Concilium Bulletin - April 2014
AFRICA
Senatus of Kenya: January minutes received. All attached praesidia and councils report having Mass in November for the Servant of God, Frank Duff. Plans are underway for organising the Mass at Venerable Edel Quinn’s grave on 11th May to commemorate the 70th anniversary of her death. A praesidium at St Teresa’s, Eastleigh where venerable Edel died cares for 3 junior praesidia, prepared 161 catechumens for baptism, undertook an Exploratio Dominicalis project and set up a praesidium in an adjoining parish. They also report many returns to the Sacraments. Attached curiae reports indicate great care being given to junior praesidia, and in the course of hospital visitation people of many faiths and none are contacted, including many Moslems.
MALAWI
Blantyre Senatus: Minutes to February. Attendance 69% – 76%. Preparations are in hand for the launch of the new Senatus at Maula in Lilongwe Archdiocese. Reports were received from 3 of the 12 praesidia directly attached to the Senatus, with an average of 16 members. They visit the sick at home and in hospital, encourage couples to wed in Church and those who are lapsed to return to the sacraments and they teach catechumens. The Regia governing the Legion in Mangochi Diocese has 15 praesidia, 2 Curiae and 9 Comitia with a total membership of 2,787, of whom 142 are youth.
Senatus of Uganda: Minutes to December. Celebrations which started in July, to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Edel Quinn in Uganda and the founding by her of the first praesidium, continued in various dioceses into the autumn. These events were of a very spiritual nature. A Legionary, who as a student had met Edel participated in one such event and some Senatus Officers have since met her. Two successful regional Spiritual Directors’ Conferences were held, one in Kabale Regia from 21st -23rd August, and the spiritual directors felt they learned a lot through sharing. Those attending the second conference in the Regia of Western Uganda on 14/l5th November said they would have liked a longer conference. The link with the Legion starts early for priests through praesidia in seminaries, e.g. 3 reports in the October minutes involved such praesidia.
NIGERIA
Abuja Senatus: Minutes to January 2014. The Senatus now has 18 praesidia. A third praesidium was formed in Kuje prison. One praesidium reported 20 lapsed returned and a Moslem converted. 2781 attended the Senatus Annual Reunion. It was decided that Curiae and Comitia will hold their own reunions from now on, with a combined one every third year. One Comitium reported 6 conversions and 12 new praesidia, but many members were displaced because of tribal crisis.
Ibadan Senatus: Minutes to February. Warri Regia was inaugurated recently and Akure Regia will soon be set up. 6 of the 14 praesidia in one Curia hold Patrician meetings monthly, while a Comitium reported 50 Patrician meetings had an attendance of 516. One Curia held a workshop on “Courtship and Marriage” with an attendance of 50. Lagos Regia: Minutes to January. It has 6 praesidia attached. One Comitium has only 6% of members over 40 and reported that some praesidia organise Patricians monthly; another reported 96 marriages rectified and 86 lapsed returned.
Kaduna Regia: Minutes to December received. The activities of one Comitium with 719 active seniors and 83 juniors include home, hospital, prison and hotel visitation resulting in 315 baptisms, 363 First Holy Communions, 102 Confirmations, 5 marriage cases settled, 4 lapsed returned to the faith and one person becoming a Catholic. 228 legionaries were recruited. Functions included, Acies, Patricians, Masses for the anniversaries of Frank Duff and Venerable Edel Quinn and for deceased Legionaries. 2 councils reporting on PPC projects had 47 and 52 participants respectively and met over 2,000 people of many religions and none. Problems noted included polygamous marriages and a lack of knowledge of the faith.
