The Catenian Association started in UK just over 100 years ago in 1908 and has spread to several other countries including Ireland, Australia, India, Malta, South Africa, Zimbabwe and The Holy Land. The Association is organised into Circles of Catholic men that meet monthly across the country. It currently has about ten thousand members.
The Association provides an opportunity for Catholic men to meet socially and to provide support for members and their families.
Watford Catenians was set up on 17 July 1928 and is mainly drawn from the parishes of Watford, Garston, Abbotts Langley, Bushey, Rickmansworth and Croxley Green.
One of the most important aims of the Catenians is to strengthen family life through friendship and faith within our parishes and communities. As such, in the year we organise occasional masses and talks. Our social calendar is aimed at including as many family members and friends from the parishes as possible. Where possible, these events are advertised in our Parish newsletters prior to them taking place.
During 2019, we enjoyed many visits, including The Royal Hospital, Chelsea; The Life of Christ Open Air Presentation at Wintershall, St Alban’s Abbey and Tring Brewery amongst others. We also hold restaurant visits and an annual Quiz.
We meet monthly at the Gryms Dyke Golf Club on the first Thursday of each month for a short business meeting and prayers, followed by a meal and social gathering. We organise a Clergy Night when we entertain the local clergy and at least four times a year we have a Ladies Evening. Our Christmas meal is another special event where again our Ladies are invited.
Although we are mainly a social organisation, we support charities and over the past few years we’ve supported the local Food Bank, St Vincent de Paul, Apostleship of Sea and many others. Through the Catenian Bursary Fund, we have assisted students from St Michael’s High School to attend the Lourdes Pilgrimages as helpers and students from other local RC schools to go on charitable Gap Year projects overseas. You would also have noticed our collection of Rosaries for the Third World, during 2019. We also look to be active in our parishes, supporting various committees and through taking on roles such as Readers and Eucharistic Ministers.
If you would like to e become involved with the Watford Catenians, we will be pleased to invite you to one of our meetings so that you can see more of what we do and to meet other members. Should you wish to consider this offer, please contact our Membership Officer – John Evans on 07748 178165. He would like to hear from you.
Further details on the Catenian Association can be found at: https://www.thecatenians.com