As a Catholic lay organisation we value and support our priests and others with a religious vocation. Apart from support by Brothers and their families on a personal level, more formal Catenian activities include:
Catenian Vocations Initiative was launched after detailed discussions with the Bishops Conference, its Committee for Ministerial Formation and the National and Diocesan Directors for Vocations.
The aims of the Initiative are: to inform, to encourage and to pray.
Each Catenian Province in the UK has a liaison officer who maintains contact with the local Diocesan Vocations Directors and the local Circles, encouraging those Circles to be actively involved in the aims of the Vocations Initiative. These liaison officers make up the Catenian Vocation Initiative who meet twice yearly in different parts of the country. The Director of the National Office for Vocation is also a member of this Initiative.
Prayer A prayer for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is said at each Circle meeting throughout the Association, and parishes are encouraged to pray regularly for vocations.
Circle Vocation Masses
Each Circle is given a specific date on which it is encouraged to have a public Mass said in its locality for the intention of encouraging vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. In effect this means that on virtually every day of the year, somewhere in the world, a Mass for vocations is being offered on behalf of the Catenian Association.
The Association raised over £20,000 to fund production of pamphlets explaining what it was like to be a priest or religious: two for men and women religious and two more on Diocesan Priesthood. Both have been reprinted, as has a leaflet aimed at schools and colleges. Funding to continue with these publications is always welcomed.
In response to a request from the Hierarchy, the Catenian Association also makes an annual donation from each Circle in the UK to support the work of the National Office for Vocation with whom the Catenian Vocations Initiative works closely.
For more information on the Catenian Vocations Initiative click here
For more information on vocations click here
Clergy night
Annually each Circle invites local priests and other religious to enjoy its hospitality. Apart from being a small thank you for the service they give us and the wider church community, it is hoped that in some small way this affirms them in their vocation by knowing that they are valued by us and our families.
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