Concilium Bulletin February 2013

AFRICA

BURUNDI
Gitega Senatus: Legionaries continue to promote the De Montfort’s True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin among youth by forming groups known as the “Friends of Montfort” and the Confraternity of Mary Queen of our Hearts. The Senatus joined spiritually in the Dublin Eucharistic Congress. All the usual works are undertaken. The Acies ceremonies for juniors are planned in the primary and secondary schools.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Bangui Senatus: Minutes indicate that there is an ongoing commitment to apostolic work, dealing with troubled families, counselling drug abusers, advising girls against abortion, visiting taverns where prostitution occurs. Spiritual motives are put before those contacted and a high degree of success is achieved. Most councils are forming Legion nurseries and these are progressively turned into junior praesidia and these juniors are continuing their Legion membership into the senior ranks. The only contributions required of legionaries are those made to the ‘secret bag’.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Kinshasa Senatus: This Senatus has not sent minutes since last reporting and the council governs the Regiae at Matadi, Kikwit, Mbandaka and Kisangani.

Kananga Senatus governs the Legion in the Kasai with a Regia at Mbuji-Mayi for the province of East Kasai. Two representatives Pia Makenga and Henri Kaite visited this council with good results.

Bukavu Senatus: Two new Comitia have been set up in the parishes of Bunyakiri and Ciherano. Some of the main works undertaken by legionaries are recruiting, visiting prisoners; catechetical work, marriages regularised, reception into the Church, youth work and mediating between disputing families. 29 officers attended a two-day retreat; legionaries attended a special day for refugees at the Marian Grotto of Lukananda and a special Mass organised by the National Conference of Bishops of the Congo.

Lubumbashi Regia: Visits are planned to distant councils after all relevant information and statistics have been assembled.

Butembo Senatus: Legion meetings are well attended by councils affiliated to the Senatus and visits to the two recently installed Regiae of Beni and Lubero took place during the year. The Bishop of Butembo-Beni officiated at the opening ceremony of the Year of Faith. The Senatus celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Legion in the Diocese. They hope to set up 4 Comitia in 2013 in a new diocesan parish. Works of evangelisation continue: marriages blessed, children introduced to the Mass and the Rosary, visits to the sick including Protestants and baptism arranged. People are brought back to religious practice and converts received into the Church. Prayers are requested for those suffering as a result of war.

RWANDA
Kigali Senatus: In 2006 Catholic population of Rwanda was reported as 56.5%. Cyangugu Comitium has 3,063 members, Janja Comitium with 1,020 members, Shangi Comitium with 2741, and Gikongoro Comitium has 4,870 members but the number of auxiliary members is very low.

MAURITIUS
The Regia is working well. The Legion celebrated 72 years in Mauritius on 30th September. The junior movement is working on the island.

REUNION
Works reported were home and hospital visitation, ministry of the Eucharist to the sick, teaching Catechism, street contact, visiting mortuaries and accompanying priests on home visits. The Curia in Madagascar had two praesidia reporting on recent elections.

*********************************

ASIA

Sinapore Senatus: Fourteen legionaries including the Senatus President attended the inauguration of 3 new Curiae in Kenningau Comitium. Celebrations for the 62nd anniversary of the Legion in Sabah have taken place. It was reported that a praesidium was conducting a Patrician meeting ‘on line’, they were informed not to call it a Patrician meeting, as it has to follow ‘Handbook guidelines’. A Congress has taken place in Kuching Comitium.

Hong Kong Comitium: Comitium officers attended the bi-monthly meeting of the Hong Kong Central Council of Catholic Laity. In praesidia reports mention is made of Catechism classes, personal contacts, bringing elderly to Mass, parish work, Sunday school for conformation, visitation of elderly in their homes. There were two Curiae reports from the East and West side of Kowloon Peninsula, they have a total of 379 active members with 840 auxiliaries and 23 praetorians, some of their major assignments are Sunday schools, visitation of elderly homes, prisons, hospitals and street contacts.

