Concilium Bulletin October 2010

Concilium Bulletin October 2010

ASIA
Singapore Senatus: Average attendance at the Senatus meeting is Curiae 53% and Praesidia 61%. In Sibu English Curia the head teacher of a Catholic school invited the Legion to address teachers and pupils, 3 junior praesidia were formed as a result. A Legion seminar was planned for September in the Senatus.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Comitium: The average attendance at the meeting is officers 94% and members 87%. High attendances are a feature at all levels in this council, at praesidia level 70% would be looked on as low. Curia Fidelis in their report indicated that their attendances are going downwards at 87%. Most praesidia have auxiliary rolls with numbers of Adjutorians and a good number of Praetorians also feature. Good attention is given to juniors.

Indonesia
Malang Senatus: From June to September the attendance showed 80 to 100% for officers and 53 to 65% for the members. Works mentioned included instruction of Catechumens, visitation of mentally handicapped children and Catholic families. In May a visit was made to Indonesian Papua. Two praesidia have since been set up, one in Doyo Prison, Fr. John Kebu OFM is Spiritual Director, a prison warder lapsed from the practice of the faith was converted. The President and Spiritual Director of the Senatus visited Lembata Island, a journey of 2 days by air and sea for the setting up of Lewoleba Comitium, with 6 Curiae and 6 praesidia. The Senatus held a 3-day conference at which there was an attendance of 163, including 25 Spiritual Directors, with officers from the Senatus and its 3 Regiae.

Jakarta Senatus: A Curia in Pangal Pinang, an island off Sumatra, had 20 praesidia now has 7. The Regia officers made a 3-day visitation, the priest was met and efforts made to promote the Legion. Another Curia in Pangal Pinang Diocese has shown rapid growth from 16 praesidia in 2008 to 43 in 2010. Medan Regia oversees 2 Comitia, 2 Curiae, 15 senior and one junior praesidia in the Archdiocese of Medan and Palembang, there are 47 parishes with much needed extension. The Regia broadcasts the Rosary live on Radio Maria Indonesia. Curia Campus Jakarta has 14 praesidia with 133 active and 196 auxiliaries working in 5 Universities.

Korea
Seoul Senatus: The President and Secretary of Concilium along with other Legion delegates from across Asia attended a Congress on Evangelisation in Asia organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity with the theme “Jesus Christ in Asia Today”, which took place from 1 to 5 September 2010. Sr. Agnes Han, President of Seoul Senatus, gave a presentation on the Legion of Mary in Asia. Rev. Fr. Pio Min, Spiritual Director of the Senatus, was commended for his assistance in the organisation of the Congress. The President and Secretary of Concilium had meetings with the Officers of all three Senatus of Korea, Seoul, Gwangu and Daegu. The attendance of officers at Senatus meetings over a three-month period went from 61% to 100%. Two praesidia of taxi drivers, set up in April 2009 have a total of 16 active and 17 auxiliaries, Wonju Regia has 4,299 active members, including 71 juniors and 3,401 auxiliaries. Chuncheon Regia has 4,285 members including 125 juniors and 3,762 auxiliaries. The two Regiae recorded a total of 1,828 baptisms.

Gwangju Senatus: A Comitium, which is based in a rural area, has 6 senior praesidia and one junior Curia. Legionaries invited 439 people to the Church; a training coarse for junior praesidia officers took place in July. Separate training courses took place for officers of Curiae and Comitia.

Daegu Senatus: A training session for legionaries in Gumi city had an attendance of 320. There is a Curia in Daegu Catholic University and two praesidia in Gyongbuk National University. Waegwan Comitium, which is in a rural area, has a total of 8 junior praesidia with 10-12 members each, emphasis is placed on the importance of the junior praesidia and they have no difficulty getting senior officers. A Comitium in Podang was commended for taking care of a military Church in Marine Recruit Training Command; they take care of the trainees of the dogma class until they receive baptism. Another Comitium works for the conversion of prisoners. The Andong Regia has 7 Comitia with a total of 34 Curiae and 362 senior and 8 junior praesidia.

Kuala Lumpur Regia: Good works are carried out in the Curia, there is need for a reminder of working in pairs. There are three events, Formation Day in February, Legion Day in May promotes awareness of the Legion of Mary and its apostolate in parishes and the Marian Congress in May had the theme Mary, Model Disciple for Mission. Participants numbered 1,500.

