Concilium Bulletin - January 2014
REPORTS
AFRICA
IVORY COAST
Senatus of Abidjan: These reports give an account of an immense amount of apostolic work. Usually a praesidium and two Comitia give their Annual Reports at the meeting of the Senatus. Those reporting on this occasion have in all a membership of 7,581 legionaries of whom 848 are praetorians. Works included contact with members of other Christian Churches, Muslims and those with no religion. The result of this work was families reconciled - 113; marriages regularised - 91; returns to Mass - 133; Catechumens enrolled - 1,684; baptisms - 589; Sacrament of Reconciliation - 414; Sacrament of Confirmation - 990; Sacrament of the Sick -296. A National Marian Day was held at Gagnoa on the 7th September 2013 in which a large number of Legionaries from six Dioceses took part.
TOGO
Senatus of Lomé: The news of the Lome Regia becoming a Senatus was received with great joy and was seen as a beautiful Christmas present and also a great encouragement to all the legionaries in Togo. The Spiritual Director, who has not been able to attend the Regia meetings for several years because of his work in the Parish, attended the January Senatus meeting and congratulated the legionaries. The November minutes were received. A Congress, Exploratio Dominicalis, the Patricians and extension are widely reported on in the minutes. A PPC was organised to Anlongan, Ghana with 36 participants from Togo and 3 from Ghana (there were 2 seminarians). The PPC report was given on a visit to the Senatus of Accra, while the Regia of Cotonou and the Senatus of Abidjan were visited in November.
They also reported on a special day for Legion couples and the Spiritual Director encouraged this to take place on a yearly basis on or around 15th August. Following extension work by two legionaries in the region of Touhou, a new Curia was set-up.
SENEGAL
The two extension workers have visited Joal, Ziguinchor and Casamence, they worked with the local legionaries. Two new Curiae are expected to be set-up in Dakar this month. Two legionaries were invited to speak on the Legion at a Youth gathering in Kaolack, to young people from Senegal, Gambia, Mauretania, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry.
GUINEE
No minutes or report since our last report. It is suggested that our Togolese visitators in nearby Senegal be asked to visit Conakry Comitium before they return home.
CAMEROUN
Douala Senatus: November minutes received. Work has started on the building for the Legion house in Douala. It should only take 2 months to complete. There is a shortfall of about €7500 on the total cost. Every Catholic movement is asked to contribute to the centennial celebrations of the Church in the Cameroon by the Archdiocese and the Legion was asked for €280. A Congress was held in Douala last October. The previous one was held 12 years ago. The Comitium in Limbe is in the process of setting up a junior Curia.
The Regia of Yaoundé was commended on the work they do in the prison. With a high number joining the prison praesidia, these have to split into smaller praesidia. They also do after care apostolate. Two new Comitia were set up with the permission of the Bishop of Bafia, one in Somo and one in Bokito. Contact is ongoing with Tchad.
CONGO REPUBLIC
October minutes received from Brazzaville Regia. Reports include teaching catechism, organising the Liturgy, home visitation and street contact, many contacts with lapsed Catholics, Muslims, Protestants, members of sects and atheists. The first ever Congress of the Legion of Mary in the Congo took place in Brazzaville on the 5th – 8th September 2013 with the theme ‘The Legion of Mary at the service of the Church: appraisal, spirituality and vision’. In attendance were His Excellency, Msgr. Mbuyu, Bishop of Kinkala Diocese, and Msgr. Monot, Bishop of the diocese of Ouesso, eight spiritual directors from six dioceses in the Congo and 600 legionaries, including three legionaries from the Senatus of Kinshasa. Arising from the Congress discussions, the Regia intends to focus particularly on catechesis in parishes in order to attract the young to the Legion, to improve liaison with the clergy, plus translation of the Handbook and Legion allocutios into the local languages.
GUINEA ECUATORIAL
There is good contact by mail and telephone with Bata Comitium. A group of 3 distant Curiae seem to offer the possibility of a second Comitium.
