Concilium Bulletin February 2011

Concilium Bulletin February 2011
AFRICA

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPBULIC
In the Senatus of Bangui there are many junior praesidia, Curiae and Comitia. The printing of the Handbook in Songo is on the agenda and the translation having been completed some time ago.

CONGO
The Senatus of Kinshasa minutes reveal solid work being undertaken which includes visits to families, hospitals and prisons. Attention is given to street children and drug addicts. Visitation is carried out to auxiliaries of which there are a substantial number of Adjutorian members. On an invitation from Brazzaville Regia, which governs the Legion in the Republic of Congo, a delegation from Kinshasa led by the Senatus Spiritual Director, met the Brazzaville Officers. These two councils have been encouraged to work together at the building up of the Legion on both sides of the River Congo.

Senatus of Butembo in North Kivu received reports from five Comitia in the course of one meeting, each Comitium representing one parish, each parish having from five to ten Curiae and from 200 to 1,100 actives members. Auxiliary numbers are small by comparison. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo report mentioned 2 conversions, 61 marriages regularised, reconciliation of 38 separated couples and recruitment of 13 young pygmies into the active ranks of the Legion. The Senatus have fostered development by giving councils wider responsibilities.

BURUNDI
The Senatus of Gitega held a Congress, which has a good attendance.

RWANDA
In the Senatus of Kigale, two Comitia reported a membership of 4,860 active and 4,000 auxiliary members.

MAURITIUS
Mauritius Regia celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Legion in that country. A booklet giving a composite overview of the present state of the Legion there and in neighbouring Rodrigues, as well as its history, resulting in a renewed interest in Edel Quinn, its founder, who spent nearly a year there in 1940. Included in the booklet were glowing tributes paid by the Archbishop Maurice Piat and many names associated with the Legion. A great variety of apostolic work is carried out and includes visitation to the sick and elderly, drug addicts, the marginalised and children in shelters. The spiritual formation is a priority of legionaries, both adult and junior and the care of the youth through retreats and other spiritual exercises. The Regia consists of 2 Comitia, 10 senior Curiae, one junior Curia, 87 praesidia, which includes one junior praesidium, 700 active members and 600 auxiliaries.

REUNION
The works in this council includes home and hospital visitation, Rosary in mortuaries and bringing Communion to the sick. The Junior Curia promote family prayer, visit the sick and elderly, take part in a choir, apostolate in school and the Miraculous Medal is distributed. Through prayer teenagers who have left home are often helped by legionaries and they return to their parents.

ASIA

HONG KONG
The attendance at the Hong Kong Comitium was 100% for officers and 85% for members during the months of August to December. There apostolate relates to evangelisation and many baptisms and receptions into the Church at Easter are noted.

SINGAPORE
The council published Cardinal Brady’s homily at Knock in their November Senatus Bulletin. The Golden Jubilee of the Senatus was celebrated with a 2-day seminar. On the 8th December Kota Kinabalu Comitium formed a new Curia, the Toboh Curia. Kenningau Curia will set up Tenom Curia on 2nd May and on the 8th October 2011 Kenningau will be raised to Comitium. Two Patrician meetings took place in the University and were well attended. Prayers at funerals featured. Queen of Carmel Curia recorded an attendance of 94%.

OSAKA, JAPAN
The Senatus reported that a praesidium at Imachi Church holds a catechism class, 5 catechumens were baptised and three new members are under instruction. Kyoto Comitium reports on ‘Light of Mind’, a Catholic publication, being distributed over a period of 10 years, as a result there is a growing dialogue between church and residents. Mention is made of visits to elderly and on occasions with a priest, also doing shopping and cooking meals, or supplying a cup of tea to the lonely. In Kobe Curia a praesidium participates in the Japanese ceremony of the blessing of children, sick are visited often bringing Holy Communion, which is appreciated. Fr. Ueda, former Curia President, was ordained to the Priesthood.

KUALA LUMPUR
Quarterly reports at the Regia meeting show good active, auxiliary and praetorian membership. Works undertaken include visits to hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, Little Sisters of the Poor, assisting in Alzheimer Day Care, mending vestments, also visits to aged, lonely, sick, the lapsed and newly baptised. Also works with the book barrow, visitation to prisons and RCIA on a weekly basis. Queen of Apostles Curia carried out an Exploratio Dominicalis project to the indigenous people in a settlement in Bidor, 11 groups visited 11 families speaking the Malay language.

