Concilium Bulletin December 2015
EUROPE
SPAIN
Madrid Senatus: A young man from Madrid who worked in the Morning Star Hostel, Dublin for 3 months joined a young adult praesidium on his return to Spain. A legionary who studied in Dublin for 2 years and worked with 2 praesidia is continuing his studies in Granada and, with an Argentinian legionary, is trying to set up a young adult praesidium. It was suggested that elderly legionaries and those with difficulty in walking could sit in the plaza and contact those who use the parks. Classes in reading, writing, sewing, and cooking are organised for immigrants. Street contact is directed towards youth.
Barcelona Senatus: A praesidium in an old folks’ home in Palma de Mallorca has 18 active members and 20 auxiliaries. The Curia in Valencia has l8 probationers, a large number of Adjutorians, mainly nuns and l4 attending a Patrician meeting. Street contacts are made and the house-bound visited.
Bilbao Senatus: A new praesidium was set up in Mungia. The praesidium in Portugalete is involved in parish work and does home visitation. A praesidium in Pretoria has 9 members who visit the sick and lonely. The praesidium in Baracaldo has some new members. They helped with extension in another parish, distributing a great number of Miraculous Medals.
PORTUGAL
Lisbon Senatus: Works include Pilgrim Statue visitation, street contact, Advent and Lenten reflections, birthday cards for auxiliaries, psychological and technical support for those completing insolvency processes. A praesidium of 9 has two probationers and 6 Praetorians. They visit the housebound, help to serve food; provide a nursing service and prepare many to receive the Sacraments. In Massama, hygiene and other services are provided for the sick and children are prepared for Baptism and Confirmation. The Bishop, 7 Spiritual Directors and 200 legionaries attended a Congress in Braga. Two representatives of the Senatus on a visit to Madeira were warmly received by the Bishop. A junior praesidium was set up and plans made to form an extension group. The Azores has an apostolate to drug addicts and the homeless. Two junior praesidia were set up. Councils are actively extending.
ITALY
Rome Senatus: Rome has 8 Curiae with 87 praesidia; Sardinia, a Comitium with 5 Curiae and 46 praesidia; Sicily, a Comitium, 4 Curiae with 48 praesidia; Reggio Calabria, a Comitium with 2 Curiae and 22 praesidia; the Adriatic coast, a Comitium with 4 Curiae centred on Rimini. There are 8 other widely separated Curiae (including Florence) with 43 praesidia and finally 5 other directly affiliated praesidia in various locations. That makes a total of 283 praesidia for all southern Italy. Only 3 junior praesidia are recorded.
Milan Regia: A praesidium in Pavia gave a presentation on the Legion to the Bishop’s Pastoral Council and presented the Bishop with a Legion Handbook. Genoa reports on visitation and discussions on the faith with young married couples. In Padova Comitium a new Nigerian junior praesidium with 17 members and 2 Senior Officers hold prayer meetings with children and recite the Rosary before Mass. In Lana Curia legionaries gave 5 talks on the Faith and on the Legion to 4th class students. They also engage in street apostolate, book barrow work, and Pilgrim Statue visitation.
CYPRUS
Members of the three praesidia in Nicosia helped out at Holycross Church on Confirmation day. At a following lunch they provided entertainment for the Patriarch of Jerusalem and other visiting bishops who were there for a Conference. The Vice President of one of the praesidia has entered a convent.
MALTA
Malta Regia: PPC projects were undertaken in Rome, Sicily and Birmingham. One new member was gained following two Columban Drives and another following a Retreat for auxiliaries. The consecration of homes to the Sacred Heart is promoted. One praesidium secured the consecration of one family and the renewal of consecration of three more. The Italian-speaking praesidium celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Mass of thanksgiving to which its auxiliary members were invited. During a week of apostolate legionaries in one Curia visited 190 families; 27 new auxiliary members were enrolled and two families agreed to have their homes consecrated to the Sacred Heart. Another Curia reported the reconciliation of a married couple, an entire family returned to the Sacraments, and a Jehovah Witness helped back to practice of the faith. Follow-up visits to a family who were recently received into the Church were reported by Queen of Peace Curia. A praesidium in this Curia visits Merchant ships. Mass attendance and Confessions were organised. The activities of the young legionaries in the 10 praesidia of a Junior Curia included a Columban Drive, visits to Nursing Homes for the elderly and disabled, a three-day Retreat with 50 in attendance, a BBQ, water games and other activities.
