Concilium Bulletin October 2012

Concilium Bulletin October 2012
REPORTS

ASIA

SINGAPORE
Singapore Senatus: There are 31 junior praesidia in Singapore Archdiocese, with 17 in the junior Curia, of these 14 are in Secondary Schools. A child safeguarding policy is being put in place. A group of 14 legionaries attended the Eucharistic Congress, also the Concilium meeting. The Senatus President remarked on the importance of the “annual remark” and was impressed with Concilium. Three former councils’ officers were ordained to the Priesthood.
MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpor Regia: Languages of this council include English, Mandarin, Tamil, Filipino and Korean. There are 107 senior and 7 junior praesidia with 1,110 active members. Two praesidia reports were submitted, one reported two members involved in senior citizens Rosary and two new praesidia have been formed. The other praesidium gives guidance for the return of lapsed Catholics to the Church. Works include providing transport for the disabled to Mass, visits to the elderly, orphanages, homes for the disabled, refugee centres, also home and hospital visitation.
JAPAN
Osaka Senatus: The effects of the Tsunami in Sendai Diocese continue. Mother Immaculate praesidium held its 3,000 meeting in February. One member’s home was blown away by the storm, his daughter was found dead in her car, R.I.P. Their Church was badly damaged but the Legion meetings have resumed. One praesidium could not hold meetings after the tsunami but the President recited the Legion prayers and did visitation with the Spiritual Director, now they have a meeting with four members. The legionaries visit and help those living in temporary homes. Guma Curia in Saitama Diocese visited Mito Church with relief collected by well-wishers. In council reports, aging and resignations are features influencing the effectiveness of the work but members are willing to persevere.

KOREA
Seoul Senatus: The attached Suwon Regia presented a yearly report; it has 27 Comitia. It had an increase of 13 Curiae and 65 senior praesidia with a decrease of 8 junior praesidia. Senior membership increased by 338 but there was a decrease of 145 juniors. There was an increase in praetorian, auxiliaries and adjutorian membership. They now have a total of 31,648 active members and 1,796 juniors, 2290 praetorians, 45,904 auxiliaries and 1,430 adjutorians. They recruited 95,336 catechumens and 10,786 baptised.
Gwangju Senatus: The President of this Council and two officers of 2 Regiae along with the President and Vice President and officers of Seoul Senatus visited Concilium in September. They had a meeting with Concilium on 6th September and visited Frank Duff’s house and grave and Myra House.
Daegu Senatus: Around 2,500 legionaries attended Our Lady’s night Ceremony on 6th May at the Shrine of Our Lady Daegu Archdiocese. The Senatus hosted this event and the Archbishop was the Chief Celebrant at the Mass. Recruitment of catechumens and returns to the sacraments feature prominently in reports. Jukdo Comitium recruited 88 catechumens and 54 returns to the sacraments. Sangan Comitium recruited 48 catechumens and 37 returns to the sacraments. New members, both active and auxiliary, feature in reports, two Comitia had 62 and 35 new active members.
INDONESIA
Jakarta Senatus: Visitation of councils and praesidia is ongoing. Medan Regia has 5 new praesidia in the city and one in the outskirts and promotes the Legion by radio broadcast. They have permission to visit a prison for women and children once a month. A Curia in Eastern Kilimantan at present serves 2 Dioceses. In one Diocese the Legion is in 7 of the 25 parishes and in the other Diocese it is in 2 of the 14 parishes. A Curia in Bandung with 24 praesidia is to be raised to Comitium status and a Curia in Lampung proposed to be raised to a Comitium. A student praesidium in Triskati University has 13 members. The Legion Handbook and Handbook Reflections have been translated in the local language.
Malang Senatus: Visitation of councils and praesidia is being carried out. A praesidium in Nabire (Indonesian Papua) has 27 members and is to split. Works mentioned are visitation of families and regularisation of marriages. A praesidium in Bangil distributes Holy Communion to residents of an old peoples home and help prepare children for first Holy Communion. A Comitium in Manado (Northern end of Sulawesi Island) which was set up in 1995 has 8 Curiae, one of which is to be split, has 1,035 active members, 698 auxiliaries, 28 adjutorians and 81 praetorians.
HONG KONG
Hong Kong Comitium: In the past two weeks, the Concilium had a visit of 6 legionaries from Hong Kong Comitium, made up of 2 newly elected officers and 4 members. A meeting took place with a number of Concilium Officers, one member is staying for a short time, and another legionary has arrived to take part in the work in Regina Coeli Hostel. Hong Kong Comitium is composed of 8 senior and 4 junior Curiae. A new praesidium with probationers has been formed at Holy Trinity Church in Discovery Bay, two of the new members acted as officers. Home visitation is not possible; legionaries are not allowed to visit the high-rise apartments buildings. Crowd contact is carried out at parish or festival events. The main work is parish or pastoral, some work is carried out in a detention centre. Many baptisms take place at Easter time and are a feature of much Legion activity.

