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Canberra Circle Celebrates its Centenary

On Thursday 16 November 2006 Canberra Circle 331 celebrated its 100th meeting in the company of visiting brothers from both Sydney and Melbourne. Brother President Myles Hannan welcomed some one hundred guests to dinner and oversaw proceedings during the evening. The Circle’s inaugural President, Brother George Kazs, reflected briefly on the lessons of history since inauguration and raised some challenges for current members with respect to their Catenian spirituality. Provincial President Brother Kevin Doherty spoke about the development of the Association in Eastern Australia and how he saw the future of the Association evolving within the Church. He also presented Brother Myles with a framed certificate on behalf of Provincial Council to mark the Circle’s centenary meeting.

Photo:The photos show Brother Myles (r) receiving the 100th anniversary certificate from Provincial President Kevin Doherty (l)

The highlight of the evening was, however, the after dinner address provided by the Archdiocese’s recently installed Archbishop, His Grace Mark Coleridge.

His Grace was ordained in 1974 and has been thoroughly enjoying his vocation since. He spent five years working with Pope John Paul II in Rome as a speech writer and secretary. He has brought a dynamic vitality to the Church down under and speaks very positively about the role of the clergy – he has no plans for a priest less future and is greatly encouraged by the current stream of vocations. He spoke about “faith bounded hope” and his challenge in energizing the Church into being what Christ wants us to be. Like the Circle celebrating its history, we should honour our past but prepare for the new evangelization of the Church with new strategies and new inspired leadership from within the community.

Brother Dennis Morris proposed a vote of thanks acknowledging the need to value the past and embrace the future.

The evening was certainly a fitting celebration of Catenianism in Canberra.

Photo:His Grace, Archbishop Mark Coleridge in the company of (left to right) Brothers Kevin Doherty (President Province 21), Peter Walsh (Victorian Area President), George Kazs (inaugural President Circle 331) and Myles Hannan (current President Circle 331).