Local members of the Catenian Association celebrated a Mass for their deceased members with Bishop Stephen Robson assisted by Deacon Len Moir, is St Joseph’s Chapel, Lawside, Dundee, on Thursday 5th November, 2020.
The Catenian Association was founded in Manchester in 1908, through the initiative of Bishop Louis Charles Casartelli, Bishop of Salford, to encourage Catholic professional and business men to associate for mutual self-help, and to develop social and family bonds. Bishop Casartelli had a particular emphasis on Catholic Action.
Catenianism is based on the practice of perfect charity whence flows all that is noble in men. The brothers strive to help one another as far as they can to happiness and prosperity, and should a brother suffer misfortune their concern is to aid him in full measure. Although a Catholic lay society, it has no political, ecumenical or theological objectives as an association, but is more an association of ‘Brothers’ who themselves are active in Catholic activities and building family bonds.
The Catenians are a brotherhood of men who practise the Catholic faith, which guides all that they seek to do. They have pledged themselves to a bond of fraternal love which links them to each other. ‘Catena’ is Latin for a chain, and the title ‘Catenians’ exemplifies the continuity of the brotherhood throughout the world.
The members are proudly Catholic and as a brotherhood are non-political. They do not allow quarrelling to mar their meetings, nor do they tolerate excesses in behaviour. The brothers seek to observe faithfully the obligations of life, to be charitable in judgment, forbearing in temper and slow to condemn.
They are expected to strive, if husbands, to be loving and trustworthy; if fathers, mindful of the moral and material well-being of their children and dependants; as sons, dutiful and considerate; as friends, steadfast and true. Brothers and their families meet socially to provide opportunities for the development of friendship and mutual support.
As men of honour the brothers pledge themselves to discharge in spirit and deed their obligations, to strive to strengthen the fraternal love which animates the Brotherhood, and to aid and comfort a brother in difficulty or need. In this endeavour they rely always on the help of God, and pray to Saints Peter and Paul, St Thomas More, St Andrew and St Margaret for strength of purpose. Catenians are particularly strong in their support for the widows of brothers.
In Dunkeld diocese, the Dundee and Perth Circle was founded in 1934. Their first meeting was in the Station Hotel in Perth. Almost one thousand meetings later, its members continue to meet monthly in Dundee or in Perth.
Thanks were expressed to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at St Joseph’s Convent, for preparing the chapel for the Mass. The Brothers joined with them in praying for the repose of the soul of Sr Mary Angela, who died recently in London, at the age of 99. Sr Mary Angela was for many years a member of the community of the Sisters of Mercy at Lawside. Sister taught for 44 years in many of the primary schools in Dundee. When the sisters left Dundee, she moved initially to Edinburgh, before moving down south.