Brothers, Friends and Family sailed to a memorable social cruise at the Liverpool Bay on July 19th.
Let’s start with the negatives! The Circle had to say good-bye to its oldest member, Gerard Swarbrick, who sadly died in November 2018 after a spell of bad health. However, in addition there has been a steady decline in membership with a growing list of permanent apologies and then the resignations of John Casey, Bill Lloyd and Alan Williams jnr. Sadly, we also seem to have lost last year’s President, Steve Marston-Yim and founder member David Jamieson.
Looking on the positive side, we had a superb celebration of our 40th anniversary of foundation, with a well-attended function at the Formby Hall Golf Club. I am extremely grateful to Phil Roberts for all the effort he put into this and the great and the good that he managed to cajole into coming to the Mass and dinner, as well as the Circle Meeting. It was undoubtedly the highlight of the year for me – and Dolores. Thank you to Fr Michael Barrett for celebrating Mass on this occasion and on others too, as well as all those who helped with the liturgical roles in this Mass and the others!
The other meeting that stands out for me is the joint meeting and Mass for Deceased Brothers with 74 over in their area. There was a great talk from Ray Donnelly and the various charities of the year have benefitted on my reckoning to the tune of around £1000 which is tremendous. A big thank you to all who contributed.
Clergy Night was again a wonderful evening. We have established a great tradition there which brings the Circle and the clergy close together. They are some of our most important allies in further recruitment and they like to be involved.
Whilst Dolores and I were enjoying the warmth and hospitality of New Zealand and Australia, you had another very successful Christmas Party – another great tradition which brings us together. It was also a great evening that saw Phil Roberts get his 40 year scroll – again whilst we were down-under!
It wasn’t ‘Our’ Burns Nite but it was a super evening in Skelmersdale which saw us supporting the parish and enjoying ourselves. In similar vein was the St Patrick’s Night organised by 74 and well supported by Catenians including 285. Surely these are a way forward for the Association?
True too of the Bursary Fund and the number of presentations of awards in our area
The same could be said of the Wisdom Club which I was able to attend on a couple of occasions. Thank you to Richie for keeping this going, indeed growing it. It serves a very important function and keeps brothers involved in the life of the Circle.
We managed to have after-dinner speakers at all the meetings – many from within our Circle and a few guest speakers. I am very grateful to them all but especially to those of Ormskirk Circle who entertained us so well.
We had some super walks which I hope will continue. Again thank you to Sid, Ian and Phil and those who support them. The walks have been a lovely way of bringing the wider Circle together.
I am indebted to the support I have received from the Circle and Council, particularly John Lydon as vice-president, Mac our secretary and soon to be vice-president, and our treasurer. I would also like to mention in particular Mike Kelly who drove me many times to meetings and events. I know it is dangerous to name individuals because you always miss people and offend them but if I may I’d like to express thanks to my fellow founding members for all that they have done in this 40th year!
The widows have been very supportive too and I’d like to thank them for coming to many of our functions. They and our wives have helped the Circle in so many ways and I am very grateful.
I wish the incoming officers a great year, especially your new President, John and thank you for letting me be your President this year.
Michael W Brooks
7th May 2019
Dolores and Michael Brooks are delighted to announce the arrival of their 7th grandchild and – yes the girls have it! – their 4h granddaughter, Megan Greta Louise Blakey. Daughter to Hannah and Craig and sister to Ellen. Ellen was staying with Dolores and Michael during Greta’s birth which was at home. Greta arrived 40 minutes before the midwife did and two hours before the Rapid Response Ambulance and the paramedics! Fortunately both Mum and Dad are doctors and all went well so mother and daughter are doing well – as is sister Ellen! Grandmum and grandda were able to meet Greta just before 5.30 Mass on Saturday and reported that they were doing great.
Ormskirk Circle tonight mourns another founder member, Ray Blakey, who died peacefully on Saturday evening. As yet there are no funeral details. Ray was the father of the Circle, well into his nineties and when he enjoyed good health was an avid daily swimmer as well as a great supporter of the Circle especially with his late wife, Barbara. They would always be seen at Circle and Provincial dances and would be found on the dance floor. Ray was a gentleman and true Catenian. May he rest in peace.
UPDATE:
Ray’s funeral takes place on Wednesday July 26th at 10.30 in St Richard’s, Skelmersdale.
Ormskirk Circle is saddened to announce the sudden death of Brother Patrick McCluskey on the morning of the last Circle Meeting, April 12th. Details of funeral arrangements will follow when available. Please remember Patrick, Sue and the family in your prayers especially over the Easter Triduum. May he rest in peace.
It is with great sadness that the Circle announces that Ron Burrows, our founding VP and 2nd President has died peacefully in his sleep down in Eastleigh. His funeral will be on Friday 5th May at 15.00. It will be held at St Elizabeth’s, Scarisbrick where Phil, Ron’s wife, is buried.
Mac writes:
“I have now had confirmation that Phil’s Requiem Mass will be at St Anne’s, Ormskirk on Thursday 23 March at 12.00 noon, followed by burial in the churchyard.
Colette is not yet sure where the reception will be afterwards. She is considering Hurlston, but would like some sort of indication of how many will be there. I have said I will try to get an idea of numbers from the Catenians, so can you please let me know by Sunday afternoon whether you will want to go to the reception (no need to tell me if you are just going to the Mass).”
Mac’s phone number is 01695 577325
John Lumb organised the trip this year and we stayed at the HF House at Derwent Water. The house, the food and the accommodation was first class. We did a 10 Mile circular walk of the lake, the group pics are at the start of the walk and having a celebratory drink at the completion.
The pics are of the surrounding fells, the HF House and the lake.
14 young parishioners from St. Peter`s Parish Woolston in Warrington are looking forward to travelling in Coach 6 to Lourdes with the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage this July. At a well attended fund raising event last Friday June 13th., Bro. Richie presented Bursary Fund Cheques to each of the young Lourdes helpers.The group included Katherine, Bro Richie`s granddaughter. The occasion was an excellent opportunity to explain to those present who the Catenians are and the purpose of the Bursary Fund.
Ormskirk Circle were privileged to present a number of Bursary Fund Awards recently including one in St Anne’s Ormskirk to John Ireland going with the Edmund Rice Family from St Mary’s College, Crosby to Lourdes on the HCPT Easter Pilgrimage. John was presented with his cheque by Membership Officer, Michael Brooks and it transpired that John was the only male pupil going from his school. Well done John and we trust you had a wonderful experience on this your first visit to Lourdes.
Tony Devine presented Jessica Ebo with her cheque for £350 to help her in Uganda. Jessica has already been once but is returning to further help the families out in Mugalike, Uganda. She will be there for five weeks in July and August and will be helping to lead a group of twelve other young people who are going to build a hostel for children so that they have a home to stay in, a place in which to do their school work to help them succeed with their education and an opportunity to meet with other children in the village. The hostel that they build will be vital for the expanding village in order to prevent homelessness and to try and control poverty.
Just some of the great work that the Bursary Fund is able to do as a result of the donations brothers make to it. So keep the donations coming!