Enugu Senatus: Works include home and hospital visitation, looking after junior praesidia, helping settle marriage disputes, preparing adults and children for the Sacraments and teaching Catechism to children. There were many returns to the Sacraments and marriages blessed. A Comitium with 11 praesidia, 13 senior and 14 junior Curiae has over 5,000 senior and 5,500 junior members. 15 Senior and 8 junior praesidia were set up during the year. Jos Regia has printed the Frank Duff prayer leaflet and distributed it widely. The troubles in Northern Nigeria have greatly affected the Regia and its attached councils. Prayers are requested. Onitsha Regia: One Comitium prepared 50 Catechumens for baptism, 174 for Holy Communion, 1,700 for Confirmation. 136 couples were helped to marry in church. 3 senior and 1 junior praesidia were established and a new junior Curia was inaugurated. Another Comitium organised a project during which 1,470 contacts were made resulting in 161 Catechumens Ikot Ekpene Regia organised 6 two-day officers’ workshops at different venues. Attendances ranged from 80 to over 200.
TANZANIA
Dar-Es-Salaam Regia: Minutes June to February. A P.P.C. project to Zanzibar was undertaken by 8 Legionaries and a Curia Spiritual Director. A calendar of Regia events for 2014 was given to all Curiae. One praesidium with 30 members is situated in the Major Seminary and while work is restricted due to college activities, Legion promotion has been excellent; following a recruiting drive by members from the Seminary and one Curia, 136 names were taken and 45 came to the first meeting. A Junior Congress was held. There are 2,400 juniors in one diocese. Mbeya Comitium: The Acies was held at Comitium level. As a result of recruiting in 6 parishes, 85 members were gained. Promoting the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony, visiting the sick and looking after junior members are on-going works. Kilema Comitium has 12 Curiae and 10 praesidia attached. Total membership is 954 seniors and 51 juniors. 90 lapsed returned after a number of visits, 32 separated couples were reconciled and 14 marriages regularised. Children are taught prayers and Catechism. Kahama Comitium: The programme for the year referred to functions, extension, visitation of councils and Praesidia and when reports were due, The Year of Faith was inaugurated for Legionaries with Mass. Hai Moshi Comitium: Works reported on include home and hospital visitation, caring for junior praesidia, visitation of schools, contact with drug and alcohol addicts, helping settle marriage disputes, preparing adults and children for the Sacraments. There were many returns to the Sacraments and marriages blessed. A number of praesidia were established in secondary and technical schools, a university and in parishes. Rombo Comitium: Reports include home and hospital visitation, preparation of adults and children for the sacraments 3 Curiae and 4 praesidia were revived.
ZAMBIA
Lusaka Regia: October to December 2013 minutes. Works include visiting homes, hospitals, prisons, orphanages, the bereaved, teaching Catechism, organising juniors, preparing couples for marriage and burying the dead who have no relatives. 4 lapsed returned and a couple where the wife is a Jehovah Witness are now attending Catholic Small Christian Community meetings. Despite the distances involved, council visitation is undertaken and a number of councils have held retreats.
Kasama Regia: December minutes received. The Regia visited Mpika Comitium in October and commended the Comitium for its hard work and good governance. A number of other councils were visited in June to help strengthen the Legion
SIERRA LEONE: Minutes to November 2013. The minutes state that the Curia is due to have a new Spiritual Director, who was a Legionary in the Seminary, confirmed in his post by the Archbishop
LIBERIA: An e-mail thanked the correspondent for keeping in touch.
EUROPE
SPAIN
Madrid Senatus: Active members are recruited on street contact. A street apostolate is made to youth during the day and also at night. Auxiliaries are given a Legion phone number for contact with active members, are visited at least once a year, and are invited to all Legion functions. The families of children recently Confirmed are visited to encourage them to continue in the practice of their faith and to join parish groups. Extension in Segovia is difficult and a P.P.C. project is planned there for the autumn. Three new praesidia are being set up. There are good discussions at the Senatus meeting. One council was asked how they were preparing future officers. Some of the answers given were that every legionary is a potential officer if properly trained. Don’t wait till an officer’s term has expired to start looking for their replacement. Details of three Patrician groups in the city are made available to all legionaries on a monthly basis.
