Concilium Bulletin November 2012
Concilium Bulletin November 2012
REPORTS
ASIA
PHILIPPINES
Western Visayas Senatus: 23 councils were represented at the Senatus by between 63 and 65 officers, and 35-40 officers of the 14 directly affiliated praesidia. Several had 100% attendance. Works include teaching of catechism, facilitating the validation of marriages in the Church and return to the Sacraments, many being won back from the sects and other Christian Churches. All praesidia undertook Exploratio Dominicalis projects while 2 councils arranged Peregrinatio Pro Christo projects. The membership of the reporting praesidia ranged from 4 to 10 active members. All praesidia have praetorian, auxiliary and Adjutorian members.
Bicolandia Senatus: Visitation to councils is ongoing. Auxiliary membership is low in a number of the councils. Promotion of the 3 Causes is good. Works are: visitation to jails, with some praesidia in jails, Catechism taught to students in both public and private schools. Children and adults are prepared for the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation; Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in homes is undertaken.
Northern Philippines Senatus: Average attendance this period is 100% council officers and 72% of directly attached praesidia. Fr. Joseph Durero, the Spiritual Director of Madang, PNG, attended the Senatus in March and arranged the itinerary for the two legionaries from Manila who visited the 3 Regiae between the 19th April and 22nd May. Great work was accomplished.
Dugupan Comitium covers 11 parishes, has 2 senior Curiae, a junior Curia and 16 directly attached praesidia. Vigan Comitium has 5 senior Curiae and 18 directly attached praesidia. Paranaque Comitium covers 25 parishes, 4 senior Curiae, 14 attached praesidia, a junior Curia and 2 institutional Curiae in the National Bilibid Prison. Mostly reported on home visitation, Catechism classes, block Rosaries, crowd contact and preparation for Baptism.
Mindanao Senatus: The 40th anniversary of the Senatus was commemorated with Mass in the Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro a large number of priests concelebrating and 600 legionaries. Officers cautioned against visiting councils or praesidia unaccompanied by another legionary, which happens occasionally. The University praesidium could not find a day or evening that suited all due to classes, they now meet at 5.00 am. They were applauded for their dedication.
Aurora Regia reported many conversions and returns to the Sacraments. Another Regia has 23 directly attached praesidia were advised to form at least one new Curia. Likewise, Butuan Regia with 14 Curiae attached was advised to form at least one new Comitium.
Cebu Senatus: The works of the reporting councils and praesidia are extensive concentrating on conversion. They bring many through Baptism, Confirmation, Sacrament of Reconciliation and Marriage validation back into communion with the Church. A reporting Regia has 4878 senior, 2277 junior, 299 praetorians and 8334 auxiliary members. One Curia has 3 junior praesidia with 66 members. Another reported 9 live-in couples were married in Church through many efforts of the legionaries. A praesidium of 14 members, reports 15 baptisms, 173 confirmed, 130 received confession and many helped pray the Rosary. They have 325 auxiliary and 12 praetorian members.
AUSTRALIA
Sydney Senatus: A Comitium has 63 Korean, 12 Vietnamese and 6 Indonesian praesidia with 57 English speaking praesidia. Recent extension resulted in 2 new praesidia. Works reported this period were teaching scripture to children, organising Eucharistic Adoration and running a club for mothers. On home to home visitation many lapsed met are encouraged back to the faith. Auxiliary and praetorian membership is promoted.
Melbourne Senatus: During the 4-months under review, reports were taken from 5 directly attached praesidia, 9 Curiae and 3 Comitia on the mainland, as well as from 5 councils in the Pacific Islands.
Flemington Comitium has 15 directly attached praesidia and 3 Curiae, and comprises Vietnamese-speaking members.
