Vocations and the Church

Every Circle in the Association organises a Mass for Vocations. We try to organise these Masses such that we can have a Vocations Mass celebrated for most working days throughout the year.

Visit our new Catenians and Vocations page

Last year’s Vocations Mass in Province 4 was organised by St Helens Circle and took place at Holy Cross and St Helen.

Or read below: So just what do the Catenians do for the Church?

Pray at every Circle Meeting for Vocations and there are over 300 Circles.
Every Circle is allocated one date in the year to offer a Mass for Vocations.
Every Circle invites their local Clergy to join them for dinner at the Annual Clergy Night.
The Association financially supports the National Office of Vocations, sometimes exceptionally e.g. Krakow
It raises money in response to an annual Appeal for support.
It financially supports the House of Discernment, attached to Shrewsbury Cathedral.
It also has the Catenian Vocations Initiative, assisting the Hierarchy to increase Vocations to the Priesthood, Deaconate and the Religious life.
It financially supports Catholic Youth through the Bursary Fund as well as specific events such as Flame, host to some 9000 youngsters at Wembley Arena.
It frequently has organised Pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Walsingham, and other sites in
A Faith Matters Group sits on the GB National Council
Its Chairman interfaces with Bishop John Arnold, representing the Bishops’ Conference
Currently responding to Bishop John’s Challenge to help the training of Catechists in every Parish where the Diocesan Bishop asks for assistance.
Responds to specific requests from their local Bishop, e.g. Province 6 raised a pledged £1m for the Birmingham Diocesan Fund for retired Priests.
Hundreds of Members (called Brothers) assist in their local Parishes in various capacities – Eucharistic Ministers, organising Readers, Finance, Sick Visiting etc.
Brothers in the Midlands set up ‘Friends of the Holy Land’, also supported by the Anglican Community.
A new Circle has just been founded in Nazareth and hopes are high for another in Bethlehem.
Some Brothers appeal on behalf of Aid to the Church in Need, supporting deprived and persecuted Christians across the world
Others work as volunteers for CAFOD and other Catholic support agencies.
On occasion our National President visits the Cardinal and the Chair of the Faith Matters Group represents the Association at Hierarchy Social Functions.