Concilium Bulletin - March 2014
REPORTS
AFRICA
Ghana
Senatus of Accra: The Vicar General was the main celebrant of the Frank Duff Anniversary Mass, celebrated at the grotto, Archbishop’s Garden, Accra Cathedral. 296 students from twenty six tertiary institutions participated in the 4th Biennial Legion three day Youth Conference at Cape Coast University. The theme was, “In the Service of Mary, Model of the Church.” The Rosary procession and keynote address were covered by the Catholic T.V. Broadcaster and excerpts were shown on a Catholic programme on national television.
Sunyani Regia: A Nigerian Legionary established a new senior and a junior Praesidium at Walewale in the Northern Region.
Cape Verde Regia: January Minutes received. The Legion is the principal instrument of catechesis for the Church in Cape Verde with 77 catechists in one Comitium and 50 in a Curia. This Comitium has 23 junior praesidia. As a result of Exploratio Dominicalis projects, 500 children were recruited for Catechism classes and 114 youths prepared for Baptism. In spite of a constant loss of members through emigration and other factors, numbers continue to increase. The monthly newsletter goes to six Portuguese-speaking countries in three continents.
ZimbabweKadoma Curia held a combined meeting with Harare and Chegutu Curiae.
Hwange Comitium: Elections were held in February for all four officers in Hwange Comitium.
Angola
Luanda Senatus: January minutes received. The 25th May has been chosen for the formal inauguration of the Senatus. Two new Curiae have been set up. A praesidium established in 1962 has 26 active and ten auxiliary members. A praesidium with 30 active members and 4 auxiliaries made contact with 436 persons on home visitation; they visited 613 people in hospital and 180 in a home for the elderly.
Benguela Senatus: September minutes received. More than 2,000 legionaries took part in a Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in May to mark the Year of Faith. In September, the Comitium in Ndunde was divided and a new Comitium formed in Kamela with five Curiae and 12 praesidia directly attached. Two new Curiae have been set up, one in Benguela and the other in Lobito.
Cape Town Senatus: February 2014 minutes received. His Grace the Archbishop will attend the Acies which will be held in the Cathedral. The correspondents group meets regularly and report to the Senatus meeting. New praesidia have been established and it is hoped that this will give new life to the Senatus.
Johannesburg Senatus: Works undertaken include, visiting a Squatter Camp, teaching catechism, home and prison visitation. A new praesidium was set up and another is planned. Lapsed Catholics and people of other faiths were contacted; some have joined the catechism classes.
Esogodeni Comitium: There are 16 curiae attached to this Comitium. Works include home and hospital visitation, teaching catechism and helping the elderly with their medication. A meeting with the young adult legionaries was planned for 22nd February. This year each curia will hold its own Acies. In the past they had one for the Comitium and many legionaries were unable to attend.
Lesotho Senatus: February minutes received. Average attendances were 23% for council officers and 39% for praesidium officers. An attached curia reported that attendance at their monthly meeting is poor due to distance and lack of public transport. The correspondent is getting details of attached councils; some Comitia have no curiae and few praesidia. On the other hand, another Comitium has four curiae and nine praesidia. 26 colleagues of a legionary were instructed in the Catholic faith.
Namibia
The Legion in Namibia is under the caretakership of Cape Town Senatus. Two Senatus Officers will visit in May.
Egypt: Prayers are asked for legionaries in Egypt who are experiencing great difficulty at this time.
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ASIA
Philippines
Mindanao Senatus: Many Muslims in the Aurora area converted to the Catholic faith. One such convert is now President of a praesidium. Muslims also donated towards maintenance of a Catholic Chapel. Many marriage validations preceded by Catechesis of the relevant couples is reported. Several couples who converted from Sects were baptised and married during a wedding ceremony centred round the Mass. A seriously ill Muslim husband of a Catholic lady converted to the church and received the sacraments shortly before he died. A campaign was undertaken to recruit young legionaries to visit mountain villages The average attendance of the four praesidia reporting in September was 82%. Two Curiae attached to a Regia had 100% attendance. Visitation to attached councils has resulted in an increase in the number of curiae and Comitia.