Taiwan
Taiwan Senatus: Leaflets for the three Causes have been translated and printed in the languages under the Senatus; legionaries are urged to promote the prayers and distribute them. They are still continuing with their campaign of prayer this year celebrating 150 years of Christianity and 60 years since the start of the Legion in Taiwan. An article from Maria Legionis on Kazakhstan was translated into Mandarin and subsequently a legionary in Taiwan met some legionaries from Kazakhstan and was amazed and impressed at how much the Legion has developed there. A legionary representative attended the congress on Evangelisation in Asia and was delighted to meet so many legionaries.

EUROPE

Austria
Senatus of Austria: The new Korean Curia with 4 attached praesidia in Vienna gave its first report. A Moslem family converted to Catholicism in Comitium Burgerland. Curia Wien Northeast gave their first four-monthly report. An apostolate to street girls is carried out twice a year. Comitium Unter Dem Wienerwald has 5 senior Curiae attached and an airport apostolate is carried out. In Comitium Hollabrunn Bishop Tournovszky celebrated a commemorative Mass for Frank Duff. Comitium Zwettl held an afternoon meeting for Spiritual Directors to which 4 came. Comitium Ybbs visited their Bishop and updated him on their activities for the Church.
Slovakia: Comitium Zselis, which is Hungarian speaking is seeking to set up a Slovakian speaking Curia. A Muslim was visited in prison by one of its attached Curia.
Ukraine: A Summer School was held at which 50 attended. Sr. Elizabeth Kriss along with two legionaries from the Senatus were present.

Belarus
On 31st May Archbishop Kondrasevich and 7 priests concelebrated Holy Mass commemorating the Servant of God Frank Duff. Among works listed by praesidia reporting were preparation of persons for the sacraments, caring a former street girl now a single mother and contacting youth in streets, parks and railway stations. 96 legionaries and 3 priests participated in the Recollections in Baranovichi. The August Comitium meeting was held to coincide with the Annual Recollections and 9 senior Curiae were represented. Vitebsk Curia is weak and Bishop Vladislav has asked for help to strengthen the Legion. A legionary from Lida Curia has entered the seminary. As suggested by Concilium, extension efforts are being made in Grodno Diocese. Presentation of the Legion has been made in 3 parishes and names taken for follow up.

Croatia
Zagreb Regia: Extension is ongoing producing many new praesidia in the attached councils. Reports indicate conversions, regularisation of marriages and many returns to the sacrament, one after 60 years. Osijek Comitium has 9 praesidia, 2 senior and 2 junior Praesidia and 5 Nazareth groups. In Sisak Curia junior legionaries lead the Rosary in a secondary students hostel. The Bishop of Sisak especially supported the work for youth and promised to appoint Spiritual Directors. Zadar East Curia carry out an apostolate to school staff with the permission of the Principal.
Bosnia & Herzgovina: The officers of Sarajevo Curia were warmly welcomed to June meeting of the Regia. The Curia has 5 praesidia with 42 members. A presentation on the Legion was given at a study day for representative of lay Catholic organisations.
Slovenia: Ljubljana Curia has 6 praesidia, 772 auxiliaries and 28 Adjutorians. Works include street apostolate, visitation of retirement homes and aftercare of auxiliaries. A former Curia Officer has entered the religious life.

Hungary
Budapest Regia: There are 25 praesidia, 12 Curiae and 6 Comitia attached. Two of the Comitia are based in Romania, 2 Curiae in Slovakia and one Curia in Ukraine - all comprise of Hungarian speaking legionaries. Three new praesidia we set up since the last report and works include visitation of homes, hospitals, prisons, street apostolate, preparing people for the Sacraments. A homeless person visited asked for a Priest and received the Sacraments prior to his death after a lapse of 30 years.

Latvia Comitium has happily gained a new Spiritual Director, Fr. Ilmars Tolstovs. A praesidium of 6 in Riga promotes a weekly Holy Hour with an attendance of 30-40 people. A recruiting drive in Bolderaja resulted in the starting of a praesidium with 4 members. A weekend recruiting drive in Kuddiga helped a weak praesidium increase its membership from 3 to 9.

