The Catenian Association
Centenary Conference and Social Weekend
   15th - 18th May 2008

Welcome to Manchester

AN INVITATION to the CENTENARY CONFERENCE in MANCHESTER 15 – 18 May 2008

 … giving you a flavour of our fine city.

The main events during our Centenary Conference celebrations in Manchester next year will be held at the Bridgewater Hall the home of Manchester’s masters of music. Founded in 1858 The Hallé Orchestra has given music to the world and can boast of some of the greatest musicians of modern times. The Bridgewater Hall is the home of The Hallé and with this great tradition it is a fitting place for the Catenian Association’s Conference and Solemn High Mass.

Come to Manchester and enjoy a social re-union at the Conference with old friends and new, sharing the Manchester Experience; see the delights of our city; hear and feel the touch of 100 years of Catenian tradition gone before us; sense the decades of endeavour in the development of Manchester after suffering the Depression and the destruction of World War II with its devastation of the city by the blitz of 1940. We are proud of the many brothers who gave their lives for this and helped in the rebuilding of a modern, vibrant city. Let the deep meaning of our great brotherhood permeate your mind as you join in the Sunday Mass to celebrate our love of Christ and his Holy Catholic Church.

The Bridgewater Hall

Manchester's prestigious international concert hall opened in September 1996 and since its opening has continued to receive plaudits from artists and audiences alike for its stunning design and marvellous acoustic.
In March 1998, the Bridgewater Hall was named winner of the Civic Trust Special Award, given for the new building which has done the most to enhance the appearance of a city centre. The judges praised the Hall for making a magnificent statement on the role of music in the cultural life of Manchester and contributing a new focal point to the city. The Hall also received an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in November 1998.

To ensure that the Hall's carefully designed acoustic remains cocooned from all outside noise and vibration, the entire structure floats free of the ground on almost three hundred, earthquake-proof isolation bearings. These sets of mighty steel springs ensure that there is no rigid connection between the 22,500 ton building and its foundations. In the Hall's undercroft, a forest of foundation columns, each capped with a cluster of spring units, create a mysterious silent world as compelling and dramatic as any of The Bridgewater Hall's more public spaces.

The Bridgewater Hall's magnificent pipe organ is a focal point of this internationally renowned concert venue. The celebrated organ builders, Marcussen & Son, began the design work on the recital organ in 1992, and construction began in Denmark in January, 1995 - ten months before it was due to be assembled in Manchester. The 5,500 pipe instrument dominates the 2,400 seat auditorium, completely covering the rear wall with a beautiful blend of wood and burnished metal.

The Conference

Next year we can expect to fill the auditorium for our Saturday morning Conference. In our opening prayers we will remember our deceased brothers and then receive greetings from around the world. Our new Brother Grand President will be installed and make his inaugural address highlighting the way forward for our great Association into its next one hundred years. There will be the approval of Conference Standing Orders and some motions for debate on possible changes to our Association which will be voted on by brothers attending.

On this occasion, we look forward to a keynote address from Dom Timothy Radcliffe, an enlightening and challenging speaker, and former Master General of the Dominican Order. The meeting will close with the recitation of our Catenian Pledge; altogether a rousing occasion.

The Solemn High Mass

For us all, on the morning of Trinity Sunday 18th May, the Bridgewater Hall will be transformed into a great Catholic Cathedral in the heart of Manchester. The Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster in the presence of around 2000 brothers and wives. Many clergy will be concelebrating and the Association’s Knights of St. Gregory will form a Guard of Honour, ceremonially protecting our Catholic Hierarchy. In addition, Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem will be in attendance. The Catenian vestments, made for the new Millennium, will be used to adorn this wonderful occasion.

The Mass, with the Bridgewater Hall echoing our praise to the Glory of God in words and in song will be a fitting finale to the Conference weekend, and no one will be unmoved by the presence of such a multitude celebrating 100 years of friendships through our shared faith.

The Manchester Provinces 1 and 17 look forward to welcoming you to our city for the Centenary Conference in May 2008.

The booking forms have been included with the November issue of Catena. They are also available for Download Here. Please book early.