Concilium Bulletin July 2011

Concilium Bulletin
July 2011

Asia and Oceania

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Madang Regia: Works of conversion are being done especially from the sects where former Catholics have become disenchanted and are willing to return to their faith. The Legion is weak in the capital Port Moresby and has been out of touch for a long time. Happily, an Irish priest is now in touch with the Regia which is of great assistance.
Rabul Regia: There are many islands attached to the Regia and visits are made by boat, some of which have attached Comitia with many legionaries. This vibrant council has many new praesidia and Curiae. Rev. Fr. Birkmans who was of enormous help to the Concilium visitors in 2005, has had to retire, due to ill health.
Mount Hagan Regia: Fruitful works are being done in conversion from the sects and the clergy are very supportive of the Legion in this mountainous region where Catholic communities have Mass on rare occasions. Adults and children are prepared for the sacraments. New praesidia are being formed even though illiteracy is a big problem.

NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Senatus. Recruiting and extension features in reports. Twenty-eight took part in a fruitful Exploratio Dominicalis. All councils are preparing to celebrate the 90th.anniversary of the Legion in September. Wellington Comitium has 13 praesidia and a Samoan Curia with 8 praesidia. The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Balvo led the Acies. In Tonga, there are 2 Curia, one mostly of juniors; concern is expressed about the lack of seniors. The Tongan Handbook is now translated and printed and eagerly awaited.

AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Comitium: A new praesidium was set up with 5 members. Some praesidia are a long distance away so attendance at Comitium is low. The Korean Curia has 7 praesidia with 65 members. Through visitation to non-Catholics, 21 joined the catechism class and 8 people were Baptised.
Vietnamese Curia has 7 praesidia. They joined with the Comitium for their Acies, which was celebrated with over 100 in attendance. Some of the works reported on were home and hospital visitation, transporting people to Mass, teaching religion in schools and praying the Rosary before funerals.

Melbourne Senatus: Six directly attached praesidia, 8 Curiae, 3 Comitia, and 5 Pacific Island Comitia reported. Extension, Patricians, Prison visitation and apostolate in market areas were featured. Wagga Wagga Curia held a Congress. Flemington Comitium have 16 directly attached praesidia and 3 Curiae, with a total of 335 Vietnamese members. They published a Memoir book about the 27 years of the Legion in Melbourne. Members run a religious class for those interested in the Catholic faith.
Perth Comitium has 12 praesidia and 12 Curia in the Metro area and 6 distant praesidia and 2 Curiae. Legionaries speak to practicing Catholics and encourage them to “come and see”. This has resulted in growth in active and auxiliary membership. In November the Annual Mass to commemorate the life of the Servant of God, Frank Duff was combined with the 70th anniversary of the presence of the Legion in western Australia.

PHILIPPINES
Western Visayas Regia: Attendance 62 officers representing 22 councils and 42 officers representing the 15 directly affiliated praesidia. Eight councils and five praesidia had 100% attendance. Three Comitia presented quarterly reports. Much of the work was in the area of visitation, sacraments arranged for the sick and dying, a couple co-habiting were prepared for the sacrament of marriage. Two senior and one junior Curia also reported. Exploratio Dominicalis project was carried out by 3 praesidia. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project was carried out from 25 to 30 April.

Mindanao Senatus: Report of cures through the intercession of the Servant of God, Frank Duff was received. Koronadal Comitium is working towards Regia status in the near future.

Biocolandia Senatus: Some visitations to councils were postponed due to typhoons and rough seas. Items reported were preparing children for First Confession and Holy Communion, teaching catechism in schools, home and hospital visitation and encouraging jail inmates to pray the Rosary and become auxiliary members. The Comitium of Nabu who are involved in parish activities was encouraged to hold an exhibition to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Legion.

Cebu Senatus: All praesidia were asked to strive towards setting up a new praesidium to mark the 90th anniversary of the Legion. Visitation to all councils is undertaken. A Comitium with 4 Curiae, 8 senior and 2 junior praesidia has 317 full members and 77 on probation. Praesidia of 12, 14 and 15 members do works of visitation to jails, orphanages, hospitals and homes. Crowd contact is done among vendors, policemen, security guards, sales clerks and customers. A junior praesidium of 15 has 100% attendance at their meeting and undertook True Devotion to the Nation.

