Welcome
A very warm welcome to the Southampton Catenians website. We are one of the founding branches (or ‘Circles’ as we are known) of the Catenian Association having been inaugurated on 9th April 1913, just 5 years after the Association was established.
The Catenian Association is an international organisation of Catholic laymen and permanent deacons. We have a focus on family, friendship and fun with the common factor of sharing the same faith. Many Catenians have a prominent role in their local parishes and Diocese as well as Catholic lay organisations.
We meet on the 1st Monday of each month, unless a Bank Holiday, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Southampton.
Visitors from other Circles are always welcome and please contact our Dining Secretary by the preceding Thursday if possible. Alternate months are ladies nights. In addition to Circle meeting evenings we have a very active social programme. Please look at our “Meetings” page for more details.
Additionally we welcome Catholic men who would like the opportunity to meet others to build lifelong friendships with them and their families. If you are interested then please come and meet us and see how we can enrich your lives and you can enrich ours.
Please look at our membership pages for details of how to become a member and frequently asked questions.
A Message from Southampton Circle President, Michael Ingram
I joined the Catenians in April 2003 at a time when I was working in Gatwick as an IT Manager. I rarely mixed with catholic men other than attending Mass on a Sunday so being a member of the Catenian Association gave me a great opportunity to meet and relax with others sharing the same faith. The opportunity to mix with members from all walks of life is a rewarding and enjoyable experience which continues to this day. I cannot recommend highly enough the fraternal friendship of the brotherhood and would recommend all Catholic men to consider membership of the Catenian Association.
Although ostensibly we are a men’s organisation, our wives are welcome to and get fully involved in the social life of the Association. We welcome new blood and ideas as we progress in our second century as an association.
The mutual support of our fellow brothers and their families and the widows and families of deceased brothers is at the core of our association, but we do look to the wider community in many ways. Funds are raised every year for the president’s charities which this year are focussed on mental health, supporting initiatives from Two Saints and MIND. The press and the media have highlighted mental health as a growing concern in our society with an increasing number of children also being affected.
As a circle we particularly support and encourage youth through our contacts and affiliation with the Southampton University Catholic Society of Students (CATHSOC) and our Catholic educational establishments. On a national basis the Association through its Catenian Bursary Fund provides financial assistance to youth, helping with Lourdes pilgrimages and awarding grants to Catholic youth undertaking charitable projects.
Do come and have a look at us without commitment and hopefully you will like what you see and be motivated to join us.
COVID 19
Due to the corona virus outbreak and the social distancing now in place, all Council and Circle meetings will be held by Skype until further notice. Our social programme will remain in place while the situation evolves but please expect events to be cancelled until the current restrictions are lifted. Our focus during this time will be on the welfare of our members and Circle widows. We plan to establish a “ring-around” system to ensure everyone is contacted at least once a month and we will endeavour to provide assistance where we can to anyone experiencing difficulties. If you know of anyone requiring help or you need help yourselves please do not hesitate to contact our secretary Folkert Van Galen (fvangalen@aol.com).
The age profile of our members falls into the high risk category. As such we must take very seriously the restrictions that are in place. Our Circle exists to provide mutual support for brothers, their families and our widows in times of need so let us be open to the needs of others. Let us also pray for each other that we may all keep safe through this difficult time.