Concilium News November 2010

Frank Duff Anniversary Mass
Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, was Chief Celebrant and Homilist at the Mass in St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Dublin, on Saturday, 20th November, 2010, to mark the 30th anniversary of the death on 7th November, 1980, of the Servant of God, Frank Duff, Founder of the Legion of Mary. Forty five priests concelebrated the Mass, which had an attendance of approx 800. Among the attendance was the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Gerry Breen.
Archbishop Martin said: “Frank Duff died thirty years ago. This quiet, personally unassuming man, in quiet simple external circumstances in Dublin on 7th September 1921 established a movement of prayer, Christian care and Marian spirituality. The Legion of Mary is a movement which has spread worldwide and has enriched the Church in many parts of the world, especially at moments in which the Church was experiencing difficulty and persecution.”
It was a wonderful occasion for legionaries in Dublin to gather together with their Archbishop and so many priests and other members of the faithful to remember their Founder in the principal Church of the Archdiocese of Dublin, in the city of Dublin, where Frank Duff was born and spent his life and where he died.

Peregrinatio Pro Christo
The annual Peregrinatio Pro Christo Conference, was held on Saturday, 30th October, 2010, at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin. An attendance of nine priests and approx 300 legionaries from Ireland and abroad heard reports of projects carried out in 2010 in various countries. It was inspiring to hear of the response of people to the Good News of the Gospel, both of people who were not Catholics and of Catholics who had become somewhat distanced from the Church. Tommy McCabe, President of the Concilium gave a wide ranging talk on Legion spirit and practice, focusing on getting back to basics and the study of the handbook. The Mass of Our Lady Queen of Apostles was concelebrated at the Conference at which there was a very encouraging homily from the Spiritual Director of the Concilium, Rev. Fr. Bede McGregor, O.P.

Theme for the Year 2011
In 2011 we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Legion of Mary. To focus our attention and efforts during the coming year the Concilium is presenting a theme for the Year 2011:

“The Charism of Frank Duff and the Legion of Mary”