Senatus of Northern Philippines: Three Regiae are organising the preparations to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Legion. Two Seminars took place on “Back to Basics”. A new Curia was formed in Abra. Makati Comitium reported 372 mute and deaf individuals were catechised. Dagupan Comitium reported 1,160 public school students were given catechetical instruction and 68 individuals received the sacrament of Baptism. In Illagan 832 students were catechised with their parents and brought to confession and Holy Communion and 409 lapsed returned to the sacraments. Jail apostolate resulted in 400 inmates going to confession and Holy Communion.

Africa

GHANA
The Senatus and directly attached Councils continue to extend and a number of new praesidia have also been formed in schools, seminaries and third level colleges. All reports indicate good apostolic work including visitation of homes and hospitals, street contact and preparation of adults and children for the Sacraments.

Sunyani Regia reported 83 people being converted from traditional worship, 94 lapsed Catholics returned to the Church, 1,640 Catechumens were prepared for Baptism, 742 for First Holy Communion, 686 for Confirmation and 68 for Marriage.

Kumasi Regia looks after 1,252 Sunday school students in the various parishes. Legionaries involved in a week long project contacted 5,997 people, held various programmes in the evenings, held dawn broadcasts in some of the outstations and organised candlelight Rosary processions in most of the communities visited.

Cape Verde Regia: The ten islands with a population of just over half a million have 6,255 active members. They recruited 631 active members. Irregular marriage situation caused some to leave active membership. Two new Curiae were set up. A Jehovah Witness family was converted and the mother became a legionary. 3,000 children and 650 adults were prepared for Baptism and 400 were prepared for First Holy Communion. Contact was made with emigrants and 1,200 people were taught to read. Praesidia undertook almost 500 Exploratio projects.

ZIMBABWE
An email was received recently from Mupamonde Curia where some of the legionaries are catechists and teach Catechism to children and adults and help the priests to instruct those preparing for Marriage. Harare Curia: Acies was held in March.

LESOTHO
We have just learned of the untimely death of Sr. Moshoeshoe, Senatus president may she rest in peace. Attendances at the Senatus meeting continue to be small with the average attendances at four meeting being 8 praesidium and 12 council officers. The Senatus is considering “dissolving” a Curia and attaching its praesidia to the Senatus. Regina Curia reported 34 lapsed revived. Mother of God Curia reported the conversion of a Zion Church member. A Youth praesidium with 13 members has been set up by Loreto Comitium.

ANGOLA
Benguela Senatus: The Junior Curia directly attached to the Senatus was raised to Comitium on 19 December 2010. It has 17 directly attached praesidia and 4 Curiae. The Comitium in the new Diocese of Namibe was divided to form three new Comitia, making a total of four in the Diocese. It is notable that since the war this area had a wonderful influx of new members. Recent statistics from the Senatus show a total active membership of 99,406.

Luanda Regia: There was a report on a visit by two legionaries to Dondo where some formation sessions were held for the legionaries. The Junior Curia president encouraged recruiting for juniors and asked about having the Legion in Seminaries. A meeting with young people was due to be held on 25 May and a new Curia was due to be established on 29 May. An Assistant Secretary of the Cabinda Comitium, died.

MOZAMBIQUE
Maputo Regia: There is a report on the visitation to Mozambique by two legion representatives elsewhere in the bulletin.

JOHANNESBURG
Johannesburg Senatus: Works include contacting non-Catholics and lapsed Catholics also home visitation. Legionaries made contact with 8 drug addicts.
Marian Hill Comitium: An elderly lady who was lapsed and joined another church was brought to confession and she was delighted. Non-Catholics are taught how to pray the Rosary.
Esigodeni Comitium: Five Curiae reported. Their works include teaching catechism every Sunday, encouraging parishioners to pray the Rosary before Mass. They visit sick in hospitals and those who are suffering with HIV. The Acies had an attendance of 610 members including the Curia of Durban.
Durban Comitium: Members visit the sick at the local hospital and teach catechism.