Bicolandia Senatus: Last minutes November 2013 A praesidium with 12 active members visit the sick and elderly in hospital, encouraging them to go to confession and be anointed. A campaign for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in homes is on-going. Legionaries in a praesidium with 14 active and 6 probationers teach catechism to 35 pre-school children. Visitation to attached councils is undertaken.
Western Visayas Senatus: Last minutes December 2013. Councils and praesidia attendance average 70%. Quarterly reports to Senatus are regular and very encouraging. Home and Hospital visitation feature, with numerous reports of Baptisms, Catechesis, validation of marriages and conversions.
Kabaukalan Comitium: This council reported the visitation of 144 Prisoners and the building of a Prison Chapel with the help of legionaries.
North Negros Comitium reported the Legion looking after an abandoned child and sending him to school.
Tigbanan Comitium: Due to legionary efforts, a 93 year old woman received her first Holy Communion.
Cebu Senatus:.After the November meeting the total Senatus area suffered appalling devastation by Typhoon Haiyan. Yet they reconvened again in December. Many people suffered grievously, but not one single meeting was deferred. Communications were impossible for quite a time The Audit for 2012 is being done. A junior praesidium organised a prayer group with 40 members aged between five and thirteen, who were taught the basic prayers and how to pray the Rosary. One Regia has 6 Comitia, 12 Curiae and 20 directly attached praesidia, with over 7,000 active members, 556 on probation, 747 praetorians, 65 adjutorians and over 9,000 auxiliaries. Visitation to attached Councils is undertaken regularly and the three causes are promoted with vigour.
Northern Philippines Senatus: The average attendance of Senatus officers is 100% and attached praesidia 66%. The Columban method of recruitment and vocation promotion was carried out in September. There were 3 conversions to the Catholic faith.
Tuguegarao Comitium: Members travelled 12 hours to render their report.
San Pedro Comitium: Four junior members graduated to senior ranks and are preparing to form a new senior praesidium. Lipa Regia established 19 new Junior praesidia and 2 Patrician groups, one of which is in a Jail. Councils reported many returns to the sacraments, Muslims converting, children in school being taught catechism, new praesidia starting up and over 70 new Patrician units organised.
Guam Comitium: This council supervises 2 affiliated senior curiae, a junior curia with 9 praesidia and 17 directly attached praesidia. The Comitium plans to continue extension to parishes presently without the legion.
Australia
Melbourne Senatus: January minutes to hand. Reports were taken from 5 directly attached praesdia, 8 attached curiae, 2 Comitia on the mainland and a number of councils in the Pacific Ocean region. Visits were made to Darwin curia, Horbart curia in Tasmania and councils in the Vanuata Islands group. Perth Comitium covers a very extensive area in Western Australia. Bishop Hilton Deakin celebrated the November Mass for the Servant of God Frank Duff.
Sydney Senatus: Many extension drives were carried out. Mass was celebrated for the three Causes. A praesidium of 19 members teaches catechism, circulate the Pilgrim Statue and carry out visitation to homes and hospitals. Membership in general is small. An Indonesian praesidium has an apostolate to fellow country-men. East Timor has 5 senior and 2 junior praesidia, with many more in the pipe line. The extension worker arrived with 150 Rosary Beads. The apostolate is home visitation and distribution of Mass times to the hostels.
Brisbane Comitium: January minutes to hand. Each praesidium was encouraged to hold its own anniversary Mass in November for the Servant of God Frank Duff. A Columban drive was held in Carina parish on 14/15th.February and much interest was generated. Reports included visitation to homes, hospitals, teaching catechism in state schools, praying the rosary at funerals, church duties and Holy Communion distribution in nursing homes. An information Legion gathering was held.
New Zealand
Auckland Senatus: The Senatus has 28 praesidia attached. Reports were received from Wellington Comitium, plus Hamilton and Christchurch Curiae. Some extension has been undertaken. The Auckland area is relatively strong with two senior and two junior curiae. Bishop Peter Brown is the new Bishop of American Samoa. Western Samoa is home to Apia Comitia with 6 curiae and 2 Comitia. Tonga has 2 curiae. The Legion Handbook has been printed in two languages.
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SOUTH AMERICA
Paraguay
Senatus of Asuncion: The Comitium of San Lorenzo promotes three catholic radio stations. In Asuncion itself, a leper colony is visited. In prisons where praesidia exist, legionaries help their fellow prisoners to rehabilitate, often resulting in early release. Hospitals, homes and nursing homes are visited in all areas, with a variety of tasks carried out, such as shopping for the elderly and washing clothes. A member of a Sect, who received guidance from Legionaries, converted while in hospital and received the Sacraments including Extreme Unction, before passing to Eternity.
Bolivia
Senatus of La Paz: Legionaries work in a hostel for recovering alcoholics, where they have long conversations with residents. Many reports put home visitation as their number one priority. Alfie Lambe is remembered on his anniversary; present day legionaries were delighted to hear personal testimonies of some of the legionaries who had the privilege of working with Alfie in Bolivia.
Chile
Senatus of Santiago: Many reports tell of contact with non-catholic families. Visits to the many distant affiliated councils is usually done by a Senatus officer and the correspondent. One council says that many of their legionaries walk more than 10km to do their weekly work assignment. Others do their Legion work in spite of having to use crutches. Night meetings are rare in the Senatus area, but some Praesidia now meet at night in order to cater for those who cannot attend a day meeting. Some families requested that legionaries visit them at night when the whole family is at home.
Colombia
Senatus of Medellin: Comitium Nuestra Senora del Carmen de Bello reports visitation of homes, hospitals, clinics, prisons and educational institution including pre-school, primary and secondary schools. Street contact is also done. The main works of one praesidium are bringing the sick to the doctor, consoling the grief-stricken and terminally ill and teaching catechism to children.
Senatus of Bogota: At the January meeting the Spiritual Director of the Senatus spoke about the Pope’s encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium and encouraged legionaries to study the document. There are 11,000 active legionaries in the attached Regia of Bucaramanga; 309 are between the ages of 18 and 40. In rural areas where there are no priests, the legionaries bring families together for Liturgy of the Word and Eucharistic services. An attached comitium has 42 parishes in its area; all but 7 have a Legion presence.
Cuba
Havana Comitium: A visit by four legionaries from the Senatus of Merida in Mexico is being considered by the Comitium of Havana; the visitors would help train the local legionaries in the apostolate and in administration.
Peru
Lima Senatus: There are 33 curiae in the Archdiocese area. The Senatus is proposing to set up a new Comitium. In January 134 out of 214 officers were present. Legionaries visit a Drug Rehabilitation Centre where they speak to the inmates, completing their visits with prayer. A curia attached to the Comitium of Trujillo works in a difficult area where the sects are active. They have set up a number of Rosary Groups, which have been very successful. As a result of their apostolate, one person returned to the practice of the faith, three marriages were regularised and four children were Baptised.
Uruguay
Senatus of Montevideo: October minutes received. Three Columban Drives were organised to strengthen weak praesidia.
Venezuela
Senatus of Caracas: Average attendance is 74%. Members expressed delight at the formation of a new Regia in Merida, decided upon at the December Concilium meeting. Mention is made of jail visitation, the use of a book barrow, outreach to indigenous peoples and the conversion of a family of Jehovah Witnesses.
Ecuador
Senatus of Quito: Minutes received to December. Works include the teaching of personal hygiene, cookery, jail visitation, catechesis and organising public Rosaries.
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