Concilium Bulletin November 2014
ASIA
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne Senatus. Reporting Curiae ranged in size from 6 to 8 Senior and a few junior praesidia. A praesidium was set up for 6 night workers as a result of an extension drive, a Chinese one and another as a result of a PPC project. A junior fun day had 80 children in attendance. Seven Seminarians helped with the programme. A weekend Retreat was held in May based on the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Kiribati Islands were visited by Senatus officers, who found legionaries dedicated to prayer and work and many junior praesidia. Namosi Comitium in Fiji governs 3 Senior Curia and l junior with 7 praesidia. It is intended to have a professional translation made of the Handbook.
Sydney Senatus: Home visitation features in all reports. In one parish there are 12 Pilgrim Statues circulating and catechism classes are conducted. Preparation for the Sacraments resulted in one person being received into the Church. Book barrow apostolate is undertaken and juniors work in parishes with their seniors. In East Timor there are now 5 praesidia with a Curia to be formed. Solomon Islands Comitium has 5 Curiae, including the recently attached Curia on Wagina Island.
Brisbane Comitium: Visitation of councils is undertaken. Three new praesidia were set up in the last 3 months. Works reported included two Enthronements of the Sacred Heart, an Auxiliary Rally and teaching catechism in schools. As a result of the Rosary recited in a nursing home for residents, visitors to the nursing home are now joining in and a Presbyterian lady also, who wants to get to know Our Blessed Lady. A Retreat was held on 7th.September.
NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Senatus: Works include the running of a DVD lending library, assisting at funerals, and teaching catechism. A positive feedback was received as a result of home visitation and follow up to the lapsed. Christchurch Curia has 7 praesidia. A recruiting team was set up as membership is low and life has still many difficulties as a result of the earthquakes. South Auckland Curia has 10 senior praesidia attached, plus one junior Curia with 6 senior and 4 intermediate praesidia.
PHILIPPINES
Bicolandia Senatus: The Spiritual Director and the Vice President died, R.I.P. A new Spiritual director has been appointed.
Western Visayas Senatus: A huge variety of works were reported - Baptisms, conversions, regularisation of marriages, visiting hospitals and homes, also Block Rosaries and Exploratio Dominicalis. 7 Comitia, one Regia, two Curia and two praesidia reported. A couple living together for 35 years had a Church wedding and the wife is now a Curia officer. Another couple had their 4 children baptised. As a result of Jail visitation there were 7 converts and a convicted murderer received the Sacraments.
Northern Philippines Senatus: Three Regia reported. Legionaries prepared 400 high school students and 200 elementary students for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. 50 Cadets in the military camps received Confirmation and for the first time in 7 years a non-sectarian school in a military camp allowed legionaries to hold catechesis classes, resulting in 20 students receiving first Holy Communion. Port Moresby PNG has a new Spiritual Director. In preparation for the Acies all councils held a Retreat. The Legion is given a 30 minute slot weekly on Radio Maria. Madang Regia: A project organised by the Regia resulted in 5 new praesidia. One praesidium reported on the conversion of three Moslems to the Catholic faith. A co-habiting couple got married after visits from legionaries. Many hospital contacts who were not practicing the faith and living with partners were followed up after discharge from hospital.
Cebu Senatus: Extension is on-going in many areas. Toledo Comitium has asked for prayers for their work in a new parish.
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SOUTH AMERICA
PARAGUAY
Senatus of Asuncion: Many praesidia are established in prisons and catechesis of prisoners features in many reports. One Comitium has 1,630 members, 2,883 auxiliaries and 50 Nursery groups for very young legionaries. A junior Curia has 905 active members and 816 auxiliaries. Evangelisation in Centres of Education, especially in Universities is showing good results. Exploratio Dominicalis projects are helping to recruit new members. Many praesidia take Holy Communion to people in hospitals and to the sick in their homes. Home visitation is a popular work. Youths in the Naval Services are contacted while ashore. Many legionaries recite the Rosary with families in their homes and accompany priests when they administer Extreme Unction. A juvenile Comitium has 6 Patrician groups and 70 Nursery groups.
URUGUAY
Senatus of Montevideo: The Tessera in Braille is soon to be produced. A new praesidium was formed in June. Visitation of the Military Hospital has begun.