Gozo Comitium: Contact is made with Tourists of various beliefs. A group of 17 legionaries visited 134 families in Kilkara Parish on the Island of Malta where two people asked to see the Parish Priest. Nine new Auxiliaries were recruited and two of the seven persons who were encouraged to join the Legion are attending the praesidium meeting.
COUNTRIES UNDER CARETAKERSHIP OF MALTA REGIA
GREECE: The praesidium in the Filipino Community meets each Sunday. In Rhodes a prayer group organised by the Legion holds meetings in Kos.
TURKEY: The Malta Regia President and another legionary visited Turkey in October. The praesidium in Izmir has 10 members and 2 nuns. In Istanbul the Legion is doing well but needs more help, they met with the Spiritual Director and the officers and members of the 4 praesidia there. A Korean praesidium is attached to a Curia in Korea. Another visit is planned for March 2016.
ALBANIA
Shkoder Comitium: Works include helping people back to the Sacraments, visiting the sick in their homes, and helping with Church functions. The praesidium in Stubbla, Kosovo has about 25 members and is functioning well. Efforts are being made to start a new praesidium in Velezhe.
NORTH AMERICA
Boston Senatus: Works include Enthronement of Sacred Heart in 12 homes and 2 nursing homes. A Curia arranges Confession for the seriously ill. In Merrimack Valley, with 9 praesidia, home visitation and crowd contact focuses on Faith and Mass attendance. Providence Comitium comprises 13 praesidia and 4 Curiae. They teach CCD and help couples remarry in Church. New Haven Comitium, CT, with 168 members started 4 new praesidia, and report many contacts at a weekly book barrow. Bayview Curia started a new praesidium. The Vietnamese Curia has 8 praesidia with 137 members who visit apartments, nursing homes and prisons where Scripture is studied. A Portuguese Curia with 121 members contacted non-Catholics and new immigrants.
New York Senatus plans restructuring its councils to improve administration.
Staten Island Curia has 13 praesidia with 100 active and 353 auxiliary legionaries attached. Two weekend Exploratio Dominicalis projects were held on a local boardwalk. Morris County Curia gained 3 new praesidia. On home visitation, one person returned to the Church after 20 years away. Another was introduced to the RCIA programme. 455 contacts were made at a book barrow parish coffee morning location. This council also lists crowd contact, and prepared 248 for the Sacraments. South Bronx Curia visited 3,500 homes.
Philadelphia Senatus: A book barrow outside a downtown Church was the Legion’s Information Centre for contacts and greeting to the many visitors to Pope Francis’ World Meeting of Families. Trenton Comitium, NJ, with 7 senior and 2 junior praesidia, has a total membership of 160 active and 280 auxiliary members. Among their works is a Prison and Rehab Center. The attached Curia, Monmouth/Ocean Co. participated in contacts at various Shopping Malls. Wilmington Curia report Pilgrim Statue visits, and visits to the County Prison. Regina Pacis Hispanic Curia reports 13 returns, 2 marriages regularised and 2 joined the RCIA programme. In Metuchen Comitium, NJ, their Hispanic Curia had 19 adults baptised, 17 confirmed and 4 couples received the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Maria Legionis subscriptions increased greatly since May.
Arlington Regia, VA held a Congress entitled “The Charism of Frank Duff”. Arlington Junior Curia has 85 members visiting nursing homes, making Rosary beads, visiting auxiliaries and recruiting PTAA Pioneers. 997 contacts were met at Fairfax Fair. 47 teenagers, 25 senior volunteers and 4 priests attended a Retreat. 1 praesidium reported 43 lapsed returned to the Church.
Chicago Senatus celebrated its 50th anniversary in September with a Mass and a reception afterwards. The Korean Comitium held a recruiting drive, resulting in 2 new active and 7 auxiliary members. Also 7 returned to practice and 12 joined CCD class. Mankato Curia, MN, had a Booth at the Steele Co. Fair; many contacts were made and literature distributed. Mary, Woman of Revelation Curia, Joliet, IL, had 33 legionaries staffing a Booth at the Du Page Co. Fair and at Mary Fest 2015. A new Hispanic Comitium was set up. 11 legionaries do crowd contact in Millennium Park and also at the local train station, distributing Miraculous Medals and literature. Rockford Curia gained 16 new members, also reported 6 conversions and 5 returns to practice. Sioux Falls Curia organised a Rosary Rally in a public square.