CAPETOWN
Cape Town Senatus: Efforts are being made to set up two new praesidia in the Senatus area. The Senatus is enthusiastically promoting the Cause of Frank Duff. The publishing of the Afrikaans handbook is a work in progress and the Tessera will be translated into Hhosa language.

EGYPT
Fr. Benjamen has been appointed by Patriarch Antonios Naguib as assistant to Fr. Gabrail El Ahmar. A planned conference has been deferred to 2012 on the advice of the Patriarch.

South America

PERU
Lima Senatus: Efforts are being made at praesidium and council level to encourage and promote the Theme for 2011. Councils are extending, a Regia for the north of the country and two new Comitia have been suggested. Legionaries who visit the jail praesidium are setting up a prayer/play group for the prisoners’ children, who are looked after in the jail.

CUBA
Havana Comitium: Legionaries give catechism classes to adults who want to make their First Communion. They also make contact with people who make a visit to the Church.

BOLIVIA
Senatus of La Paz: Many legionaries are suffering from flu after the unusually cold winter. A novel work is the teaching of catechism in the public market when the stallholders have finished their days’ work. One praesidium organises novenas for Our Lady’s feast days. A Bolivian girl, trained in a Dublin praesidium, returned to her native Cochabamba and got permission to start many junior and youth praesidia. Also a Divine Word missionary, Spiritual Director of a Dublin praesidium, has been appointed for two years to Bolivia.

CHILE
Senatus of Santiago: All reports have home-to-home visitation first on their list. The Auxiliary Bishop in charge of the Lay Apostolate came to the May meeting and gave the allocutio. Afterwards the 6 officers of the Senatus met with the Bishop and discussed many outstanding issues relating to the apostolate of the Legion and legal matters connected to Senatus property. A new work is the approach to tour buses, especially at famous churches. 90th anniversary celebrations are to be held in the Cathedral of Santiago. Senatus officers remind all legionaries that spiritual exercises are not Legion work and that being a council officer does not exempt one from the weekly work assignment.

COLOMBIA
Senatus of Medellin: Comitium de Rio Negro has 2,500 active members of which more than one quarter (653) are praetorians; there are 5,700 auxiliary members. They teach moral and spiritual values in nursery schools and have an apostolate to drug addicts and prisoners, some of whom have become legionaries and attend daily mass. Another Comitium started a Patrician meeting in a neighbourhood; current affairs are discussed in light of the Gospel. Children of mothers, who have to work, are cared for. Frank Duff is promoted amongst auxiliaries. Lectio Devina features. A Curia helps invalids to go to Mass, to the doctor and with housework. The Curia helped a co-habiting couple to return to the faith. Other items include study of the Handbook in pairs and Peregrinatio Pro Christo preparation over a 2-month period.

Senatus of Bogotá: One Comitium reports 11 youth groups, 3 pre-junior groups and 2 junior praesidia. Extension is done in universities. Indigenous Indians are visited in an area only accessible by air and translators are needed.

URUGUAY
Senatus of Montevideo: This is the most secular country in South America where Christmas Day has been re-named Family Day; in Montevideo only 2% of Catholics practice. A lot of True Devotion to the Nation type work is done and Fr Bede McGregor’s (Spiritual Director of Concilium) letter has been circulated to all praesidia in the country.

VENEZUELA
Senatus of Caracas: A Maria et Patria project has been held. One adult and 3 junior praesidia are in formation. Columban Drives, extension and Patricians are mentioned while 53 went on Peregrinatio Pro Christo to the city El Tigre in the east of the country. Hairdressers were brought to 40 elderly people in Chacao.

ECUADOR
Senatus of Quito: Many families have been converted through statue visitation. Fifty legionaries took part in 8 Exploratio projects. Numbers of juniors, praetorians and adjutorians appear to be very low.

PARAQUAY
Senatus of Asunción: Extension work features and local radio stations are used to reach the youth and other listeners. The Legion is also organising a “Rosary Chain” around Paraguay so that all legionaries will recite the Holy Rosary together with their Families on the fourth Friday of every month at 9pm for the family, the church and legionary spirituality and unity. A reminder was given as to what the Handbook says in regards to adding to what is asked of active members. A Workshop was held for Officers of Councils and great benefit was gained by all attending.