VENEZUALA
Senatus of Caracas: Exploratio Dominicalis projects and Columban Drives were highlighted in reports. Many new praesidia have been set up and others are in formation, including junior praesidia. A PPC project was held in Maracaibo and 55 juniors took part in a Maria et Patria project in August. Sports events and Retreats are organised for juniors. Temporary shelter is organised for the poor. A meeting of Spiritual Directors took place in Cabinas, while in Carupano a Diocesan meeting was held with Seminarians.
Senatus of Quito, Ecuador: The Legion has begun working in Radio Maria. 11 new praesidia have been set up. Portoviejo has three extension groups resulting in one new praesidium. Talks are given on marriage.
COLOMBIA
Senatus of Bogota: Councils and praesidia are working well, indicating good numbers of active and auxiliary members. A junior Curia was set up on the 7th September. There are 7 Senatus officers.
PERU
Senatus of Lima: The attached Comitia and Curiae report good numbers of active praesidia. A Curia set up one junior and two senior praesidia. The same Curia reported 72 returns to the faith from the sects.
CHILE
Senatus of Santiago: On Wednesday 29 October Br. Noel Lynch and Sr. Coni Garcia were met at the airport in Santiago by two Senatus officers and escorted to the Retreat Centre, venue for the three-day National Conference. On the evening of Friday 31st October, Archbishop Andrello presided at the opening Mass in the presence of 290 legionaries. All councils attached to the Senatus were represented. Some attendees were immigrants from Peru, Colombia and Guatemala, who continue to be legionaries in Chile. Various discussions were held with different officers such as those of Punta Arenas Curia, who had set off in the snow at 6am by plane from the southern tip of Chile. Br. Noel and Sr. Coni flew to Buenos Aires following the Conference and will remain in Argentina visiting its higher Legion councils until 21st November.
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IRISH PROVINCIAL REPORT
COMITIA
Tuam Comitium: Some members helped with a recruiting drive in Ballyhaunis, Claremorris Curia. Westport Curia had a recruiting drive in Corofin on 18th October. Kilkerrin and Clonberne praesidia have amalgamated. The Mini Vigil in Knock conducted by Fr. Sean Cunningham took place on Friday 10th October. Members helped to staff the Legion Office in Knock. Eight members went on PPC to the U.K. this year. Dunmore praesidium has 5 members whose works include Fatima Statue visitation and organising weekly Eucharistic Adoration. They took the Fatima Statue to a school in May, prayed with the children and told them the story of Fatima. They left the Statue in the school and the teacher continued to pray with the children during the week. Legionaries gave 30 Miraculous Medals and First Communion prayer cards to the children who received their First Holy Communion. Works of the praesidium in Mountbellew include visiting the local nursing home and bringing Holy Communion to the residents. They do Church cleaning when requested by the Parish Priest.
Ferns Comitium: The reporting praesidium has 5 active members, 60 auxiliaries and 7 Adjutorians, who are priests from St. Patrick’s College, Kiltegan. Their works include home visitation. The Miraculous Medal is used on this work and children are delighted to hear the story of the Medal. Visitation of a Cheshire Home is also done. They make a point of reaching out to the volunteers from different countries who work in the Home.
Elphin Comitium: Reports were received from 3 praesidia with membership of 5, 13 and 5. Works undertaken are home, nursing home and hospital visitation, plus various parish duties such as management of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A new initiative by a Roscommon praesidium visiting a nursing home is the organising of a weekly session consisting of prayer, singing and music. North Elphin Curia: Members of Ballinafad praesidium accompanied by their Spiritual Director, Fr. Alan Conway, visited all the Housing Estates to invite the residents to the parish Mission. This praesidium also hosted a monthly DVD presentation on Catholicism for the Year of Faith. Boyle praesidium brought the First Holy Communion class to the Adoration Chapel on two occasions to introduce them to Eucharistic Adoration. Thirteen members from four praesidia did contact work during the Fleadh Ceoil in Sligo town. 700 Miraculous Medals were distributed and many good contacts were reported.
CURIAE
Achonry Curia: A new praesidium set up in Colloney is being helped by Ballymote praesidium. The new praesidium in Foxford is being assisted by members of Swinford praesidium.
Clonfert Curia: A praesidium of 8 members in Ballinasloe has 66 auxiliaries. Home, hospital and nursing home visitation is carried out and 4 members are involved in setting up Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese. A second praesidium in Ballinasloe also has 8 members. Hospital, nursing home and Pilgrim Statue visitation are included in the apostolate. Two members manned the Legion Office in Knock for one day during August. Legionaries give help to those with learning disabilities. Members of Taughmaconnel praesidium visit two nursing homes, a hospital and those living alone. They fill and distribute bottles of Holy Water for which there is a great demand.