Houston Senatus report many pastors looking for praesidia in Louisiana due to parish missions on True Devotion to Mary given by their Spiritual Director, Deacon Millar. Holy Spirit Conference in Anderson, TX, had the theme, ‘Wake up the World!’ In Lafayette Comitium, Louisiana, all-night vigils and Patrician meetings had an average of 35 attendees.
St. Louis Senatus recruited 20 new active members and they have a high numbers of auxiliaries. Enthronements to the Sacred Heart and blessing of homes were arranged. 21 non-practicing Catholics returned, including a family. Legionaries manned a Booth at the Colorado State Fair for 11 days making good contacts. Juniors write to soldiers serving abroad, encouraging them in the Faith. Many legionaries are teaching Catechism.
Cincinnati Senatus report that the Detroit Archdiocese recommends the Legion to its parishioners as a means of doing New Evangelisation. East Cleveland Curia has 8 praesidia. They visit nursing homes, jails, and housebound. Prayer services and the Rosary are led at these facilities. Sacramentals are passed out to the residents and 3,460 Miraculous Medals were given out. 100 people attended the Acies. Nashville Comitium: They have 2 junior. praesidia. One praesidium staffs a book barrow. Madison Curia: Two Legion family members attended the closing Mass for the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, IN. 24,000 Young Catholics. 42 youths from their parish in North Vernon attended.
Miami Regia: Praesidia report memberships of 10 to 15 and 80-180 auxiliary memberships. Orlando Comitium directs 18 praesidia and 4 Curiae. Alabama continues to grow with 7 praesidia under Mobile Curia, 6 under Birmingham Curia and 20 under South Carolina Curia.
San Francisco Senatus: Seattle Comitium held a Congress, started 3 new praesidia, a new Spanish Curia in Toppenish and a new Curia in Redmond, Oregon. Salinas started a new praesidium. Anchorage Curia legionaries teach Natural Family Planning, visit homeless, new parish members and assist with Baptism preparation. San Mateo Comitium promotes True Devotion to Mary.
Los Angeles Senatus report a Junior Curia with 7 praesidia. Senior praesidia and councils engage in home and hospital visitation, Sacred Heart Enthronement, catechesis, Pilgrim statue visitation, book barrow/crowd contact and prison visits. A praesidium of 8 members supervises a junior praesidium. A Chinese praesidium of 9 members has 115 auxiliaries and does mainly sick/elderly visitation. A praesidium of 20, including 4 probationers, supports all Senatus functions and undertakes a wide variety of works. The attached councils report the full range of Legion apostolates.
CANADA
In Toronto Senatus their Spiritual Director influenced the setting up of a praesidium in a Seminary. Bishop McGrattan wants more praesidia in his Diocese. Seat of Wisdom junior praesidium has 14 members who work with seniors. The Korean Comitium had huge numbers at their Reunion and Acies while works include teaching Korean refugee children. A converts’ testimony featured in a Retreat for lapsed and non-Catholics, with 19 participating. Regina Mundi Comitium organised a Congress which was well attended. A Retreat for the lapsed and non-Catholics had 19 participants. Regia of Ottawa had a two-day project in August, involving 8 praesidia and 20 members in the city centre, sharing their Faith. Winnipeg Curia, Manitoba, does prison ministry in a Rehab Centre. The Correctional Facility was visited 85 times during the year, 16 praesidia taking part. One Curia reports new members in 4 of their 7 praesidia. They organised parish Marian Retreats, lasting from 6 to 10 weeks on True Devotion to Mary with Fr. Gaitley’s DVD on “33 Days of Morning Glory.”
Montreal Senatus started a new praesidium in the parish of St. Simon the Apostle. A praesidium of 8 members does a variety of works with youth, the elderly and the sick. The 14 members of another praesidium do mostly works of consolation, such as, consoling the dying, visiting nursing homes, and Pilgrim Statue visitation. The Senatus visited Quebec Comitium and Moncton Curia. A new praesidium in Quebec evangelises youth and has monthly recitation of the Rosary at a Nursing home. Moncton Curia, with 5 praesidia organise Consecration of newly baptised to Our Lady of Miraculous Medal. The English-speaking Curia report on works of Faith consolidation and organise Pilgrimages to local shrines. Sherbrook Curia has 4 praesidia.