EUROPE
AUSTRIA
Austria Senatus: The audit on the three Senatus accounts was carried out. The importance of Patrician meetings for developing the faith was discussed. Extension was undertaken in 3 parishes. There is a second student praesidium in Vienna. Peregrinatio Pro Christo teams went to Belgium, France, Brixen in Italy and Berlin in Germany. Following constant prayer to the Servant of God, Frank Duff, Vienna South East Curia now has a Spiritual Director in every praesidium. The Filipino Curia has 9 probationary members. Legionaries in the Korean Curia brought 3 unbelievers to Holy Mass. Ybbs Comitium has been asked to set up a shift workers praesidium. 100 people attended a retreat organised by Unter den Wienerwald Comitium. 30 attended a Legion breakfast discussion on the 3 candidates for sainthood.
BULGARIA
An Austrian legionary accompanied the extension worker on visitation to all 7 praesidia in Bulgaria. Local legionaries are working with the extension worker who spends a week in each praesidium area. Three Bulgarian legionaries attended the Summer School in Austria.
UKRAINE
Elisabeth Kriss visited all councils and praesidia before finishing her work there. A successful Summer School was held.
SLOVAKIA
Zseliz Comitium is anxious to establish a second Comitium in Egyhazgelle. The correspondent has asked whether the council is strong enough to be split. A summer camp for 4 different age groups was organised. Trnava Curia has 10 praesidia, 72 active members and 400 auxiliaries attended their Acies. Works include visitation of a psychiatric hospital.
CZECH REPUBLIC
There are two Comitia: Prag Comitium with 10 praesidia and Klatovy Curia with 4 praesidia attached. Extension is being attempted in 3 parishes. Olmütz Comitium has 6 praesidia and attached Brunn Curia with 4 praesidia. Works include home and hospital visitation where Confession and Holy Mass are promoted.
MOLDOVA
Chisinau Curia with 10 senior and 2 junior praesidia works closely with their priests in visiting the homeless and the sick. 5 legionaries attended the Ukrainian Summer School.
BELARUS
Our Lady of Budslav Comitium has 7 directly attached praesidia and 10 attached Curiae. The annual retreat took place on 9th/10th of August and approximately 50 legionaries were present. It was conducted by Fr. Jan Solomon, Principal of Pinsk Seminary and Bishop Anthony Dzem’yanko celebrated the concluding Mass. Vitebsk Curia has held the first meeting of a new praesidium in Senno with 8 people participating. All the Curiae have several centres in which they are trying to start the Legion. In addition to the areas targeted by the Curiae, Bishop Dzem’yanko has given the Comitium a list of 8 places where he wishes the Legion to be started. Molodechno Curia celebrated its 10th anniversary with 4 of its Spiritual Directors and 60 legionaries participating. The annual audit has been submitted.
CROATIA
Zagreb Regia: The Legion pilgrimage to Our Lady of Trsat had at attendance of 900. Efforts to extend the Legion continue but progress is slow. 7 directly attached praesidia and 8 Curiae presented reports. Legionaries in one of the praesidia were instrumental in the return of a married couple to reception of the Sacraments after a lapse of 50 years. As a result of home visitation by another praesidium in Zagreb, 146 people received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. Legionaries in the Petrenga Curia performed an open-air depiction of the Passion with an attendance of approximately 1,000 people, which included the Bishop of Sisak. Throughout the Curiae there are reports of many returns to the Sacraments and recruitment of auxiliary members including adjutorians. There is much emphasis placed on making True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin known, not just to legionaries but also to parishioners. The Legion’s Radio Maria broadcast in April was on Edel Mary Quinn.
BOSNIA-HERZGOVINA
Sarajevo Curia has 7 senior and 1 junior praesidia. Some returns to the Sacraments, anointing of the sick and regularisation of a marriage were recorded. Legionaries take children from an orphanage to Mass and help them with homework.
SLOVENIA
Two legionaries from Zagreb are working hard to re-establish the Legion in Lublijana. In May Zagreb legionaries spoke about the Legion at 4 Masses.
HUNGARY
Budapest Regia has 25 praesidia, 12 Curiae and 4 Comitia attached. Extension efforts feature monthly. Jaszbereny Curia has permission for extension in 8 small villages. Among the works undertaken by the various councils were organising Confessions and Holy Communions in hospitals; preparation of children for First Holy Communion; encouraging the sick to unite their sufferings with Jesus and offer them for the salvation of souls.
LATVIA
Riga Comitium comprises 13 praesidia and 3 attached Curiae. A new junior praesidium in Riga has 5 members whose work is helping at Sunday Mass and promoting the faith among their own age group. A recruiting drive in St. Jacobs parish in Riga resulted in 3 new members.
LITHUANIA
Kaunus Comitium has 18 attached praesidia and 7 attached Curiae. A praesidium of 11 active members organised a prayer group in a secondary school during lunch break. On home visitation this praesidium promotes Confession, having discovered so many people are regularly receiving Holy Communion but have not been to Confession for years. Among works mentioned in reports from attached Curiae is an apostolate to alcoholics. Telsiai Comitium has 10 praesidia and 2 Curiae affiliated with an active membership of 199, 60 of whom are praetorians. There are 3,964 auxiliaries and 150 adjutorians. Home and hospital visitation and work for youth featured in reports. 51 hospital patients received the sacraments. A 40-year old un-baptised man encountered on visitation is now preparing for the sacrament and a youth praesidium encouraged two boys met on street contact to go to Confession. Queen of the Family Curia with 13 praesidia approached one new parish for extension. Our Lady Assumed into Heaven Curia with 4 senior and one junior praesidia are making extension efforts in 5 parishes.
ROMANIA
Satu Mare Regia: Some efforts at extension mentioned. Some of the works undertaken by reporting praesidia were prison visitation and organising adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Carei Curia was raised to Comitium status in May with 13 praesidia and one Curia affiliated. Plans are in progress for extension in 3 areas. Oradea Comitium helps in the work of Radio Maria as well as Church activities and works of service. Bala Mare Curia reports much hospital visitation.
POLAND
Lublin Regia devotes considerable time to spiritual formation of legionaries. The Hierarchy have called for a Rosary Crusade for the Fatherland and the legionaries recruit for this. They held a Legion Congress and a symposium on Anatol Kaszezuk (former Envoy), which was preceded by Jericho Rosaries (7 days and 7 nights of continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament). Works undertaken as mentioned in reports are visitation of sick and lonely in hospitals and care homes, visitation of prisoners, formation of Rosary circles and visitation of a military hospital. Two new Curiae and one new praesidium were established. The Regia participated in Peregrinatio Pro Christo in Ostraviw. Warsaw Comitium comprises 18 praesidia and 4 Curiae, 10 of the praesidia are in the city and 8 distant praesidia - one of the affiliated Curiae is in Warsaw and 3 are in distant Dioceses.

