At the start of September, the Dundee and Perth Circle of the Catenian Association returned to live meetings after eighteen months of virtual encounters on ZOOM. Gathering at Perth’s Royal George Hotel, Circle President, Sheriff Kevin Veal extended a warm welcome to the members who had joined the Circle, in blind faith, during lockdown.
Brother President Kevin said, “The Dundee and Perth Circle began in Perth in 1934 and its roll of past members includes representation from a wide number of professions and businesses from across our diocese. Although it remains an association for Catholic men, worldwide in Europe, Africa, India and Australia, few of our gatherings would be complete without the ladies too.”
Patrick Wilson, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Aberfeldy, was enrolled as the local association’s newest Brother. A former teacher, Patrick has retired to live in the highlands as he was delighted to find he could continue his membership of the association.
Following its formal monthly business meeting the group gathers for a light supper and then a speaker or entertainment ends the evening.
At this month’s meeting in Perth, the speaker was Miss Noreen Hickey (centre left) whose lockdown muse sparked her trilogy of poetry books. Formerly a Primary teacher at St John’s in Perth, Miss Hickey has had an adventurous career as a private tutor, working in Monaco, Aspen Colorado as well as commuting weekly to Knightsbridge in London.
Among those who supported the launch of her series of poetry books, the Rt Rev. John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley, remarked in a foreword – “The Migrants’ Journey to Love by Noreen Hickey will be a delight to ordinary and honest folk of the Irish diaspora… … in it we learn from real family tradition of the drama of Famine times and the urgency of emigration.”
The vote of thanks was proposed by Br Archie Maclellan (far left) – the Provinical President.