Lithuania
Kaunas Comitium: Plans are underway for a Congress on 28 November. A praesidium in Kaunas gained 4 new members from a recruiting drive. Another praesidium reported 11 people returning to the Church. Suggestions to try and recruit more young people were to visit places where they congregate such as pubs, café, bars and the vicinity of cinemas. Telsai Comitium has 11 praesidia and 2 Curiae affiliated. A praesidium of 13 members engaged in home and hospital visitation prepared 54 patients for reception of the Sacraments. Legionaries in Queen of the Family Curia visited 500 families; from this apostolate 2 adults were prepared for First Holy Communion and 3 marriages regularised.

Poland
Lublin Regia: One Curia reports the founding of 2 new praesidia in St. Jadwiga’s Parish in Lublin. Extension efforts are being made in the Dioceses of Kielcach and Wroclaw. A new Curia is in formation in Mieliec. Warsaw Comitium publishes 5,000 copies of the Polish journal quarterly. It is sent to all the Bishops and to the national and university libraries. A third praesidium has been formed in Gdynia. About 8,000 legionaries gathered in Czestochowska on 11 September for the 15th National Pilgrimage of the Legion of Mary. Two Bishops concelebrated Holy Mass with 60 priests attending.

Romania
Bucharest Curia: There are 13 praesidia affiliated. The formation of another Curia in Iasi or Craiova (Northern Romania) is planned. This would be a great help to praesidia officers in that region who because of distance cannot attend Curia.

AFRICA

Central African Republic
Bangui Senatus: This Senatus governs two upcountry Regiae and two more which are due for covering sanction. Reports from the attached councils show impressive result in marital problems resolved, drug abusers reformed, abortions avoided through counselling and suicides prevented. The Senatus also set itself to ensure that junior legionaries pass into senior praesidia rather that club together and the Senatus is satisfied with the progress. Formation sessions on the Legion promise are held regularly.

Democratic Republic of Congo
Butembo Senatus: This Senatus has 44 Comitia to govern over 45,000 legionaries including 10,000 juniors hope to set up higher councils.

Burundi Senatus: A Congress was held recently.

Rwanda
Rwanda Senatus has carried out visitation of its councils. A 16-member praesidium with a Spiritual Director and a junior praesidium, visits the sick at home, bereaved families and auxiliaries. They help with tilling land for incapacitated persons, clean the parish centre and also prepare elderly persons for baptism.

Mauritius
Mauritius Regia: Good planning in this council shows many activities organised e.g. pilgrimages, retreats, outings, works of service and junior Legion attached. They celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Legion in September 2010 with Mass and tributes from the Archbishop and the publishing of books on the history of the Legion in Mauritius and a Life of Edel Quinn.

Reunion
St. Denis Comitium: The main works of this council are street contact, home and hospital visitation, visiting bereaved, saying the Rosary in mortuaries and catechetics. Legionaries accompany the priest to the sick and bring Holy Communion after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After many discussions, a Muslim woman became a Catholic. Junior legionaries are accompanied by 2 adults and visit families with children and promote the Rosary in the homes. An annual get together of 2,000 legionaries included Mass.

Madagascar
Stella Maris Curia held its 101st meeting in April. The works reported on include home and hospital visitation. Recruiting work resulted in a new praesidium of 5 members.

ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL

Argentina
Buenos Aire Senatus: The group that organise the Walking Pilgrimage to Alfie Lambe’s tomb are also preparing an Alfie Bulletin, thanks to suggestions from Seamus Rickard on his visit to them. Many first time extension workers will take part in the summer extension programme. Recruiting is mentioned in all reports. During the year one praesidium invited 1,000 people and 12 came to the meeting.
Cordoba Senatus: The Legion is established in all but one Diocese in its area.
Salta Senatus: Legionaries are praying to Alfie Lambe for a legionary who has lung cancer and was recently elected president of a junior Curia. Legionaries make contact with pilgrims and tourists during a Novena and procession in September to mark the Feast of El Senor y la Virgen del Milagro. Young legionaries help with Senatus meetings, preparing the room and greeting those who come long distances.
Rosario Regia: A Curia with 12 praesidia does statue visitation and has 17 prayer groups. Many of these meet in private houses and there are many returns to prayer and the sacraments. One Comitium also reported many received the sacraments as a result of statue visitation. Legionaries in another Comitium visit a maternity home for single mothers and ensure the babies are baptised.

