Concilium Bulletin October 2011
Concilium Bulletin October 2011
Asia
JAPAN
Osaka Senatus: Help is being given to victims of the tsunami and earthquake, some legionaries have volunteered their time and expertise. A retreat is planned and is to be conducted by the Spiritual Director.
WEST MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur Regia: Reports from four praesidia with a membership of 50 were presented. Works included home and hospital visitation, visits to HIV and AIDs centres for men, women and children, also visits to orphanage home shelters for boys and old folks home, help in RCIA, teaching catechism, help in soup kitchen and breakfast corner and block Rosaries before Mass. Some praesidia held recruiting drives. Legion Birthday celebrations took place and Archbishop Murphey Pakian of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur expressed his warmest anniversary wishes to the Legion and its members.
HONG KONG
Hong Kong Comitium: The average attendance at the meeting is 93%. Archbishop Tong and 20 Priests concelebrated Mass for the 90th anniversary of the Legion and about 1,500 people attended. Works mentioned were book barrow, extension and parish activities. In his Allocutios over 3 months, Fr. Lok placed great emphasis on evangelisation that it was a great blessing to a legionary, and was the essence of the Church.
Singapore Senatus: On October 8th 2010 Kenningau Curia in Kota Kina Balu Comitium was raised to Comitium, 2 new Curiae were formed in the same Comitium in the past year, a new Curia is in the pipeline in Kuching Comitium. The Archbishop Nicholas Chia will be the chief celebrant at the Mass for the 90th anniversary celebrations. Mention is made of a “Legion Travelling Exhibition” and the Senatus President has urged each Curia to arrange that the Exhibition reaches every Church. Works carried out include home and hospital visitation also prayers at funerals and wakes. The University praesidium took out the book-barrow on 25th March and held a Patrician meeting. Another praesidium carried out visitation before the Semester Exam.
TAIWAN
Taiwan Senatus: A successful Peregrinatio Pro Christo project took place in the Nan-ao region which is inhabited by Japanese aboriginal people. Great support was given by the priest and a praesidium was established. Four new praesidia have been set up in Taiwan in recent months. Many praesidia organise Sunday School instruction for children. Taiwanese are enthusiastic about the Eucharistic Congress and many plan to come to Ireland in June.
KOREA
Seoul Senatus: Wonju Regia has a total of 523 praesidia with 4,281 active and 3,457 auxiliary members. Three new Curiae were set up, there were 923 Baptisms, 1,155 returns to the Sacraments, 31,188 visits to sick and infirm Catholics and 13,129 visits to sick and infirm non-Catholics. Chuncheon Regia with 489 praesidia including 12 junior, have 4,130 active and 3,900 auxiliaries, there were 1,400 Baptisms and 1,144 returns to the Sacraments. Two praesidia of taxi drivers presented reports to the Senatus.
Gwanju Senatus: The President and Treasurer of the Senatus and Presidents of four affiliated Regiae attended the August Concilium meeting. The Sam-Dong Comitium has seven Curiae, including one junior with a total of 99 senior and eight junior praesidia, one of their praesidia was the first praesidium established in Korea in 1953.
Daegu Senatus: The Archdiocese celebrated its centenary in May, 395 legionaries helped with the celebrations. On 1st May, Our Lady’s Night Ceremony was hosted by the Senatus at the Shrine of Our Lady, the Archbishop was the celebrant, around 3,000 legionaries were in attendance. The Senatus is translating the Concilium news on the Concilium website. Legionaries in Taejon Parish in the Comitium participated in the activities of a mission. The Parish Priest requested street contact and visitation and 120 have since enrolled in Dogma school.
INDONESIA
Malang Senatus: In a triduum of prayer from 5th to the 7th September, the Senatus celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the Legion of Mary. It was celebrated by each Curia and praesidium. The Spiritual Director and four legionaries attended the September meeting of Concilium. They visited Frank Duff’s house and other places of Legion interest. A praesidium in Bangil visits lapsed Catholics, the sick, help to prepare children for First Holy Communion and engage in parish and social work helping with nutrition and health care for poor children.