Bilbao Senatus: February minutes received. They help in serving meals to immigrants, give Spanish lessons organised by Caritas, take old people on outings. Legionaries attended a special Mass for former Legion Envoy, Pacita Santos and did extension work in Portugalete. A new youth praesidium was set up in Leon.
Barcelona Senatus: January minutes received. Barcelona City has 10 Praesidia with 74 active legionaries. Homes and jails are visited. Good work is done with drug addicts, street people, H.I.V. patients, South American and Russian immigrants and gypsies. One drug addict is visited at home and sometimes accompanies legionaries to Mass. The Senatus has l2 Patrician groups. There is a praesidium in the convent of a Missionary Society. Some churches were kept open with the help of the Legion. They report follow up visits to ex-prisoners and conduct an apostolate to prostitutes. In Valencia the auxiliaries have a monthly get-together.
PORTUGAL
Lisbon Senatus: February minutes received. The President and Vice-President attended a reception in the Nunciature on Pope Francis’ birthday. A praesidium in a seaside suburb staffs a book barrow before and after the daily Eucharistic celebration. The 8 members of this praesidium are Praetorians, while 11 of their 28 Auxiliaries are Adjutorians. There were extension reports from 7 areas, with praesidia set up in 6, two of them in the Regia of Oporto. The Regia of Coimbra held 2 Columban Drives. The Azores Comitium junior praesidia had a Day of Recollection. Their Spiritual Director is promoting a programme of extension.
ITALY
Rome Senatus: February minutes received. A new Curia has been set up in Taranto. The Senatus lost one of the pillars of the Legion in Italy with the death on 20th November of Bro. Giovanni Monti, known in civil and military circles as General Monti, who joined the Legion in Rome in its earliest days and was faithful to the last. He held office at different times at praesidium, Curia and Senatus level, and carried out extension in Sardinia and Southern Italy. He had a huge interest in the Orthodox and had established friendly contact with all sections of Orthodoxy in Italy. There is a photo of him and his praesidium in the company of Bro. Duff during Vatican II and prominently among them is Bro. Sergio Grotoff, of the Russian Orthodox Church. When he could no longer go out, his praesidium met at his bedside and he passed away an hour or so after his last meeting. Mgr. La Rosa, Senatus Spiritual Director, was Chief Celebrant at his funeral Mass which was attended by a large number of legionaries. Br. Monti’s wife and fellow legionary joined him in eternal life a few weeks later.
Milan Regia: The Bishop of Acqui Therme gave the homily on Frank Duff at the Acies. An increase in activities has been attributed to the intercession of Frank Duff. A Patrician group has a rota of 3 priests for its meetings. Visitation resulted in the return to the sacraments of a young parishioner. There has been an increase in Praetorian and Adjutorian membership. Extension efforts are on-going.
Padova Comitium: A Nigerian praesidium in Verona is recruiting among a group from Ghana with a view to forming a new praesidium. A new junior praesidium has been formed by the Nigerians. A praesidium in Lana Curia visits the families of the newly baptised, and new residents are invited to Sunday Mass.
CYPRUS: There are three praesidia in Nicosia and one in Limassol. Minutes are fairly up to date for two of the praesidia. Our Lady of the Rosary praesidium reported public park contact where most people met were lapsed. These were encouraged to return to Mass and confession. At the request of the Parish Priest a praesidium is training children to recite the Holy Rosary at the Sunday evening family Mass. Limassol: December Minutes received. Their apostolate includes the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart, home visitation, visits to the old, sick and lonely, plus works of service.
