Concilium Bulletin May 2011
Concilium Bulletin
May 2011
Asia
MEXICO
Mexico City Senatus: Reports were received from 3 praesidia, 4 Curiae and 1 Comitium. Extension is evident in the reports. A new praesidium of 10 and a junior praesidium of 15 members were set up. An attached Curia reported 3 new praesidia in formation. About 50 legionaries plan to visit the Concilium for the 90th anniversary in September.
Merida Senatus: Attendance of directly attached praesidia is 74%. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project was carried out in Chiapas, a border town with Guatemala. All praesidia do systematic home-to-home visitation and crowd contact resulting in many returns to the practice of the faith and great contacts with the sects. Big numbers including whole families have been converted. On home visitation they discuss the Sunday readings, if possible, and promote the Miraculous Medal. All reports indicate good numbers of auxiliaries.
Guadalajara Regia: Reports indicate solid Legion work, many returns to the sacraments. The statue of Our Lady is brought to homes and prayers are said. A number of couples have received the sacrament of marriage.
Leon Regia: The theme for 2011, and Fr. Bede McGregor’s letter have been distributed to all praesidia. The 5-minutes study of the Handbook is also promoted. 10,000 Frank Duff prayer leaflets were printed.
Hermosillo Regia: La Paz Curia reported 6 new praesidia in formation with 100 probationers. A new Curia was set up in Ciudad Obregon. A large number of legionaries went on extension to San Pedro in the mountain area. An attached Curia is visiting 5,000 homes with an image of Our Lady. A retreat for First Communicants was organised.
Durango Regia: Four new members were recruited following two recruiting drives after Sunday Masses. Four sick persons went to confession after regular visitation by legionaries.
Monterrey Regia: Two new praesidia with 10 and 12 members were set up. Another praesidium of 11 gave its first report. Legionaries are promoting the Cause of The Servant of God, Frank Duff. Thirty homes have been consecrated to the Sacred Heart as suggested for the 90th anniversary.
Central America
COSTA RICA
Senatus of San Jose: On home visitation the Rosary is encouraged, the wearing of the Miraculous Medals, the Enthronement of the homes to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart are promoted.
SAN SALVADOR
El Salvador Senatus: Reports show a great number of conversions, both returns to the practice of the Catholic faith and conversions from the sects. A 16 year old boy, whose parents are atheists, received 3 sacraments. Three young Protestants were received into the Church and are now in the Legion. A Mormon family was baptised and the parents received the Sacrament of Marriage. A new Curia and 3 new praesidia were set up recently. An attached Curia had an attendance of 100% at the Acies ceremony.
Panama Regia: The new Regia is working well and correspondents have been appointed for the 2 new Comitia. The Regia officers visited the new Comitia to explain the administration and how the Comitia would operate.
Guatemala: The visiting legionaries from Merida Senatus were very well received and there is a willingness to learn.
Nicaragua: The former President who is now the Vice-President of the Regia of Managua, Br. Edmundo Zuñija attended the May Concilium meeting. He is the first legionary from that country to visit the Concilium and is 50 years in the Legion. The Legion is working well there and they have a good number of juniors who pass on to senior membership. All councils are working at parish level. He brought letters of greetings from the Archbishop to Fr. Bede McGregor, Spiritual Director of Concilium and Tommy McCabe, President of the Concilium.
Asia
NEPAL
The curia is not currently functioning but news comes from a dedicated spiritual director, Fr. Pius Perumand that there is 1 junior and 2 senior praesidia working in Kathmandu, Godavari and Baniyatar.
ARMENIA
The praesidium in Yerevan has 11 active, 2 praetorian and 15 auxiliary members. They recruited 4 new members, have 90% attendance and the Spiritual Director attends all the meetings. They prepare children for Confession and First Communion. In the Eastern rite Confirmation is received immediately after Baptism.