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CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO
Nicaragua Regia Managua: The Regia is taking extension very seriously since the visit of the Concilium representatives. The attached Comitium of Leon set up one senior and two junior praesidia and the attached Comitium of Granada has initiated extension in a neighbouring province. The Regia will send a group of extension workers to Matagalpa. Junior legionaries in Managua (the capital) work in the market area contacting young drug addicts; they share the Word of God and if possible a little prayer for them and their families.
El Salvador: The legionaries are helping other legionaries and non-legionaries to learn to read and write; this is proving very successful. An attached praesidium worked hard in preparation for Mercy Sunday. Over 700 people went to Confession, some of them after a long absence. from the Sacrament. Two street girls, who left the street-life are now good practicing Catholics. One of them, by way of providing an income, bought a stall in the local market.
Honduras: The Legion in Honduras has not been working well for a long time. Up to about six months ago when they had a visit from Concilium by two legionaries from Madrid, they hadn’t been in touch with the Concilium at all. Minutes have been received since then. An email was also received from the Spiritual.Director, The different praesidia and Curiae affiliated are working well.
Panama Regia: An attached praesidium organises and facilitates small prayer groups meetings in different neighbourhoods. Attendance at the Regia meeting has gone down over the past three months. They explain that it was due to bad weather. A legionary is studying to be a Permanent Deacon. A Curia is planning to set up another Curia with 5 praesidia. The Curia is growing and these praesidia are distant. There is also the possibility that they can set up more praesidia in the area.
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MEXICO
Mexico City Senatus: The Regia of Leon, which was transferred from the Concilium to the Senatus has been visited by two legionaries, including the President of the Senatus and steps are being taken to resolve the problems which were reported to Concilium. Almost half of the members of a Curia with 61 members, are praetorians; they also have a large number of auxiliaries. A group said the Rosary in different homes each day in the month of October. They placed an altar in the doorway and invited neighbours to participate. Five former members returned to the Legion.
Merida Regia: The officers of the Senatus visited Concilium in November. They were very pleased with the visit, but while the weather was reasonable by European standards, they did not think so! The visit was very valuable both to the Concilium and to the Senatus Officers; it was worth more than a hundred letters. As the months progress they will be putting the new ideas and suggestions into practice. Recent correspondence indicates that a Curia with 22 praesidia invited 900 contacts to the Legion and only 11 accepted the invitation. A Curia set up two new Patrician Groups with an attendance of 15 and 20 respectively.
Durango Regia: Correspondence is received regularly now and the correspondent is insisting on the compliance with the four Standing Instructions. The Legion work in the Social Rehabilitation Centre is proving more difficult due to the work of the sects, who give material aid.
Guadalajara Regia: The attached Comitium of Aguascalientes reported pre-marriage talks given by legionaries. 37 couples received the Sacrament of marriage. A praesidium with 35 members was closed because they did not adhere to the Legion system. A celebration of Light was organised to counteract the pagan customs of Halloween. A lady who was very ill recovered quickly after she received the Miraculous Medal from the legionaries.
Monterrey Regia: The Legion had a stand at an event for Catholic Lay Organisation. The Archbishop of Monterrey visited the stand, signed the Visitors book and spoke with the legionaries. They had contact with, priests seminarians, religious and lay people and hope that a follow up will result in many active and auxiliary members. Minutes indicate that legionaries carry out an apostolate to children with cancer.
Hermosillo Regia: The attached junior Curia is carrying out extension in three different areas. Children between the ages of 7 and 15 are showing interest. They are setting up little prayer meetings with the very young and junior praesidia with the older children. An attached Curia reported 19 probation members, but 6 full members had to retire due to illness. Three couples received the Sacrament of Baptism and a number returned to the practice of the faith; all continue to practice.
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ASIA
Thailand: 400 Catholic students were gathered for catechesis, visiting the sick, the aged and participating in wakes and funerals. Taxi drivers and their relatives were evangelised. A school praesidium has 10 members and 118 auxiliaries. One Curia has 16 senior and 9 junior praesidia attached. The Rosary was recited house-to-house in October and isolated Catholics in remote areas and jails are visited.