Vancouver Comitium: One Curia uses Skype to start new praesidia. Recruitment is done through the parish bulletin. Works include, evangelisation, assistance to the pastors in the parishes and Pilgrim statue. They held a Retreat and an Annual Rosary Walk. 28 members of Mother of Apostle Curia attended the Legion education seminar at St. Andrew Kim Parish. Fr. Paul Goo, a former active legionary, was recently ordained to the Priesthood. The celebration in the Parish of Surrey was shared by more than 1,300 parishioners and guests.
Edmonton Comitium: Bishop Terrio circulated his 26 parishes with information on the Legion of Mary. Home visitation, a Retreat for 20 juniors, a request by a nursing home resident to set up a praesidium and bringing a priest to a dying man in hospital were reported.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Senatus of Santo Domingo: Works include, visiting homes, hospitals and local jails. A youth leading a wild life was baptised and joined a praesidium. A Protestant woman was converted and is now a legionary. 5 un-baptised, unmarried couples were prepared and received the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony. Of 3 young drug addicts approached, two are now receiving the Sacraments. Works of service include, help for an invalid, successful medical treatment for a suicidal woman, helping to fill in immigration forms. A cancer cure through the intercession of the Frank Duff was reported.
Senatus of Santiago de los Caballeros: Two persons possessed by unclean spirits received help from an exorcist priest, with one receiving Holy Communion. Attached councils report Baptism for Haitian immigrants and 12 Patrician groups. A Curia did three-day visitation projects in its parishes. A long resistant contact sought help from legionaries and received the Sacraments before he died. Two persons who had been enemies were publicly reconciled.
Trinidad and Tobago Regia report new junior praesidia in 2 schools in Tobago. A praesidium with 9 active members does home and hospital visitation, public Rosaries, conducts Eucharistic Adoration twice weekly and prepares families for the Baptism of their children. An attached Curia has 7 senior and 4 junior praesidia with a membership of 76 active, 4 probationers and 430 auxiliaries. Works are home, hospital, nursing home visitation. Bereaved families are visited. 3 lapsed Catholics returned to the practice of the faith.
Haiti Senatus took reports from 5 Comitia, 2 Curiae and 2 Seminary praesidia; one of the latter was founded by the late Archbishop of Port au Prince, Msgr. Miot, while the late Msgr. Benoit, V.G, and Senatus Spiritual Director, helped start one of the Curiae. Both men were lost during the earthquake 5 years ago, RIP. A number of councils celebrated anniversaries, including one which marked the 60th Anniversary of the Patricians. Works include visiting homes, tents, hospitals, prisons, the market, orphans, bereaved families, cohabiting couples, the sick, elderly and infirm in their homes and bringing them Holy Communion, accompanying the priest on sick calls and doing works of service. They also do youth work, organise catechism courses, prayer meetings and contact people of different Faiths and none, including those practicing Voodoo. Very large numbers were prepared for the Sacraments.
Puerto Rico Senatus has 8 comitia, 5 Curiae and 10 praesidia. Three Columban Drives resulted in 2l active and 11 auxiliaries. Contact is maintained with prisoners; one ex-prisoner with learning disability, is now reading the Bible.
IRISH PROVINCIAL REPORT
COMITIA
Cloyne Comitium: Midleton praesidium visits people living alone, the Day Centre and two nursing homes. Holy Communion is taken weekly to an invalid man. Bishop Crean suggested an Maria Et Patria be carried out in Cobh during the year. East Cloyne Curia was represented at all 3 Comitia meetings. Praesidia reporting had 11, 4 and 7 members. Works undertaken were teaching prayers to school children, Fatima Statue visitation, distribution of Miraculous Medals and Rosary Beads, giving religious packs to First Holy Communicants in Primary and Secondary Schools.
Cork Comitium: Curiae and praesidia reported works of home, hospital and Fatima Statue visitation, also street contact work which is undertaken by many of the praesidia. A praesidium in one Curia runs an Old Folks Club, which involves many enjoyable activities. Another praesidium brought the Fatima Statue to the homes of First Holy Communion children and promoted the Rosary. They visited local schools and distributed Miraculous Medals. The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was also brought to Confirmation classes and other students promised to say one decade of the Rosary each day. Eucharistic Adoration, promoting the Rosary and religious videos feature in reports. An Edel Quinn Prayer Group for young people is run by legionaries.