AFRICA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Bukavu Senatus: A new Comitium with 4 Curiae has been established in the parish of Bunyakiri; a new Curia has been attached to Mushenyi Comitium; 13 new legionaries took their promise. Works reports were preparation of 1,500 children, young people and adults for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Legionaries visited 2,400 sick at home and in hospital; there were 130 mediations with people/families in conflict and 98 marriages were regularised. Other works reports were prison apostolate, visiting bereaved families and promising recruitment contacts with youth. 170 legionaries took part in a pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Grotto at Lukanando/Nyangezi; 29 officers from various councils participated in a 3-day retreat.
Butembo Senatus: Due to an email problem, this Senatus is unable to sent the minutes. Fr. Mumbere Ndulani attended the Eucharistic Congress and spoke at the Concilium meeting. He gave a good account of the work of the Senatus. Remembrance in our prayers is requested for the legionaries in North Kivu, as armed militias are again operating in the province.
Kinshasa Senatus: Our Lady of Fatima Comitium, has 6 Curiae and 13 praesidia directly attached with 874 active members, 176 auxiliaries, 543 praetorians, 90 adjutorians and 142 juniors made 4,236 home visits, 2,830 hospital visits, 325 prison visits and 62 retirement home visits in a six month period. The legionaries met Catholics, Protestants and members of sects. 2,707 were prepared for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Matrimony as the case might be.
Kananga Senatus: All officerships in the Senatus have now been filled. A visit to the Mbuji-Mayi Regia was visited by the Senatus Officers and problems have now been resolved.
Lubumbashi Regia: This council governs the Legion in the Province of Katanga with additional Regiae already approved and functioning at Kamina and Kolwezi.
RWANDA
Kigali Senatus: Celebration of the Legion’s 90th Anniversary was mentioned; efforts are ongoing to restart the magazine “Voice of the Legion”. Five Curiae were set up. Many councils reported having praesidia of juniors in secondary schools. Kiziguro Comitium has 10 Curiae, 17 attached praesidia, 10 praesidia in secondary schools, 45 junior praesidia with a total of nearly 4,000 active members and 1,415 auxiliary members. Two new Curiae and 5 new praesidia were set up in this council. Nyundo and Butare Comitia have 4,800 and 3700 active members respectively. One praesidium reported visiting 13 families in irregular marriage situations with 7 of these regularised and their children baptised.
REUNION
St. Denis Comitium: St. Paul’s Curia has 7 praesidia and work reports include home and hospital visitation, reciting the Rosary in mortuaries, visiting auxiliaries and teaching catechism. After numerous visits by legionaries, a couple living together for 24 years with two in family got married last December and are now auxiliary members of the Legion. A new Curia was established with 13 praesidia.
MAURITIUS
Rodrigues Regia: In the 2 reporting Curiae, Maria Assumpta Curia has 15 praesidia and does home, hospital and clinic visitation. They organised Rosaries at grottos during May and October. During Lent they lead the Stations of the Cross and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. St. Paul’s Curia has 4 praesidia. Their apostolate includes prayer services at mortuaries and interments, visit the sick and handicapped, hospitals and homes for the elderly. An anniversary Mass was held to commemorate 72 years of the Legion in Mauritius. Rose Hill Comitium has 200 members and 150 auxiliary. They help in the preparation of Mass in outlying villages, teach Catechism in schools and organise days of Catholic formation. Port Louis Comitium has 220 active and 90 auxiliary members. They help couples to prepare for a religious marriage, visit drug-addicts and people suffering from AIDS. Fr. Robert Bathfield, the Regia Spiritual Director, is present at all Regia meeting and is a source of great encouragement in his spirituality and allocutios.
BURUNDI
Gitega Senatus: A two-day meeting of Diocesan Spiritual Directors was held in January, which reinforced commitment to the formation of youth and students through the Legion system especially in view of the large influx of young people to the ranks. Days of recollection for youth followed with emphasis on following the apostolic path of Frank Duff and living the Gospel in union with Mary. The Legion joined in the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Militants of the Blessed Virgin founded by the late Fr. Achille Denis who also founded the Legion.

ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Senatus: For the Year of Faith the Senatus are making special efforts to start many Patrician Groups. Edel Garcia, former Concilium extension worker, has entered the novitiate. Concilium correspondent’s letter is included in the Senatus monthly bulletin. The Procession through the streets of the Capital took place to Alfie Lambe’s tomb. Mendoza Regia has True Devotion to the Nation projects running in many of the poor barrios. In the Diocese of La Pampa, legionaries work with street girls. The San Luis Comitium held their second Spiritual Directors meeting. Prayers are asked for Irene Sauer, vice postulator of Alfie’s Cause, who is ill.
Cordoba Senatus: The legionary apostolate includes Sacred Heart enthronement, prison visitation, Patrician meetings and street contact. After two successive Senatus meetings, legionaries were robbed by a motorcyclist on their way home; one 84-year old sustained a broken arm and facial injuries.
Salta Senatus, North West Argentina: Many praesidia have meetings for married couples helping them to enrich their sacrament and overcome the stresses of daily life. Home visitation still keeps bringing in more and more families from the sects. Many praesidia report that their meetings are happy family places and hold new members.
Corrientes Regia: A Curia with 138 active members and 137 auxiliaries, anonymously give food, clothes and medicine to those abandoned by their families; they hope to hand over this work to an organisation that specialises in this area.
Rosario Regia: One Comitium reported on home and status visitation. They have 68 statues of Our Lady. In each home visited with the statue they ask to pray with the family. In one home they had four children baptised and they are now being prepared for the other sacraments and two marriages were blessed in the Church. The jail is visited weekly. Another Comitium set up four new praesidia.