Sri Lanka: Three Curiae, two Comitia and two praesidia reported in this period. A new Curia of five praesidia started in July. An Awareness Day for juniors had 74 present. The Cardinal proclaimed a Marian Year, starting on 1st December. The Legion has been encouraged to have a greater presence in the schools. 80 homes in one area and 177 in another area were enthroned to the Sacred Heart. The annual Rosary Rally took place with the Cardinal, 7 Bishops, many priests, religious and laity among the 20,000 in attendance.
Kazakhstan: News reached us from Elisabeth Kriss: A year-old praesidium in Jasnaja Pol-jana tells us that 10 legionaries took the Legion Promise; the praesidium has 22 auxiliaries. A legionary from Ozornoe visiting Switzerland gave news that the Legion continues there, as does the praesidium in Petropavlovsk. They are hoping to start a men’s praesidium. They keep their link with the Legion by way of the daily recitation of the Catena.
Holy Land: Minutes to December received. The Comitium Treasurer, Bro. Samir Ziedan died unexpectedly. R.I.P. The Legionaries have great support from the Patriarch and Bishop. The Patriarch and Vice Patriarch of Nazareth met the praesidium members, discussed their activities and thanked them for their hospitality. Works include visiting the sick at home and in hospital. Jaffa village legionaries invited 158 people to undertake fasting during Lent, succeeding in the case of 94 of them! One Ramallah praesidium prepares children for First Holy Communion, while another visits the jails. A Praesidium in Nazareth assisted students with studies, brought 112 back to the Sacraments and helped 66 bereaved families.
INDIA
Karnataka Senatus: Minutes received to December. They have 5 Comitia, 15 Curiae and 9 praesidia attached. Extension, recruitment and Evangelisation are given high priority. There is much outreach to Hindus and Moslems. Nine of the eleven suffragen dioceses have the Legion. At the Concilium’s request they are also helping the Legion in the Archdiocese of Hyperabad to become stronger.
Mumbai Senatus: Minutes received up to December. Prison visitation has good success; a prayer service for mothers was held. A Legion Formation Day took as its theme, Chapter 9 of the Legion Handbook. Miraculous Medals, Rosary Beads and prayer cards were distributed.
Kottar Regia: Minutes received to September. Five new praesidia were established. Alcoholics were helped. A suicide attempt was aborted and many were instructed in the Sacrament of Confession.
Chennai Comitium reports that 31st of August had been allocated to the Legion to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady. 800 legionaries assembled in the Church. A procession was held, finishing at 9.30 p.m. Red Hills Curia; Legionaries teach catechism to 45 Hindu children. They arranged for 25 marriages to be rectified. They are also dealing with 146 families where there are constant quarrels.
Coimbatore Comitium: Latest minutes, August. Much work done in home and hospital visitation, also family counselling. Four Hindus became Catholics; marriages were regularised.. They have a committee promoting the three causes. About 50% of the parishes have Legion praesidia and extension continues.
Visakhapatnam Comitium: Latest minutes August. Enthronement of homes to the Sacred Heart was undertaken in seven different areas in one Curia and in six villages in another Curia. Six new praesidia were formed. Much work is done encouraging separated couples to reunite. Seven couples had their marriages blessed in the Church. Prisons, Orphanages, HIV and leprosy patients are visited.
Palayamkottai Comitium:.Minutes to August received. A newly-appointed Spiritual Director, Fr. Rajesh, was welcomed to the meeting. There are 6 Curiae and 21 directly-affiliated praesidia; most were represented at the Comitium meeting. Much work is done among Hindus and Muslims and with family reconciliations, preparation for the Sacraments, home and hospital visitation.
Nilgiris Comitium sent word in August to say they were setting up a website to mark their Golden Jubilee. They seek more regular contact from the Concilium.
Port Blair Comitium works in several parishes on the Andaman Islands far out in the Indian Ocean. They send a synopsis report every six months, currently up to November. They appear to organise weekly Liturgical Services and have been giving talks on the Year of Faith each Sunday. They visit homes and are rebuilding praesidia that had ceased to function.
