Concilium Bulletin October 2008
REPORTS - Africa
Reunion Island: Works reported include visitation of the sick and aged - to whom they bring Holy Communion. Other works are the recitation of the prayers in the mortuary on the occasion of funerals, leading the Rosary and praying the Stations of the Cross. Two grandchildren of a legionary were Baptised. Following an attempted suicide by a 15-year old boy, junior members accompany him at all times to ensure that he is not alone or isolated.
Mauritius Regia: September minutes reported visitation of the sick, elderly and handicapped in their homes and hospices, bringing them Holy Communion and praying with them. Members gave great tribute to their Spiritual Director of 11 years, who left there in July, for his great services assisting them in their Legion work and his involvement in the functions they organised. A new Spiritual Director has been appointed and discussions are taking place with the Bishop as to how the Legion can help the Diocesan Assembly on Parental Ministry. A report from Port Mathurin Council, Rodrigeux Island stated works done are similar to those of the Regia.
Rwanda
Kilgali Senatus: The Senatus consists of 24 Comitia, 18 Curiae and 19 praesidia. Officers spend much time visiting very far distant councils. Apostolic work is excellent in all areas - covering all kinds of work to meet all existing needs. Recruiting efforts are continuous in search of adult, junior and auxiliary members. Problems are many - including loss of many experienced members in Kilgali city due to the relocation project by civic authorities, widespread illiteracy and poverty, difficulty of access to junior praesidia in schools, increase in the number of sects trying to recruit young people. The Cause of Venerable Edel Quinn has been widely promoted during the year and a function to celebrate her anniversary organised in Kilgali Cathedral on the 9th September.
Burundi
The National Director of the Legion Fr. Venant Mpozako, having successfully completed his studies in Spain, has now returned to Burundi. The Senatus continues its faithful work covering all aspects of the apostolate and also True Devotion to the Nation in helping displaced persons rebuild their lives and their damaged homes. Minutes point to new Curiae and Comitia being set up indicating good work being carried out by their extension worker.
Democratic Congo
Bukavu Senatus: Minutes report that the Regia of Shabunda governs 11 Comitia, 62 Curiae and 273 praesidia with a total membership of 2,297 members while the Regia of Goma mentions works, which include sheltering refugees, Protestants received into the Church including young Protestants subsequently joining the Legion.
Kinshasa Senatus: The Archbishop of Kinshasa has appointed a new Spiritual Director for the Senatus.
Kananga Senatus: Elections of a new team of Senatus Officers have taken place and minutes indicate that the Senatus is working well.
Butembo Senatus: Legionaries wish to have the French version of “Miracles on Tap” and favours have been received through the intercession of the Servant of God Frank Duff.
Central Africa
Bangui Regia has submitted plans for the setting up of 2 provincial Regiae.
Asia
Sri Lanka
Reports have been received from Tamil, Sinhala and English speaking members. Rebuilding of the Legion is ongoing. The number of active, auxiliary and Adjutorian members are detailed.
Taiwan
Continues to extend the Legion with more seniors and juniors joining the ranks. An annual general meeting for auxiliaries is planned.
Myanmar
A successful national conference was held from 25 to 27 April, 196 attending. Mass was celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon assisted by 4 priests. 200 active and auxiliary members from Yangon itself took part in the Acies.
Vietnam
Praesidia reporting had between 5 and 15 members and 10 and 50 auxiliaries. The juniors have 19 members. Works include instruction in the faith, preparation for the sacraments, training junior members.
Hue Regia set up in 2002, has 1 Comitium, 17 senior Curiae and 2 junior Curiae with 2,661 senior and 359 junior members. The mission territory extends over an area of 500 kms.
Thailand
During home and hospital visitation a campaign for a daily 10-minute reading the Bible is encouraged. A person lapsed for 50 years has returned to the practice of their faith and an elderly lady is under instruction.