Perth Comitium has a Vietnamese Curia, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of its Catholic community in the area with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Hickey. The Comitium also has 2 prayer groups meeting regularly to pray for the Cause of the Servant of God, Frank Duff. The Senatus sent 2 legionaries to the Kiribati Islands for 3 weeks in May last. For one of them it was his 20th and last visit as Senatus correspondent. They visited Christmas Island and attended the Comitium meeting. There is a junior praesidium in all but one parish, monthly processions are held. The visitors met Bishop Mea Kaiuea at Tarawa and had a useful discussion with him and attended the Comitia meetings at Bikenibeu and Marakei.
Brisbane Comitium: There is a lack of Spiritual Directors in praesidia and no junior praesidia. A praesidium of 11 members reported having 2 converts, Vietnamese, Indian and Timorese as members. They had an outreach to the Africans and as a result 4 of them are now under instruction. Two young legionaries from Sydney, aged 19 and 21 helped with the evangelisation to youth. Many showed an interest in the Legion. The Korean Curia gave its 8th annual report with 9 praesidia, 79 members, 2 adjutorians and 100 auxiliaries. The Vietnamese Curia was closed, though 3 of the praesidia are now attached to the Comitium.
NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Senatus: The Year of Faith was marked by a Mass and they hope to have the closing Mass in 2013. The junior Curia has 7 praesidia with 60% attendance. They are holding an event each month to mark the year of Faith. They visit Rest Homes with seniors, promote the Rosary, assist at Mass and are altar servers. Christchurch Curia has 8 praesidia with 50% attendance. They run the parish bookshop, do home visitation and visit the sick in hospital. They also call upon the homes of the children due to receive First Holy Communion. Hamilton Curia has 4 praesidia with 17 legionaries. A new praesidium was established in Beach Haven, Auckland and another revived with the help of their new Parish Priest.
AFRICA
GHANA
Accra Senatus: The Senatus organised a very successful project following Mass to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the founding of the Legion, all attached councils were encouraged to undertake similar projects. The Senatus continues to promote the Cause of Frank Duff with great enthusiasm and each month they organise a “Frank Duff beatification prayer session”. Officers from directly attached praesidia were contacted and encouraged to improve their attendance at Senatus meetings, attendance has improved as a result. 28 legionaries from Togo carried out a successful Peregrinatio Pro Christo project in Adidome, contacting over 1,110 people of which only 5% were Catholic. The team also set up a new praesidium.
ANGOLA
Benguela Senatus: In May, a Curia in the Benguela area was divided and a new Curia set up with 12 praesidia. In July, a Comitium in Tchikuma, about 140 miles from Benguela, was divided and a new Comitium was set up with 12 praesidia directly attached and five Curiae. On 4 August 2012 a new Comitium was set up in Catabola with five Curiae from the Kwito Bié Comitium and 12 directly attached praesidia. The new Regia of Kwito-Bié was inaugurated on 5 August 2012 with concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral. The chief celebrant was Most Reverend Dom José Nambi, Bishop of the Diocese of Kwito Bié. The Bishop thanked the officers and legionaries for their dedication and he thanked the Concilium for raising the Comitium there to Regia. On 26 August 2012 a junior Comitium was set up in the Archdiocese of Huambo with nine praesidia directly affiliated and six junior Curiae. The Comitium is affiliated to the Regia of Huambo.
Luanda Regia: In June, a new Curia was set up in one of the attached Comitia. In July, a junior Curia was divided to form a second one with nine praesidia. In August reports were presented on three-day projects called Apostolic Journeys, carried out in July in three areas. Legionaries from several councils took part. Contact was made on both home visitation and street contact apostolate with practising and lapsed Catholics and with people of different religions and with some of no religion. The Regia has asked that a proposed visit by the Concilium take place from 15 May to 30 June 2013.
MOZAMBIQUE
Maputo Regia: Morning Star Curia, Maputo was raised to Regia by the Concilium in August 2012. The Regia officers were received by the Archbishop of Maputo, Dom Francisco Chimoio, O.F.M. Cap. who gave them great encouragement.
