Mayfield College

I recently visited the former Mayfield College, which has been fully restored and converted into luxury 2 bedroomed apartments. It has been renamed Mayfield Grange, and the main building is called "The Great Hall". There are two large apartments on each of the four floors and the chapel has been converted into an open plan (loft style) apartment. It has been tastefully executed and the tower has had its spire re-instated. The prices of the apartments are all £750,000 plus! For fellow Xaverians, I have posted pictures of the restored building on at http://magavelda.blogspot.com/ I will add more pictures in the next few days.

Contrary to many peoples' opinon, the Xaverian Brothers are flourishing and 11 brothers were received into the Order, last year. They still run over 150 schools in the USA and they still control Notre Dame University in Boston. The Order are still strong in many parts of Africa and Europe, however their are only a few retired brothers living in the UK.

Merry Christmas

There are no more provincial events this year. The prototype Province web site will be upgraded between now and the New Year, The full site will not be uploaded until Provincial Council have approved its format, content and style.

Paul & Brenda Allen at Eastbourne Circle Christmas Dinner

On Thursday 13th December, Brother Provincial President Paul Allen and his wife Brenda were guests of honour at Eastbourne Circle's Christmas Dinner at the Langham Hotel, Eastbourne. A full report will be posted on the Provincial website soon. More pictures (which can be downloaded) can be found at: www.eastbournecatenians.org.uk )

Eastbourne 2 new members

On Thurdsay 13th December enrolled two brothers in the Presence of provincial President Paul Allen. Vice President Peter Oakshott stood in for President Philip Goodman who was away in South America visiting his new grand-daughter Nina. Full report soon.

BEXHILL CHANGES MEETING VENUE

From January , Bexhill Circle will meet at 8pm at the COODEN BEACH GOLF CLUB (not the Hotel). The annual Bill Gower night will also take place here. Apart from the said Bill Gower Night all meetings will take place on Thursdays and not Fridays as at present. Full details will be added to both the web site and blog next week.

Circle Meetings in December

Many Circles do not hold a December meeting, especially those whose meeting dates fall between 24-31st of the month. Others start their meetings earlier than usual such as Eastbourne , who on the 13th start at 7pm. It is best to check with the secretary or VP of the Circle that you intend to visit before setting out.

Our Christmas picture is courtesy of the Holy Nativity Convent. Their prayer which accompanies it is as follows:

Thy Nativity O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee.

Dismissal Hymn of Nativity Picture courtesy of holynativityconvent.com

Members Directory (CD Rom) wanted

Arundel Circle latest new member requires a directory in CD form, if you have a spare one, please contact one of the officers of Arundel Circle.

Bexhill Scottish Night

Last night Bexhill Circle held their annual St Andrews night (albeit a day early) at the Waterfront private members Club, on the seafront at Behill On Sea. It was an enjoyable evening and the food was plentiful and very good. Pictures will be added on the 1st December.

Catenian/Val Bowler Memorial Prize

This year’s Catenian/Val Bowler Memorial Prize was actually presented to one of St Richard's Catholic College's disabled pupils, Thomas Harrison, who was born with cerebral palsy.

Mrs Karen Taylor PA to the Principal writes:

The In his wheelchair Tom has been a familiar friendly sight around the school. In January 2007 Tom had an operation to straighten his legs and he made a decision that he was no longer prepared to sit in his wheelchair once the plaster came off. We are very proud of the way Tom stuck to his decision and the encouragement he has received from others to keep on walking using his walking frame.

Once Tom became more confident on his feet he asked permission to organise a sponsored walk to raise funds for a school in Peru where his aunt was currently working. The School Council helped Tom to organise this event which was to walk around the playground a number of times using his walking frame. This he did successfully cheered on by members of the School Council.

The money raised for Stella Morris in Puerto Maldonado enabled the school to build itself a kitchen. Interestingly, during the summer holiday Tom presented the money while on a visit to Puerto Maldonado and a week later, having returned from a trip in the forest, the kitchen was built and was already providing hot meals for a number of needy children. This was lovely for Tom to witness.

Tom is to be congratulated on his fundraising efforts as well as his determination to ‘get walking’! Before the operation it had been a real struggle to get Tom out of his wheelchair; now he is determined to use it as little as possible.

Both the Catenian Assocaition here in Sussex and the St Richard's school community feelt he was a worthy recipient.

Province 18 web-site

The Province web-site is now 8 pages, although it is still under construction. A new Province 18 contact e-mail address has been established. Use this for information, submitting articles and photgraphs. The address is info@prov18.org.uk . The full site should be online before Christmas
The site can be accessed at: www.prov18.org.uk

Catenian/Van Bowler Memorial Prizewinner 2007

On Thursday 15th November the De La Warr Pavillion in Bexhill, hosted the St Richard's Catholic College Awards evening. Thomas Harrison won the prestigeous Catenian/Van Bowler Award for the disabled for his fundraising for the disadvanged. A full story will be posted soon on this remarkable young man.

