By Emilie Ng
SURFERS Paradise parishioner Terry Collins has made it his personal mission to encourage Catholics to pray the Rosary daily.
His latest mission is to promote the Rosary among Catholic men connected to the international lay movement, the Catenian association, which he joined two months ago.
The couple, who have been married for 32 years, pray the Rosary “religiously every night”.
“I can honestly say that because we pray the Rosary every night, in 32 years we’ve never had a cross word to each other,” he said.
The couple have been making Rosary beads for over 13 years, and have sent thousands overseas.
“When we say the Rosary of a night time, we put ourselves at the foot of the Cross with Mary, and we go to Jesus through the heart of Mary,” he said.
“The Rosary has enriched our marriage.”
Mr Collins, 69, was excited to share his passion for the Rosary with the Catenians.
The Catenian association began in Manchester, UK in 1908 by Bishop Casartelli of Salford.
It is open to Catholic laymen over the age of 21 and encourages Catholic professional and businessmen to associate “for mutual self-help, and to develop social and family bonds”.
It’s name derives from the Latin word catena, meaning chain.
Catenians meet monthly in groups called Circles, which give men the opportunity to share about their faith and foster deep friendships between other members and their families.
Mr Collins heard about the Catenians through his involvement with the Burleigh Heads St Vincent de Paul Conference.
He said the Catenians provided an easy outlet to talk about faith and devotions in ways that he can’t share with others, sometimes even with other Catholics.
“In the group are men, good Catholic men, and everyone is on the same level,” he said.
“It’s easy to talk about Jesus, Our Blessed Mother, the importance of the Rosary or even why it’s important to have Holy water in your home.
“They’re a friendship group, and the men are there to support each other.”
For more information on the Catenians in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, contact Paul Bellhouse on paulbellhouse@gmail.com.