Jakarta Senatus: Cengkereng Comitium has 1,202 active members, 84 praetorians and 122 Adjutorians. They work in 16 parishes and 2 stations. Serpang Curia hold monthly meetings for auxiliaries. Mirror of Justice Curia, Campus has 9 senior praesidia with 77 active and 138 auxiliaries in 5 Universities. A Korean Curia has 4 praesidia.
Europe
AUSTRIA AND COUNTRIES UNDER THEIR CARE
Austria Senatus: Extension in the Spanish community is going well. Both the Spanish speaking and French speaking African praesidia are being nurtured. One praesidium undertakes an apostolate to street girls. Vienna West Curia makes regular extension efforts in the 7 parishes without the Legion. The attached Comitia and Curiae all celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Legion by organising a pilgrimage, a talk on our Founder followed by a special Mass and initiating a Novena.
UKRAINE: All councils held the Acies. Extension efforts were made in Crimea, in Zaparoshe and Kamenets. Elizabeth Kriss, Extension Worker, is in touch with all the councils.
MOLDOVA: Seven legionaries from Chisinau Curia attended the Summer School in the Ukraine. Efforts are being made to ensure work is done in pairs.
BULGARIA: The visit to Sophia by Fr. Calice and Austrian legionaries went well. Preparations are underway to start praesidia and print the Tessera in Bulgarian. One Greek Catholic Bishop and two Roman Catholic Bishops have given permission for the Legion in their Dioceses.
SLOVAKIA: Zseliz Comitium and Egyhasgelle Curia are seeking to extend. The establishing of a new Comitium is under discussion. Trnava Curia distribute the Legion magazine by email.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Bishop Karel Herbst, Spiritual Director of Prag Comitium celebrated Mass on 7th September for the 90th anniversary of the Legion. Olmuetz Comitium with 6 praesidia and attached Bruenn Curia undertake home and prison visitation.
BELARUS
Minch Comitium governs 7 directly attached praesidia and 10 Curiae. They are diligent in visiting their attached praesidia and Curiae. Most of the praesidia are engaged in similar works, e.g. visitation to ill Catholics, to problem families, to social and orphan asylums, to hospitals where and when as required they accompany the priest, contact work in parks and at bus stations and church work. Vitebsk Curia reported on preparation of children in a boarding school for Confession. Lida Curia has been blessed with a Spiritual Director. During work in an orphan asylum they prepared 8 children for First Confession and 3 for Holy Communion.
CROATIA AND COUNTRIES UNDER THEIR CARE:
Zagreb Regia: Praesidia reports presented told of numerous returns to the Sacraments from home, hospital and prison visitation. Osijek Comitium received a letter of appreciation from the Archbishop for the work of evangelisation in the Diocese. Queen of Martyrs Curia organised a Cana Fest - two day gathering of junior legionaries. Seventy-seven attended and the theme of the gathering was “The Life of Frank Duff”.
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: Sarajevo Curia set up a new praesidium bringing their number to 6. Works include visitation of families, hospitals and nursing homes. Six contacts received the Sacrament of Confession and Holy Communion after a long time.
SLOVENIA: Ljublijana Curia has 6 praesidia, 762 Auxiliary members of whom 29 are Adjutorians. Two returns to religious practice were recorded.
HUNGARY
Budapest Regia: For the 90th anniversary, a pilgrimage was organised to Mariazell. Among works undertaken are organising Eucharistic Adoration, reciting the Rosary at funerals and teaching children in schools and crèches how to pray. Transport difficulties are the reason for low attendance at council meetings.
LATVIA
A praesidium in Salaspils set up in June has 3 members. A praesidium of 7 members engaged in home visitation and street contact say they are encountering increasing numbers of young people joining the Jehovah Witnesses. Fr. Hsmars, Spiritual Director of the Comitium, spoke on the Legion at a Priests’ Conference in Riga and a number of priests showed interest.