TAIWAN
Taiwan Senatus reported that after a special campaign of prayer, closing celebrations for 60 years of the Legion of Mary is taking place. Expansion of the Legion is very much in the forefront and 21 new praesidia including two for Aboriginals and two new Curiae have been established in the past year and a half. Recruitment of active and auxiliaries is encouraged.

INDONESIA
Malang Senatus: Surabaya Comitium is giving a lot of attention to junior praesidia. Visitation of councils is ongoing. Three new praesidia have been set up in Indonesian Papua. The Senatus have urged setting up a junior praesidium in every parish, also preparing legionaries for officerships through a meeting held once a month. Patricians are mentioned. Legionaries help families who are contemplating divorce, also Catholics who are lapsed from Mass.

KOREA
Seoul Senatus: Three Regiae which were established in Seoul Archdiocese in 2008 have a total of 28 Comitia, 368 Curiae, including 2 junior Curiae, 5,335 senior praesidia, 88 junior praesidia, 51,217 senior active, 858 juniors and 80,495 auxiliary members. 22,470 people were enrolled in Catechism classes, 16,870 Baptisms were recorded.

Gwangju Senatus: The attached Jeon-ju Regia has 14,314 active members and 4,047 auxiliaries. Over a three-year period all the members of one praesidium have never missed a single meeting. The Je-ju Regia has 3,474 active members and 4,619 auxiliaries. A praesidium for the visually impaired was divided and carries out a variety of activities.

Daegu Senatus: A Comitium in Taejon have 100% attendance. A praesidium in Gyongbuk University was commended for their passion towards evangelisation on the campus. The Senatus have been asked to provide 300 voluntary workers for the celebrations of the centenary of Daegu Archdiocese, the attached Comitium have been asked to seek a specified number of volunteers. Reports from most councils give numbers of catechumens recruited and baptisms as well as returns to the sacraments. Councils also show good numbers of new legionaries recruited. The attached Andong Regia has approximately 4,000 active members.

ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Senatus: Many of the suggestions made on the Concilium visit to Argentina in July last year have been put into practice. New Presidents for the correspondents’ and extension groups have been named. Young legionaries have been encouraged go on Peregrinatio Pro Christo. Mass was concelebrated by five Spiritual Directors at the grave of the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe. This year saw even larger numbers in attendance than in previous years.

Cordoba Senatus: The Senatus organised a meeting to explain “True Devotion to the Nation”, which was attended by legionaries and others.

Salta Senatus: One work is taking part in summer camps for drug addicts where prayer is the underlying factor. Auxiliary members are being encouraged to become active members. Curiae are being divided and new Curiae set up.

Corrientes Regia: A Curia with 4 praesidia was set up in a new diocese and it is hoped to extend into other parishes. On visits to nursing homes, the legionaries do works of service for the residents.
Rosario Regia: The 50th anniversary of the Legion in Rosario was celebrated last year. Works being done include visitation with the statue of Our Lady, visits to the sick and to prisoners, street contact and teaching catechism to children and adults.

BRAZIL
Belo Horizonte Senatus: Works include enthronement of the Bible in homes and shops, reading of the Gospel in prisons, providing accommodation for old people for a weekend in homes of legionaries and commentaries on the Handbook on Radio. Twenty-seven legionaries took part in a Peregrinatio Pro Christo.

Fortaleza Senatus: A praesidium attached to the Senatus made 378 visits to families and once a week they gather young people and children together to teach them the Rosary. The Joáo Pessoa Regia contacted 9,500 people on home visitation during a period of three months. They had 76 enthronements of the Sacred Heart in homes.

Ponta Grossa Senatus: A meeting for council officers from the Senatus area, which covers the States of Paraná and Santa Catarina, was held in the city of Sáo Pedro, Pato Branco, from 8 to 10 October 2010. Bishop Edson, the liaison Bishop with the Hierarchy, and four priests took part. Following the conference, Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral to mark the 50th anniversary of the Legion in Pato Branco.

