6th of January, 1940, on East Shirley St.,
(opp. Ebenezer Methodist Church) St. Matthew's Parish in The Pond area of Nassau Bahamas. He is a memeber of Christ Church where he was confirmed as an Anglican on Sunday, 12th of December 1993, by The Rt. Rev. Michael H. Eldon, Anglican Lord Bishop
of The Bahamas. On the 19th of April 1994,
Mr. Catalyn was confirmed by His Lordship.
Bishop Lawrence A. Burke, S.J., to serve as a Samaritan Minister of The Caring Ministry.
He is now enjoying retirement where he resides at Lampost 8, Bar 20 Corner, Nassau Bahamas. He gives his avocation as a Playwright, Author, Poet, Satirist, Dialectologist, Lecturer, Actor, Comedian, Producer, Director, Adjudicator, Compere, Town Crier and Lyrycist.
Mr. Catalyn became involved in the theatre in the late 1950's and was a member of the 'Friends of The Bahamas Drama Group, which was directed by the late Trevor Marshall. throughout his chilhood he performed in school and church plays thus sparking his interest in the theatre.
He began writing poetry at age sixteen and one of his earliest poems "Summer Madness", was dedicated to a dear friend, Jane Pratt of Libertyville, Florida USA. His first major play was "The Courtship" (1970), based on his experince growing up with his sister at "the dating age" and the concerns of his mother and mothers of that era, the 1940's and 50's. His first skit was "The Best Dressed Man" (1974), performed with Noel Hamilton on the stage of Le Caberet Theatre, Paradise Island, during one of his "Autumn Leaves" productions, 1974.
He gave his first international performance in Chicago, Ill., in the stage production of "Lil Abner", at the Harper's Court Theatre, when he travelled with Shirley Hall Bass and the Bahamas School of the Theatre, as part of their first Cultural Exchange Programme, August 1968. He has enjoyed a long association with Shirley Hall Bass and The Bahamas School of the Theatre and the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre, Chicago.
Mr. Catalyn founded James Catalyn & Friends in December 1979, after he was invited by Carl Bethel of The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas to perform in the Television Series
"An Evening With..." on the local network ZNS TV -13, Nassau.