MALTA
Malta Regia: February minutes received. A new praesidium has 11 members. A praesidium of six teaches catechism to children and holds half day retreats for auxiliaries. A young person is being instructed for reception into the church and his fiancée, a lapsed catholic, is also being helped. The works of three other reporting praesidia include contacting tourists and drug addicts, home visitation, looking after junior praesidia, Pilgrim Statue visitation to a power station and visits to primary schools, where a Rosary Beads is given to each child. An Exploratio Dominicalis project resulted in six new auxiliary members, contacts with atheists and lapsed Catholics. Contact was also made with a couple regarding abortion. Three praesidia undertook Exploratio Dominicalis projects. A Curia reported the consecration of homes and lapsed Catholics returning to the Sacraments after a number of years. Following many visits, a couple agreed to have their child baptised. In another area members engage in prison and home visitation, and the Apostolate of the Sea. Another report tells of a return to the sacraments after a lapse of 50 years and the consecration of six families to the Sacred Heart. Junior Curia members contact their fellow students and encourage them to go to Sunday Mass and Confession. They also visit nursing homes. Gozo Comitium Officers had a meeting with the Bishop of Gozo. A praesidium for young adults was established in October; their activities included a Marian Rally and an outreach to refugees. A social event was held for all junior legionaries; 36 attended a barbeque.
COUNTRIES UNDER THE CARETAKERSHIP OF MALTA
GREECE: The praesidia in Thessaloniki and Rhodes are continuing to meet and carry out their apostolate. Both Spiritual Directors are very helpful and a source of encouragement to the legionaries. In Athens the praesidium is working away in difficult conditions.
ALBANIA: Mass was celebrated in Shkoder Cathedral on the occasion of the visit of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The apostolate includes teaching catechism, visits to families, hospitals and asylums. In villages, legionaries teach children catechism, clean up churches and tombs, attend funerals and visit families with the statue of Our Lady. The officers of the two praesidia in Tirana are attending the Lezhe Curia meetings.
IRISH PROVINCIAL REPORT TO CONCILIUM APRIL 2014
COMITIA
Dromore Comitium: There are 7 senior and one junior praesidia and one Curia attached. The junior praesidium in Burren has 6 members who attend Church services, children’s choir, serve Mass, encourage family prayer and make St. Brigid’s Crosses. Their senior praesidium also has 6 members and 50 auxiliaries. As well as running the junior praesidium they undertook home, Pilgrim Statue and hospital visitation, Pioneer Total Abstinence promotion for juniors, showed D.V.D.’s of the Miraculous Medal in schools, organised a day of prayer for vocations and a Rosary Procession.
Navan Comitium: Members of one praesidium spoke to 200 people on the Mass, family prayer and the Rosary and encouraged the lapsed to go to Confession. A Lithuanian man who is not a Catholic was encouraged to join the R.C.I.A. course. Settled Travelling families were visited with the Fatima Statue. The 5 members of another praesidium engaged in home, hospital and nursing home visitation and organised the Corpus Christi Procession. A praesidium of 12 visited 543 homes and Pilgrim Statue visitation was also carried out to 231 homes. They arranged a Legion of Mary Float for St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Navan and it was awarded one of the prizes. Trim Curia: A praesidium of 4 doing home visitation came across some drug problems Another praesidium of 4 members do home visitation and crowd contact. Mullingar praesidium, also with 4 members promoted the Alfie Lambe Cause at Tullamore Show.
Down & Connor Comitium: There are 11 praesidia and 3 Curiae attached. The works of the 5 members of Lisburn praesidium include visitation to 2 parish schools, organising a women’s retreat, Fatima Statue circulation and promoting Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in homes. The praesidium in Derriaghy has 5 members and 42 auxiliaries. The population of the area is mainly Protestant. The Fatima Statue Apostolate is promoted through the parish bulletin. A children’s Rosary group is conducted weekly in a school with about 12 pupils attending. Ligoniel praesidium has 9 members and 43 auxiliaries. A talk on Fatima was given to the pupils in the local primary school. Poleglass praesidium works in a parish of severe deprivation. There are 14 members, 6 of whom are Praetorians, and 45 auxiliaries. Home visitation is done regularly and 10 Fatima Statues are circulated. Two members give talks on the faith in primary schools. The Extension Committee is in contact with a number of parish priests with a view to setting up new praesidia. Down Curia: The reporting praesidium has 9 members and 145 auxiliaries. Works include visitation to update the parish census. 10 Fatima Statues are in circulation. Non-Catholics are informed about the Legion and offered Miraculous Medals. As a result of a recruiting drive in Dundrum parish a praesidium was started there with 6 prospective members. North Antrim Curia: The reporting praesidia have 6 and 4 members and a total of 43 auxiliaries. Hospitals and nursing homes are visited and families are given the Fatima Statue. A new praesidium was set up in Loughguile following a recruiting drive in December.