Kerry Comitium: Three officers of this council and another legionary represented the Dioceses at the conferring of the Pallium on Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly; they were honoured to be invited by Bishop Brown to this magnificent event in Thurles Cathedral. A recruiting drive was held in Milltown in November along with extensive home visitation. A follow-up meeting was held with 4 attending. 35 transition year students have volunteered to work with legionaries on nursing home visitation accompanied by experienced legionaries. The students are divided into teams and each team do a minimum of 6 visits, to continue until May. Some of the students indicated that they would like to do more and they were informed that the legionaries would like to start a praesidium from this at the end of the term. Miraculous Medals and leaflets on the Legion are given to each student. The Comitium will host a Maria et Patria project on the 31st March – 1st April 2016.
Mid Clare Comitium: West Clare Curia presented its annual report. There are 6 praesidia attached with a total of 23 members. Works include nursing home and hospital visitation, plus crowd contact during the Willie Clancy Music Festival. A recruitment drive is proposed for Kilmihil as the parish priest is anxious that the Legion be restarted.
Thurles Comitium: Legionaries in Littleton praesidium visit the sick and elderly and undertake Pilgrim Statue visitation. Holycross praesidium does home and nursing home visitation and help to care for the Abbey. Templemore praesidium visits the Travelling community, organises Eucharistic Adoration, a Patrician group and undertake home and Pilgrim Statue visitation. Murroe Curia: The praesidium in Doon has been re-established with 4 members. Cashel Curia heard reports from Clonmel, Killenaule and Dranganan. The report mentioned promotion of the Cause of Venerable Edel Quinn. Tipperary Curia organised a very successful Maria Et Patria project to Waterford with Frs. Michael Kennedy and Robbie Coffey as Spiritual Directors.
CURIAE
Birr/Roscrea Curia: A reporting praesidium in Roscrea has 12 members and one probationer. They visit nursing homes and people in their homes and organise Church events. Birr praesidium has 6 members whose works include promoting Eucharistic Adoration and sale of Catholic literature. Each year they organise a Rosary Rally in the Church and the teachers and children from the Primary Schools participate. The Curia filled 2 buses to Knock Shrine for the Legion Annual Pilgrimage in September.
Limerick Curia: Works for the reporting praesidium include assisting the Parish Priest with various works in the parish, visiting elderly patients in their homes and visiting 5 nursing homes. They handed out pictures of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary at a Shopping Centre and engaged with shoppers, distributed Miraculous Medals and explanatory leaflets for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. They also do door to door visitation.
Lismore Curia: The reporting praesidium engages in a variety of apostolic works: home and hospital visitation: calling on the house-bound: parish activities such as Eucharistic Adoration: distribution of Church envelopes and other literature on behalf of the parish.
Ross Curia: This council has 9 senior praesidia, two of which reported gaining one new member each. 4 members took the Promise in one praesidium and some members helped with a recruiting drive in Bantry. One praesidium commenced home visitation. A Patrician meeting took place with an attendance of 10, all being legionaries. Leap praesidium has 5 members who sell Catholic papers, help with Church cleaning and undertake hospital and home visitation. They compile and distribute an annual parish newsletter. Miraculous Medals were presented to First Holy Communion classes in local schools. Courtmacsherry praesidium visits the elderly and those living alone. They presented Miraculous Medals to Holy Communicants in the local school.
Waterford Curia: The attendance was up this year in the September Rosary Procession. Their bus to Knock Shrine for the Legion Pilgrimage had 37 people. A report was given on the Maria et Patria Project which took place in St. Paul’s Parish on 10/11 August. 1,701 homes were visited. 47 non-Catholics and 9 prospective active members were encountered. Glenmore praesidium has 5 members who visit people in their homes and nursing homes.
DUBLIN SOUTHSIDE
(Oct & Nov 2015)
Immaculata Curia: 43 legionaries and 56 patricians attended 10 meetings. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo Prayer Meeting included reports from 3 peregrini and hymns; one priest, one nun and 9 legionaries were in attendance. A new Children’s Group in one parish has 4 legionaries and around 12 children fortnightly, for games and recitation of the Rosary. In another parish, 3 of the 6 full Legion members are Praetorians; they report 95 auxiliary members. Their works are home and school visitation, street contact and a monthly Patrician meeting.