Beira Comitium: This Comitium has seven Curiae attached. The legionaries pray for the sick and help the orphans. They organise Prayer Vigils and Retreats and Bible Reflections and are bringing the statue of Our Lady from home to home. They are working towards getting the Legion administration on right lines.
Cape Verde Regia: In spite of losses through emigration, sickness etc. membership continues to increases throughout the main 7 Islands of the Archipelago. The Regia members carry out catechesis not only among children but also youths and adults, preparing 45 for Baptism, 25 for Confirmation and 220 for reception of the Eucharist. Report from Guinea Bissau tells of 735 active members in a country which is 90% Muslim. Legion results included the preparation for Baptism of 383 adults.
LESOTHO
Lesotho Senatus: There are now twelve praesidia attached following the transfer of seven from a closed Curia. The Senatus officers visited Archbishop Laritholi who challenged the Legion to evangelise the young priests at the seminary in Lesotho by teaching them about the Legion and Our Lady. Attendance at many councils is poor.
ZIMBABWE
Hwange Comitium: The Comitium managed to revive the Legion in Fatima and had a workshop at the end of last year. Mankuku Curia was visited in order to revive the Legion. There was a workshop held in Dandanda Mission, which took three days to recruit and teach about the work of the Legion. 450 legionaries attended the Acies ceremony. Victoria Falls Curia was set up on the 21st April.
SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg Senatus: There are now 21 attached praesidia and 3 attached Councils. Works included visiting homes, including lapsed and non-Catholics, families are taught how to say the Rosary. The mentally and physically disabled are helped to give their families a break. They visit the sick in hospitals and nursing homes and inform the Priest of any sick people requiring the Sacraments. A member helps on RCIA instruction course and 30 people became Catholics. Parents of children who are not attending Catechism classes are encouraged to send children to these classes. Mothers are requested to have their children baptised.
Cape Town Senatus: At praesidia level there is great emphasis on the spiritual development of members. The members are very faithful in promoting the Rosary. People are asked to put their names on a list for a Rosary in their homes during the month of May. It has given the legionaries an opportunity to visit homes and to teach some people the Rosary. One legionary spoke on Frank Duff during the Sunday Masses. The Senatus has a Frank Duff prayer group and are very diligent in promoting the Cause. Durban Comitium: A praesidium with 20 members, 6 praetorians, 20 adjutorians and 80 auxiliaries visits a HIV/AIDS home and pray with the residents; four members teach catechism.
SOUTH AMERICA
COLOMBIA
Bogota Senatus: During this period, 3 Comitia, 2 Curiae and 2 praesidia reported. One Comitium reported 16 Curiae attached including 2 new Curiae set up recently. Among other works, they visit the homes of drug addicts, young people with suicidal tendencies and criminals; they are well received and report a degree of success. A new Comitium is experiencing difficulties filling vacancies. All councils and praesidia report big numbers of auxiliaries; however, they don’t seem to organise auxiliary rallies.
Medellin Senatus: Works with drug-addicts and Christians of other denominations are mentioned. Pre-sacramental catechesis features regularly. Study has been carried out on the lives of the 3 Legion candidates. A report included a contact going to confession after an absence of 37 years.
PERU
Lima Senatus: During this period 1 praesidium, 7 Curiae and 2 Comitia reported. A new praesidium is likely after 4 legionaries took part in a Peregrinatio Pro Christo-type project for 10 days in a remote area at the request of the priest there. One of the reporting Comitia has 2 senior and 2 junior Curiae attached. A number of new praesidia were set up in different councils. Junior legionaries with a senior legionary visit an orphanage for young disabled children in wheelchairs. As well as a little prayer, they provide music and games. One of the Curiae reported slight difficulty with elderly legionaries who are not able to do active work but don’t want to resign from active membership.
