CENTENARY YEAR 2022
BROMLEY CATENIANS - CIRCLE 68, PROVINCE 7
OF THE CATENIAN ASSOCIATION
FRIENDSHIP - FAMILY - FAITH
2022 was the Centenary Year for the Bromley Catenians Circle
This page is dedicated to the events that were organised to celebrate this momentous milestone.
This page is dedicated to the events that were organised to celebrate this momentous milestone.
Bromley Circle's Thanksgiving Centenary Mass: A Celebration of Fraternity and Friendship
Introduction
There are very few times in one’s life that all the pre-planning for an event comes to fruition. The Thanksgiving Centenary Mass in celebration of Bromley Circle’s huge achievement and the social lunch which followed, was such an event.
Archbishop John Wilson (Archbishop of Southwark Diocese) captured the mood of the day from the very beginning of Mass, when first, he found that the mic had failed him, but he was not phased and when the mic was turned on, he told the congregation in case you missed his initial remarks he repeated the words of the sign of the Cross thus putting all of us at ease and making us feel welcome immediately. His welcome was heart-felt and warm speaking to as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. From that very moment of the Archbishop’s words of gentleness and warmth seemed to transform and gather in 100 or so of us together with a spirit of fraternal love and understanding.
The Mass
Accompanying Archbishop John on the altar was Fr Peter Murphy Parish Priest of St Joseph’s (to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude for allowing the Circle the use of the Church and hall for our lunch) and many previous Priests who had served the parish and huge supporters of Bromley Circle including Frs Brian Coyle, Arbo Lekule, Saju, Joe O’Connor, Fr Bryan Wells (our organist who stepped in at the last minute) and our four Deacons; Barry Mellish, Aidan McPartlan and David Daly (Bromley Circle) and Gehad Homsey (Dover Circle) and altar server Liz Woodhouse wife of John Woodhouse (Balham Circle). Archbishop John also welcomed our guests including Roger Lillie GBNC and Frank Savage Provincial President, Kent Catenians and of course, Bromley’s President, Tom May accompanied by their good ladies, Margaret Lillie, Verónica Savage and Gill May.
The Mass was the highlight of the day and Archbishop John’s homily was outstanding concentrating on what it meant to be a true Catenian by following Christ in our journey of life. We were also blessed by the parish Choir and Cantor Dominic…….raising the level of prayer to new heights and the closing hymn Faith of our Fathers brought a rousing end to a Service that will remembered long in the memory.
Lunch
Lunch followed immediately after the Mass and Brother Tom thanked and welcomed Archbishop John to his first visit to the Circle and hoped it was not his last and Tom presented him with a pair of Bromley Circle’s cufflinks, a tradition for all visiting guests to the Circle. In order to recognise the Centenary meeting on this day and reflect on the very first meeting of the Circle on 14th December 1922, all the names of our visitors were announced covering Brothers from19 different Circles from as far afield as Manchester in the North, Droitwich in the Midlands and Isle of Wight in the South and Southend in the East and nor forgetting our Brothers from Hastings, and Croydon Circle and a huge support for our own Brothers in Province 7 and Kent Catenians. It was a huge gathering of Brothers their ladies, family members and Clergy; and it special to welcome Brother Roy Parker (96 years old) with us for the lunch our closest link with the past.
The spiritual effects created at the Mass together with Archbishop’s John excellent homily transferred to the lunch and created a deep sense of true friendship and fraternity which encompassed the gathering during the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed two hours of bon homie and conviviality which is rare these days but so welcoming and all the arrangements of the speeches and presentations became an integral part of the day and when the function finally ended, we all felt a sense of accomplishment in honouring our Brothers of 1922 with due admiration and appreciation for their efforts in creating Bromley Circle.
Gratitude
Many people contribute to the success of such event as many Brothers, would appreciate and on a personal level I have to acknowledge and thank my daughter Stephanie while living in Stockport, nevertheless this did not prevent her from project managing the event. I came up with the ideas and she brought them to fruition. Brothers may consider in-house help from their family especially those with IT skills; as a Project Manager as her profession, Stephanie was able to juggle the demands of her own job and Bromley’s centenary event.
I am reminded of St Augustine’s reflection that all good words, all good deeds, and all good intentions come from God and return to him in glory.
Deacon Duncan – Secretary Bromley Circle
There are very few times in one’s life that all the pre-planning for an event comes to fruition. The Thanksgiving Centenary Mass in celebration of Bromley Circle’s huge achievement and the social lunch which followed, was such an event.