Galway Curia: The praesidium in Ballinfoyle parish, which was set up in August 2013, gave its first annual report in August 2014. They have 3 full members, 3 probationers and 8 auxiliaries. 450 homes have been visited. Parish Faith cards with Mass times and many prayer leaflets are distributed on visitation. The importance of the Mass is explained to many young people. The father of a Roma family and his eldest daughter attend weekly the parish Rosary Group. He is doing the RCIA course with which the legionaries assist. Another praesidium reported home and hospital visitation as its main works. In April the Curia organised a recruiting drive at three weekend Masses in a parish and did door to door visitation on the Sunday afternoon.
Killala Curia: A praesidium in Ballina continues with works of service in the parish. Two Pilgrim Statues are used on home visitation. Lacken praesidium has 10 members who also carry out works of service in the parish. Two members visit nursing homes. Members of the Curia attended Fr. Colm Mannion’s ordination on 5th July. Fr. Colm was a member of a Deus et Patria team which worked in Ballina 10 years ago. Of that team three men are now priests and one woman is a nun. Legionaries from the Curia volunteered for the Knock Office for three days in August.
Kilkenny Curia: Members of the reporting praesidium visit local hospitals and nursing homes and recite the Rosary at a Halting Site during May and October and organise Pilgrimages to Knock and Our Lady’s Island. Two legionaries from Thurles Comitium attended the September Curia meeting and are planning to help the Curia with extension and recruiting.
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DUBLIN NORTHSIDE CURIAE
(Reports for September & October 2014)
Exaltata Curia: A Regina Coeli praesidium gained one new member during the year, bringing the total to 10, plus one probationer. Holy Hours are organised 3 days a week and Bible Readings on Monday mornings. Classes are arranged for patchwork, making greeting cards and gardening. Residents are also helped to fill forms, attend medical appointments and to improve their English. Another Regina Coeli praesidium has 9 members; 3 are officers and 3 are Praetorians. During their duty they welcomed back a resident who had been sleeping rough for several weeks; as she was unfit to travel to Birmingham for her mother’s funeral, legionaries in Birmingham were contacted and attended the funeral. Another resident said she had returned to the practice of the faith since coming to the hostel.
Bethlehem Curia: Legionaries from various Curiae gathered on September 6th for home visitation to publicise a Parish Retreat; 13 pairs worked in the morning and 9 pairs in the afternoon. The Parish Priest was very thankful. 24 patricians and 4 legionaries attended two meetings. An 87 year-old praesidium has 4 active and 2 probationary members. Prayer, scripture readings and hymns form the basis of their visit to the Phoenix Centre for mentally ill patients. Street contact is done at the G.P.O. and on Henry Street. Home visitation is also done. First year students in St Paul’s School on Brunswick Street were spoken to and given Miraculous Medals and Rosary Beads. A praesidium of 7 members including two Praetorians, runs a Men’s Club twice a week, with around 6 men in attendance. One man was persuaded to take a three month pledge to abstain from alcohol. Weekly Lectio Divina has been recently started.
Porta Coeli Curia: A praesidium with 6 active members has two Pilgrim Statues in circulation. A lapsed Catholic lady from Argentina was intrigued by Alfie Lambe’s story. She had visited La Recoleta Cemetary, where Alfie is buried. Taxi drivers waiting at a rank are given copies of a Catholic newspaper.
Veneranda Curia: A praesidium with 5 members and one probationer visits Dochas women’s prison two evenings a week. During aftercare visitation, one lady told them of her very enjoyable Pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Dublin Archdiocese. The praesidium distributes 43 copies of Maria Legionis. Some Park contact is done; people are generally in a relaxed mood and willing to engage in conversation.
Consolata Curia: Three legionaries and 6 patricians attended a Patrician meeting. The new praesidium in Donabate gave its first annual report. Home visitation was done. They renovated a kiosk from a previous praesidium and staffed it at Christmas and Easter making contacts and distributing bottles of Holy Water. An all-night Prayer Vigil attracted a good number of parishioners. One hour of weekly Eucharistic Adoration was organised during Lent and a weekly Rosary recited in the local National School. One new member joined the Rush praesidium which now has 8 members and 50 auxiliaries. Their works include home and nursing-home visitation. They also organised Stations of the Cross in a housing estate on Good Friday, acted out by children, with over 100 people present. 28 attended their Retreat for parishioners. 47 went on their Knock Pilgrimage. Another praesidium organised an extension project to a nearby parish, resulting in 4 potential new members coming to subsequent meetings with the view to setting up a new praesidium.
