Dundee and Perth Circle of the Catenian Association celebrated its 1000th Meeting at the Invercarse Hotel, Dundee, on Friday 9th June. The occasion was timed to coincide with the Feast of St Columba, patron of our Diocese of Dunkeld and a Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated in St Andrew’s Cathedral on the following morning by Canon Kevin Golden, the Diocesan Administrator.
Brother President, Joe Dagen, welcomed the guests of honour for the occasion: the Catenian Association’s GB National President, Brother Mark Conroy and his wife Maxine; Brother Andrew Sowerby and his wife Maria; the Director of Province 22 Brother John Russell and his wife Maureen; and GB Past National President Eddie O’Donnell. Fr Gregory Murphy OP, parish priest at St Joseph’s Church, Dundee, said the Grace.
The 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. The name ‘Catenian’ comes from the latin word ‘Catena’, meaning chain. The lay society now links 8,000 members world wide. The Dundee and Perth Circle was founded in 1934, its first meeting was at the Station Hotel, Dundee, and it has met monthly in either Perth or Dundee since that time.
Two members were enrolled in the course of the meeting, Matthew Spencer, who is also member of Oxford Circle, and Gerry McCormack, an ‘ex-Dundonian’, Director of Province 8, from Wokingham Circle. Their joint membership reinforces the links of friendship that exist across the Association.
Other visitors had travelled from Epsom, Tynemouth, Burnley and Manchester – some with fond memories of their early days growing up in Dundee.
Scottish Circles in Aberdeen, Stirling and West Lothian St Mary’s were all represented along with their Provincial President, Brother Kevin Campbell and his wife Maryla.
to Dundee & Perth Circle’s Br President Joe Dagen
The Mass in the Cathedral was accompanied by Brother Kevin Veal and the Cecilian Choir, directed by Mary Veal. As is traditional at Catenian Masses, prayers were said for the Brothers who are infirm or housebound and the names of all the deceased brothers were read aloud as the Association prayed for the repose of their souls.
The weekend of celebrations concluded with an Historical Guided Tour of Dundee led Br Joe Dagen – taking in the old parts of the University of Dundee, the site of the mediaeval castle and city walls, through the High Street and City Square to the new waterfront and the V&A Museum – ending at the RRS Discovery.