Mater Ecclesiae Curia organised a meeting on Children’s Eucharistic Adoration; 2 priests and 30 others attended; the national representative for Children’s Adoration gave a talk at the meeting. A praesidium with 7 full and 2 probationary members each week, together with Blackrock College teachers and students contact drug addicts and alcoholics in the city centre, offering them sacramentals and advice on the Camino Detox Centre in Enfield. Other praesidium works include the Parish Repository, Parish Friendship Club, assisting with Meals on Wheels and Church cleaning. Their Patrician meeting attendance ranged from 16 to 27. A legionary is parish organiser for Eucharistic Adoration; a weekend project recruited 37 new adorers.
Benedicta Curia: During home visitation one praesidium promotes daily Eucharistic Adoration. A Chinese man of no religion was delighted to receive a Miraculous Medal and requested some for his friends. Confession was arranged for a partially-sighted lady. Other works include visitation of St. James’s Hospital, Lectio Divina and street contact.
Our Lady of Fatima Wicklow Curia: A Recruitment Drive in Greystones resulted in 4 new auxiliary members. The praesidium in Arklow receives a warm welcome in a Traveller Halting Site; all 5 members attended the funeral of a Traveller. Families of those baptised in recent years were visited. A book barrow was used over a festival weekend in August. 70 parishioners attended a talk on Frank Duff by Finola Kennedy.
Assumpta Curia: 4 Patrician meetings had 74 patricians and 16 legionaries in attendance; one meeting attracted 32 people, 4 of them legionaries. The organising praesidium in one Parish has 6 active members. Their main work is running the Parish Bookshop, where contact is developed with the customers, one of whom, a young Indian nurse, wanted a religious emblem to attach to her uniform. A local bar was visited prior to the Barmen’s Retreat.
Ancilla Domini Curia: 11 attended the November meeting of the Pauline Circle (dialogue between Catholics and those of other Christian faiths), two of them Protestants; the paper was on the Papal Encyclical entitled, “Laudatio Si”. In December there were 8 Catholics and 1 Protestant present. One praesidium asked 53 people to join the Legion over a period of 6 months. They visit homes and distribute 76 Maria Legionis. An average of 7 attended their patrician meeting.
Annunciata Curia: 74 patricians and 13 legionaries attended 6 meetings; a meeting on Dorothy Day had 35 patricians and 3 legionaries in attendance. One praesidium has 97 auxiliary members. During home visitation, 2 young Chinese students of no religion were surprised to hear that there was no charge to visit the parish Church and gladly accepted Miraculous Medals. Legionaries recite the Rosary and Legion prayers at the funeral of auxiliaries; one man was so impressed he asked to be enrolled as an auxiliary member of the Legion.
Gloriosa Curia: Celbridge and Leixlip praesidia held a joint Exploratio Dominicalis project, visiting two Housing Estates; 12 auxiliary members were recruited. One praesidium had 13 visitors during the year. A concerted effort to contact the 39 auxiliary members and 45 auxiliary probationers was made using the new auxiliary leaflet. Legionaries helped to instruct a Chinese family in the faith and a legionary became a godparent to their child. The Parish Priest was given a copy of Hilde Firtel’s book on ‘Alfie Lambe: Legion Envoy’ and gave a wonderful homily on the Tullamore man at Mass on 24th June with a large picture of Alfie decorated with flowers beside the altar; each of the 32 Mass-goers were given a copy of the book. A legionary helped to organise a talk on Men’s Sheds in the Curia house and the subsequent setting up of a Shed in a Resource Centre. The National University of Ireland, Maynooth praesidium has 19 active members, 5 of them Seminarians, 2 of whom were assigned to the Legion by the Seminary as part of their Pastoral Work training. Stands were mounted to undertake various apostolates including offering palm for Palm Sunday, scriptural quotations on love on Valentine’s Day and St. Bridget’s Crosses on February 1st. 15 attended a Patrician-style Prayer and Pizza meeting to discuss “Faith and Science”, 7 of them non-legionaries, while 3 Muslims and 7 Catholics attended an inter-faith meeting.
Spouse of the Holy Spirit Curia: 7 attended an Edel Quinn Prayer Meeting. A praesidium of 5 full and 1 probationary members visit homes and nursing homes; in one such home up to 30 residents now attend a Mass organised by the Legion. Three residents of another home are brought to the Parish Mass and afterwards to the Parish Centre for refreshments and a singsong.