Recife Senatus: Two new praesidia were set up. Forty-two legionaries took part in a Peregrinatio Pro Christo. Positive contacts were made with members of the sects, some of whom have their children baptised in the Catholic Church. Details have been requested regarding two reported cures through the intercession of the Servant of God, Frank Duff. In one case the person suffered six gunshot wounds.

Rio de Janeiro Senatus: The Auxiliary Bishop of Niteroi and Bishop Edson, the representative of the Brazilian Hierarchy, and many priests along with all officers of 15 attached Comitia were present at the inaugural meeting of the new Regia of Niteroi. The Regia has since set up a new Comitium with seven Curiae. A new Regia was set up also in Sáo Joáo de Meriti with the attendance of the Bishop and officers of attached praesidia and councils.

Belem Regia, through a vigorous extension project, set up the Legion in six dioceses. Steps are being taken to set up a Regia in the Diocese of Castanhal, which has four Comitia.

Salvador Senatus: The Auxiliary Bishop, Dom Gregorio, eight priests and one religious sister attended a meeting of Spiritual Directors. The Bishop was convinced that the Legion can re-found itself, return to its original charism, return to what is its true self and be restored by the newness of the Gospel. Most reports show growth with four new Comitia and many Curiae set up in 2010. In an area of extreme violence, which has a Curia of 145 active members, legionaries console parents whose children died through violence. Youths are counselled about the evils of drug taking. Many of the legionaries are young mothers.

Sao Luis Senatus: Reports show recitation of the Rosary in almost 2,000 homes and over 9,00 visits to homes. Some people were taught how to recite the Rosary. A DVD has been made of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Several new Comitia were set up in 2010. Legionaries provide accommodation for those from rural areas receiving medical treatment in the capital.

Sao Paulo Senatus: His Eminence Cardinal Dom Odilo P. Scherer, Archbishop of Sao Paulo, was Principal Celebrant and Homilist at a Mass in the Cathedral on 7th November 2010 to mark the anniversary of the death of the Servant of God, Frank Duff. Two Curiae, one in Osasco and the other in Itapevi, have been raised to Comitium. The new Regia in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, was inaugurated on 30 October 2010.

Brasilia Regia: Two thousand people were contacted on four Exploratio Dominicalis projects. On visitation, parents are encouraged to have their children baptised and to send them to catechism classes. Much time, however, on visitation is given over to prayer.

International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012

Rev. Fr. Kevin Doran addressed the Concilium on the forthcoming International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Dublin 10 - 17 June 2012. He said the Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, to help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and to draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist. We are trying to focus on the sense of belonging to the Body of Christ and to the sense of mission. The theme of the Congress, which is taken from the Document Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican Council, is: The Eucharist - Communion with Christ and with each other. Each day will have a specific theme too. Fr. Doran stressed the need for preparation for the Congress. The Concilium website now has a link on its homepage to the Congress website IEC 2012.

Prayer of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress

Lord Jesus,
You were sent by the Father
to gather together those who are scattered
You came among us, doing good and bringing healing,
announcing the Word of salvation
and giving the Bread which lasts forever.
Be our compassion on life’s pilgrim way.

May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts,
enliven our hope and open our minds,
so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith
we may recognise you in the Scriptures
and in the breaking of bread.
May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body
and lead us to walk humbly on the earth,
in justice and love, as witnesses of your resurrection.

In communion with Mary,
whom you gave to us as our Mother
at the foot of the cross,
through you
may all praise, honour and blessing be to
the Father
in the Holy Spirit and in the Church,
Now and forever. Amen

Tribute to Gerard Dekker, R.I.P.

At the Concilium meeting, Eddy Evers, Concilium correspondent with the Legion in Holland, gave the following tribute to Gerard Dekker.

If anyone took Northern Ireland to heart, it was Gerard Dekker. For many years organiser of the Peregrinatio Pro Christo projects to Belfast, Newcastle, Derry and many other places, his aim was always to reach out to as many non-Catholics as possible. Having met his future wife Ailin Flattery on one of Frank Duff’s trips to Mount Melleray, it was probably the only time he had to refuse Frank Duff, when asked if he would stay in Ireland.

