President Invited to Address Deanery Priests

I've been a Catenian for thirty-odd years, and I'm here, at the invitation of Fr Mulligan, to tell you about Catenian's.  My simple explanation is that we are a social club for Catholic men.  There are Groups, known as Circles, all over the country and abroad including one in Wimbledon which covers the parishes in this Deanery.  Others nearby are London-South-West (Meeting at Roehampton), Balham, Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Kingston, we're active in all four home Countries, in Eastern and Western Australia, Malta, Zimbabwe and Goa.

We were founded in 1908 as the Chums Benevolent Association at the instigation of Bishop Casertelli of Manchester, who insisted we should be lay and that priests were not to be admitted. (This doesn't apply to permanent deacons), our current mantra is to "Strengthen Catholic family life through Faith and Friendship", primarily through meeting fellow Catholics.

Each Circle has a monthly meeting; many Circles follow this with a meal.  Wimbledon has light refreshments and occasionally a meal.  During the year we have a series of social events, which include our wives and families, which means that ladies can reap the benefits without the need to be members.  In our Circle, events include an annual Barbecue and picnic, Photographic Competition, Clergy and Ladies night and participation in sports such as cricket and golf,

We're "Proudly Catholic" so annually each Circle has a President's Mass, which is followed by a lunch or other entertainment, an annual Mass for deceased members and a Mass for vocations.

We try to care for each other and our families in times of trouble, sickness and indeed in death.  We care for our widows by keeping in touch with them and inviting them as guests to our social events.  The Benevolent Fund is there to help Brothers, dependants and widows as the need arises; last year it paid out about £400,000.

Technically, membership is by invitation, partly to guard against unexpected demands on the benevolent fund.  Someone joins the Association by joining a Circle after a vetting procedure; thereafter he is entitled to visit any Circle meeting anywhere in the world.  Indeed visiting other Circles locally is an established way of widening one's circle of contacts; whilst welcoming visitors is a traditional part of our hospitality.

We're not a Catholic Action organisation, though many of our members are prominent in their Parishes and Diocese.  We aren't a fund-raising organisation but in addition to the Benevolent Fund we do raise money internally for the Bursary Fund, designed to help young Catholics do charitable works abroad, often in a gap year (many students from Wimbledon College and the Ursuline High have benefitted).  Each year the then Circle President declares his Charity (mine is "Friends of the Holy Land") and attempts to raise a bit of money within his Circle for it.  Amounts range from a few hundred to several thousands.

Although Priests can't be members they can come and observe a meeting, feel free to ask.  Thank you, Fr John, for inviting me; thank all of you for listening to me and I have a small packet for each Parish.  I'd be delighted if you could each display the poster on a suitable notice board and take a few moments to read the other two documents enclosed.  Do have a look at our web-site (www.wimbledon-catenians.org.uk).  If you'd like us to address your congregation just let me know! Thank you.