Derry Comitium: There are 4 attached Curiae. The works of the 5 members of the praesidium in Templemore parish consist of home and residential home visits and visitation of 2 schools. One women met on home visitation requested the visit of a priest to hear her Confession as it was 30 years since she had last confessed. While visiting sheltered accommodation, 4 people were met who requested a visit from a priest and they are now on his sick list. Long Tower praesidium has 4 members and 25 auxiliaries. Many lapsed are met on home visitation. Sick people and the elderly are visited regularly and names are obtained for the priest’s sick list. Great contacts were made by visiting the camp sites during the Fleadh Ceoil in Derry. The camp site organisers were delighted to receive leaflets on Mass times in both the Irish and English language. Our Lady Queen of Peace Curia has 27 members and about 371 auxiliaries in its 5 praesidia. Inishown Curia has 8 praesidia and a total of 50 members. Magilligan prison is visited during the summer months when the ferry operates.
Raphoe Comitium: There are 9 Senior and 2 junior praesidia and one attached Curia. Stranorlar praesidium has 7 members and 145 auxiliaries. Their main work is home visitation in country areas in the summer and in the town in winter; they also help with the outreach programme, which was recently started in the parish. Two schools were visited and Miraculous Medals etc. given to the First Holy Communion children. Their junior praesidium has 10 members. Legionaries recited the Rosary at the wake of the 2 sisters who lost their lives in a fire in Letterkenny. The praesidium in Raphoe has 3 members and 27 auxiliaries. They give catechism instruction to 3 children attending a non-Catholic school. The works of the 2 reporting praesidia in South West Curia consist of hospital and nursing home visitation and the sale of Catholic newspapers.
CURIAE
Leitrim Curia: Bishop Francis Duffy attended the Curia Reunion in January. Mohill praesidium has 4 praetorians among its 6 members and they have 20 auxiliaries. On home visitation people are encouraged to return to Mass and the Sacraments. The praesidium in Granard has 5 members and 25 auxiliaries. They visit 2 hospitals, a nursing home and people living alone. The recently appointed Concilium correspondent along with the previous correspondent visited the Curia in January.
Mid Clogher Curia: On Monday 17th February Sr. Yvonne Newell and Fr. Owen Gorman took a group of John Paul 11 secondary school children on a visit to Concilium Legionis headquarters and to Frank Duff’s House. The Acies is planned for Sunday 23rd March.
West Clogher Curia: Minutes received to January. Two praesidia reported gaining new members. The praesidium in Ivinestown has 5 members, 4 of whom are Praetorians. On 8th December their priest blessed Miraculous Medals and they distributed them among the people.
Kilmore Curia: Drung praesidium has 4 members who visit nursing homes and the sick and housebound. They lead the Rosary before the Saturday vigil Mass and are involved in general Church work.
Clonmacnoise Curia: There are 3 praesidia attached. Athlone praesidium has 7 members who undertake home, hospital and nursing home visitation. They visited 7 primary schools before Confirmation. A teacher met in one of the schools said she remembered legionaries visiting her school a number of years ago and receiving a Miraculous Medal. She found it a great help throughout her life.
Armagh Curia: Extension is planned for the immediate future.