LITHUANIA
Kaunas Comitium: A new praesidium was established in Pasturva with 8 members and 18 Auxiliary members enrolled. A praesidium of 6 members report bringing a family of 5 into the Church.
Telsiai Comitium: A praesidium of 12 members brought the priest to 15 ill people in their homes and during home visitation received a commitment from 47 people to pray the Rosary. A junior praesidium of 6 members invited 142 people to Mass in Church and spoke with 130 young people in schools.
POLAND
Lublin Regia: Three new praesidia were set up. Some fruits of the apostolate were four returns to the Sacraments, four children Baptised and three children prepared for First Holy Communion. The 90th anniversary was celebrated with Holy Mass in Lubelski Archcathedral presided over by Bishop Mizinski with 25 Spiritual Directors concelebrating.
Warsaw Comitium: The Comitium arranged for the Legion of Mary to feature in the first Catholic programme on Polish TV entitled “Between the Earth and Heaven”. On Sunday 11th September, Fr. Jozef Sarznski, Spiritual Director of Lublin Regia and Anna Karlowicz, Secretary of Warsaw Comitium spoke briefly about the Legion on its 90th anniversary. A new Curia has been established in Plock Diocese. Helping victims of drugs and alcohol and poor children feature in work reports.
Katowice Comitium organised 3 Peregrinatio Pro Christo projects to Ostrava in Czech Republic. The 17th National Pilgrimage of the Legion of Mary to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa took place on the 9th and 10th September. Approximately 8,000 active and auxiliary Polish legionaries and 50 Belarusian legionaries came to Jasna Gora. The all night vigil was devoted to the subject - “The Charism of Frank Duff and the Legion”. Holy Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Protect Ronan Marcinkowske and more than 70 Priests.
Africa
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Bangui Senatus directs a huge and varied apostolate involving thousands of members including large numbers of children and youth. A Comitium’s Annual General Reunion had 643 present. The Senatus reports many cases of recovery from drugs, marriage regularisations, abortions prevented, orphans sheltered, sick people cared for and members of sects converted through kindness are recounted. Bossangoa Diocese has 2327 active members.
DEMOCRATIC CONGO
Following the visit of Concilium Visitators to the Congo by Pia Makengo and Henri Kaite, discussions are taking place in Kinshasa Senatus in regard to proper election procedures. The Regia of Kisangani is holding a Congress.
Senatus of Kananga: This body has been out of touch for some time but when visited by representatives from Kinshasa was found to be working well, as was the case when the Concilium Visitors attended the July meeting. A letter has been sent to thank the Archbishop of Kananga for agreeing to allow his internet facilities to be used for sending minutes to Concilium and for receiving Concilium letters and bulletin, the postal services being unreliable.
Senatus of Bukavu: Reports from Comitia are that two young legionaries have recently been ordained; their parents are also legionaries, two new Comitia have been set up, one in Burhuba and the other in Kamole. Two new junior Curiae have also been created. The death of Fr Andre Nakalonge, RIP, of Cimpunda Comitium is reported. Apostolic work included the preparation of 2,015 for the Sacraments; the enrolment of 2,532 in Catechism classes, visitation of 4,940 sick and elderly and bringing Communion to 1,534, both at home and in hospital, the regularisation of 39 marriages, visiting 300 ex-legionaries, of which 252 came back to the Legion. In an evangelisation mission: 10 Protestants, 3 Anglicans and 8 Jehovah’s Witness returned to the Catholic Church. The Senatus has had 1,000 handbooks printed in Swahili in Butembo.
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Butembo Senatus: Works reported at the meeting include teaching of prayers to children, preparing sick for the Sacrament, 48 couples married, 6 conversions from sects and preparing Christians for Confession.