Presentata Curia: One praesidium has 8 full and one probationary member. Since last year’s Outreach they have had monthly meetings with the Parish Priest. A Legion stand at the Parish Open Day attracted 3 visitors to the praesidium. Street contact is done in one area. A lapsed Catholic expressed an interest in coming back to the Catholic Church. Another praesidium of 6 full and 2 probationary members caters for the African Community. Street contact is done where Africans tend to gather, such as Moore Street. Arising from the Outreach Project, a 12 year-old Down Syndrome boy received his First Holy Communion after being instructed by legionaries; to the boys delight his separated parents flew from Spain for the event; his grandparents also attended and his grandmother said it was the happiest day of her life. During June a Frank Duff stand was erected on a busy street and attracted much attention. Two praesidia came together for an Exploratio Dominicalis project to Balbriggan. One girl joined the Legion as a result. 14 attended a Patrician meeting in Regina Coeli hostel, including 10 residents. Another praesidium has 7 full members, one probationer and 20 auxiliaries. Works include home visitation and crowd contact at a Shopping Centre. The praesidium has also become involved with the Camino Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Enfield, encouraging the 14 residents to pray and attend Mass. Eight legionaries on an Exploratio Dominicalis project visited 300 houses; one result was a man who requested Confession and asked to have his house blessed. The Parish Priest offers a monthly Mass for all Legion contacts.
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AFRICA
GHANA
Accra Senatus: The formation of junior praesidia in Second Cycle Schools is progressing steadily. The praesidium in the University of Ghana has been tasked to form praesidia in these schools and other Tertiary Institutions located near the University. During October all praesidia promoted True Devotion to Mary at parish level. A documentary on the Legion was telecast on GTV on 6th September. 80 legionaries from praesidia directly attached to the Senatus participated in a project, visiting Barracks, Lorry Stations and Taxi Ranks.
The Senatus Spiritual Director encouraged all legionaries to seek the intercession of the Servant of God, Frank Duff for the eradication of the Ebola virus.
ANGOLA
Benguela Senatus: A National Congress of the Legion of Mary in Angola, with the theme: “Legionaries of Mary Devoted to Evangelisation”, was held in Benguela 10-14 September. 2014. A total of 557 delegates from all 18 Dioceses, including five Archdioceses, took part. Talks were given by the Archbishop of Malanje, the Bishop of Namibe, the Rector of the Major Seminary of The Good Shepherd and the Spiritual Director of the Benguela Senatus. The retired Archbishop of Benguela presided at the Opening Mass and the current Bishop at the closing Mass. A list of fifteen conclusions arrived at include; the promotion of an integral formation among the legionaries; encouraging the recitation of the Rosary and the Catena in legionary families; that the legionaries get to know the Virtues of Mary; that the Councils observe rigorously the Invariability of the Legion System according to the directives of the Handbook in Chapter XX; that the Councils be open to the foundation of more junior praesidia in the parishes; that the legionaries be conscious of the mission to announce the Gospel to all, especially to those who have gone astray.
Luanda Senatus: A Tridium was organised in preparation for the inauguration of the Senatus on 8th June 2014. Members were encouraged to continue to mobilise the families to stick with the campaign of vaccination promoted by the Ministry of health for children.
Cape Verde Regia: There are five Cape Verdean praesidia in New York. Praesidia report increased membership and plan to encourage youths and adults to prepare for the Sacraments.
ZIMBABWE
Hwange Comitium: The junior movement is continuing to grow and the members are very active in the apostolate. Works undertaken include home visitation and encouraging people to receive the Sacraments.
Lesotho Senatus: The August Senatus meeting was held at 7.50a.m. after the members attended an overnight Retreat.
Esogodeni Comitium: There are 16 Curiae attached to the Comitium; the council has no directly attached praesidia.
Johannesburg Senatus: 25 Non Catholic homes were visited and the Rosary recited with them. 23 babies were baptised through the help of the legionaries. A number of new senior and junior praesidia have been set up, including a French-speaking praesidium in Pretoria.
