The Birmingham Archdiocese President of the Catholic Men’s Society (CMS) of Great Britain has now taken over as National President for a three-year period.

Raymond Barber, from St Ambrose parish in Kidderminster, says he will use the next three years to promote this great Society.

CMS was founded in 1854 by Dean O'Brien and is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Branches across the Archdiocese of Birmingham include St Ambrose, Kidderminster; St Wulstan & St Thomas of Canterbury, Stourport; Holy Family, Bewdley; Our Lady & St Kenelm, Halesowen and Holy Trinity, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Today CMS is a society of service helping to meet the needs of men’s spirituality; encouraging, helping and preparing them to become active and responsible Christians so that they may be able to assume the responsible role of the layman in the Church today, serving their church, parish and society.

CMS offers an annual programme of study and discussion by which the message of Christ is examined and applied to daily living. The aim is to help members understand their faith and how to live by it.

The CMS also sponsors the charity ‘Let the Children Live!’ and has raised over £3m to date.

Raymond said: “I had no idea that an invite to a meeting in 1999 would lead to me becoming National President 23 years later!

“The aim of the CMS is to encourage, help and prepare men so that they may be able to assume the responsible role of laymen in the Catholic Church of today.

“I am honoured to be the new national president.”

For further information about the CMS of Great Britain please contact Raymond via email at [email protected] or the Birmingham CMS Secretary: [email protected]

Visit the Catholic Men's Society website

Photograph: Raymond Barber chairs his first Executive Council Meeting.