GEORGIA
Br. Bernardo has been in regular contact. The Vice President of the Yerevan praesidium while visiting relatives called to meet the remaining praesidium in Ude, who were overjoyed with the visit. They were encouraged to re-establish contact with Br. Bernardo whose letters they had received. There are 7 members, 3 of whom are new. Many families were brought back to the practice of their faith. They have the Tessera in Georgian but not the Handbook, something that would be necessary if the Legion is to extend.
MYANMAR
Legionaries staffed a booth at a shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, a 4 hour journey from Yangon and met legionaries from all over the country. The Senatus held its 6th national conference at the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary near Mandalay at which 358 legionaries, 3 Priests and 11 Religious Sisters attended. The new Myanmar Handbook was available and a copy was given to each praesidium.
SRI LANKA
The Senatus meeting is bilingual, the majority speaking Sinhala. Eight chapters of the Sinhala handbook have been translated. Juniors propagate and recite the Rosary in schools and homes. The Bishop of Kurunagala wrote requesting a senior and junior praesidium be set up in every parish in the diocese to mark its 25th anniversary.
THAILAND
Much apostolic work in done for children promoting the Bible, getting to know Jesus, how to pray and participate at Mass. Two legionaries were assigned to work in an adjacent country for 2 years.
PAKISTAN
A praesidium of 23 undertakes home and hospital visitation and visit bereaved families. Those met are presented with the Catholic Church despite many other Christian churches enticing people with financial aid. The Curia has 300 senior and 100 junior members.
INDIA
Mumbai has 5,500 senior and 1,400 juniors at work in 17 Dioceses with 28 Dioceses available for extension. All praesidia have praetorian and auxiliary members. Goa held a training day, 300 attended, they also started prison visitation. The Regia does much promotion for the Cause of the Servant of God, Frank Duff.
Kerala Senatus: 6 Comitia, 3 Curiae and 3 praesidia reported Catholics and others of all religions met, hundreds of homes were consecrated to the Sacred Heart, marriages regularised 71 in one area and 99 in another. Some conversions were recorded and adults and children baptised. Bereaved families were consoled and the Rosary was recited in homes. A Comitium had 2 Rosary Rallies with attendances of 2,000 and 500. Prisons and homes for destitute were visited. A new Curia of 12 praesidia was set up.
Karnataka Regia: The Legion is very vibrant in spirit and dedication and works in 9 of the 11 Dioceses. They visit people of all faiths and none. A congress was organised by 2 councils.
Pondicherry Senatus: The annual get-together was held with the Archbishop and Spiritual Director present. Work is done in all sectors of society, from mentally and physically ill to jails and those suffering from Aids and leprosy. Twenty new praesidia and 2 Curiae were set up during the year.
Kottar Comitium: Five praesidia were started. A mini Peregrinatio Pro Christo with 60 legionaries taking part worked in an area of Madurai Diocese. Tuticorin Comitium started a Curia of 7 praesidia in January and another of 6 in February. A third is in formation which will bring the number of Curiae to 18. Madurai Comitium is in line to be raised to Regia status. We await minutes. Visakhapatanm have 9 nearby and 40 distant praesidia and 6 nearby and 6 distant Curiae. They are working on reorganisation. Coimbatore Comitium have been given guidance on procedures. Kolkata Comitium had regularly corresponded in the past and have been requested to resume contact.
Europe
Amsterdam: The Senatus has agreed to Regia status due to its considerably reduced size. Cape Verdian Curia in Rotterdam has 3 praesidia. Drug addicts are contacted. Twelve children and one adult were baptised.
Brussels: A former Senatus Secretary has become a deacon.
Denmark: A praesidium gained 3 new members and during Lent led the Way of the Cross every Sunday. Copenhagen praesidium has 12 members.
ENGLAND
Birmingham Senatus reported street contact at the Bull ring, apostolate to the gay community, two new converts received into the Church, a Patrician meeting at Birmingham University and a man returned to the sacraments after 40 years. Extension drives in 2 parishes in Bristol and Coventry report an Exploratio Dominicalis project to Warwick University. Birmingham junior Curia has 4 praesidia and Swansea Curia has a new praesidium in Ammanford.