RWANDA
Kigali Senatus: A meeting of the diocesan chaplains congratulated the Legion on their efforts in schools. Two Curiae and many praesidia including one in a University and another in a secondary school were set up. One reporting Comitia has 2,692 active members in 17 Curiae and 9 attached praesidia and 33 junior praesidia. Another Comitium with 4,500 active members has 33 Curiae, 24 attached praesidia and 4 junior praesidia.
MAURITIUS/RODRIGUES
Minutes show that the new team of officers of Mauritius Regia is working well. Reports were received from St. Sacrament Comitium, St. Gabriel’s Curia, Rodrigues and St. Paul’s Curia, Mauritius. Mention is made of retreats for both seniors and juniors, efforts to recruit for the junior curia and annual outing. A concelebrated Mass was offered on 18th September to commemorate 90th Anniversary of the Legion.
REUNION
Reports from 3 senior and one junior Curiae. Works include visitation of homes, hospitals, mortuaries and teaching catechism. St. Peter’s Curia has 47 Praesidia. Restructuring of council was discussed with Concilium Officers on the recent visit of Seyschelles, President and Dena, Treasurer, who also reported on visitation to 3 Curiae in Madagascar. They met Bishop Martin Nugent, who said he had been a Legionary in Dublin prior to ordination and is very interested in the work of the Legion.
Argentina and Brazil
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Senatus: A meeting was held to discuss the points suggested to the Senatus President and Secretary on their Concilium visit. All present were delighted with the report given and accepted all that was proposed. A report was given also on the Concilium visit at a national meeting of legionaries held in the Corrientes Regia area at which most councils of the Republic were represented. Many Argentinean legionaries hope to travel to Ireland for the International Eucharistic Congress.
Salta Senatus: A National Youth conference is planned for three days in January to include Alfie Lambe’s Anniversary in Buenos Aries. Rural extension is being carried out especially in villages with no priest. A Legion Stand in one of the main squares is manned during the celebrations of the patrons of the province at which over 100,000 pilgrims and tourists attend.
Cordoba Senatus: There are only 5 praesidia directly attached and there are 2 Comitia and 6 Curiae in the Archdiocese and 5 Comitia and 5 Curiae in provinces. Two praesidia were set up in Olivia recently.
Corrientes Regia: There are 6 Comitia, 9 Curiae and 26 praesidia attached to the Regia. It is hoped to set up a new Curia with some of the 26 praesidia. A number of praesidia were set up recently. Visitation of jails is undertaken.
Rosario Regia: One praesidium gives talks to godparents and helps the priest at Baptisms. They held a Frank Duff Promoters meeting and had an enrolment in the Brown Scapular. The Regia did extension work in the Indian reservation.
BRAZIL
Belo Horizonte Senatus: A week-end conference is to be held for officers of councils attached to the Senatus, which has over 65,000 active members. A city centre praesidium includes all in its visitation: apartments, commercial properties and special attention is given to domestic servants. Two prisoners testified to a spiritual transformation enabling them to forgive others resulting from the legionaries’ visits. Medical and other staff are contacted at an Accident and Emergency Centre. One parish priest expressed renewed confidence in the Legion after a Spiritual Directors’ conference.
Fortaleza Senatus: One Comitium reported 249 Enthronements of the Sacred Heart in homes; a Comitium in Crato reported 8,640 visits to homes and a Curia visited 2,337 sick people in hospital.
Ponta Grossa Senatus: The new Regia of Guarapuava reported 6,534 visits to homes; many visits were made to the bereaved, to the sick at home and in hospital, to prisons and to relatives of prisoners and to drug users.
Recife Senatus: The Senatus President attributes her recovery from a grave illness to prayers of intercession to Servant of God Frank Duff. The Rosary is recited in many homes including those of Protestants. Lapsed families return to the Catholic faith. Juniors do home to home visitation accompanied by an adult member. One Comitium reports an increase of 71 active members, 51 being juniors. All councils are involved in extension based on the plans of the Senatus. The Senatus produces a Legion journal for the whole country printing over 27,000 copies.