Brazil
Belo Horizonte Senatus: Various strategies are used to visit apartments such as getting to know at least one of the residents; signed approval from the parish priest to be given to the manager; and making friends with the caretakers. Several former Catholics returned to the Church from the sects. The prison praesidium brought 45 to the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Fortaleza Senatus: Visits to homes and hospitals and teaching catechism feature in many reports. A Curia in Sobral prepared 180 children for First Holy Communion and 40 for Confirmation. They also taught catechism in a care home for people with HIV. The Senatus was happy with the Concilium visit.
Ponta Grossa Senatus: Reports show good results from home visitation and other contacts including reconciliation of married couples, the conversion of an evangelical couple, and the conversion of a man who did not believe in God and is now attending Mass and is an auxiliary member of the Legion. Hospital and prison visitation and teaching catechism also feature in reports.
Recife Senatus: Two of the Senatus officers spent a day along with the presidents of other Church movements in consultation with the Archbishop, His Excellency, Dom Fernando Saburido. All the parishes in the archdiocese without the Legion have been allocated to particular praesidia or councils for extension. Praesidia have been set up in the capital and the interior. Results from Legion apostolate included the cure of five young drug addicts, reconciliations within families, conversions and the returns to the faith.
Rio de Janeiro Senatus: True Devotion to the Nation work involves teaching manual skills to the destitute. Also in the city of Rio celebration of the Word takes place in a women’s prison. Great efforts are made at recruiting. Three Rio legionaries spent two weeks on a visit to Amazonia. The Bishop of Tefe in western Amazonia invited the Senatus to re-establish the Legion in his Diocese.
Salvador Senatus: In one area of the city two new Curiae were set up, one senior and one junior and four new praesidia, two senior and two junior, are in formation. A former prostitute celebrated her marriage and became an active legionary. The work of preparing an elderly person to receive First Holy Communion so impressed her Protestant grandchild that the latter became a Catholic. A praesidium adopted two children suffering from incurable disease. They also apply injections and make home cures on visitation. Other work includes the preparation of social welfare documents and arranging appointments for the sick.
Sao Luis Senatus: A wide-ranging apostolate reaches out to State schools, Pubs and Bus stations and people contacted include lepers and street children. Following the Concilium visitors’ suggestion to consider setting up a new Regia, the Senatus approached the Bishops of several Dioceses and received an enthusiastic response.
Sao Paulo Senatus: The new Regia in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, was inaugurated on 31 July. It was a very happy occasion. The inauguration of the new Regia in Campo Goande, Mato Gorsso do Sul, is scheduled for 30 October. The Legion was represented at the National Eucharistic Congress in Brasilia in May. A Legionary Congress was held in May for the praesidia directly attached to the Senatus of Sao Paulo. There were very favourable comments made on it. Reports show an extensive apostolate being carried out, for example, a Comitium in Aracatuba made 1,060 visits and re-visits to people of different religions, 1,388 visits to the elderly, 1909 visits to homes with Holy Communion and 154 visits to hospitals making contact with 1,422 patients. The Senatus was very happy with the visit of the Concilium representatives in June.
Brazilia Regia: In Luziania, a Patricians group has been formed. Home visitation is the main work of the Comitium there was 5,000 home visited. They also teach catechism to youths and adults.

Annual Legion Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock, Ireland

The Annual Legion pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock took place on Sunday 26 September 2010. It was a day filled with spirituality and there was an estimated attendance of 8,000 legionaries and friends who filled the Basilica to capacity. Cardinal Sean Brady was the chief celebrant of the Mass and also gave the homily. Sincere thanks were extended to Catherine Murphy, Concilium Officer, and the officers of Kilalla Curia for their involvement in the organising of this event.

Visit of Officers from Kerry & Cork Comitia and Ross Curia

The Officers of Kerry Comitium Mary B O’Sullivan President, Breda Hallisey Vice President, Sheila Daly Secretary and Breda Daly Treasurer; Cork Comitium Joseph Conway President, Dolores Harrington Secretary; and from Ross Curia the President Martin O’Mahony came to Dublin for discussions with the Concilium Officers and attended the Concilium meeting on Sunday 17 October 2010.

In the discussions extension was to the forefront and the legionaries would make every effort to establish new praesidia in parishes where the Legion does not exist. Joseph Conway in his address to Concilium said it was a great privilege to be a member of the Legion of Mary and they were truly blessed to be present at the Concilium.