India
Kerala Senatus governs 12 Comitia, 22 Curiae and over 20 praesidia. Report received covered 6 Comitia, 4 Curiae and 5 praesidia. Possibly because of heavy flooding and viral fever, attendance at meetings has been low with few reports. Many bereaved families were consoled, people of all religions met and prisons are visited. 73 legionaries participated in Peregrinatio Pro Christo and 105 in Exploratio Dominicalis.
Pondicherry Senatus: Over a 7-month period 3 Comitia, 24 Curiae and 7 praesidia reported. Extensive home and hospital visitation takes place with people of all religions met. Drug addicts and alcoholics are met and a number have been saved from suicide.
Chennai Regia: 6 Comitia, 3 Curiae and 1 praesidium reported. A Legion Day took the form of a 2 km procession of 2,500 legionaries from over the city concluding with Mass. A large picture of Edel Quinn was carried.
Katnataka Regia: 2 Curiae and 2 Comitia reported on the works undertaken which includes Miraculous Medals and Rosaries distributed, enthronement of homes to the Sacred Heart, marriages blessed and 50 attended the Curia retreat.
Mumbai Regia: The Archbishop has given his imprimatur for the Hindi Handbook. Many Curiae have started as a result of monthly extension. There are 230 praesidia in Goa and 110 in Mumbai.
Calcutta Comitium had 170 at the Acies. The Bengali Curia does home visitation to all. A new praesidium was set up near the border with Bangladesh with further extension and visitation planned.
Nepal Curia: The Curia held its 5th meeting in September with all 6 praesidia represented. They organised their first day retreat for non-Christians with 50 attending. It took place from 10.00am to 4.00pm and included 2 talks, video on Lourdes, Bible quiz, testimonies, questions, hymns, prayers and Adoration. Fr. Pius, himself a convert, led the retreat.
Pakistan
The Officers were very appreciative of their meetings at the Concilium. A new praesidium was started at Manghopir.
Kazakhstan
3 praesidia reported with 7-11 members, juniors are being considered. Young people are encouraged to consider the Catholic faith and teenagers are advised against taking drugs and alcohol. A praesidium in Astana increased its membership from 9 to 15. All continue to thank the Legion Envoy, Bernardo de Nardo for the assistance he gave them.
North America and West Indies
New York Senatus: A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project took place in October. The Upper Manhattan Curia has 10 praesidia and their works include adult Confirmations, Marriages in Church, Baptism of children and circle of prayer in homes. A book barrow in a Church on Ash Wednesday recruits for new members.
St. Louis Senatus: New praesidia and new active and auxiliary members have been recruited in many councils. The Senatus Officers visited the Archbishop and asked for more Spiritual Directors. Homes were consecrated to the Sacred Heart, returns to the Sacraments, Baptisms, Marriage validations and prison ministry are mentioned. A former legionary has taken final vows.
Boston Senatus: A praesidium in a prison is studying the Catholic Catechism in order to pass on the information to other prisoners. New Haven Comitium reported 4 conversions from book-barrow apostolate. Newton Curia has a new praesidium and reported on many lapsed Catholics returning to the Sacraments.
Cincinnati Senatus: Works include inviting non-Catholics to their information classes; helping converts in the practise of their Faith. Contact work is done at fairs and Miraculous Medals distributed and explained. A junior praesidium brings Holy Communion to people in difficult areas.
San Francisco Senatus: New praesidia have been started. A Saturday search for souls took place in Seattle Comitium. San Mateo had a booth at a fair and they do crowd contact apostolate. Oregon Comitium has one junior and 3 senior praesidia.
Houston Senatus: The Peregrinatio Pro Christo Conference had to be cancelled due to hurricane “Ike”. The Peregrinatio Pro Christo to Virginia had many contacts. Pharr Curia reports 88 converts. Bay Area Curia had a booth at a Strawberry Festival and had contact with lapsed Catholics and non-believers. In Amarillo Curia a parishioner received a special favour through the intercession of the Servant of God Frank Duff.
