THE CATENIAN ASSOCIATION - PROVINCE 1

Founded within the first 5 years of the Catenian Association, Wigan Circle is justifiably proud of its long and distinguished history in the Catenian Association and looks forward to its own centenary celebrations in 2013.

Our President for the current year (2011/12) is Ian Oakes (pictured left with Jane).

We meet on the first Monday of each month at 8.00pm at the Hindley Hall Golf Club and we are twinned with Swan Valley Circle (324) near Perth in Western Australia.

We have an enthusiastic entertainments committee, with a full programme of events this year

• Circle Weekend at the Lansdowne Grove Hotel in Bath
• Italian Night at Guiseppes on Wigan Lane.
• Childrens’ Christmas Party at Hindley Hall Golf Club
• Monthly Luncheon Club at different restaurants.
• Charity Race Night at St. Benedicts, Hindley.
• Christmas Party at Hindley Hall
• Trip to the Yuletide Market at Skipton
• Ladies only meal at Sofritos in Wigan
• Tour of Llangollen Canal and Chester
• Visit to The Carmelite Convent at Upholland
• After Circle Guest Speakers
   
• Then there are the Circle formal occasions
• Presidents Sunday - Family Get Together
• Mass for deceased brothers.
• Ladies Evening - Formal Dinner Dance
• Clergy and Charter Night - Formal Dinner with our Clergy and Friends as our guests

We also have the Annual Mass for Deceased Brothers as well as a Vocations Mass

A group photo from our 2010 Charter Dinner

Some photos from our last Presidents Weekend in the Lakes

      Pictured right are the principal guests including Grand President Joe McNally at our Ladies Evening last March.

Occasionally we have something else totally different to report.

Albert Eckersley and Canon McNally were on a recent pilgrimage to Knock and took the opportunity to visit Castlebar Peace Garden. When Canon McNally had laid a wreath and spoken a few words, the penny finally dropped with young Albert that it was a setup and that he was expected to address the gathering, which included the Mayor of Castlebar.

It will come as no surprise that Albert in his capacity as our Circle Past President and as a former Mayor of Wigan, who was responsible for the twinning arrangements with Castlebar, was equal to the task. Perhaps it was also the fact that his grandfather came from nearby Connemara that made the difference.

Our photo shows Albert on left with the Mayor of Castlebar and Canon McNally and, in the background, Michael Feeney MBE, chairman and driving force behind the establishment of the Peace Garden.