Archbishop John Wilson (Archbishop of Southwark Diocese) captured the mood of the day from the very beginning of Mass, when first, he found that the mic had failed him, but he was not phased and when the mic was turned on, he told the congregation in case you missed his initial remarks he repeated the words of the sign of the Cross thus putting all of us at ease and making us feel welcome immediately. His welcome was heart-felt and warm speaking to as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. From that very moment of the Archbishop’s words of gentleness and warmth seemed to transform and gather in 100 or so of us together with a spirit of fraternal love and understanding.
The Mass
Accompanying Archbishop John on the altar was Fr Peter Murphy Parish Priest of St Joseph’s (to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude for allowing the Circle the use of the Church and hall for our lunch) and many previous Priests who had served the parish and huge supporters of Bromley Circle including Frs Brian Coyle, Arbo Lekule, Saju, Joe O’Connor, Fr Bryan Wells (our organist who stepped in at the last minute) and our four Deacons; Barry Mellish, Aidan McPartlan and David Daly (Bromley Circle) and Gehad Homsey (Dover Circle) and altar server Liz Woodhouse wife of John Woodhouse (Balham Circle). Archbishop John also welcomed our guests including Roger Lillie GBNC and Frank Savage Provincial President, Kent Catenians and of course, Bromley’s President, Tom May accompanied by their good ladies, Margaret Lillie, Verónica Savage and Gill May.
The Mass was the highlight of the day and Archbishop John’s homily was outstanding concentrating on what it meant to be a true Catenian by following Christ in our journey of life. We were also blessed by the parish Choir and Cantor Dominic…….raising the level of prayer to new heights and the closing hymn Faith of our Fathers brought a rousing end to a Service that will remembered long in the memory.
Lunch
Lunch followed immediately after the Mass and Brother Tom thanked and welcomed Archbishop John to his first visit to the Circle and hoped it was not his last and Tom presented him with a pair of Bromley Circle’s cufflinks, a tradition for all visiting guests to the Circle. In order to recognise the Centenary meeting on this day and reflect on the very first meeting of the Circle on 14th December 1922, all the names of our visitors were announced covering Brothers from19 different Circles from as far afield as Manchester in the North, Droitwich in the Midlands and Isle of Wight in the South and Southend in the East and nor forgetting our Brothers from Hastings, and Croydon Circle and a huge support for our own Brothers in Province 7 and Kent Catenians. It was a huge gathering of Brothers their ladies, family members and Clergy; and it special to welcome Brother Roy Parker (96 years old) with us for the lunch our closest link with the past.
The spiritual effects created at the Mass together with Archbishop’s John excellent homily transferred to the lunch and created a deep sense of true friendship and fraternity which encompassed the gathering during the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed two hours of bon homie and conviviality which is rare these days but so welcoming and all the arrangements of the speeches and presentations became an integral part of the day and when the function finally ended, we all felt a sense of accomplishment in honouring our Brothers of 1922 with due admiration and appreciation for their efforts in creating Bromley Circle.
Gratitude
Many people contribute to the success of such event as many Brothers, would appreciate and on a personal level I have to acknowledge and thank my daughter Stephanie while living in Stockport, nevertheless this did not prevent her from project managing the event. I came up with the ideas and she brought them to fruition. Brothers may consider in-house help from their family especially those with IT skills; as a Project Manager as her profession, Stephanie was able to juggle the demands of her own job and Bromley’s centenary event.
I am reminded of St Augustine’s reflection that all good words, all good deeds, and all good intentions come from God and return to him in glory.
Deacon Duncan – Secretary Bromley Circle
14 December 2022:
Bromley Catenians Centenary Thanksgiving Mass & LUNCH
Archbishop John Wilson kindly attended the Centenary Thanksgiving Mass and lunch on 14 December 2022 at St Joseph's Church. Brother Roger Lillie GBNC President was also in attendance, as were many Brothers, family and friends, representing over sixteen different Catenian Circles.
The Order of Service can be downloaded by clicking on the image or button to the left.
Photographs from the event, which were taken by photographer Paul F Abbott from the Southend Catenian Circle can be seen on the Centenary Mass page.
ORDER OF SERVICE
The Order of Service can be downloaded by clicking on the image or button to the left.
Photographs from the event, which were taken by photographer Paul F Abbott from the Southend Catenian Circle can be seen on the Centenary Mass page.
ORDER OF SERVICE
21 JANUARY 2023: BROMLEY CATENIANS CENTENARY LUNCH
HOSTED BY PRESIDENT TOM MAY
Brother President Tom May hosted a special event at The Warren, Bromley on Saturday 21 January 2023, with GBNC President Brother Roger Lillie in attendance.
Photographs from the event an be found below:
Photographs from the event an be found below:
