Concilium Bulletin May 2016
CENTRAL AMERICA
EL SALVADOR
Senatus of San Salvador: A new President has been elected and the VP re-elected. 60 legionaries went on PPC to Guatemala in November and were joined by 8 locals. During Holy Week Regia ‘Virgin del Pilar’ sent missionaries to rural areas; they also report evangelising via the diocesan radio station. The junior Comitium gave its first annual report while a Curia reported 20 adult catechumens receiving all 3 initiation Sacraments together. Fortnightly visitation of 5 Catholic families living in a community of mainly Protestants featured in a praesidium report.
HONDURAS
Senatus of Tegucigalpa: In December a get-together of legionaries resulted in a good report which outlined the Legion’s strengths and weaknesses; amongst the latter were ignorance of the Handbook and lack of Spiritual Directors. The officers are trying to revitalise the Senatus and to help in this, the Spiritual Director has allocated 21st May as a day of Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Suyapa, a town in the capital’s suburbs.
NICARAGUA
Regia of Managua: Secretary Bro. Edmundo travelled to Mexico City to purchase 250 of the newly-printed Handbooks. This news was very happily received by the legionary in Madrid who helped to update the revised Handbook. The Curia of Chontales has been raised to Comitium and, along with 2 attached Curiae, which will tend to 3 pastoral areas; this has been worked out in consultation with the Bishop.
PANAMA
Regia of Panamá: The Senatus officers are well supported by the previous officers. The main works reported in this period were home visitation, visitation of the sick, street contact, evangelising, distributing Catholic literature, promoting prayer in families and collaborating with the parishes. At the request of the Archbishop, the history of the Legion in Panama is being compiled.
MEXICO
Senatus of Mexico City: An Annual Meeting of Correspondents took place on February 21st, the first such meeting, mirroring the General Correspondents Meeting in Dublin. A Legion Congress is scheduled for June 19th and a Year of Mercy Pilgrimage to the Holy Door in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for Sept 10th, to coincide with the Legion’s birthday. The Regia of Leon report included 3 extension projects in different towns since August. Under the heading ‘Action for Mexico’ (their version of True Devotion to the Nation) a praesidium of the Comitium of Cuautitlan reported cutting hair free of charge for people of low income, the elderly and the sick. This is done in collaboration with the state authorities.
One of the 3 Comitia in the Diocese of Cuernavaca, ‘Madre de Jesucristo’ of Tejalpa report 15 Curia and a small number of directly attached praesidia consisting 612 senior and 120 juniors, 45 Praetorians, 188 probationers and 4,702 auxiliaries. They have an extension team of 8 legionaries. They do all the basic Legion apostolates and every praesidium does home visitation. They have 3 Patrician meetings, held an Auxiliary Rally in June and widely promote the 3 Causes. They are setting up a Pioneer Council and have 12 new pioneers. They held a Conference in April on True Devotion to Mary to mark St. Louis Marie de Montfort’s tri-centenary of death. Novel works include a Breakfast Group for 60 elderly people in conjunction with civil authorities. The Comitium has 5 junior Curiae of 6 praesidia each with good apostolates and plenty of fun (including sport and religious films).
A Curia in Cuajimalpa reports 2 new praesidia of 6 and 7 members respectively since August 2015. A pilgrim image of Our Lady has had many positive results including a couple about to split up who received the image, were taught the Rosary, catechised about marriage and are now happily together.
Due to the formation of the new Diocese of Izcalli, a new Comitium was formed to cover the Legion there (it split from the Comitium of Cuatitlan); at the inaugural meeting on 29th January the new Bishop presided at a Mass. He said he wants the Legion in all the parishes of his Diocese.
A new Spiritual Director has been appointed to the Regia of Acapulco.
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ASIA
PAKISTAN: The usual works of home, hospital and institution visitation are done, as well as classes for 1st Communion and Confirmation children and Sunday school. A new praesidium set up in the Pakistan Air Force chose the name ‘Refuge of Sinners’. The availability of Legion materials in Urdu and that of literacy is being looked into. Emphasis is placed on auxiliary membership.
SRI LANKA: Colombo junior Curia held a Youth Marian Rally at which 200 attended as well as 2 priests and the Auxiliary Bishop. In October the Lanka Comitium held a Rosary Rally at which 5,000 attended. A Drug Addicts’ Centre for adults and children is visited. 300 homes were enthroned to the Sacred Heart in one area and 53 in another.
THAILAND: In Chianng Mai a Comitium has 3 Curiae and 45 praesidia, including one of 10 members in a prison. Lapsed and passive Catholics are encouraged to return to Mass and the Sacraments. A praesidium is expanding its work to visit people living in the remote hill country. Some help the priest at the Airport and they use electronic devices to spread the Good News.
MYANMAR Senatus: 84 attended the council meeting. New praesidia started with 9 and 30 members. 200 attended the Annual Reunion. Visitation of councils and extension is on-going.
LEBANON: Legionaries assist in Church prayer ceremonies. One young legionary has been asked to represent the Legion at the youth pastoral council of the Maronite Church in Beirut. The Legion is also participating at the 2nd Marian Conference at the University. Fr. Bernardo de Nardo has made a request for assistance to extend the Legion in the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and nearby countries.
HOLY LAND: Three praesidia reported from Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Works reported upon were arranging Eucharistic Adoration, distribution of religious pamphlets and Miraculous Medals, recitation of the Rosary with more than 2,000 persons including 50 children, visiting bereaved families, the sick and elderly at home and in hospital.
INDIA
Chennai Regia held its inaugural meeting on 12th December with a simple ceremony in the Legion office due to heavy rains and flooding which occurred in the area. The Minutes show a large variety of apostolic work being carried out including making peace in families, rectification of Marriages, Enthronements to the Sacred Heart, conversions to Christianity and prevention of suicides. Nugam-bakkam Curia has been in existence since 1931 and celebrated the event.
Port Blair Comitium: This council which is situated in the Indian Ocean and operating on the Andaman Islands has decided to resume its affiliated with the Chennai Regia.
Pondicherry Senatus: 6 attached praesidia, 4 Curiae and a Comitium reported. Homes, hospitals, orphanages and prisons are visited.
Karnataka Senatus is working well and keeps in regular touch. They visit Government and private hospitals as well as private nursing homes. They organised a Pilgrimage to a shrine of Our Lady with 248 legionaries taking part. 250 attended the Lenten Retreat. Two praesidia were set up in 2 months.
Kerala Senatus consists of 17 Comitia, 12 directly affiliated Curia and 31 praesidia. Good work is carried out.
Mumbai Senatus: Reports show teaching of catechism and extensive efforts at extending the Legion to places as yet without the Legion. They keep in touch with the legionaries in Nepal. The four praesidia in Nepal are now directly affiliated to the Senatus.
Visakhapatnam Comitium: Works reported on included visitation of prisons and AIDS patients, counselling alcoholics and preparing people for the Sacrament of Marriage.
VIETNAM
All reports show great support from the Clergy and good co-operation among legionaries. In the more rural areas the age group of legionaries is on the increase as the younger people move to the cities. Nonetheless the contribution of these members is great. One praesidium working in a deprived area meets people with poor health and those drawn into the heroin business and gambling. In another area Chinese and Vietnamese legionaries are working together. Another praesidium works in the commercial district. The Legion is very well organised throughout the country showing where their mission territory is and where extension is required. A Comitium with 8 senior Curiae, 2 junior Curiae with 746 members of whom 214 are Praetorians, has 40 junior members and 2,042 auxiliary and Adjutorian members.
IRISH PROVINCIAL REPORT
COMITIA
Carlow Comitium: This report covers January and March meetings. The 25 auxiliary members of Tinryland praesidium all take the Maria Legionis. Works include hospital visitation and visitation of schools during which Miraculous Medals are distributed and the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association is promoted. Members also assisted the priest in the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in two homes. The Comitium Congress was held on Saturday 30th April in Carlow. The Concilium was represented by the Correspondent, a Concilium Officer and a President of a Dublin Curia. Most Rev. Dr. Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, was Chief Celebrant at the Mass and he was assisted by Fr. John McEvoy, Parish Priest, Comitium Spiritual Director. In his homily Bishop Nulty spoke about Frank Duff and his great vision. 34 legionaries attended, representing the Comitium and Laois and Kildare Curiae. Participation in the discussion items was very good with a positive spirit in evidence. The Spiritual Director of the Edenderry praesidium was present for the entire day. Laois Curia gave a report at the March meeting. Extension efforts are on-going. The priest in a parish without the Legion is very anxious to have a praesidium.
Elphin Comitium: Castlerea praesidium with 7 members and 35 auxiliaries visits hospitals, nursing homes, residents of HSE houses and residents of houses under care of the Brothers of Charity. The work of “Dial a Prayer” on their parish confidential line which takes place in front of the Blessed Sacrament is a support for people going through difficult situations and in need to talk to someone. Elphin praesidium with 7 members and 50 auxiliairies do home visitation with the Fatima Pilgrim Statue. A Roscommon praesidium in the course of visitation recruited 40 households who wished to have Enthronement of the Sacred Heart. The Comitium hosted a successful Youth Conference on 19th March. North Elphin Curia: The Cathedral praesidium with 5 members, the oldest in the Curia, presented its 81st Annual Report. Among works reported on was crowd contact at Sligo Fleadh Ceoil (a Music Festival) in August. St. Anne’s parish praesidium has 14 members, 2 of whom are Praetorians and 25 auxiliaries. Some of their works are Consecration of homes to the Sacred Heart and outreach to Institute of Technology students where Confession and Miraculous Medals are promoted.
Tuam Comitium: A praesidium in Tuam has 9 members and 50 auxiliaries. They held a Planning Meeting in January. Works include home and Pilgrim Statue weekly visitation. A boxing club was visited and 30 Miraculous Medals and leaflets on the Mass distributed. Rosaries are recited weekly at a Grotto and on one occasion about 100 attended. Corrandulla praesidium has 7 members, one of whom is a Praetorian. Home and Pilgrim Statue visitation is done weekly. Skehana praesidium also has 7 members. They visit nursing homes, hospitals and the housebound.
CURIAE
Achonry Curia: There are 3 praesidia attached. The Acies took place in Charlestown Church before the March Curia meeting. A copy of the annual audit has been received.
Clonfert Curia: A praesidium of 8 members, 2 of whom are Praetorians and 15 auxiliaries does hospital, nursing home and visitation to the sick and housebound. A Legion altar is erected during the month of May in the Church sanctuary so as to recruit new members. Two members conduct a prayer meeting in a nursing home where the Rosary and Legion prayers are recited. In the parish of Killoran a praesidium visits nursing homes as well as the housebound and bereaved families. Miraculous Medals and prayer leaflets are distributed. They have 26 auxiliaries.
Ferns Curia: Eighteen officers attended the March Curia Meeting. A praesidium in Carnew reported a membership of 8. Works include home visitation and works of consolation. Recruiting drives took place during the year
Galway Curia: Among the works carried out by a reporting praesidium are home to home visitation where they distribute leaflets with the parish Mass times. The Rosary was recited at a grotto in the Church grounds for the months of May and October. Five to six members attend the new praesidium in the Abbey parish. Fr. Eugene attends most weeks and helps with the work. The Anniversary Mass for the Servant of God Alfie Lambe was held on 19th January in the Cathedral parish.
Killala Curia: The Acies took place in St. Patrick’s Church, Ballina on 17th April. The praesidium in Ardagh has 5 members whose main works are hospital and nursing home visitation. They have begun to visit the elderly who live alone and have 25 auxiliaries. Dromore West has 7 members and 30 auxiliaries. They visit with the Pilgrim Statue. A Patrician meeting on “Death by Intent (Euthanasia)” had an attendance of 9 and 13 attended another meeting. A new junior praesidium with 5 members has started in the Pastoral Centre, Ballina.
Kilkenny Curia: Rev. Fr. Harney, Spiritual Director and 10 members were present at March meeting. The Annual Audit has been carried out.
DUBLIN NORTHSIDE
Veneranda Curia held a successful talk on True Devotion to Mary by Fr. Eamon Devlin CM in Aras Veneranda on the evening of the 300th anniversary of the death of St. Louis Marie de Montfort, with 50 in attendance, 10 of them non-legionaries. The Curia house was also the venue for a night of traditional music in March and a bilingual talk on “The Church and 1916” in April, both organised by the Irish-speaking praesidium. The Curia has produced a Year of Mercy flier with all confessions times in their area and listing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. A new praesidium continues with 3 probationers and outside support. One praesidium recruited 8 new auxiliary members during the year and a probationary active member. Home visitation is done most weeks while one member works in the Central Catholic Library at least once a week. Their St. Michael’s Club caters for seven mildly mentally handicapped adults every Saturday afternoon, with games, stories and outings. The works of another praesidium include home visitation and the sale of 42 Catholic papers every weekend in the Church. One member is on the Baptism Team and another helps with a youth group set up by the Parish Priest and attended by 15 youths and 4 adults.
Consolata Curia: An 11-member praesidium has 9 sisters and 2 brothers, having gained 2 members during the year. The 2 brothers’ visit homes in a nearby parish; in one case a 38 year-old lady died of cancer two weeks after their visit and at the funeral, the family thanked the Legion and said that all her fears left when the legionaries visited and prayed with her. Two members are on the Parish Council. The Legion altar is set up in the Parish Shop which they run. Three Traveller ladies who dropped in, were encouraged to pray to ease their many worries; now five of them gather three times a week in one of their homes to pray the Rosary. A religious pack was given to the Sacrament classes in the local school. The praesidium held their annual outing to a restaurant. A praesidium with 6 active members visit a nursing home every Monday morning; one resident said it was his favourite morning and when he was ill he asked the legionaries not to leave; they recited the Divine Mercy and he died peacefully. Other works include arranging the Eucharistic Adoration rota and selling 50 Maria Legionis. They have 225 auxiliary members.
Presentata Curia: The mother praesidium of the Regina Coeli Hostel reported 14 members, two of whom are indoor and one is a day sister. During the last year, they gained 2 new and 2 probationary members and had nine overseas volunteers and nine students on work placements. The praesidium ensures the hostel is staffed 24 hours a day, organises training, manages the accounts and oversees maintenance of the buildings. They are currently operating at full capacity of 34 women and a further five in a vulnerable adults unit. 111 different women were admitted during the year. The Regina Pacis praesidium, also based in the hostel, has recruited 6 new members, now having 11 full and 4 probationary members. As well as their regular duties the praesidium organised DVD nights, a talk on Cenaclo and a talk on the Pioneers resulting in four residents taking a short-term pledge. A member is instructing a Church of England resident while the faith has been explained to a non-Christian lady who has attended various Catholic ceremonies
Exaltata Curia: A praesidium of five members visits two units of Connolly Hospital weekly; the legionaries pray with residents and sing hymns. They coordinate a daily Holy Hour in the Parish Church. Enthronement of the Sacred Heart was carried out in several homes.
Bethlehem Curia: This council hosted a talk on True Devotion to Mary by Fr. Michael Kennedy in Wynne’s Hotel on 24th April with up to 90 present, some of them non-legionaries who picked up fliers in city centre Churches; also present were a De Montfort brother and a Spiritan Seminarian. 18 patricians and 4 legionaries attended 2 Patrician meetings while 8 legionaries and 5 non-legionaries attended the Edel Quinn Promoters meeting. A praesidium of 8 full members and 1 probationer visit two hostels, one of which mostly houses men recently released from prison; many are addicts and are encouraged by the legionaries to attend Cenaclo meetings. During street contact many nationalities were met including two non-Catholics who attend Mass in their respective parishes. A prominent work is outreach to the Latino community, for example they visit a Cuban/Peruvian couple.
Porta Coeli Curia: A recruitment drive in one parish resulted in 3 visitors to the subsequent meeting. One praesidium operates the Parish Repository; they also distribute 90 Maria Legionis, clean the Church, recite the Rosary before daily Mass and do home visitation. The main works of a praesidium with nine members are home and hospital visitation and the Howth Harbour Apostolate.
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EUROPE
HOLLAND
Amsterdam Regia: The website for Amsterdam and Antwerp Regia is now up and running. The praesidium in Groningen is doing well. Celebrations were held to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of St. Louis Marie de Montfort.
BELGIUM
Brussels Senatus: Human trafficking is a serious problem for street girls, most of whom are African Christians and Moslems from Albania. A praesidium of 16 members includes nursing home and hospital visitation as part of their work. Namur Curia has 4 praesidia. In Beauraing the praesidium is called Our Lady of the Golden Heart. In Saint Servais the focus is on home visitation where legionaries meet many non-Christians. A very successful PPC Conference was held in Brussels.
ENGLAND
Birmingham Senatus: The continuation of the Night Fever project and promotion of the Rosary has been requested at a meeting for priests which was attended by the Spiritual Director. Visitation with the Pilgrim Statue resulted in a great improvement in family problems, for example a father of four (an alcoholic and a drug addict) has taken the pledge. Extension continues in West Birmingham, also follow-up to the PPC project. Contact work in the general vicinity of an abortion clinic and at a book-barrow near two supermarkets were reported. In Bristol two praesidia closed and two new ones opened.
Liverpool Senatus: The new praesidium, ‘Our Lady of Liverpool’ is thriving. PPC is under way and so far projects have been successful.
Manchester Comitium reported undertaking the RCIA course, assisting people getting to Mass, work with refugees and drug addicts. Ashton Curia has 7 praesidia. Rev. Canon McNally led the Rosary in Wigan town-centre in October. The praesidium at Bryn has 9 active and 12 auxiliary members. In Newcastle the praesidium at Northern Cross has 10 members. The Leigh Curia report focused on Baptism and First Communions – this keeps the legionaries busy – and one lady in her 90’s finds great comfort when the legionaries bring the Statue of Our Lady to her. Warrington hospital and a nursing home are visited and also intensive recruiting efforts are made.
Brentwood Comitium: A new praesidium is being formed in the University of Essex; the chaplain Fr. Mark Squires is very supportive. Children of the Travelling Community are being instructed for the Sacraments at the request of the Spiritual Director.
Hammersmith Curia: A booklet on the ‘Year of Mercy’ is given to non-Catholics; home, hospital and prison visitation is done regularly. Southwark Comitium: Works include organising the Church Youth Choir, teaching catechism and public Rosaries. The juniors include altar serving, and visiting a disabled elderly parishioner, and helping out during the Lenten Stations of the Cross among their works. A new praesidium has been established at New Addington.
Central London: Work continues for the sick and housebound, and for children with disabilities. The aftercare of auxiliaries is mentioned and preparing candidates for Baptism and Confirmation. The Night Shelter is visited.
Brent and Harrow: The Harlesden praesidium reports that the ancient shrine of Our Lady of Willesden has been designated a centre of indulgence of a Holy Door during the Year of Mercy. In Wembley, staff in a nursing home join in the recitation of the Rosary.
FRANCE
Paris Regia: This council will be raised to Senatus in September and the officers will visit Dublin in July. The Permanence in Lourdes celebrated its 60th Anniversary on May 1st. The Vietnamese Curia with 9praesidia visits the sick and elderly at home, and has contact with many non-Catholics. Two men received the Sacrament of Reconciliation after 10 years. One praesidium has 20 active members, another helps an organisation for those caught up in domestic violence. The 300th Anniversary of the death of De Montfort is being marked.
GERMANY
Frankfurt Senatus: Golden Jubilee celebrations took place in January and a Congress is planned for the Year of Mercy. Extension continues to the Eritrean Community. The DVD on Frank Duff is now available in German. Contact work is done at the Frankfurt Railway Station. Refugees are contacted in Cologne, and in Munich visitation is done to prisons and to the blind. Berlin focused on recruiting for a Spanish-speaking praesidium. Children attending the monthly Rosary are called “The Rosary Kids.”
SCOTLAND
Senatus of Scotland: The PPC season is well under way. The Spiritual Director of the Senatus, Fr. Boyle, assists with door to door visitation. In Dundee Curia many contacts are made with the “Light a Candle” apostolate. The consecration of homes is mentioned, and on street contact a young lapsed Catholic man promised to return to the Church “and bring his Mam”.
SIBERIA: Extension work was carried out by Sr. Birgit Metzler and Sr. Renate Seber from Frankfurt during their visit to Krasnoyarsk.
SWEDEN: The Legion is in the care of Liverpool Senatus. In March Bro. and Sr. Tony Kirstein spent a week visiting the Swedish Curia.
SWITZERLAND: An apostolate to asylum seekers and a Pilgrimage to Rome are mentioned in the Zurich Comitium report.
NORWAY: Bergin has two praesidia with membership of 20 and 10. In Tonsberg the praesidium lost 3 members due to moving from the area. A translator for the Handbook has been found and this work is in progress. In Dramen Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the homes has been started. Other works include House Rosaries and Bible Sharing.
DENMARK: The praesidium in Copenhagen has 12 members and 20 auxiliaries. During Lent the Stations of the Cross were conducted by the legionaries.
WALES: Swansea has 5 affiliated praesidia. Exploratio Dominicalis projects were carried out in three parishes. Street Rescue and crowd contact are done weekly.