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EUROPE
Belgium
Brussels Senatus: Sixteen legionaries and their Spiritual Director took part in a crowd contact apostolate at Zaventem Airport. The PPC team of 12 to Beaurang resulted in 12 students of different religions assembling for prayer every Friday and consecration to Our Lady.
Antwerp Regia: This Council has a total of 115 active members, 228 auxiliaries. Recruiting continues among people of different nationalities.
Denmark: The latest news came in September. The praesidium celebrated September 8th with a Rosary before Sunday Mass, many coming early to take part. A junior praesidium set up in June last hasn’t yet found its feet.
ENGLAND
Birmingham Senatus: Minutes to December received. Crowd contact At the Bull Ring continues and extension is ongoing. Two praesidia undertook Exploratio Dominicalis to the Travelling Community and good contacts were made. Youth Patricians had an attendance of 14. A couple agreed to be married after their home had been blessed. A recruiting drive in Bristol yielded two new members. A Church Open Day at Mount Carmel, Redditch marked the close of the Year of Faith. In Coventry, an apostolate to homosexuals continues, with many good contacts.
Northampton Curia: A new praesidium was set up in Slough.
Swansea Curia: This Council reports two Exploratio Dominicalis projects.
Liverpool.
Leeds Curia: The four attached praesidia carry out instruction of children attending non- Catholic schools.
Wirrel Curia: Mary Burgin, now a resident in a nursing home, joined legionaries for their outing to Birkenhead Park. In the Birkenhead Market, where legionaries look after a book barrow, there is great interaction between legionaries and stall-holders.
Middlesborough Comitium: Placing a statue of Our Lady outside St Peters Church and praying the Rosary leads to very good contacts with passers-by
Newcastle Comitium: Some praesidia are merging, while two are thriving in North West. Durham. An interesting discussion took place on whether very young Juniors should be asked to say the full Rosary, with lots of answers for and against.
Manchester Comitium: There is a new praesidium in Kirkhold (Rochdale and Oldham Curia). At the Blackburn Market the Rosary and carols brought the real spirit of Christmas to busy shoppers. The praesidium at Salford Cathedral has university graduates among its members.
Central London Curia: Legionaries took a man to Confession after a lapse of 30 years. He is now a regular at Mass. The praesidium in Soho Square has 3 active, 3 probationary ,2 praetorian ,I adjutorian and 9 auxiliary members. Along with home visitation they do street-contact and visit brothels in the Red Light area as part of their apostolate. A recruiting drive at the University of London Chaplaincy resulted in a Rosary group being set up at Newman House, at which full Legion prayers are said at 9.30 am every day.
Brentwood Comitium: Three children were instructed for Holy Communion, one of whom is now an altar boy. Miraculous Medals were given to the First Holy Communion class. Bereaved families were visited.
Brent and Harrow Curia: Members of this Council joined with legionaries in in Enfield and Harringey for a very successful Congress, which was attended by the correspondent.
Southwark Comitium: Two PPC projects took place and 4 recruiting drives, one a good success in Guernsey resulting in 8 new members. Croydon Curia has closed 3 praesidia, leaving 5 senior and 1 junior praesidium attached. DBS (vulnerable adults and child-safeguarding) clearance is awaited to resume home visitation. Juniors in Camberwell number 8 and the Surbiton Curia has a president, but no other officers.
Hammersmith Curia reports vacancies for Vice-President and Secretary; hopefully these will soon be filled. Minutes were received up to October.
West Middlesex Curia: One praesidium with full officership reports 22 members, 4 of whom are probationers. A Junior praesidium formed during the year has 5 members. Works include a 24 hour chain-Rosary vigil. Rosaries are organised on Our Lady’s Feast-Days. East Acton praesidium has 6 members, but no officers
WALES
Cardiff Comitium: Warm sunshine blessed the Corpus Christi procession, but torrential rain and gale force winds challenged the legionaries who braved the mountain-top at Penrhys.
Wrexham Curia: Membership is down to fourteen. Recruiting is difficult, but the latest report on recruiting was up-beat and optimistic.