Taiwan Senatus: Since the Eucharistic Congress there has been an increase in Eucharistic Adoration in Churches. In the past two years 9 new praesidia have been started including junior praesidia. There is an increase in home visitation and crowd contact work. A Spiritual Director of a Curia in Taiwan while on a visit to Korea saw legionaries doing crowd contact work late at night and was moved by it, and as a result praesidia in his Curia are now undertaking the same work mostly in parks at night time, this work was never done in Taiwan before. There is a significant increase in the numbers of auxiliaries, praetorians and adjutorians in Taiwan.

Kuala Lumpor Regia, Malaysia: Reports were taken from 3 directly attached praesidia. Works included home visits to Catholics and non-Catholics, repeat visits to sick and elderly. Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, old folks home and HIV centre. Council reports covered 11 Curiae, 83 senior and 5 junior praesidia with 822 active and 1,262 auxiliaries. Works included attending funerals and wakes, liturgy and communion ministers, visits to children’s home and prison, refugee homes, leprosy centre, youth group and book-barrow, promote Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and RCIA. There are 5 junior praesidia attached to 3 of these Curiae. Under extension 3 new praesidia were recorded.

KOREA
Seoul Senatus: The attached Euijeongbu Comitium, which shows a small reduction in membership, has 10,425 active including 293 juniors and 1,287 praetorians and 16,000 auxiliaries and 590 adjutorians, 21,700 catechumens were recruited and 2,682 were baptised. Many councils, while still having large numbers of members, show a fairly considerable reduction in membership. The three Regia in Seoul Senatus with a membership of 45,481, show a reduction of 3,880. An article on the Legion of Mary in Seoul was published in the November edition of L’Osservatore Romano, among those interviewed in the article were Monsignor Yeon Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul and Agnes Han, then President of Senatus.

Daegu Senatus: A new President and Vice-President were elected in September. A new Comitium was due to be established in the parish of Manchon-dong in January 2013. Senatus Officers attended the Annual general Reunion for legionaries in Hwawon Prison on the 12th December. Visitation to hospitals and welfare institutions feature in many reports. The Archbishop of Daegu invited Senatus Officers and Presidents of attached Comitia to an official dialogue and greeting to welcome New Year 2013.

INDONESIA
Malang Senatus: A report from Merauke (Papua) has some new praesidia including 2 junior praesidia. Works include prison visitation and helping the parish priest, also praying with deceased and bereaved people. Exploratio Dominicalis was carried out by 3 Curiae in Yogyakarta Comitium. Suakarta has 4 new junior praesidia. Blimbing Curia mentions a shortage of Spiritual Directors in senior and junior praesidia.

Jakarta Senatus: The Senatus celebrated its silver jubilee with Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Jakarta with 12 priests and an attendance of 1,650 people. Queen of Apostles Curia reported catechesis done during Lent and inviting people to come to Confession; also meeting with auxiliaries three times a year, visitation of a prison, holding a Patrician meeting, also mentioned was hospital visitation and teaching the Rosary. Medan Regia with a recent new Curia with 8 praesidia has another new one. In Sanggau Borneo the Bishop agreed to setting up a new council. A Comitium reported the teaching of the Tessera prayers to a group who became auxiliaries and later became active members.

**********************************

SOUTH AMERICA

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Senatus: Each month the Senatus bulletin, the translated Concilium bulletin and the monthly correspondent’s letter are circulated to their attached councils. The annual celebrations at Alfie’s graveside were organised by the Regia of Buenos Aires. Reports at the Senatus meetings tell of a variety of works including an apostolate to shopkeepers. In one of the main squares/plazas in Buenos Aires city the Legion altar is used; sale of books needs a permit. Legionaries work actively with drug addicts. Councils in Patagonia meet many non-Catholics, some who are descendants of immigrant Welsh, English and Germans.

Cordoba Senatus: Since August, only one praesidium report was mentioned in the minutes. 58 legionaries went to a small remote town on extension and left behind tesserae, medals, Rosaries, etc. A Congress organised by the Senatus had 85 in attendance including two Spiritual Directors; most were from the attached Comitium of Rio Cuarto.

