Stirling Circle 191

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1) Circle Meetings

The Circle meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except July) at 7.30pm in the Westlands Hotel, Doune Road, Dunblane, FK15 9HT.

Location Map

2) A Brief History of Stirling Circle 191

The Stirling Circle of the Catenian Association was formed on 12 January 1960, when an inaugural dinner took place at the Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling.  On that occasion a company of 150 Catenians and friends were graced by the presence of the then Archbishop of Edinburgh & St. Andrews, His Grace the Most Reverend Gordon Joseph Gray. The first President of Stirling Circle was Allen McCann. The Circle held its 500th Meeting in December 2004 under the Presidency of Ian Maynard at the Stirling Management Centre. The guest of honour was His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien. Two founder members present at the inaugural meeting in 1960, John Short and Fidelis Cassidy, were honoured at the 500th meeting for their long and distinguished service to the Stirling Circle.

The Circle draws members from all over central Scotland. Members reside in Stirling, Dunblane, Auchterarder, Bridge of Allan, Dollar, Kippen, Callander, Falkirk, Polmont, Larbert and Edinburgh. It currently has a membership of 38.

3) Events Diary 2007- 2011

Month	Date	Designation	Details	Venue
September	Tuesday 11th September 2007	530th Circle meeting - Ladies evening.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk on ‘The  Stamps of Pope John-Paul II’ (Joint meeting with Glasgow Circle).	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
September	Tuesday 25th September 2007	Provincial Quiz.	Hosted by Fife St Margarets Circle.	Woodside Hotel, Aberdour.
October	Tuesday 8th October 2007	531st Circle meeting.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
October	Tuesday 16th October 2007	Clergy Evening.	Dinner at 7.30 with Priests from the deaneries surrounding Falkirk, Stirling & Dunblane.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
November	Tuesday 13th November 2007	532nd Circle Meeting - Ladies Evening.	Mass for Deceased Brothers at 7pm followed by Circle meeting at 7.30pm and dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
December	Tuesday 11th December 2007	533rd Circle Meeting - Ladies Evening.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by Christmas Dinner and a musical quiz.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
January	Tuesday 8th January 2008	534th Circle Meeting.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
January	Friday 25th to Sunday 27th January 2008	Family Weekend.	34th Annual Scottish Catenian weekend.	Crieff Hydro, Perthshire
February	Tuesday 13th February 2008	535th Circle Meeting - Ladies Evening.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk about a Project Trust Visit to China.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
February	Saturday 23rd February 2008	Walk.	Walk from Dollar to the Tormaukin Hotel in Glen Devon (and back).	West Burnside, Dollar
March	Tuesday 11th March 2008	536th Circle Meeting - Ladies Evening.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and Lenten Homily by Fr Bill McGeady of Slamannan.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
April	Tuesday 8th April 2008	537th Circle Meeting.	AGM at 7.30pm followed by Circle meeting and dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
May	Tuesday 13 May 2008	538th Circle Meeting.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and talk on the Islamic faith by Imam Aziz and Dr Ajiz Jabbar.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
May	Tuesday 27 May	Scottish Presidents’ Games Night	Taylor Games Trophy competition. (Won by Stirling Circle).	Aberdour, Fife
June	Tuesday 10th June 2008	539th Circle Meeting.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
June	Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June 2008	Scottish Catenian Centenary Celebration	Reception at the Scottish Parliament, 2.30-4.00 pm, and dinner at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel at 7.30pm on 14th June. Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral at 11.30 am on 15th June celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Keith O'Brien.	Edinburgh
July	Sunday 27th July	President's Sunday	Mass St Francis Xavier, Falkirk, 12 noon. Lunch thereafter at the Park Hotel.	Falkirk
August	Tuesday 12th August 2008	540th Circle Meeting.	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and talk on Graphology by Jane Molinuex of the Association of Qualified Graphologists	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
August	Saturday 16th August 2008	Theatre Visit	Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Arcadia (by Tom Stoppard).	Pitlochry, Perthshire
September	Monday 15th September 2008	541st Circle Meeting	Joint Circle meeting with Glasgow Circle.	City Merchant Restaurant Candleriggs, Glasgow
October	Tuesday 14th October 2008	542nd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and talk on the Catenian Association trip to Southern Africa by Tony Godden, Director of Province 16 (see story and picture below).	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
November	Tuesday 11th November 2008	543rd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
December	Tuesday 9th December 2008	544th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a Festive Quiz.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
January	Tuesday 13 January 2009	545th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk titled 'Investing in Turbulent Times' by Kevin Campbell.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
February	Tuesday 10 February 2009	546th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk titled 'Nautical Miscellany' by Brendan Ward.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
March	Tuesday 10th March 2009	547th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and Lenten Homily.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
April	Tuesday 14th April 2009	548th Circle Meeting	AGM at 7.30pm followed by Circle meeting and dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
May	Tuesday 12th May 2009	549th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and the Taylor Trophy Scottish Games.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
June	Tuesday 9th June 2009	550th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner. Poetry Evening.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
June	Sunday 28th June 2009	President’s Sunday	Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette, Larbert, at 11.30am followed by lunch at the Powfoulis Manor Hotel.	Larbert
August	Tuesday 11th August 2009	551st Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk on the Papal Zouaves by Hector Cairns.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
September	Tuesday 8th September 2009	552nd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm, joint with Glasgow Circle, followed by dinner and a talk by Jim Lonie on ‘Lowland Canals’.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
October	Tuesday 13th October 2009	553rd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and the Provincial Quiz.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
November	Tuesday 10th November 2009	554th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
December	Tuesday 18h December 2009	555th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and Christmas Quiz.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
January	Tuesday 12th January 2010	556th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner to celebrate the 50th Anniversary Meeting.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
February	Tuesday 9th February 2010	557th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk by Sam Irving about China.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
March	Tuesday 9th March 2010	558th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner Lenten Homily.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
March	Friday 19th March 2010	Theatre Visit	‘Meet Me in St Louis’ performed by the Stirling and Bridge of Allan Operatic Society.	The Macrobert, Stirling
April	Tuesday 13th April 2010	559th Circle Meeting	50^th AGM and Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
May	Tuesday 11th May 2010	560th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
June	Tuesday 8th June August 2010	561st Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
June	Sunday 20th June 2010	President’s Sunday	11.00am Mass at Holy Family Church, Dunblane, followed by Family Day at SMA Fathers’ grounds.	Dunblane
August	Tuesday 10th August 2010	562nd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk by Val Morgan on SCIAF.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
August	Saturday 28th August 2010	Theatre Visit	Pitlochry Festival Theatre. “The Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde.	Pitlochry, Perthshire
September	Tuesday 14th September 2010	563rd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
October	Tuesday 12th October 2010	564th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk by Andy Smith on Model Boat Building.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
November	Tuesday 9th November 2010	565th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
December	Tuesday 14th December 2010	566th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm, joint with West Lothian Circle, followed by dinner and Christmas Quiz.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
January	Tuesday 11th January 2011	567th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
February	Tuesday 8th February 2011	568th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk by Ruth Sharkey about Chile.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
February	Friday 18th February 2011	Restaurant Visit	Mr Singh's India Gate, Dunblane.	Dunblane
March	Tuesday 8th March 2011	569th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and Lenten Homily.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
April	Friday 1st April 2011	Theatre Visit	Meredith Wilson’s ‘The Music Man’, performed by Bridge of Allan Operatic Society.	The Macrobert, Stirling
April	Tuesday 12th April 2011	570th Circle Meeting	51st AGM at 7.30pm followed by Circle meeting and dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
May	Tuesday 10th May 2011	571st Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and a talk on Catholic education by John Oates.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
May	Friday 13th-Sunday 15th May 2011	Annual Conference	Catnian Association Annual Conference & Social Weekend	Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle
June	Thursday 2nd June 2011	Provincial Quiz	Hosted by Dundee and Perth Circle.	Salutation Hotel, Perth
June	Tuesday 14th June 2011	572nd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner. Poetry Evening.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
June	Sunday 26th June 2011	President’s Sunday	11.30am Mass at St Mary’s, Stirling followed by lunch at Brucefields.	Stirling
August	Tuesday 9th August 2011	573rd Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
September	Thursday 1st September 2011	Taylor Games Trophy	Hosted by Dundee and Perth Circle.	Salutation Hotel, Perth
September	Tuesday 13th September 2011	574th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm, joint with Glasgow Circle, followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
October	Tuesday 11th October 2011	575th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
November	Tuesday 9th November 2011	576th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane
December	Tuesday 13th December 2011	577th Circle Meeting	Circle meeting at 7.30pm followed by dinner and Christmas Quiz.	Westlands Hotel, Dunblane