Philadelphia Senatus: Mater Dolorosa Curia had a Buddhist conversion. Norristown Comitium continues to minister to street people and many of the men attended a 3-day retreat. An Afro-American praesidium has 12 members 10 of whom are converts. An evangelisation day had 25 legionaries and 8 parishioners calling on 529 homes and met 2 adults and 6 children who wish to be Baptised. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project to Sewell in New Jersey met 163 lapsed Catholics.
Los Angeles Senatus: The number of Patrician groups is steadily rising. Four councils had Congresses. A praesidium visited 4,388 homes in 56 weeks.
Miami Regia: Alabama and Mississippi councils were visited.
Arlington Regia: This council has 260 praesidia with 1,873 seniors, 454 juniors and 10,039 auxiliaries. During home visitation 439 homes were enthroned to the Sacred Heart and new parishioners visited. Members are involved in CCD and RCIA in many parishes. 99 conversions, 210 returns to the Faith and 59 marriage validations were reported.
Chicago Senatus: Works include jail visitation. Inmates are not allowed to meet without an outsider.
Canada
Ontario Senatus: The Archbishop has appointed a new Spiritual Director. A new praesidium has 13 members. Works mentioned include market ministry, book-barrow apostolate and a function for Auxiliary members.
Montreal Senatus: Works include visiting the sick, assisting at funerals and teaching Catechism. Children and their parents are prepared for Baptism. They appeared on a local television station explaining their work.
Toronto Regia: Several councils report on preparing to undertake the True Devotion to Mary and carrying out extension in many parishes. Many reports were received about the graces and employments received through having the Pilgrim Virgin in their homes. Nursing homes are visited and Mass is organised. Street contact was done during the Eucharistic Congress in Quebec. In Mississauga Comitium, RCIA work is carried out. Winnipeg Curia had 11 Marriage validations, 24 children prepared for Baptism and have one Patrician group.
Toronto Korean Comitium gained 2 new praesidia and a contact returned to the Sacraments after 16 years. Peterborough Curia teaches the Rosary in primary schools and as a result their parents are learning to pray Rosary. Scarborough Comitium had a Mass for the late Legion Envoy, Mary Kennedy. A person returned to the Sacraments after 50 years.
Hamilton Comitium works in the prison and met a youth who would like to become a Catholic.
Edmonton Comitium reported a new praesidium of 5 members and in Calgary 2 legionaries spoke to a Teachers’ Federation and in 3 schools. Visitation of praesidia continues.
Puerto Rico Senatus: Two new praesidia were set up. Reports include Enthronement of Our Lady in homes, a lady with Alzheimer’s looked after, a Protestant man converted and jail visitation is done. A True Devotion to the Nation project had a refuse dump cleaned up, clothes made for poor children and water mains repaired.
Dominican Republic
Santiago de los Caballeros Senatus: A Curia held a mini Peregrinatio Pro Christo and 300 persons were met who had not been Baptised. Many are now being prepared to receive the Sacraments. A Jehovah Witness was reconciled with the Church before death and another is saying the Rosary and attends Parish functions. All councils promote the Hierarchy Pastoral Plan of Evangelisation.
Senatus of Santo Domingo: Legionaries promote the Rosary in homes, before Mass at funerals and Novenas. The Comitium of Santa Maria Madre de Dios has 12 adult and 1 junior Curiae with 980 active, 1,058 auxiliary and 120 adjutorian members. The Priest was brought to the sick, 715 children Baptised, couples prepared for Matrimony and young people brought to Mass. Comitium Reina de los Apostoles reports Baptisms, Marriages regularised and visitation to homes, hospital and prisons.
Senatus of Notre Dame de l’Assomption Haiti: Two Seminary praesidia work in the Seminary and in homes. Other praesidia are involved in home hospital and prison visitation. Prayers are requested for this country that suffers much from violence.
