witnessing, Catenians been requested
to assist at various Church functions at a State level e.g., Proclaim 2012, Corpus Christie and currently
Mission: one heart many voices. All committees have become very proactive in their own right, no doubt the
year ahead will see more activity being implemented by each.
The challenge, not only for Province 21, but for all Catenians in Australia, has been to see advancement with
the implementation of the Restructure Commissions Report. This work is moving slowly, but with a positive
approach and intention. We are most grateful to AusCom for its continual awareness programme conducted
over the past 12 months within Australia and especially within the UK.
Whilst mentioning AusCom’s work, it must be noted the success of the 3 rd Australian Conference in
Melbourne last September, in no small way due to the efforts of our Victorian Brothers. It was not only a
great social weekend, but also a very productive Conference. Unfortunately within our own Province I am
not able to report that we have expanded or witness growth within our ranks, sadly we have seen a decline
in membership for the year and yet to see the opportunity to expand into new territory . This alone will
become one of our biggest challenges within the immediate future. Sadly numbers attending the various
Provincial activities have witness a decline, in particular the Provincial Mass.
May I conclude with a special word of thanks to those Provincial Councillors who are standing down this year
and to their successors, welcome. To our outgoing Treasurer Br Peter Gialouris, a special thank you for all
your behind the scenes work, especially with the automation of the various financial processes, we wish you
well in your new business. Finally to Br Peter Cash for all his efforts in publishing that first-class publication –
Eastern Link. To my Lieutenant – our Provincial Secretary, Br George Kazs, my sincere thanks for all of your
untiring work, it has been more than appreciated (and to Elaine allowing us of his time). Let us not forget in
our prayers our Brothers and family members of Catenians who have passed away over this past year.
Brother Paul Despoges President, Province 21 29 April 2013
JUNE Page 9 2013