SWEDEN: The Legion in Sweden is in the caretakership of Liverpool Senatus. Translation of the Swedish Handbook is nearing completion. Fr. Nielson is working on the proof. Extension work has been carried out and a new praesidium has been set up in Norshipping. A detailed report on extension there has been given to Concilium.
FRANCE
Aire et Dax Regia: No minutes have been received for over a year.
Valence Regia: Attendance at Regia meetings has been poor, but recruiting is ongoing, with a new member in Montelimar and interesting visitors in Valence itself. In Chateauneuf de Galaure, the junior boys praesidium has not restarted since the New Year. Home and nursing home visitation has been reported.
Paris Regia: The election for Regia President was not carried out correctly and has been re-scheduled for February. On-going discussions are taking place regarding the renewal of the lease on the Legion house due to expire at the end of the year. The Vietnamese Curia has 8 praesidia attached, showing regular contacts with Buddhists and Muslims. One person returned to the Sacraments after an absence of 50 years. A Congolese praesidium in St. Dennis, established in 2012 now has 21 members. The praesidium in Juvisy has 14 members and Immaculate Heart of Mary praesidium has 10 members
Strasbourg Comitium: Undertook a successful PPC project to Dijon last summer. The attached Curia of Colmar has 20 members. The reporting praesidium comprises mainly Potuguese members whose work is helping in the parish and with a movement for retired Christians. The Europe-wide PPC conference, held for a long number of years in Strasbourg, has moved this year to the Senatus of Brussels. Two members worked in Lourdes Permanance visiting campsites, despite flood damage to the Legion house.
GERMANY
Frankfurt Senatus: Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich Regia held a summit meeting in August. ‘Improving contact between young people,’ ‘The Legion website’ and ‘Celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Legion in Germany in 2014’ were all considered. 12 priests attended a two-day Conference in Haroldsback. The closure of the Year was marked by an Apostolic day at Frankfort Airport. The Cologne Regia has a total of 266 active and 1570 auxiliary members.
The Comitium of Essen held a Children’s Bible weekend. The Legion had a stand at the Eucharistic Congress in June. The Korean Curia participated in a European-Korean Retreat.
Munich Regia: The Regia has established a new Curia in Regensburg.
Freiburg Comitium: The Comitium hosted a mini PPC Project. Works include, Patricians, Camping Park Apostolate and prison visitation.
Saarlous Curia: This Curia undertook a Media Apostolate over the internet.
SWITZERLAND
Zurich Comitium: Street contact was made during an Erotic Fair in Regensdorf, in the Zurich Red Light area. Five legionaries from Zurich did extension work in Liechtenstein in June.
Luxembourg: This zone comes under the caretakership of Cologne Regia and has presently one praesidium. Efforts continue to establish another praesidium.
Siberia: Sr. Metzler and Sr. Flatscher spent ten days in Siberia during September and formed a new praesidium with the presence of Bishop Werth. Two new members attended the Curia meeting in Krasnojarsk.
The Netherlands: Amsterdam Regia has two Patrician groups and efforts are being made to start a Spanish-speaking praesidium.
Norway: The praesidium in Tonsberg has no Spiritual Director. Extension efforts were made at Kongsberg. Works include, teaching Catechism and promoting the Rosary. A procession to celebrate St. Olav, Norway’s national saint was organised. The praesidium in Drammen has 8 members, 2 probationers and 14 auxiliaries. Great contact is done at a monthly parish get-together with new immigrants.
SCOTLAND
Dundee Curia has reopened. Greenock and District Curia marked the Year of Faith by widely distributing Holy Water. A praesidium twice brought a Legion Vexillum to Corpus Christi Primary School and explained it to the children. Our Lady of the Wayside praesidium had 13 visitors during the year, two of whom stayed. The praesidium looked after the Wayside Club every day of the year, including Christmas Day and Hogmanay. They receive great support from the Bishop, clergy and local companies.
Gibraltar: Gibraltar is under the caretakership of Scotland. In May the Legion meeting was attended by Bishop Hesketh. Legionaries visit homes, nursing homes, prisons and schools. They also participated in the Three Kings Cavalcade and the ceremony in the Cathedral afterwards, the outdoor procession and the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
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