He brought Ailin to Amsterdam, where, together with Roisin and Theo Denkers, another Irish-Dutch couple, they formed the backbone of the Legion for over half a century. Having seen the hostels in Dublin, his dream was to open a hostel for homeless men in Amsterdam. While his dream was not fully realised, the Legion succeeded in getting a room in the red light district where his praesidium would invite and provide refreshments to the down and outs. He also worked tirelessly in the red light district and the Vondelpark (homosexual) apostolate.

Whenever somebody was invited to their home for evening dinner, Ailin without blinking an eyelid, would put another plate on the table and quite often, another guest would be one of the homeless community. Invariably, after dinner everybody was asked to kneel down and the Rosary was recited.

Having been Curia President and later when the Senatus moved to Amsterdam, also Senatus President, Gerard’s talents were certainly used in many capacities. When he was on a Peregrinatio Pro Christo in Belfast, his wife Ailin was killed in a traffic accident in Amsterdam. Despite this tragedy and also the loss of his youngest son, Chris (a Cistercian Monk), Gerard continued to work tirelessly for Our Lady, although his broken heart never mended.

These few words can in no way do justice to this true man of faith, for me his passing means the loss of a good friend, for the Legion the loss of a great soldier and Ireland the loss of an Orangeman.

May he rest in peace.

Raising of Councils to a Higher Status

Proposed new Regia in Dare es Salaam, Tanzania
A formal proposal was made at the February Concilium meeting to raise Dar Salaam Comitium to Regia status to govern the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam and the Suffragan Dioceses of Dodoma, Mahenge, Morogoro, Zanzibar, Tanga. There is a Curia each of the aforementioned Dioceses except Tanga where there is a Comitium. The active membership of these Suffragan Dioceses currently stands at approximately 4,000 members. The Regia will have 11 praesidia, 15 Curiae and one Comitium directly attached. The proposal was accepted and seconded; this is subject to ecclesiastical approval.

Proposed new Regia in Guarapuava, Parana, Brazil

The Concilium approved that the Fidelis Comitium in Guarapuava Diocese, Parana, Brazil, presently attached to the Ponta Gross Senatus, be raised to Regia to govern the Legion in the Diocese of Guarapuava (which is a Suffragan Diocese of curitiba Archdiocese) and in the Archdiocese of Maringa and its three Suffragan Dioceses: Campo Mourao, Paravai and Umuarama; and in the Archdiocese of Cascavel and its three Suffragan Dioceses: Foz do Iguacu, Palmas-Francisco Beltrao and Toledo. The new Regia will cover a large area in the western part of the State of Parana.

Comitium Fidelis has 9 praesidia and 14 Curiae directly attached. The following will be affiliated to the new Regia: two Comitia in the Diocese of Guarapuava; one Comitium in the Diocese of Umuarama and one praesidium in each of the Dioceses of Campo Mourao and Paranavai and the Archdiocese of Maringa; one Comitium in the Archdiocese of Cascavel; two Comitia in the Diocese of Palmas-Francisco Beltrao; one Curia in the Diocese of Toledo and one praesidium in the Diocese of Foz do Iguacu. This is subject to ecclesiastical sanction. The new Regia will be affiliated to the Ponta Grossa Senatus.

The congratulations of the Concilium were extended to all concerned.

Church Unity

The Legion of Mary’s Afternoon of Prayer for Christian Unity was held in University Church, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin on Saturday, the 22nd January 2011. It consisted of a Holy Hour conducted by Rev. Fr. John Harris OP followed by a concelebrated Mass at which the chief celebrant and homilist was Rev. Fr. Ciaran O’Carroll. The Church was filled to capacity and thanks were expressed to members of Assumpta Curia, Dublin and all those who helped to organise this successful event.

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.

This prayer can be obtained from the Legion of Mary website
www.legion-of-mary.ie

All Legion Councils, praesidia and individual legionaries are encouraged to actively promote the Cause of the Servant of God, Frank Duff, through the widespread dissemination of the Frank Duff prayer leaflets, through the organising of Frank Duff prayer groups and the holding of Masses to commemorate his life.

If you need Frank Duff prayer leaflets, please contact the Concilium.

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, IRELAND