Worldwide Catholic Organisation moves into its second century by forming a new circle in North Yorkshire

The Catenian Association is an international brotherhood of Catholic men who believe in strengthening family life through friendship and faith. The Catenians were founded in Manchester in 1908 and today have a membership of 10,000 business and professional men in Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia.To coincide with the start of the new century, a new circle is being inaugurated in North Yorkshire covering both Richmondshire and a large part of Hambleton.

Two years ago, a small number of existing Catenians started the process of inviting local men to become members in order to form a new circle. When the new Hambleton Circle is inaugurated on 31st May, it will have a strength of 27 members. The new circle will be the first in the Catenians new century and the first to be formed in Province 5 in nearly a quarter of a century. Province 5 covers a band across the country taking in Northumberland, Co Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. The next circle will be formed later this year in Australia.

A Celebration Mass will celebrate the occasion at St Francis Xavier Church in Richmond, led by the new Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Rt Rev Terence Drainey. This will be followed by the inauguration ceremony at Scotch Corner Hotel, presided over by the Catenian Grand President, David Taylor, after which Catenians from across the country will join with the new members and their wives and guests for a formal dinner.

This is a very notable milestone in the Catenian Association’s history and we are very happy that this is happening in our region.

The new President of Hambleton Circle, Robert Hughes, said ‘This is a very exciting event, both for the Catenian Association worldwide and for the region of Richmondshire and Hambleton. I am proud to have been asked to lead this new circle into the second century of the Association and to have the opportunity to help direct it in its development, so that it will grow and prosper’.