Pictured below is 2008-09 Stirling Circle President Hector Cairns presenting a donation of £200 to Tony Godden, Director of Province 16 of the Catenian Association, after his talk at the Circle Meeting on Tuesday 14th October 2008. The money was sent to CAFOD to aid their work in Zimbabwe.

Participants at the Taylor Trophy Scottish Games evening on Tuesday 12th May 2009 are pictured below.

4) The Catenian Bursary Fund

The prime objective of the fund is to encourage and assist Roman Catholics, between the ages of 16-24, actively to involve themselves in projects for the benefit of the community, at home or abroad. The projects must clearly involve the implementations of Christian, particularly Catholic, principles. Projects may be undertaken by an individual, jointly with other people or under the aegis of organisations. For proposals involving an element of community service, applicants are requested to specify the period and nature of the community service. 

At the conclusion of their project, successful applicants are expected to submit a brief report of approximately 1000 words to the Committee of the Bursary Fund and may have part or whole of their report published in Catena, the journal of the Catenian Association.

Sam Irving of Dunblane, a past pupil of Dunblane High School, spent a year teaching English in Gansu province, China, from August 2008. He gave a talk to the Stirling Circle in February 2008 about his planned year in China, organised by Project Trust. Following an application to the Catenian Bursary Fund he obtained a contribution of £1,000 towards the cost of his trip. He is pictured below being presented with his cheque at the Church of the Holy Family Ministries Fayre in Dunblane on 22 June 2008 by Kevin Campbell of the Stirling Catenian Association. Upon his return Sam gave a talk about his experiences in China in February 2010. He is currently a University student in Edinburgh.

The Catenian Association also operates a Bursary fund specifically for pilgrimages, the prime objective of which is to encourage and assist Roman Catholics, between the ages of 16-24, actively to involve themselves in a practical way, in projects or pilgrimages for the benefit of others at home or abroad.

The Award Committee meets regularly and applications should be received at least 21 days before such a meeting and 3 months before the date of departure.

Application forms can be obtained by going to the website of theThe Catenian Association clicking on the 'Helping Others' link and selecting 'Bursary Fund'.

©Stirling Catenians. Page last updated: April 13, 2011