Rio de Janeiro Senatus: The Rosary is recited frequently on home visitation including in many Protestant homes. The sick are accompanied to hospital for medical attention. Legionaries in the State of Rio prepare couples for the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage in groups. Niteroi Regia is to host a national Spiritual Directors’ conference. Up to 70 priests and two bishops are expected to attend. The affiliated Belem Regia reports Exploratio Dominicalis and the setting up of four praesidia. In the western region of Amazonia the Bishop accompanied the legionaries on visitation.
Salvador Senatus: Many praesidia have between 10 and 16 members. Efforts are made also to set up junior praesidia. Apostolate to the sick involves dressing wounds and giving injections. Also blood is donated in life threatening situations. Youths are recruited for Catechism classes. In Barra city Legionaries give courses to parents and godparents in preparation for the baptism of children. In the town of São Felipe a special effort is made to promote the Rosary, in particular among men. Families in conflict and families of murdered victims are helped though visitation to survive the tragic conditions. Also a legionary pair look after a family suffering from Aids.
São Luís Senatus: Street Rosaries are said twice a week and 10,000 Rosaries were recited in homes. Also, over a thousand Bible circles were held in homes. In another home a Protestant minister joined hands with the Legionaries in saying the Hail Mary. About 10 correspondents take part in the Regia meeting. Besides visiting those in prison, legionaries also visit their families. Twenty two people were given literacy and artisan courses.
São Paulo Senatus: Some young legionaries reported on a Peregrinatio Pro Christo in three towns in Porto Alegre; a junior praesidium was set up. At the September meeting some other young legionaries reported on the World Youth Day in Madrid. A report from one Comitium showed 456 street contacts with people away from the Church. Brasília Regia: The Bishop of Mozarlandia wrote to the Regia expressing his gratitude for the Peregrinatio Pro Christo project that resulted in setting up the Legion in his Diocese. On family visitation Legionaries promote reception of the Sacraments and attendance at Catechism. Also many rosaries are said and Bible circles organised. The Regia carried out Curia visitation in a region over 500 miles away.
ELISABETH KRISS - EXTENSION WORKER IN UKRAINE
Elisabeth Kriss continues to work in the Ukraine and has set up a senior and a junior praesidium among the Greek Catholics. She will leave Ukraine at the end of this month in order to obtain a visa in Vienna which will enable her to continue her work there. At the same time she will also do the paperwork for her visa to Kazakhstan. Please keep her in your prayers.
VISITATION BY CONCILIUM OF CINCINNATI, OHIO AND NEW YORK COUNCILS
Mary Fahy and Mary Bonner attended the Cincinnati Senatus Meeting and visited some of its attached praesidia. The Legion covers five States and has a Legion presence in all five. There is an extension worker attached to this council who is extending the Legion in the North of Cincinnati. Some of the works being undertaken by legionaries are RCIA and visiting the sick. The importance of working in pairs was stressed. They also met the Auxiliary Bishop. Thanks were expressed by the members of this council to their correspondent, Noreen Murphy.
The legionaries also visited New York Senatus which covers 2 Dioceses and has 6 Comitia, 14 Curiae and 21 praesidia attached. They attended the Senatus meeting and visited a number of praesidia and found them to be working very well. Works being carried out are visitation of prisons and the sick in homes and nursing homes and legionaries work in close union with the priest.
Sile Ni Chochlain, President of the Concilium, thanked the legionaries for undertaking this visitation.
Thanks is expressed to all Legion councils which arranged a special Mass to mark the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion.
Cause of The Servant of God, Frank Duff
The prayer for Beatification can be obtained from the Legion of Mary website:
www.legion-of-mary.ie or from Concilium Legionis Mariae
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 to legionaries and to the general public; 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.
N O T I C E
Any Legion council officers who are registering for the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin are asked to
note that
the June 2012 Concilium meeting will take place on
SATURDAY 9th June 2012 at 3.00 pm
in Legion headquarters