Drogheda Curia: A new praesidium with 5 members was started in Collon. The annual Night Vigil held in Mell Church on New Year’s Eve from 11.00 p.m. to 1.00 a.m. was very well attended. Ardee praesidium, which meets on Sunday nights at 7.30 p.m. has 14 members, 43 auxiliaries, 3 Praetorians and 8 Adjutorians. Many works are undertaken, including home visitation and Patricians. They organise a weekly Holy Hour in a nursing home retirement village with about 20 present. A Global Living Rosary was organised for school children. Nine primary schools in the area were approached. The Rosary was recited in the Church during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with individual children leading the Hail Mary in their own language. About 40 people were present for the annual candlelit Rosary recited on the Feast of Christ the King at the Statue of Christ the King in Ardee. A praesidium in St. Peter’s parish has 4 members engaged in many apostolic works.
Dundalk Curia: The reporting praesidium has 8 members. Works include bringing Holy Communion to the housebound, arranging Eucharistic Holy Hours and helping out at a Senior Citizens Club.
DUBLIN SOUTHSIDE CURIAE – FEB - MARCH 2014
Spiritual Directors of Dublin Curiae met on March 6th for lunch and discussion of Evangelii Gaudium; 9 priests were present.
Assumpta Curia meetings had an average attendance of 79%. 22 patricians and 6 legionaries attended 2 meetings. The 8-member praesidium in Merrion Rd. has all 4 officerships filled. In the Parish Repository, many good contacts are made. An alcoholic Traveller thanked the legionaries for listening to him. Surplus Catholic publications are distributed to surgeries and hair salons. The monthly Patrician meeting attracts an average of 20 patricians.
Spouse of the Holy Spirit Curia: The Saggart praesidium has 3 members and one officer. Their works include home and hospital visitation, running a Patrician meeting and a Frank Duff Prayer Group.
Gloriosa Curia: The Leixlip praesidium made its second report; they have 2 full members and one probationer; two members from Celbridge also attend. Pilgrim Statue visitation and visitation of the elderly and house bound are the main works. The Maynooth parish praesidium has 8 members and 1 probationer, 109 auxiliary and 13 Adjutorian members. They have re-launched their junior praesidium after a 1 year gap. Home and nursing home visitation feature as their chief works.
Immaculata Curia’s first “Faith is Fun” Day for children had one family in attendance. 34 legionaries and 43 patricians attended 9 meetings. The temporary amalgamation of a praesidium with Mount Argus praesidium has been made permanent. One member was gained at a recruiting drive in Walkinstown in March. The 33-day preparation for True Devotion was started on March 22nd in Brookfield by 5 legionaries and 5 parishioners, most of whom came to the subsequent praesidium meeting. All 4 members of a Clogher Road praesidium are Praetorians; they have 3 officers and 1 probationer. Their main works are home visitation, running the church repository and holding a Patrician meeting. The new evening praesidium in Greenhills gave its second report; 3 of the 4 members are officers. Four schools were visited. During home visitation the Eucharistic League is promoted. A praesidium officers meeting and a social evening have been held.
Mater Ecclesiae Curia: 18 attended an evening of prayer for P.P.C. 19 attended one Patrician meeting and over 30 attended another entitled ‘Journey to the Diaconate’. The 4-member Monkstown praesidium has one probationer. Two members work as part of a parish team bringing residents of a nursing home to Mass each Sunday. Other works include promoting the annual Venerable Edel Quinn Mass and a weekly public Rosary. The 4-member Johnstown praesidium has 130 auxiliary members. Nursing home visitation and helping out with a Meals-on-Wheels project are the main works of the praesidium.
Our Lady of Fatima Curia, Wicklow: The praesidium in Johnstown near Arklow has 10 full members and 1 probationer. 23 altar servers are rostered and trained; 5 former altar servers are to be Ministers of the Word. Amongst other works, Shelton Abbey Prison which is without a chaplain, is visited twice a week and contact is maintained with a former inmate who has turned his life around.
Benedicta Curia meetings had an attendance of 71%. One member gave his testimony to over 3000 people at the Divine Mercy Conference in February and received loud applause at his endorsement of the Legion of Mary. A praesidium of 2 full members and 1 probationer distributed Miraculous Medals to children in Loreto School, while staff and patients alike were contacted in several units of St James’ Hospital.