Election of Concilium Vice President

Nominations were sought for the office of Vice President of the Concilium, as Sile NiChochlain had completed her second term and had been elected President of the Concilium at the June meeting. Aileen O’Donoghue was proposed and seconded and as there were no other nominations Aileen O’Donoghue was elected Vice President of the Concilium

Election of Concilium Assistant Treasurer

Nominations were sought for the office of Assistant Treasurer of the Concilium, with responsibility for literature (printing and sales), as Aileen O’Donoghue had completed two terms of three years. Annette Mulrooney was proposed and seconded and as there were no other nominations, Annette Mulrooney was elected Assistant Treasurer of Concilium.

Sile Ni Chochlain wished Aileen and Annette every grace and blessing in their new positions and thanks them for allowing their names to go forward.

Legion of Mary 90th Anniversary Celebrations

Wednesday 7th September 2011

Open day at Legion of Mary Headquarters from 10 am.
During the day there will be guided tours of:
Legion Headquarters, Hostels and Frank Duff’s House;
Visits to Frank Duff’s Grave in Glasnevin; and
Exhibition including the Causes and History of the Legion

Holy Mass at 7.30 pm in
Our Lady of the Angels, Church Street

Refreshments and entertainment afterwards at Legion Headquarters

Visitation by Concilium to Mozambique

On behalf of Concilium Paddy Fay, Concilium Secretary and Lícia Violeta de Souza from Brazil visited Mozambique arriving there on 25 June 2011. They were warmly received by the Spiritual Director, Vice President and Treasurer of the Maputo Regia. The visit was spread over four Dioceses: Maputo, Xai-Xai, Quelimane and Beira.

The Legion in Maputo was founded in July 1959. The Regia there has 5,766 active and 3,575 auxiliary members. The principal works undertaken by the praesidia are visits to homes, visits to the sick, infirm and bereaved families and some praesidia teach catechism and prepare children for First Holy Communion. They were received by the Archbishop of Maputo, Dom Francisco Chimolo, OFM (Cap) who showed his joy and satisfaction with the works being done by the Legion of Mary.

The Comitium in Xai-Xai Diocese has eight Curiae affiliated and the average membership of praesidia is 30. Their works are visits to homes, bereaved families and teaching Catechism.

In Quelimane Diocese the Comitium has 12 Curiae affiliated and 170 praesidia attached to the Curiae with a total of 8,715 active and 802 auxiliary members. The visitors made contact with almost 2,000 legionaries during their visit to this Diocese. Here also they were received by the Bishop of Quelimane, Dom Hilario, who praised the works of the Legion of Mary, and the strength, organisation and perseverance of the legionaries.

The Beira Diocese has a Comitium with 7 Curiae and 88 praesidia affiliated to the Curiae with a total of 3,000 legionaries including auxiliaries and the visitors met the Spiritual Director and officers of Curiae and praesidia. A visit was made to the Archbishop, Dom Jaime, who spoke of the value of the work of the legionaries in the parishes.

The great appeal made by all the legionaries and priests was the translation of the Handbook into the local languages. In the Dioceses there exist commissions, which can help in the translating.

Thanks was expressed by Sile Ni Chochlain, President of Concilium, to Lícia de Souza and Paddy Fay for undertaking this valuable visit.

Prayer for the Beatification of

The Servant of God, Frank Duff

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

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

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

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

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

Should be reported to:

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

Prayer of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress

Lord Jesus,
You were sent by the Father
to gather together those who are scattered.
You came among us, doing good and bringing healing,
announcing the Word of salvation
and giving the Bread which lasts forever.
Be our compassion on life’s pilgrim way.

May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts,
enliven our hope and open our minds,
so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith
we may recognise you in the Scriptures
and in the breaking of bread.
May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body
and lead us to walk humbly on the earth,
in justice and love, as witnesses of your resurrection.

In communion with Mary,
whom you gave to us as our Mother
at the foot of the cross,
through you
may all praise, honour and blessing be to
the Father
in the Holy Spirit and in the Church,
Now and forever.
Amen

N O T I C E

In 2012 the JUNE Concilium Meeting will take place on
SATURDAY 9th June 2012 at 3.00 pm