Salta Senatus: The Youth Committee, two of whom are Senatus officers, are a great help to the Senatus officers. Junior and young adult legionaries work closely with senior legionaries on home visitation and street contact. One of the newest Curiae held a Model Praesidium meeting. This was one of Alfie Lambe’s ideas for helping legionaries.
Corrientes Regia: Attendance was low at the December meeting. They report setting up two new Curiae and wanting to become a Comitium.
Rosario Regia: There is an extension committee working in the Regia and three new praesidia were set up. A Comitium reported that among works done are weekly home visitation with the statue of Our Lady; visits to the sick in their homes and hospitals; street contact work and teaching catechism. They did parish census at the request of the Parish Priest.

BRAZIL
Belem Senatus: In the city of Amapá, of 600 families visited almost half were practising Catholics while 46 claimed not to practise any religion. The result was that 12 were led to seek Baptism. In the town of Soure the Comitium reported over a thousand Rosaries recited in homes. In the recently established Regia of Castanhal a new Curia and a Comitium have been established.

Belo Horizonte Senatus: Contact with street dwellers resulted in the return of some of their families. Poorer women are taught skills that can help them earn a living. Prison visitation involves preparation for the Sacrament of Confession and participation in the Sacrament of Eucharist. Most councils have a full complement of officers.

Fortaleza Senatus: A new President was elected in October. Reports show visits to homes, to the sick and to prisoners and teaching catechism.

Ponta Grossa Senatus: Among works reported on were visits to building sites where leaflets with the prayer to St. Joseph the Worker were distributed. Three couples belonging to sects returned to the Church.

Recife Senatus: Results of work included many who have learnt how to recite the Rosary, getting youth to be involved in the Church’s work, conversions from non-practice to active Legion membership, freedom from depression. At the latest census this Senatus had 80,000 active members. It is hoped that at least one legionary from Recife will be able to visit Angola on behalf of the Concilium.

Rio de Janeiro Senatus: Preparations are well under way for the World Youth Day in July. Apostolate of the sick involves bringing them to the doctor, preparing their meals and even staying overnight to be of service. In Volta Redonda, a legionary directs a trade retraining course and all 58 participants are juniors forming therr praesidia.

Salvador Senatus: An Exploratio Dominicalis project was involved in the visitation of 150 homes. Reports from two Curiae in the tourist town of Araci refer to catechesis for reception of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confirmation as well as Bible circles. Legionaries in the upmarket beach resort of Stella Maris include with normal works co-ordination of the Rosary in apartment buildings. They are also involved in the pastoral programme for children.

São Luis Senatus: Among the statistics of works done are the following: 12,000 visits to homes, catechesis given to 228 people in preparation for reception of the Eucharist and to 236 youths and adults for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the holding of 292 Bible circles. Apostolate to the sick involved bringing the Blessed Eucharist three thousand times to sick and housebound and escorting several hundred medical consultations. Prison apostolate includes reaching out to prisoners and their families. A signed annual audit was sent with the minutes.

São Paulo Senatus: Visits to homes and hospitals including HIV patients and to the sick at home, visits to domestic servants and preparing adults and children for the sacrament are among works undertaken. One Comitium reported 27 adults prepared for First Holy Communion. Rev. Fr. Ivan Roberto Danhoni, who has been Senatus Spiritual Director for many years, celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood in November 2012.
Brasilia Regia: Twelve of the 65 seminarians are members of the praesidium in the senior seminary. Public recitation of the Rosary and public reading from the Bible take place in a city suburb. A 14-year old member convinced a fellow student not to have an abortion.