Cape Town Senatus: 160 legionaries attended a very successful two day Conference in Pella, Northern Cape with the theme, “Back to Basics” on 5th and 6th October.
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REPORT FROM ZAGREB REGIA
Visitors to Concilium from Croatia gave a report on Zagreb Regia, which takes care of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Out of 16 Dioceses in Croatia, the Legion is present in ten. 22 praesidia are directly attached to the Regia, together with 2 Comitia and 10 Curiae with a total of 1322 active members, 7074 auxiliaries and 152 junior legionaries.
In the last 5 years there was a growth of 25% in overall numbers.
Among apostolates, such as visits to families, nursing homes, there is an apostolate to young people and children, plus visits to prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Street contact is also done. Among visible fruits of the work are many returns to Sacraments.
Zagreb Regia takes care of spiritual formation of the members by organising Retreats, Legion schools and annual Pilgrimages to Marian Shrines, which are numerous in Croatia. The council publishes its own Legion magazine four times per year and once a month has a Legion broadcast on Radio Maria.
Spiritual director of the Regia, Very Reverend Stanislav Vitković passed away after almost 30 years of service in the Legion of Mary R.I.P.
LEGION OF MARY IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Concilium gave its agreement to raise the Comitium of Malabo to Regia status and to affiliate the Comitium of Bata to the new Regia.
Equatorial Guinea is a Spanish-speaking country on the west coast of Africa. The capital Malabo is situated on a small island and the rest of the country is on mainland Africa. There is one Archdiocese in Malabo and two Dioceses on the mainland, one in Bata and one in Ebeblyin. The two councils (Malabo and Bata) have contact with each other and each council invites the other to its different functions. This has greatly helped to establish a link between the two councils.
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PEREGRINATIO PRO CHRISTO PROJECTS TO THE U.K., FRANCE, GERMANY, FINLAND AND SWEDEN 2014
The number of projects undertaken by the Irish PPC Committee in 2014 totalled 21 to the U.K. and 1 project to Villenueve, South of France.
The Senatus of Scotland sent a team to Turku, Finland. The Senatus of Birmingham sent a team to Erfurt, Germany and the Senatus of Liverpool sent a team to Sweden.
Five priests, two religious Sisters, one Deacon and one Seminarian, plus 225 legionaries took part in the UK and French projects from Ireland.
The total number of first timers was 23.
Three new praesidia were set up.
At St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh, Monsignor Regan thanked the legionaries for all their work and the group were each gifted with Rosary Beads blessed by Pope Benedict during his visit to Scotland.
During the project to Rutherglen Fr. Pat Hennessy Parish Priest invited Bishop Toale to visit the team. He attended their meeting and was very interested in the work and responses they were receiving; he said this is exactly what Pope Francis is asking for.
Peregrini were told by Fr. Udie from Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Surrey Docks, London, that the attendance at the Stations of the Cross had drawn the biggest congregation he had ever seen for a service.
On Ascension Thursday over 200 young children from the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish arrived for 9.30 a.m. Mass. Fr. Morris was pleased to report that one of the Legion contacts called in during the week and had her child baptised.
A number of Primary and Secondary Schools were visited on various projects. Miraculous Medals were very well received; almost all the children wore them immediately, with teachers asking to take some home to family and friends. At another School visit, a life-size statue of St Catherine Laboure was displayed.
Sample of special contacts:
A man was overjoyed on discovering two legionaries at his door in Edinburgh. Some years beforehand while living in America and taking cocaine, he was contemplating suicide. Then one day there was a knock on his door. Two legionaries introduced themselves, stayed and prayed with him for two hours and he has never since taken drugs.
A person lapsed from his Catholic faith for many years was delighted to be invited to return and attended the Mass on Friday, went to Confession and received Holy Communion.
A non-Catholic on the same project also arrived at the Friday night Mass.
Another soul humbly got down on his knees and asked the priest for a blessing, promising to return to the Sacraments.
A gentleman who had suffered two strokes went to Confession and said he would like someone to call to him each Sunday with Holy Communion.
A contact in his early 80’s said he had no faith. After a discussion, during which one of the legionaries prayed hard for this person, he said he would like to return to the Church and asked for a Miraculous Medal. Later, he received Confession and Holy Communion after an absence of 62 years!
A grandmother, who at first insisted that Baptism was not for her grandchildren, on hearing about the treasures of the Catholic faith, asked for instruction for her grandchildren.
Another lady living alone went to Confession after a lapse of 60 years.
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