BRAZIL
Belem Senatus: The inauguration of the Senatus took place on 26 August with Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Belem. Legionaries from the Senatus area, which covers two States, and an officer from the Rio de Janeiro Senatus, which has been caretaking this area, attended.
Belo Horizonte Senatus: Attendance of praesidia officers at Senatus meetings increased from 37% to 52%. In one town Evangelicals welcome Legion visits and admire their work. Apostolate to the homes of newly born children involves advice on the choice of godparents and on vaccinations and proper feeding. In the city centre of Belo Horizonte an apostolate to addicts involves advice and guidance to the appropriate rescue and recovery centres.
Recife Senatus: The National conference for younger legionaries had an attendance of 262. The Archbishop of Recife, Dom Antonio Fernando Saburido, paid a visit and gave a message of encouragement to the participants. Dom Edson, representative of the Brazilian Bishops’ conference to the Legion took part in the two-day event. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project in a distant area resulted in the setting up of six praesidia.
Rio de Janeiro Senatus: Bishop Edson Castro Homem, Spiritual Director of Rio Senatus and representative of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), to the Legion, sent a message to the Concilium on the occasion of the International Eucharistic Congress. He said he was very pleased to inform Concilium of the great contribution of the Legion to the Church’s apostolate in Brazil. A particular proof of this was the presence of almost 90,000 at the annual Legion pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Aparecida in June. The Concilium is very grateful to Bishop Edson for his many services to the Legion, including taking part in Legion events all over Brazil. Four pairs of legionaries from the Senatus spent several weeks in Amazonia, during which a Comitium, two Curiae and five praesidia were set up. In Rio, the Legion work resulted in the enthronement of the Statue of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Headquarters of the military Police.
Salvador Senatus: Vittoria de Conquista Regia with six Dioceses has almost 15,000 members while Aracaju Regia with three Dioceses has almost 10,000 and has 89 junior praesidia and over a thousand adjutorians. After three Exploratio Dominicalis projects, two praesidia were reformed. Legionaries on a Peregrinatio Pro Christo in an area of great spiritual need visited 300 families and were warmly welcomed in a school by teachers and the Protestant Headmaster.
São Luís Senatus: Over a two-month period reports showed more than 10,000 homes visited, almost 500 persons prepared for the Sacraments and the holding of 250 Bible study meetings. The younger members are preparing for the World Youth Day in Rio.
São Paulo Senatus: The Cuiabá Regia reported 3,029 home visits and 1,029 revisits and 1,315 visits to the sick at home. They had 131 Enthronements of the Sacred Heart in homes. The Campo Grande Regia had 1,133 visits to families and 754 visits to the elderly at home. The Carrão Comitium reported 19 adults and eight children making their First Holy Communion and 11 adults receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.
Brasilia Regia: In a State 600 miles north of Brasilia, there is a report of Catechism being taught to 380 children; and adolescents and adults being prepared for the Sacrament.

PEREGRINATIO PRO CHRISTO

On Saturday, 20th October 2012 the annual Autumn Conference of Peregrinatio Pro Christo took place in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, and had an attendance of approximately 250 legionaries.
A selection of reports from the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Finland, Berlin and Holland were chosen to reflect some highlights from this work. Reporters ranged from first timers or first time team leaders to seasoned peregrini who delivered reports with enthusiasm and joy followed by a lively discussion from the floor. It was a particular joy to hear that after several years’ perseverance with projects to Finland and France to see some fruits from these reports for 2012.
We were challenged by Fr. Michael Kennedy to share our Faith. He compared unshared Faith to a lake that doesn’t have an outlet - the result is stagnant waters incapable of sustaining life - so it is with our Faith; it must have an outlet to be spread around. We were asked also if we still truly uphold the Peregrinatio Pro Christo idea of presenting the Catholic Faith to non-Christians. Are we concerned about Jews and Muslims?
In his Conference address, Seamus Rickard urged us to reflect before the Blessed Sacrament on how Jesus has an individual love for each one of us and motivated by the fire of this love give it to others through undertaking the challenge of conversion work at home and on Peregrinatio Pro Christo.

VISIT TO DUBLIN BY ELISABETH KRISS, EXTENSION WORKER

Elisabeth Kriss completed her year’s extension work in September for the Legion of Mary to Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In October she visited Dublin attending the Peregrinatio Pro Christo Conference and the October Concilium meeting giving us a brief summary of her work during the year.
Throughout her time in both these countries she visited existing praesidia and set up new praesidia, she also attended a Curia meeting and two Conferences. She had beneficial meetings with the hierarchy. Ukraine legionaries are very thankful to the Concilium for sending Elisabeth to that country where they visit hospitals and the elderly. They have organised their first Peregrinatio Pro Christo; also they hope to set up a Patrician meeting. While awaiting a visa, she visited Bulgaria where there are now 7 praesidia in existence and legionaries had their Acies together. Elisabeth thanked all those who prayed for her during this year of grace.

Sile Ni Chochlain, President of Concilium, thanked Elisabeth for the tremendous work she had undertaken on behalf of the Legion during the year.