Author name: The Catenians

In the final episode of our Young Catenian interviews of 2024, we meet Exeter and Maidenhead Catenian, Krzysztof. We’re thrilled to share the last of our 2024 series of mini interviews with our younger members – and many thanks to our Circle members for sharing our mission to meet and share stories from around our community! If you see familiarity in these and other stories we feature on our blog – why not get in touch and check out your local circle? By simply dropping us a line on our contact us page, we can put you in touch with a local group of likeminded people that would love to meet you! What’s your name and which circle are you a member of? Krzysztof Zaborowski – 85 Exeter Circle || 253 Maidenhead Circle How long have you been a member of the Catenians? 33 months How did you get introduced to the Catenians? A friend in the University of Exeter Catholic Society was a student Catenian. He was going to attend the Circle meeting and invited me along. What inspired you to join up? I joined the Catenians because I realised that while the university catholic society was great, after I graduated, I would move on and no longer have that community. Furthermore, the Catenians being a Catholic men’s group means that I am with people who are on the same page, and I can openly have conversations about my faith without the usual negative remarks. Have you been made to feel welcome? During my time as a Catenian I have always been welcome at meetings, and when visiting other circles, I have frequently found myself chatting with most brothers. What are you looking forward to in your membership? I am looking forward to visiting new circles particularly while on holiday as the local Catenians are always very welcoming. But long-term I look forward to supporting my fellow brothers and the wider catholic community. Thanks once again to Krzysztof, and other young Catenians for sharing their stories and views. And please do not hesitate to check out our posts, stories and other content across this website and our social channels including:

In the second of our December posts, and fifth in the whole series of Young Catenians, meet Hugo from our Exeter circle. Like a lot of our younger members, Hugo connected with us via his University social scene. Read more about how he feels he benefits from membership. If you are one of our younger Catenians and would like to share your story – please do so! We’d love to hear from you so please contact us here. What’s your name and which circle are you a member of? My name is Hugo Dodin, and I am a member of the Exeter Circle.  How long have you been a member of the Catenians? I have been a member of the Catenians for two years.  How did you get introduced to the Catenians?  I was introduced to the Catenians through the University of Exeter’s Catholic society.  What inspired you to join up? I was inspired to join due to many of my friends from university already being involved in the Catenian association, as well as having previously heard about the charitable support the association had provided. Also, I believe the association provides a place for Catholic men to discuss and help one another in a welcoming and laid back setting, therefore allowing me to escape the often bleak day to day routine of university life.  Have you been made to feel welcome? From my very first meeting I was made welcome, and have since developed lasting relations with many of the members of the Exeter circle, as well as beyond.  What are you looking forward to in your membership? The Catenian association thrives in its core values of camaraderie and friendship between Catholic men who share the same beliefs, in an age where Christianity has been omitted almost entirely from society. I hope that the association continues to base itself on these values as this is what myself and many Catenian members look forward to in their membership.  What have you discovered so far? Members of the Exeter circle have been hugely supportive both to myself and fellow student members in their guidance to help navigate through the tumultuous university and post-university world. I have discovered that the association thrives in its age range, as it allows members to share experiences and knowledge with each other who are at different stages in their lives, in a way that remains friendly and meaningful.  What would you say to anyone considering membership? I would encourage them to attend a Catenian meeting in order for them to realise that there are groups out there that are seeking to build in an age where most seem to want to destroy. If you are an young male like myself, who once struggled to find like-minded Catholics, the Catenian association will provide you with an adequate foundation to support and build lasting friendships in a laid back yet organised structure, so that no matter where you are in the country (and beyond), a circle will be ready to welcome you.  Thank you so much Huge for your kind words – we are so happy you have found in the Catenians support and connection that you seek. If you are interested in what The Catenians has to offer, then why not find out more – simply contact us and one of our team will be in touch!