Tommy McCabe, President of Concilium, thanked the Officers for coming to Dublin and wished them many graces and blessings in their work for the Legion of Mary.

Election of Concilium Assistant Secretary
Nominations were sought for the office of Assistant Secretary of the Concilium, as Miriam Phelan had completed her first term. Miriam Phelan was proposed and seconded and as there were no other nominations, she was duly elected Assistant Secretary of the Concilium for a second term.
Election of Concilium Assistant Treasurer
Nominations were sought for the office of Assistant Treasurer of the Concilium, as Raymond Mulrooney had completed his second term. Liam Hayden was proposed and seconded and as there were no other nominations, he was duly elected Assistant Treasurer of the Concilium.

Cause of the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe - Visit to Argentina

Rev. Fr. Oliver Skelly, P.P. Coole, Diocese of Meath, Vice Postulator of the Cause; Noel Lynch, former Legion Envoy to Argentina; and Seamus Rickard, Navan Comitium, reported on their visit to Argentina 13-29 July 2010. They had a meeting shortly after their arrival with Irene Sauer, Vice Postulator for the Cause in Argentina, at which the history of the Cause both in Argentina and Ireland was related. The following day they met with Monsignor Sturba, Judge for the Buenos Aires Tribunal. The Theological Commission in Buenos Aires has completed its work on the Cause. The Historical Commission continues its work in Rome. More evidence from other countries in South America needs to be gathered. The Cause needs to be more widely promulgated; the Prayer needs to be recited not only by legionaries, but also by Catholics in general, including diocesan and religious clergy, members of the contemplative orders and by laity throughout the world. Later that day the visitors visited Alfie’s tomb in La Recolletta Cemetery. The visitors had planned to attend a weekend conference in Salta on the subject of Alfie’s Cause, however, due to snow all flights were cancelled and they had to take part in the conference by telephone. Three hundred legionaries had gathered in Salta for the conference. Fr. Skelly met also in Buenos Aires with Sister Isabel Fernandez, Notary to the Buenos Aires Tribunal, who also suggested that the Cause be promulgated more widely. The visitors attended the Belgrano Comitium meeting. The enthusiasm was infectious. At a meeting of sixteen Spiritual Directors at Legion headquarters in Adrogue, one of the priests spoke at length about his experiences with Alfie in the Legion and of Alfie’s deep spirituality, his humility, his kindness and his consideration for others. The visitors also paid a visit to the Papal Nuncio to Argentina, His Excellency, Archbishop Adriano Bernardini. They also met with some of the young legionaries and their Spiritual Director, who organise a procession to Alfie’s tomb each year. Bernardo de Nardo, former Legion Envoy to Asia, accompanied the visitors for a week of their visit. The visitors also met Lina Vaccaro, a former Legion Envoy to Brazil and the parents of some former Extension Workers. The visitors were very grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality they received in Argentina.

Prayer for the Beatification of
The Servant of God, Frank Duff

God our Father, You inspired your servant Frank Duff with a profound insight into the mystery of your Church, the Body of Christ, and of the place of Mary the Mother of Jesus in this mystery.
In his immense desire to share this insight with others and in filial dependence on Mary he formed her Legion to be a sign of her maternal love for the world and a means of enlisting all her children in the Church’s evangelising work.
We thank you Father for the graces conferred on him and for the benefits accruing to the Church from his courageous and shining faith.
With confidence we beg you that through his intercession you grant the petition we lay before you …
We ask too that if it be in accordance with your will, the holiness of his life may be acknowledged by the Church for the glory of your Name,
through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

This prayer can be obtained from the Legion of Mary website
www.legion-of-mary.ie

All Legion Councils, praesidia and individual legionaries are encouraged to actively promote the Cause of the Servant of God, Frank Duff, through the widespread dissemination of the Frank Duff prayer leaflets, through the organising of Frank Duff prayer groups and the holding of Masses to commemorate his life.

If you need Frank Duff prayer leaflets, please contact the Concilium.

Favours attributed to the intercession of
The Servant of God, Frank Duff

Should be reported to:

Legion of Mary,
De Montfort House,
Morning Star Avenue,
North Brunswick Street,
Dublin 7, IRELAND