POLAND
Warsaw Metro Comitium: Sr. Jolanta Widenka was re-elected Comitium President for 2nd term on January 16th last. Membership of praesidia reporting was 13, 8 and 9. Zoliborz Curia has 13 praesidia with 108 active members comprising 11 Brothers and 97 Sisters. Hospitals, Care Homes and a home for homeless women are visited and an apostolate in cemeteries is carried out. Extension efforts move from parish to parish. The Comitium supported the Symposium on De Montfort organised at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). Fr. Stanislaw Banach and Fr. Boguslaw Binda are among the spiritual pillars of the Comitium.
AFRICA
IVORY COAST
One Regia, 5 Comitia, 2 Curiae and 4 praesidia gave their Annual Reports during this period. These have a combined membership of: 13,391 active members of whom 1,390 are Praetorians; 3,492 probationers; 1,670 Auxiliaries, of whom 268 are Adjutorians. They made 294,103 visits to homes, hospitals, markets, workshops and many other locations. They made 1,694,315 contacts of whom 577,456 were Catholic, the remainder being Methodist, Muslim, members of sects and people of no religion. The fruits of this work were: 686 families reconciled, 548 marriages regularised, 1,068 returns to Mass, 3,153 Catechumens recruited, bringing the total Catechumenate to 9,309, 1,767 Baptisms, 1,477 Confirmations, 959 Sacrament of Reconciliation and 444 Sacrament of the Sick. The number teaching Catechism is 910. They established one new Comitium, four new adult Curiae and three junior Curiae.
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Brazzaville: During the period November to February there were reports from two Regia, 10 Comitia, nine Curiae and 2 praesidia resulting in over 200,000 contacts with 336 returns to the Sacraments and 592 enrolled for catechesis. Works included visiting the sick at home and in hospital, prisoners, the poor, widows, orphans, street contact and home visitation. One Curia reported 18 children receiving Baptism thanks to information from legionaries and 39 legionaries taking part in an Exploratio project at which 6 people enrolled for Catechism and 1 couple was reconciled. Visitation of distant praesidia is undertaken by one Comitium and regular training for officers is mentioned in many reports. Thanks to visitation by legionaries an elderly lady received Baptism and First Holy Communion in her home at the age of 85, while a 79 year old woman baptised in 2009 also received her First Holy Communion.
CAMEROUN
Douala Senatus: Reports show many baptised and converted, visitation of orphanages, handicapped and Leper Centres. A new Comitium was set up by Yaounde Regia, which brings the total to 5 Comitia in the Diocese of Bafia. The statistics are changing so fast, it is hard to keep track, mainly in Garoua. Bertoua Regia has the Legion of Mary in every parish and the aim is that every senior praesidium is to have juniors. Another 7 junior praesidia were started since the last report. Kumbo Comitium started a new praesidium in a prison. Many councils are reporting prison visitation. Praesidia and a Curia were set-up in Yaounde prison. In the Diocese of Batouri legionaries prepared a Christmas meal for 270 prison inmates. Many councils reported on having organised Exploratio Dominicalis projects, and 2 Congresses were held. The Annual General Reunion for juniors in the Legion house in Douala had 216 participants.
TOGO
Lome Senatus: Many non-Christians and those of the traditional African religion are met on home and hospital visitation. Most councils report on having juniors or are in the process of setting up junior praesidia. One Curia reported that 2 abortions were prevented. This year the Senatus hopes to organise a PPC project to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.
BENIN REPUBLIC: Praesidia reported sustained outreach through visitation to all religions, one reporting 12 adult baptisms. Frank Duff youth clubs are conducted in a number of parishes. The Regia has a National Headquarters under construction at Calavi, a university town adjacent to the capital Cotonou. It also care-takes the Legion in the Republic of Gabon and carried out a visitation there in recent months.
BURKINA FASO: Sr. Odette Dié of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, reports that the re-constituted Comitium of Bobo-Dioulasso which she attended on Concilum’s behalf is progressing well towards formal recognition.
REPUBLIC OF GUINEA
Investigation by internet suggests that from 2009 onwards there was pressure on the Legion, the Charismatic Renewal, the San Egidio Fraternity and the Emmanuel Community to join forces in support of the Basic Christian Communities in support of which a whole new spirituality was developed. It is good to note that the name of Br. Félix LOUA in whose home the Comitium used to meet appears on the Diocesan site as being the person now in charge of the Legion of Mary. There is no reference to the Legion on the sites of the other two Dioceses which each had a Curia and were in touch with the Comitium up to 4 years ago. Togo is willing to send visitators. An item of good news is that a cure for the Ebola virus seems at last to have been found.
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