Liverpool Senatus: Manchester Comitium is celebrating its 80th anniversary and report new praesidia at St. Joseph’s and in Salford Cathedral. Ashton Curia held a Holy Hour for the Servant of God, Frank Duff, and Wrexham Curia showed the Legion DVD following the Frank Duff anniversary Mass. The Legion’s 90th anniversary will be marked by a celebration in Lancaster Cathedral on Saturday 29th October.
Central London Curia reported favourable on the Red Light area apostolate and the Rosary is recited regularly at Hyde Park Speakers Corner.
Middlesex Curia reported on 3 praesidia with membership of 11, 6 and 8; works include contacting in local parks and promotion of Maria Legionis.
Brentwood Comitium: Reports at the meeting tell of legionaries who prepared four teenagers to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Also legionaries, under the guidance of the Parish Priest, are instructing a Church of England gentleman. A legionary from the Harlow praesidium entered the seminary in September.
Brent and Harrow Curia organised an Edel Quinn pilgrimage to Aylesfort. Over 1000 people attended.
Hammersmith Curia has 8 praesidia. Works include praying the Rosary weekly with school children and bringing Holy Communion to Churches.
SCOTLAND
Ten members took the Promise in a new praesidium in Edinburgh Curia. The “Light a Candle Say a Prayer” project in Falkirk and Rosyth was successful. A recruiting drive at the Cathedral resulted in 34 names for possible membership. The Wayside Club going for 78 years and new praesidia in Aberdeen and in Dominic’s, Bishopbriggs are doing well. The Christmas Crib apostolate took place despite terrible weather. In Greenock and District Curia of their 87 members 68 are Praetorians.
FRANCE
Paris Regia: The Legion is active in several communities, including a Vietnamese Curia and a couple of Haitian praesidia. Martinique Comitium is in the care of Paris and their works include home and hospital visitation.
Valence Regia: Recruiting is undertaken and valuable contacts made at the Foyer de Charite in Chateauneuf de Galaure. The praesidia at Valence and at Crest each have 7 members. A programme of praesidia visitation has begun.
Regia of Aire and Dax: Extension is taking places in many areas in the Regia’s region. Strasbourg: Many legionaries including 4 priests took part in a PPC conference. Five PPC projects are planned for this year. A Jewish lady is being prepared for Baptism.
GERMANY
Meetings are held twice yearly between officers of Senatus Frankfurt and Munich and Koeln Regia with recommendations being given to their respective councils for consideration and approval. The Senatus was represented at the meeting for spiritual organisations organised by the Diocese of Limburg.
Comitium Berlin carries out an apostolate to the Korean, Croatian, Filipino, Vietnamese and Spanish-speaking communities. The Croatian praesidium of 22 is being encouraged to split.
Koeln Regia has 2 Comitia in Essen and Dusseldorf and 5 attached Curiae.
Comitium Freiburg has 3 attached Curiae.
Munich Senatus is awaiting ecclesiastical permission to revert to Regia status and be attached to Frankfurt Senatus. One praesidium has 231 auxiliaries.
NORWAY
Drammen praesidium with 10 members and 8 auxiliaries promote house Rosaries and home visitation. Tonsberg praesidium with 5 members and 12 auxiliaries carry out catechism classes for children. Extension is planned for Sandefjord and Oslo.
SIBERIA
The Bishop of Irkutsk thanked Frankfurt Senatus (which caretakes the Legion in Siberia) for setting up a Curia in Irkutsk. While attendance is low works include visitation of the sick and elderly.
SWEDEN
The Spiritual Director of the praesidium in Malmo supports the work of visiting the housebound and instructing young children for first Holy Communion. The praesidium of 6 in Vaxjo is working well. A group will come to Dublin in September for the 90th anniversary celebration.
SWITZERLAND (under caretakership of Frankfurt Senatus)
Curia Zurich reports a new praesidium in Bern.