Our Young Catenian series is back! Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be meeting a few of our younger Catenian friends, learning more about how they joined up and what Catenian membership means to them. In this post, meet Sam Mapletoft of our Exeter Circle. Sam joined his local Catenians group less than two years ago having been introduced through his University’s local Catholic society How were you introduced to the Catenians? I was formally introduced to the Catenians through the Catholic Society at the chaplaincy at the University of Exeter, through Michael Magier, a student who has joined the Association. I had been aware of the existence of the Association before due to their work as a lay organisation for Catholics. They had been active in my parishes growing up, and I had also applied for a bursary to travel to Lourdes with HCPT before joining, which the Association had granted me. What inspired you to join up? I was inspired to join by the fraternal bonds of the Association, which I saw as important to lay Catholic life in the 21st century. I enjoyed my first meetings to the Association too, and met some very nice people. The social aspect of the Association inspired me to join, as it would be important to have strong fraternal connections. Supporting each other in prayer, and supporting the life and work of the Church were also very important factors which inspired me to join; I wanted to be involved in an organisation that could support each other fraternally, but also in a very real way they supported young people like me and thus supported the Church. Have you been made to feel welcome? I have been made to feel very welcome by the Circle, and by any visitors. When I have visited other Circles too, I have been made to feel very welcome. People recognise that young people are important to the future of the Association, and they show this by supporting and welcoming young brothers.  What have you discovered so far? So far I have discovered that there is a strong lay community in the Church. People are very willing to support one another, and that as long as this continues there is a strong future for the laity in an increasingly secular society. I am encouraged to see the strong bonds that exist in the Association.  To anyone considering membership, I would say that they should try going to a meeting, and see what is there for themselves! I am sure that they will find a welcoming circle, and hear about the good work the Association does up and down the country. There is nothing to lose by going to a meeting and seeing the spirit of the Association for themselves. What are you looking forward to in membership? I am looking forward to continuing my membership in one way or another – I am grateful for rule changes in recent years that allow brothers to maintain membership after ordination especially now that I am in the propaedeutic year of seminary.  Thank you so much Sam! It’s great to hear what membership means to you and we are so grateful for your honest and enthusiastic comments. If you’re interested in membership, we complete agree with Sam’s ethos here – check out your local circle events and join in, see what you think! You can find your nearest circle on our find a circle page or just get in touch with our team and we’ll connect you with your local group.

For your Friday musings, yesterday’s update from Andrew and the team. Venturing from the delightful island of Gozo, the team now embarks over to the mainland of Malta – with some wonderful pictures of the stunning St John’s Co-Cathedral in the island’s capital city, Valetta. Read on… Today we visited the mainland and spent the day in Valletta. This included a trip around St Johns Cathedral with its beautiful gilded walls and Caravaggio’s masterpieces. After lunch we strolled around the old city walks passed the shelters where the Maltese people hid during the constant air raids of World War 2. This bravery was recognised by George 6th who awarded the island its people the George Cross

Another day, another marvellous update from the Catenians over in the Maltese sunshine! This morning we woke to the news that the UK was covered in a blanket of snow whilst we had temperatures in the early 20s. After a morning visiting the old washing baths and the local shops we then had a guided tour around the Cold War Flour Mill. Then we went to the coastal village of Xlendl with its rugged coast line and it’s underground archeological site. The evening ended with the Gala Dinner with the High Commissioner and the president of Malta. If you’re enjoying following this series of posts – check out our backlog of stories and insights around the Catenian circles in our blog section.

It’s day two of the team’s tour of the beautiful island of Malta, and today we hear from Andrew and team and their taking in of both monument and coast. Last night we went for a short walk along the prom under the beautiful Beaver Moon. A brilliant experience for all and great company as always as we settle in to our trip. Today boasted the stunning Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu. This stunning Roman Catholic minor basilica sits on Gozo and despite the origins of the building being unknown in terms of when first built, we can safely say that there was nothing minor about this beautiful place! Taking in both a tour and talk, we then moved on to some retail therapy. After a visit to the Artisan craft markets and the Dwerja national heritage site with its stunning coastline, we then visited Victoria for more retail therapy before dinner with local Catenian brothers. A wonderful combination of culture and coast enjoyed by all! Continue following this series of posts on our website and blog, but also on our social channels across Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

November continues to see the Catenian effort of faith, friendship and travel AGAIN, and this time in somewhat warmer climes! In the next few days we shall be following our GB National President, Andrew Sowerby lead the UK Catenians connecting with our Maltese counterparts in a week long trip to the island. Here is today’s update from Andrew and the team – follow our blog for more updates throughout the week! Well here is the first update from Malta! After flying in from Manchester late on Saturday we were transported to our accommodation by the Maltese brothers. We awoke to a fabulous view across the harbour at Marselform before a short tour around the cathedral of the Annunciation. This was followed by the celebration of Holy Mass and a short but beautiful concert by one of the local choirs. After a long lunch with friends old and new we settled down for an evening of fun and friendship Catenian style. Andrew Sowerby. GB national president