*******************************

EUROPE

AUSTRIA
Austria Senatus: The Senatus held a Summer School for young people with participants from Croatia and Bulgaria. Reports were received from 3 directly attached praesidia, 9 Curiae and 10 Comitia. Two of the reporting praesidia are Croatian speaking and work among the 35,000 Croatians living in Vienna. Their works include promotion of the Sacrament of Confession, contact with unmarried couples and sending letters to prisoners. A nine member English speaking African praesidium carries out an apostolate to sick and depressed African immigrants. Northwest Vienna Curia with 4 praesidia and Maria Treu Curia with 8 praesidia have merged. The Filipino praesidium is undertaking extension in the Filipino communities in Burgerland, Linz and Salzburg. Unter Dem Wienerwald Comitium: organised a meeting for Spiritual Directors at which 30 Priests attended. Burgenland Comitium plans holding a Congress to mark the Year of Faith. Works undertaken generally centre on contact work during pilgrimages and Nazareth groups for children.

BULGARIA
Local legionaries work with the Austrian extension worker. A Congress is planned for 2013. Officers of the 7 praesidia have been officially appointed by the Senatus.

CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague Comitium has ongoing extension in 6 places. Olmuetz Comitium reported on an Exploratio Dominicalis project to Prerov where a man received the Sacraments after 65 years.

MOLDAVIA
Every large parish has a praesidium but working in pairs is challenging for them.

SLOVAKIA
Zseliz Comitium with 3 Curia and 12 praesidia continues to extend. It conducts an apostolate to both Hungarian and Slovakian speaking communities. It organised 6 summer camps.

UKRAINE
Elisabeth Kriss visited Schitomir Comitium, 4 Curiae and 5 praesidia. The Archbishop in Kiev is a strong supporter of the Legion. The Legion in Zaporosche is preparing a new Russian Tessera and a new Legion website. Kamenets Curia is organising a Peregrinatio Pro Christo (PPC) to Nikolaev and Donetsk. The Legion has started in the Greek Catholic Church.

BELARUS
Belarus Comitium: 7 of the 10 attached Curiae attended the October meeting and 4 attended the November meeting. Attendance of Officers of 8 directly attached praesidia was approximately 50% and 40%. Our Lady of Budslav praesidium in Minsk has 11 active members, 1 Praetorian and 40 Auxiliaries. They visit ill people at home and in hospital, in an asylum and a care home where they prepare Catholics for Confession. They contact alcohol and drug addicted people in a rehabilitation centre and encourage them to go to Church especially on Sundays and Holy Days to receive the Sacraments and to pray regularly. In the course of street contact with young people they speak about the Faith, about Life Protection and Pre-marital purity. Patricians continue to meet in Molodechno Curia. Borisov Curia report that a very ill Orthodox lady went to Confession after 15 yrs. Same Curia reports that in Zhodeno a Catholic Enquiry Centre has started with 50 interested persons. Mogilev Curia has a new junior praesidium of 10 members. Extension efforts are ongoing. Comitium is saddened at losing their Spiritual Director, Fr. Jury Nachodko who has transferred to Brest.

CROATIA:
Zagreb Regia: All Councils report extension efforts with the setting up of new praesidia and the first Curia established in the Archdiocese of Rijeka. The apostolate of legionaries in Zagreb West Curia resulted in 77 people receiving the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion and 14 people the Anointing of the Sick. Legionaries from Dugo Selo celebrated the birthday of Frank Duff with a cycling trip to Posavski where Holy Mass was celebrated. A new apostolate undertaken by legionaries in Split-East Curia is visitation of betting shops and cafes where Miraculous Medals are offered to contacts and reception of the Sacraments encouraged. A sales lady in a sex shop visited accepted the Miraculous Medal and after some time received the Sacraments and left that employment. Her brother did the same and joined a prayer group. Exploratio Dominicalis was mentioned in 2 reports. On the 16th September Mira Urle, one of the first legionaries in Croatia celebrated her 100th birthday.

BOSNIA HERZGOVINA
Sarajevo Curia has 7 Praesidia with 51 active members and 183 Auxiliaries. People with material aid needs are put in contact with relevant agencies. Visitation of family homes, hospitals and care homes are amongst the works done.

SLOVENIA
There are 2 praesidia in Ljublijena. Four legionaries from Croatia and 3 from Slovenia presented the Legion at 2 Sunday Masses in St. Anthony of Padua Parish. The response from parishioners did not result in the formation of a praesidium.