AFRICA
KENYA
Senatus of Kenya: The work of a Seminary praesidium, with 30 members includes visiting homes, hospitals and a children’s home. The Senatus gives great care to young legionaries and a very successful Youth Rally was held for members from 20 Secondary Schools in Nairobi. The basics of the Legion were explained in detail and the importance of heroic work and of the Faith in one’s life were part of the day’s programme. Works undertaken by praesidia and councils include home, hospital and prison visitation resulting in returns to the Sacraments, marriages regularised and promoting catechism classes.
SUDAN
The Legion in Sudan has been out of touch for a long time due to unrest in the country. A priest from Torit Diocese has requested Handbooks from the Senatus of Kenya to start a praesidium. Prayers are asked for the legionaries in Sudan.
MALAWI
Blantyre Senatus: The former Senatus Secretary visited Concilium in December. All attached councils have submitted a programme of work to Senatus for 2016. There is a good group of correspondents, who are in touch with their councils and report regularly to Senatus.
Maula Senatus: The Senatus set up in January 2015 and is functioning well.
UGANDA
Uganda Senatus: Two Comitia, a Curia and a praesidium located in prisons and a University praesidium reported. The varied activities in the Comitia have resulted in many conversions, preparations for the Sacraments, and lapsed returned to the faith. The Senatus is most supportive of the activities in the prisons, where people of many different religions are met and a good mixture of conversion and consolation works take place such as: sharing the good news of the Gospel: preparing people for the Sacraments: promoting devotion to Mary: visiting sick and elderly inmates and doing acts of service for them. The officers, other prison staff and Chaplains were thanked for their help and encouragement to the legionaries. Members in the University and their Spiritual Director were also thanked for starting and encouraging youth praesidia and undertaking Exploratio Dominicalis.
NIGERIA
Ibadan Senatus: 105 attended a workshop for officers organised by one Regia, while in another Regia area 6 new senior and 4 junior praesidia were formed.
Abuja Senatus: A Regia reported having 10,013 full and 3,520 probationary members. They recorded 6,479 conversions in the year. Lagos Regia: One Comitium is hoping to create a junior Curia in a school. The works of another Comitium include homes and hospital visitation, teaching catechism, marriage instruction and counselling while a third Comitium reported a man brought back to the Church after 12 years visitation.
Enugu Senatus: All attached praesidia and councils report many being prepared for the Sacraments. A Comitium with almost 4,500 seniors and 17 junior Curiae with almost 4,400 members, had12 members ordained to the priesthood. 3 of the 14 praesidia attached to one Curia are in a Major Seminary and there are 5 intermediate praesidia in another Seminary. All praesidia reports include reference to Exploratio Dominicalis. Jos Regia: One Comitium prepared 384 for First Holy Communion, 686 for Confirmation and 406 for Baptism. 920 attended the Frank Mass. Ikot Ekpene Regia: A Comitium prepared over 600 for Holy Communion. 9 cohabiting couples married in the Catholic Church. A Congress was very well attended.
TANZANIA
Dar-Es-Salaam Regia: There has been very good follow up to this year’s promotion of the Legion at Masses in the various parishes by members from a Seminary with back up from other legionaries; this apostolate takes place each February and the new praesidia set up as a result are doing well. Training Seminars have taken place in most council areas. A praesidium which was revived reported many sick people receiving the Sacraments and 2 were baptised in hospital. 2 marriages were reconciled. Mtwara Comitium: A Diocesan Seminar on the Family was very informative and the legionaries are using the knowledge gained in their visitation of small Christian communities where they recite the Rosary and promote family prayer. The next stage in their work for families is Enthronement of the homes to the Sacred Heart and they also want to reach out to students living away from home. Rombo Comitium: Activities include home, hospital and schools visitation. Hai Moshi Comitium: Works reported on include home and hospital visitation, contact with drug and alcohol addicts, encouraging couples to marry in Church and preparing adults and children for the Sacraments.
SIERRA LEONE: Fr. Carew, Curia Spiritual Director said the Bi-Annual Congress was very successful although the Ebola disease has had its effect on meetings and membership for more than a year and it also affected attendance at the Congress with 57 present. It commenced with Concelebrated Mass at which the Assistant Parish Priest gave a beautiful homily. 3 talks were given by Fr. Carew the Vice-President and President and each was followed by discussion. There were also reports from some praesidia. Fr. Carew seems very appreciative of the e-mails from Concilium and read extracts to the gathering. The Congress ended with Eucharistic Adoration and the Legion prayers.