Trinidad Regia: The San Fernando Curia has 12 senior and 3 junior praesidia. Catechism is taught at Government schools and in parishes.
Visit by Officers of Birmingham, Liverpool and Scotland Senatus
The Officers of Birmingham, Liverpool and Scotland Senatus and the Spiritual Director of the Birmingham Senatus Monsignor Fallon, were present at the October Concilium meeting and were in Dublin to have discussions with the Concilium Officers. Peregrinatio Pro Christo projects were organised by Scotland to Finland, Liverpool to Sweden and Birmingham had projects in Amsterdam and Berlin.
Thanks were expressed to the Concilium for their invitation to come to Dublin. Tommy McCabe, President of the Concilium, thanked the legionaries for coming to Dublin and for the work they are doing to promote and extend the Legion.
Bernardo de Nardo - Envoy for Central Asia
More exciting news from Bernardo as he continues his work between Armenia and Georgia. His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri made a brief visit to Armenia and Bernardo had a few conversations with him telling him about the progress of the Legion in those countries as well as presenting him with its first fruits, the legionaries of the first praesidium in Armenia.
The Latin Bishop of Georgia received Bernardo and a few priests in his area are willing to start the first praesidium and with the help of much prayer this will happen soon.
Bernardo de Nardo had an interview with the Papal Nuncio of the entire area and he was overjoyed with the report of the extension of the Legion. The Nuncio said that the Legion does not need any formal presentation or recommendation as it is known and loved by all the Papal Nuncios.
Even though the first praesidium of Armenia is only a few weeks old, its President has accompanied Bernardo on the first extension trip to the interior of the country. On this trip the President of the praesidium answered most of the questions that priests asked about the Legion.
While all this action is taking place, Bernardo carries on extensive correspondence with the countries he has worked in recently. Brilliant news has come from Nepal where the first Curia is working very well and has organised a retreat for non-Catholics. Please pray for Bernardo, as at times his mission can be very difficult.
Extension Workers for Argentina
Edel Garcia and Laura Rodriguez have just returned home after finishing their offer of 6 months as Concilium extension workers. The last three weeks of their work was in the Corrientes Regia where they travelled extensively to cover all the distant councils attached.
With the Regia officers they prepared maps of the areas to plan for present and future extension trips. While visiting the councils they did home visitation with many legionaries and this was a very worthwhile exercise.
Now that Edel and Laura are home they continue their work by correspondence having exchanged e-mail addresses. They received great joy from their visit to the Regia in Corrientes because they realised the great love of these legionaries for the Legion by their acceptance of their work among them. Edel and Laura express their thanks to the Concilium for the confidence placed in them and the privilege of spreading the Legion.
Visit by Concilium to Philadelphia and Houston Senatus
5th to 17th September 2008
Annette and Raymond Mulrooney travelled to Pittsburgh for the inaugural meeting of the Regia at which there was an attendance of 66 and 9 visitors, which was a most joyful occasion. Rev. Fr. Welding is their new Spiritual Director.
Their next port of call was Philadelphia where they met with officers, discussed many issues and had a three-hour session with the personnel of Maria Legionis office. Greetings were conveyed from the Concilium to Bill and Mary Peffley on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
They next went to Houston, where they experienced the wrath of hurricane Ike. There was great distress among many legionaries, with the upheaval of their homes and lives. Unfortunately the Peregrinatio Pro Christo Conference had to be cancelled due to the eminent hurricane.
In New Orleans Annette and Raymond met the Officers and attended a Curia meeting and the following evening were present at a reception at the Comitium in their honour. They were told that their presence brought consolation and solidarity to the Legion in the three years of their plight.
Annette and Raymond thanked the Concilium for allowing them visit their Councils where they met wonderful and dedicated legionaries and for the prayers offered for their safe return.
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.
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
