Concilium News September 2010

Election of Concilium Treasurer

Nominations were sought for the office of Treasurer of the Concilium, as Janet Lowthe had completed her second term. Mary Murphy was proposed and seconded and as there were no other nominations, she was duly elected Treasurer of the Concilium. Mary Murphy is a former Legion Envoy to Kenya. On behalf of Concilium, Tommy McCabe, President, paid tribute to the outgoing Treasurer, Janet Lowthe, for her dedication during her six years in that office.

New Regia for Brazil

The Concilium established a new Regia, Nossa Senhora da Assunção, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. The territory of the Regia comprises the Archdiocese of Campo Grande and its five Suffragan Dioceses: Corumbá, Coxim, Dourados, Jardim and Três Lagoas. The new Regia will be attached to São Paulo Senatus.

New Regia for The Philippines

The Concilium raised the Butuan Comitium, Mindanao, Philippines, to Regia. The territory of the Regia comprises the Dioceses of Butuan, Tandag and Surigao. The new Regia will be attached to Cagayan de Oro Senatus.

Congress on Evangelisation of Asia

Tommy McCabe, President, and Paddy Fay, Secretary, reported on their recent visit to Korea, where they attended the Congress of Asian Catholic Laity, which had as its theme: “Proclaiming Jesus Christ in Asia Today”. About four hundred delegates from over 20 countries and 35 lay associations, ecclesial movements and new communities, attended the Congress, which was organised by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity. It was held in Seoul from 1st - 5th September, 2010. Delegates from the Legion included the Presidents of Seoul Senatus, Korea; Manila Senatus, Philippines; and Mumbai Regia, India; a former president of Osaka Senatus, Japan; and an Assistant Secretary of Hong Kong Comitium.

His Eminence, Stanislaw Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, in his opening address, stated that there are 4 billion people in Asia but only 120 million are Catholics, that is, three percent. He stated that while Catholics are a minority , they need to be a creative minority, full of vitality stimulated by the hope that comes from faith. The aim of the Congress was to stimulate the Christifideles Laici in Asia to actively engage in the evangelization of Asia.

A statue of Our Lady with the infant Jesus graced the platform throughout the five days. Our Lady Star of Evangelization was referred to by many speakers including Agnes H.W. Han, the President of Seoul Senatus, who gave an overview of the Legion presence in Asia and particularly in Korea, where there are 260,000 active members, 270,000 auxiliary members, 30,160 praesidia, 2,147 curiae, 217 comitia, 15 Regiae and 3 Senatus. She referred to the estimated membership of the Legion of Mary in Asia as being 516,000 active members, 110,000 junior members, and 706,000 auxiliary members.
His Eminence, Nicholas Cardinal Cheong, Archbishop of Seoul, in his homily at the concluding Eucharistic Celebration, stated that “the Evangelization of Asia is not mission impossible, we can do it”. What is needed is primarily the holiness of our lives, he said. He invoked the Korean Martyrs and said “Let us start again with Christ.”

In the week prior to the Congress, the Concilium visitors met with Legion Senatus officers in Seoul, Gwangju and Daegu. They met also with officers of the Regiae attached to the Senatus of Seoul and Gwangju and visited Andong to meet with the officers of the Regia there, which is attached to Daegu Senatus. They were very impressed by the great number of legionaries in Korea and by their wonderful contribution to the evangelisation of their country. During their stay in Korea, the Concilium visitors were received with great kindness and hospitality everywhere.