HUNGARY
Budapest Regia: The Legion is in 10 of the 12 Dioceses in the country. The Regia comprises 5 Comitia; 10 Curiae and 20 directly attached Praesidia spread throughout 4 Dioceses. In addition there are 2 Curiae in Romania with a total of 19 praesidia attached to the Regia and a Curia in Ukraine with 11 Praesidia attached to Debrecen Comitium. They comprised Hungarian-speaking communities in both of these countries. Visitation of praesidia and attached Councils is not being done due to lack of money. They say all available resources are used for Extension. Each month minutes reports on extension efforts and setting up of new praesidia. Works, which feature in reports are visitation of hospitals and care homes where the sick and elderly are helped to receive the Sacraments; the Pilgrim Virgin Statue is brought to homes; the Rosary is recited before burials. Legionaries in one praesidium organised street apostolate. In crèches and schools they teach children prayers and songs. Csiksomlyo Curia in Romania operates Bible classes for primary and secondary school children.

LATVIA
Riga Comitiuim has 12 directly attached praesidia and 3 attached Curiae. One of the praesidia reporting visits a centre for people suffering from addiction and arranged for 70 persons to receive Confession. Another praesidium organise a day for youth once a month. There are talks given on the Catholic Faith with opportunity for the young people to ask questions and discuss any problems they may have about faith. Light refreshments and music follow. Rezekne Curia reported the start of a praesidium, which had been closed for a long time. Liepija Curia held 2 recruiting drives to build up 2 very weak praesidia. 5 people joined active ranks and 15 auxiliaries were gained.

LITHUNIA
Kaunas Comitium has 18 directly attached praesidia and 7 attached Curiae. Extension efforts and visitation of praesidia were reported. A praesidium of 7 members engaged in home visitation reported on marriages blessed in Church, children baptised, returns to the Sacraments after long absences. A young girl met started going to Mass. As a consequence all her family returned to practice of the Faith and 2 of them joined the Legion. Mediatrix of All Graces Curia reported the start of a new praesidium in Krekenava with 5 members. Telsiai Comitium: Legionaries in the course of hospital visitation were instrumental in 2 ladies going to Confession after 30 years, 3 men after 50 years and a deaf 76 year-old man after 50 years. Our Lady Assumed into Heaven Curia: Legionaries in the course of homes visitation found 19 children without baptism and 2 couples without the Sacrament of Marriage. The priest was brought to 194 patients in hospital with the Sacraments.

POLAND
Lublin Regia: Visitation of praesidia and councils are carried out regularly. Enclosed retreats and days of recollection are organised. Contact is kept with auxiliary members. Extension efforts by Tarnob Sheg Comitium resulted in 7 people making the Legion Promise and 13 in Ni Polansue. Works undertaken are home-to-home, prison and hospital visitation. Contact is made with lapsed Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses and persons with addiction. A night shelter is visited regularly. On Street Apostolate the Miraculous Medal is promoted. 3,000 copies of Pope Benedict’s Letter for the Year of Faith were distributed. Warsaw Comitium: Minutes indicate solid work in administration with the praesidia from Gdynia in the North making the long journey to attend Comitium for the first time. Membership in the Comitium’s 8 directly attached city praesidia averages 10 active and 20 auxiliary members. The attached Curiae of Zoliborz and Plock have 10 and 11 praesidia respectively. Thanks to Maria Elizbieta Kowalczyk who completed her second term as President in October. Jolanta Widenka is the new President. Fr. Stefan Gralak, Praesidium and Curia Spiritual Director for many years died in November. Fr. Boguslaw MIC, Comitium Spiritual Director and Fr. Janusz Wegracke at national level continue their valued support.

ROMANIA
Satu Mare Regia has 15 praesidia, 2 Curiae and 2 Comitia affiliated. There are 3 Nazareth groups, 9 children’s groups and 337 Prayer groups. During year 2012 sixteen lapsed Catholics returned to practice after a long time. The apostolate of the legionaries includes promotion of Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament, hospital and prison visitation as well as to the sick and housebound.

************************************