Ancilla Domini Curia: The 6-member Clondalkin praesidium has one probationer, one officer and 70 auxiliary members. They distribute 100 Maria Legionis. They brought 44 parishioners on the Legion pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock. Joy of Israel praesidium has 5 full members and one probationer. Two members tend a book barrow in Temple Bar each Saturday. They organise the monthly Pauline Circle and appeal for help to invite more Protestants; the February meeting had one Protestant and 7 Catholics. The March meeting had 3 Protestants and 5 Catholics in attendance.
Annunciata Curia had 45 Patricians and 15 legionaries at 4 meetings. A 6-member praesidium had 3 visitors during the year. There are 40 auxiliary and 14 Adjutorian members. Of the 70 Maria Legionis they distribute, a copy is left in 17 religious houses, at the Library, public baths and a music school. On home visitation they provide a list of the 27 parish organisations; as a result a lady joined the Young Priest’s Society and is now secretary of that organisation. Each Sunday morning the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association is promoted and 3 people took the pledge for life during the last year. 59 blind and partially sighted are visited resulting in 21 attending a retreat and 17 going to Knock, one of whom returned to the sacraments after 20 years. In February the curia had a lively discussion on Confession using confession leaflets and a schedule of local confession times.
UNITED STATES & CANADA
Boston Senatus: All meetings were held this winter despite bad weather. Promotion of Catechism, Rosary and Confession in 3 correctional centres resulted in one conversion, one Confirmation, and one lapsed returned. A new praesidium of 18 members organised a Marian Pilgrimage’ A curia circulates a Crucifix to homes geared towards an increase in vocations. Sancta Maria Homeless Hostel is partly run by Legion volunteers.
Philadelphia Senatus; Visitation of migrant camps, prisons, book barrow work on Ocean City board walk and busy markets feature in the report. 255 people attended a Retreat. 100 people celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Legion in Bucks County. The Korean Comitium gained 9 active, 8 auxiliary members. 4 conversions and 8 returns to practice of the faith were reported. Scranton extended the Legion into 3 parishes. A praesidium of 15 had 30 participants in the 33 Days preparation for TDM. On Ash Wednesday, 25 legionaries invited passers-by to visit the Catholic Church. A seminary legionary gave a talk on the Legion of Mary to 465 people.
Cincinnati Senatus: Dayton, Ohio, Curia hosted a book stall at an Agricultural Fair, enrolling one person for R.C.I.A. and one auxiliary member. Recruitment is done through Church Bulletins, display-tables at Fairs, and personal contacts. Legionaries promote Confession on home and nursing home visits.
Chicago Senatus: Circulation of Legion literature at Parish Fairs features a lot. The Korean Comitium assisted 10 non-Christians to do the R.C.I.A. course and later to be baptised. Lake County, Illinois has a new praesidium in Waukegan. A Curia with 32 praesidia will divide. Their many ethnic groups give vital support in their parishes. Sioux Falls had 24 returns to faith from Pilgrim Statue visitation.
Houston Senatus: Many councils report extension. Visitation of homes, hospitals, nursing homes house bound, Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and teaching C.C.E. (Catholic Catechism Education) feature prominently in the reports.
St. Louis Senatus: A new praesidium in Steelville recruited.9 persons for the R.C.I.A. course. Rosary Beads and Catholic literature were distributed at the State & County Fairs. Prison visitation is one of their works. A number of Catholics have returned to the Sacraments. Five conversions were reported, including 3 prison inmates and 2 under instructions.
New York Senatus: 21 legionaries undertook a recruiting drive resulting in a new praesidium of 10 members. A second praesidium began in Holy Family Parish. Realignment of praesidia gave Our Lady of the Valley Curia two extra praesidia. Officers expressed appreciation of Enda Dunleavy’s recent visit on behalf of Concilium.
Arlington Regia, VA: The Korean Fairfax Comitium continues direct approach to non-Catholics. A workshop on the Patricians is being held to encourage growth of the Patrician movement. This is being taken up by all councils, with Fairfax Comitium now having 7 Patrician groups. Extension continues to set up praesidia in a number of councils. 106 legionaries attended the annual retreat.
