WHAT IS THE CATENIAN ASSOCIATION

In its simplest form the Catenian Association is a group of Catholic business and professional men. They meet socially at least once a month for the free exchange of views and to help and encourage one another and their families in both their social and business lives.

The members of the Association are particularly concerned with the care of widows and children of deceased brothers, assistance in advising and seeking employment for members and their families and all forms of benevolence to brothers in difficulty or need. The Catenian Association was founded in Manchester in 1908 and is now over 11,000 strong, with over 290 local branches (known as Circles) in all the main population centres throughout Great Britain. In the past twenty-five years it has developed overseas and there are now Circles in Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Malta, Africa, Australia and Hong Kong. The Association enjoys close and friendly ties with other Catholic organisations of a similar character throughout the Engligh-speaking world. Initially called 'the Chums Association', it was renamed 'The Catenian Association' from the Latin word 'catena' - a chain. All the Circles are links in the chain, and the Catenian emblem is a continuous chain of links surrounding a cross.

The Association is non-political nor is it, except on very special occasions, a fund raising agent or Catholic Action pressure group. Although the clergy are not eligible for membership the Association invariably has their backing and support.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Entry is normally effected through the sponsorship of members of the Catenian Association. The only real qualifications are that one

Every applicant is given ample opportunity to understand what commitments he will be expected to uphold.

Catenians come from that group of men on whom devolves the duty of leadership in the everyday life of the country - Catholics in business, commerce, public service, the professions and politics. Most Catenians accept their responsibilities of moral leadership and take a responsible part in the affairs of their local parish or diocese; many are prominent in the conduct of the major Catholic lay organizations, and many others active not only in the service of the Church but of the civic community at both local and national level.

ORGANIZATION

The 290 plus Catenian Circles are grouped geographically into 19 areas, which are called Provinces in the United Kingdom and area Councils overseas, under control of a Provincial or Area Council. Each Circle sends one elected representative to the Provincial or Area Council. In turn each Provincial Council elects one member to sit on the central governing body of the whole Association which is known as Grand Council. At the head of Grand Council is the Grand President. There are periodic meetings of provincial councils and for the whole Association an Annual conference attended by many Catenians with their wives and families. The Circles annually elect officers and a Council and committees to run their business affairs. Each Circle enjoys a high autonomy in the management of its own affairs, and holds a formal monthly meeting commencing and finishing with a prescribed set of prayers followed by a social gathering, known as the after-Circle proceedings. Regular attendance at these meetings is a serious obligation. Circles may hold combined meetings with neighbouring Circles on special occasions, and at provincial level, Circles may unite for spiritual and social functions which may be open to all Catenian brothers and their families.

All Catenian members accept each other as brothers and address them as such, and are free and most welcome at any time to visit any other Circle, either individually or collectively.

Every Circle meets on a fixed night each month and the membership card gives the date, time and place of all Circle meetings. This ensures that a brother who is temporarily away from home has some convenient Catholic contact available to him. If he has to move house, he and his family will have an immediate entree into the Catholic community in the new environment.

THE FUTURE

In its many years existence, the Catenian Association has by its history and prestige become established as an Association in which Catholic business and professional men can help one another and their families in their respective careers, can meet socially in a spirit of brotherhood, and use the corporate strength so engendered on behalf of the Church and the civic community.

How far the Catenian Association's growing contribution to the development of the Catholic community succeeds in the coming years will depend on its ability to attract those Catholic men who are eligible for membership to understand what commitments they will be expected to uphold and are also prepared to live up to its ideals.

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