Africa
CAMEROON
Douala Senatus: The Senatus has 22 Curiae and 8 praesidia directly attached with 1,542 active members. A Regia in Yaounde has 1,192 active members and nine Comitia directly attached to the Senatus and 14 Comitia attached to the Regia has a total of 14,759 active members. During the year 2 new Comitia, several Curiae as well as numerous new praesidia were set up. Works include youth apostolate; they have 654 junior members, visitation of homes, prisons, orphanages, the sick and helping with catechesis. During the year nearly .5 million homes and a million sick were visited in the hospitals or at home. 876 marriages were regularised, 4,418 people brought back to the Sacraments and over 33,000 street contacts made.
Conakry Comitium: The Comitium has been making strong efforts to visit local praesidia and to strengthen contact with councils. In March the Comitium President travelling over 2,000 km in 10 days to visit distant councils in the interior of Guinea. The Comitium have arranged a meting with the Archbishop of Conakry to discuss the Legion.
TOGO
Logo Regia: There were 115 people present at a presentation and lecture on The Servant of God, Frank Duff, a Mass and Conference was organised on Alfie Lambe. A junior Curia with 20 praesidia was mentioned in the report as well as a project to set up 3 new junior praesidia in 2 different areas. The Cathedral Comitium is setting up a new Curia.
BURKINA FASO
Ouagadougou Comitium reports that the young legionaries of Gounghin go to the Basic Christian Community meetings to pray with the people and speak to them about the Legion, also, recruiting youth for enrolments in the catechetical programme. Legionaries are welcomed by the majority of the Muslim population for their prayers and their help to the old with washing and drawing water.
IVORY COAST
Conflicts in this country have made it difficult for the Senatus to maintain the rhythm of its meetings. Prayers are asked for the legionaries and people of this country at this time.
BENIN REPUBLIC
During a 10-day visit to Gabon by two visitators from Cotonou Regia they covered 5 Dioceses travelling by plane, bus, train and car. This visit took place from the 3rd to the 12th May. Their report contains statistics together with proposals for upgrading Legion administration.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Malabo Comitium are planning to set up a new Curia. In Bata they had almost 100% attendance at the Acies ceremony. The ceremony started at 11.00am and finished at 5.00pm.
Visit by Officers of Madrid Senatus, Spain
The Officers of the Madrid Senatus, Spain, Javier de Frutos, President; Concha Ferraz, Vice President; Consuelo Molina, Assistant Secretary; Maria Carmen Lopez, Treasurer and Julia Garcia, Assistant Treasurer visited the Concilium on Saturday 14th May 2011. There are 15 praesidia, 5 Comitia and 18 Curiae in 7 Archdioceses. During the meeting with Concilium Officers the strength of the Legion in the Dioceses was reviewed and suggestions on the development of the Legion in their area were discussed. Tommy McCabe, President of Concilium thanked the officers for all the work they are doing for Our Lady
Visit to the Concilium by the Bishop of Latvia
The Concilium was honoured to receive a visit from Most Reverend Anton Justs, Bishop of Jelgava, Latvia, who in an address to the meeting, spoke of his happiness at having the Legion in his diocese and thanked particularly the Concilium President, Tommy McCabe, for his assistance in establishing the Legion there. He spoke of the dedicated apostolate which the legionaries undertake in his diocese. Bishop Justs had attended the Beatification of Blessed Pope John Paul II, who had ordained him Bishop in Rome in 1996. He spoke of the devotion of Blessed Pope John Paul II to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Raising of Kottar Comitium to Regia Status, India
The Concilium proposed and seconded that Kottar Comitium be raised to Regia status. The Diocese of Kottar has 15 praesidia, 14 Curiae and 3 Comitia with others being prepared for formation. The new Regia will govern the Legion in the Vicariates of Kottar, Colachel, Mulagumoodu and Thiruthuvapuram with the possibility of some Comitia of other rites opting to come in under the new Regia.
The President, Tommy McCabe, congratulated all legionaries involved in the raising of this Regia and wished them every grace and blessing.
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