CUBA
Cuba Comitium: 4 new officers have been elected recently and the correspondent is awaiting the minutes of meetings.
PARAGUAY
Asuncion Senatus: Four new Senatus Officers have been recently elected. The junior Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Comitium has 9 junior Curiae and 26 praesidia attached, comprising 2000 active members, 1500 auxiliaries, 500 adjutorians and 50 praetorians. In the city of Ayolas, legionaries teach catechism to children in many neighbourhoods. A praesidium doing home visitation, prays the Rosary in many homes and conducts reflections on Bible readings. Monthly visits to auxiliaries are done by another praesidium. Two praesidia are functioning well in Asuncion’s main seminary. A number of praesidia do prison visitation, a work praised by the Prison Governors. A Curia in Christo Rey with 12 attached praesidia has 267 auxiliary members and had 85% attendance at its Acies. Five children were baptised as a result of home visitation.
BOLIVIA
La Paz Senatus: The Senatus held a Congress at which many of their distant councils attended. All the main topics were dealt with and there was good participation. The Papal Nuncio attended and gave the Pope’s blessing. A Spiritual Director, who has been transferred to another city, sends the weekly allocutio by email to his former praesidium. Cochabamba Comitium officers receive great help from the priests of the diocesan seminary. One problem family had their children join the local junior praesidium. Legionaries visit many families who are experiencing conflict and little by little resolve their problems. Hospital visitation is common, especially the maternity wards, where new mothers are congratulated and baptism arranged for their babies.
CHILE
Santiago Senatus: The Regia of Temuco has started the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. All reports mention home-to-home visitation. Legionaries helped in the Archdiocesan mission for women using Our Lady as a model for the family and country. Group Rosaries are organised where neighbouring families come together to pray. The Curia of Punta Arenas, on the southern tip of Chile, has just started a men’s praesidium. Some elderly legionaries can’t do the normal works because of frost and ice. Legionaries pray at funerals and also accompany the families for prayer at the graveside. The legionaries of Punta Arenas will receive the Papal Nuncio when he visits there this month. A Curia with 166 active members amongst other works has 34 prayer groups. Patricians have been suggested. Many non-Catholics are met during street contact. Spiritual contact is made in soup kitchens with the homeless.
URUGUAY
Montevideo Senatus: A new Curia was set up in Panda comprising praesidia formerly attached to the Senatus; transport difficulties meant it was not easy for them to attend Senatus meetings. The Archdiocese has requested a register of the legionaries who work in hospitals. A commission has been set up to work on Alfie Lambe’s Cause.
VENEZUELA
Caracas Senatus: Talks attracted an attendance of 151 young people; the topics included God, Faith and Witchcraft. A Columban Drive resulted in one new member. The book-barrow and Exploratio Dominicalis projects also feature. Legionaries in Machiques organised the priest to visit inmates of the jail there. The Barquisimeto Regia reported preparing 6 adults for First Holy Communion and in Chacao 18 indigenous were evangelised. Prayer groups in a jail were reported while legionaries took part in the National Conference for jail workers. 29 legionaries took part in a Maria et Patria project. In Cabinas there is one Patricians meeting. Bed and breakfast was given to a poor person for 5 days.
ECUADOR
Quito Senatus: Vigils were held in July for the beatification of Frank Duff. The Curia in Riobamba recruited 10 members in one year. True Devotion to the Nation works are reported. The Extension Committee was re-organised and 2 new praesidia set up.
Proposal to raise Mumbai Regia to Senatus Status
India
The Regia of Mumbai includes 8 Archdiocese and 36 Suffragan Dioceses. The Legion of Mary exists in the 8 Archdioceses and 12 of the Suffragan Dioceses.
The strength of the Legion in the Mumbai Archdiocese is 21 directly attached praesidia and 11 isolated praesidia plus 8 senior Curiae and 5 junior Curiae and 3 Comitia. There are 8 senior Curiae, 3 junior Curiae and 4 Comitia in the Dioceses outside Mumbai.