Los Angeles Senatus: Work includes bereavement counselling and prayers at funerals. Tijuana Curia continues with extension efforts through home visitation, despite growing violence in the city. A Congress, a general workshop and an increase in the number of Patrician groups are planned.
San Francisco Senatus: Legionaries recruited extra priests for Confessions and long queues for the Sacrament of Penance ensued at the annual Rosary Rally. In Stockton, 2 new Spanish-speaking praesidia were set up. San Jose Comitium has English, Spanish and Vietnamese Curiae. In Idaho, a 16 member praesidium will divide. Anchorage Curia gained 4 members. San Jose has English, Spanish and Vietnamese Curiae. 2 Baptist couples became Catholics. A Vietnamese curia in Seattle assisted the dying to receive last rites and is bringing the lapsed back to the Church. New praesidia were set up in San Francisco and North San Mateo Curiae
CANADA
The Senatus of Toronto gained 5 new members and 3 new praesidia, including a junior praesidium. In Ottawa they visit prisons, hospitals, do crowd contact and gained 11 new members through Columban Drives. A seven- member praesidium with 4 Praetorians had 893 contacts at a book barrow. Mississauga Comitium has 66 Praetorians, 1916 auxiliaries and 69 Adjutorians.
Vancouver Comitium: A praesidium with 4 members visited 769 prison inmates and 5 received the Sacraments. They assisted the Chaplain by contacting 531 Catholics on 39 ships at Port Vancouver. A praesidium of 16 active members does home visitation, promotes the Family Rosary Crusade, and teaches Christian Doctrine to 19 Children. Recruitment at bus stops, and Skytrain resulted in one active member and 20 auxiliaries.
Montreal Senatus A recent Senatus census shows 352 active and 2145 auxiliary members. A priest requests immigrants who are former legionaries to start a praesidium. A new praesidium of 4 members started at Cartierville. A Spiritual Director helped 16 active members and 8 auxiliaries to prepare for True Devotion Consecration. In St. Hyacinthe, work includes youth contact, hospital visitation, bringing sick people to Mass and conducting prayer meetings.
WEST INDIES
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Senatus of Santo Domingo: The 10% increase in membership gives a total 6,000 active members. Also a 70% increase in Adjutorian membership brings the total number to 632. All praesidia engage in extensive visiting of homes, catechesis of children, visiting the sick and prisoners.
Senatus of Santiago de los Caballeros: Legionaries prepared 86 individuals for the Sacrament of the Sick, 8 children and 3 adults for Baptism, 10 youths for Holy Communion A total of 36 adults and people received Confirmation. Visits to psychiatric hospitals were made, plus 348 visits to prisons.
Trinidad and Tobago Regia: Minutes to December. A Curia with 8 praesidia has 71 active members and 268 auxiliaries. Their apostolate includes teaching Catechism in the schools and book barrow work.11 adults were baptised, 16 received into Catholic Church, 7 lapsed Catholics returned to the Sacraments and 6 to Mass. 2 new praesidia were established.
Senatus of Haiti: This report covers 4 Comitia, 3 Curiae and 3 praesidia. All reports focus on contact with the elderly, bereaved, orphans, prisoners and the disabled. People of many faiths are encountered on home visitation. Some councils have junior praesidia attached; other councils organise Catechism courses. 1500 people were prepared for Baptism, 270 for Holy Communion, 990 for marriage and 700 for the Sacrament of the Sick. 387 lapsed returned to the Church.
Puerto Rico Senatus: They help AIDS patients, clean sick peoples’ homes and arrange transport. Students are helped with homework and civics. A junior praesidium started at a children’s hospital. Legionaries visited a prison accompanied by a priest and 9 prisoners went to Confession. Many returns to the sacraments were reported, including 9 people who were close to death. One Curia reported members working in a dangerous area dominated by drugs.
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