Six provinces Mass Pictures

The Cathedral was full for the 6 Provinces Mass for deceased Brothers. Refreshments were served afterwards in the Cathedral Hall, then many brothers went for a special lunch at the Grosvenor Thistle Hotel, Victoria.

New Members Evening in Lewes (Nov 2nd)

A report will be added shortly. Pictures can be found here

Six Provinces mass for Deceased Brothers

Today, Sunday 4th December the Six Provinces mass for Deceased Brothers at Westminster Cathedral will be hosted by Porvince 18. Grand President Philip Gidman and Province 18 Director Martin Klust, will do the readings and Provincial President Paul Allen the bidding prayers. Afterwards will be a lunch at the Grosvenor Thistle Hotel, Victoria.

Tonight at Lewes: Mass and Social evening for those interested in forming a Catenian Group in Lewes

We will be attending the 8pm mass which will be followed by a social evening for those interested in joining and forming a Catenian Group in Lewes

Worthing's 60th Anniversary Dinner

On Tuesday 30th October, many brothers from throughout Province 18 attended Worthing & Chancterbury's 60th Anniversary Dinner at Worthing Golf Club. The special guest was Bishop Keiran who made a very well received speech. Grand President Philip Gidman, past Grand President Arthur McKivett, and provincial president Paul Allen were also special guests. Picture shows Brother Grand President Philip Gidman making his address. Philip is also a member of both Worthing and Crawley Circles.

New Members at Arundel and Crawley

On Wednesday 24th october, Arundel Circle enrolled two new brothers, Provincial President Paul Allen was in attendence. On Thursday 25th October, Crawley Circle enrolled two new brothers as well.

In Naples, pope urges people to trust God will hear their prayers

-- Under grey skies and a cold rain, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged people to stand firm in their hope that God will hear their prayers for justice and peace. Arriving to celebrate Mass Oct. 21 in Naples' historic Piazza del Plebiscito, Pope Benedict stopped to embrace Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury and other leaders of Christian churches.The religious leaders were in Naples for an Oct. 21-23 interreligious meeting sponsored by the Rome-based Sant'Egidio Community. After the Mass, they were joined by representatives of the Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and other religions for a meeting and lunch with the pope.Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Williams and Ezzedine Ibrahim, a Muslim scholar from the United Arab Emirates, were among the nine guests at the pope's table. Ibrahim was one of 138 Muslim leaders and scholars who signed an Oct. 11 letter to the pope and other Christian leaders proposing a dialogue based on the shared beliefs that there is only one God, that God loves the people he created and that he calls believers to love others.


"Pope Benedict said it is obvious that sometimes it seems prayers are not being answered, but people must have faith that if they persevere in prayer, God will intervene with justice.However, he said, "God cannot change things without our conversion, and our real conversion begins with the cry of the spirit that begs for forgiveness and salvation."To pray is not to ask God to do everything", he said, and it is not to withdraw from the world and wait until things improve. The pope ended his stay in Naples with a visit to the cathedral where the reliquary containing a vial of St. Januarius' dried blood is kept. Kneeling before the altar, the pope kissed the vial, but the miracle of the blood liquefying did not occur.Msgr. Vincenzo de Gregorio, custodian of the relic, told reporters that the blood, which often liquefies on the saint's feast day, has never liquefied when a pope visited on a day other than the feast day. The blood is said to liquefy three times a year -- on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May, the feast of the transfer of the saint's relics to Naples; Sept. 19, his feast day; and Dec. 16, the local feast commemorating the averting of a threatened eruption of Mount Vesuvius through the intervention of the saint.
By Cindy WoodenCatholic News ServiceNAPLES, Italy (CNS)

Lewes Catenian Group?

Brothers from Seaford, Haywards Heath, Brighton Regency and Brighton Catenian Circles will be in Lewes this weekend before and after masses giving information about the Catenian Association and there will also be pulpit presentations. This is at the behest of the new parish priest in Lewes who is keen on a Catenian presence in the county town. If there is enough support, a Catenian Group could be formed. I will post a report next week.

Journal Update

Catholic and local newsreels have been  added to site, soon you will be able to receive e-mail updates via feedbitz. The full version of the journal will be uploaded on October 26th.  All major events in province will be covered, including the forthcoming Worthing 60th anniversary meeting  and Dinner with Grand President Philip Gidman.

Welcome to Catenian Province 18

This is a beta site, undergoing testing, its purpose will be to inform about events, developments and news in the Catenian Association Province 18 which covers the county of Sussex, United Kingdom. The current president of the province is Br Paul Allen and the Director Martin Klust.