This proposal was put forward at the November 2012 Concilium meeting. It was accepted and seconded subject to Ecclesiastical approval.
Síle Ní Chochláin, President of Concilium, congratulated the Mumbai legionaries and thanked all concerned in their great effort to achieve this status.
Proposal to elevate Dipolog Comitium to Regia Status
Southern Philippines
The Diocese of Dipolog is a Suffragan Diocese of Ozamis Archdiocese. The Legion in the Diocese is currently governed by the Ozamis Regia, which in turn is governed by the Senatus of Mindanao (Southern Philippines).
The current statistics of the Comitium is 9 directly attached praesidia and 13 Curiae. There are 4,047 senior and 917 junior active members in the Diocese of Dipolog.
The proposal that Dipolog Comitium be raised to Regia status to govern the Legion in the Diocese of Dipolog having 4 Comitia attached to it and it is to be affiliated to the Senatus of Mindanao.
This proposal was approved and seconded at the November 2012 Concilium meeting.
Síle Ní Chochláin, President of Concilium, thanked all those involved in having this council raised to Regia status.
Proposal to raise Mary Refuge of Sinners Comitium to Regia Status
Republic of Cameroon
The above Comitium is in the Archdiocese of Bertoua, Republic of Cameroon.
Approval was sought to raise Mary Refuge of Sinner Comitium to Regia status to govern the Legion in the ecclesiastical province of Bertoua including the 3 Suffragan Dioceses of Doumé Abong-Mband, Batouri and Yokadouma.
The Regia is to govern 8 praesidia, 16 Curiae and 7 Comitia. The request came from the Senatus of Douala with the concurrence of the Regia of Yaoundé and the Archbishop of Bertoua.
This proposal was approved and seconded at the October 2012 Concilium meeting. The new Regia is to be affiliated to the Senatus of Douala.
Thanks was expressed, on behalf of the Concilium, by Síle Ní Chochláin, President of Concilium to the legionaries in Cameroon.
Commemoration Mass for the Servant of God, Frank Duff
Mass to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the death of the Servant of God, Frank Duff was held on Saturday 17th November 2012 at 3.00 pm in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin. The principal celebrant and homilist was the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Diarmuid Martin. 21 priests concelebrated including current and former Spiritual Directors. There was an estimated attendance of 700.
The Archbishop’s talk focused on the Gospel reading - the Marriage Feast at Cana. He thanked the Legion of Mary for taking part in the preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress and for its participation during the week of the Congress. He also spoke of the Year of Faith announced by Pope Benedict XVI.
Speaking of Frank Duff, he said, he was one of the most influential figures in the Church in the 20th Century and said how his vision has seen the spread of the Legion throughout the whole world.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Martin said he had recently been in Rome where he met the Cardinal dealing with the promotion of Causes and he remarked that no other Religious Order, or group, or organisation had as many candidates for canonisation as the Legion of Mary.
Fr. Bede McGregor, OP, Spiritual Director of Concilium thanked the Archbishop, Fr. Damian O’Reilly and the very helpful staff at the Pro-Cathedral, the organist, Gerard Downey, the cantor, Mary Flynn, and the Legion choir.
Síle Ní Chochláin, President of Concilium, expressed sincere thanks to the legionaries of Bethlehem Curia, Dublin for organising this event and for all the hard work undertaken to make the occasion a success.
Year of Faith
The Year of Faith began on 11 October 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, and will run until the feast of Christ the King, 24 November 2013.
The following is a quote from Pope Benedict’s Year of Faith catechesis - our desire for God:
“The journey of reflection that we are making together during this Year of Faith leads us to meditate today on a fascinating aspect of the human and the Christian experience: man carries within himself a mysterious desire for God. In a very significant way, the Catechism of the Catholic Church opens precisely with the following consideration: ‘The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for’ (n. 27).”