Concilium Bulletin April 2015
AFRICA
MALAWI
Maula Senatus: This new Senatus in Lilongwe Archdiocese was inaugurated on 29th November, 2014 with the approval of the Concilium and the relevant Diocesan authorities. A Mass to mark the occasion celebrated by Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaya of Lilongwe and 10 priests drew an attendance of 5,000 legionaries. The Senatus governs 19 Comitia, 6 Curia and 15 attached praesidia in Lilongwe Archdiocese and 2 Regia covering the suffragen Dioceses of Dedza, Mzuzu and Karonga.
Blantyre Senatus: Great credit is due to this council for all the work leading to the setting up of Maula Senatus. The councils now under Blantyre Senatus include 18 Comitia, 3 Curiae and 12 attached praesidia in Blantyre Archdiocese and a Regia with 9 Comitia in Mangochi Diocese and a total of 9 Comitia in the other suffragen Dioceses of Zomba and Chikwawa. The Senatus reunion in December had a large attendance. It started with Mass celebrated by the Spiritual Director and following entertainment, concluded with Mass led by Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa, who was impressed with the strong Legion membership in each parish.
SENATUS OF KENYA: Plans are advanced for the 71st Anniversary Mass to mark the death of venerable Edel in Nairobi on 10th May. A new Curia was inaugurated on 15th November at the Catholic University of East Africa with 5 attached praesidia. Kisumu Regia report 1,442 catechumens prepared for Baptism, 614 marriages regularised, and 1,575 lapsed returned. 116 traditional brewers were contacted. Of three witchdoctors encountered, one is under instruction in the faith. Prayers are asked for the people of Kenya following the massacre of Christians at Garissa University.
SENATUS OF UGANDA: Frank Duff’s Anniversary was well celebrated throughout the Senatus with Masses and talks. The 13 reports presented gave details of a great variety of work resulting in many receiving the Sacraments, lapsed returning to the Church and conversions including some Muslims and all included work with youth. One Comitium reported 2 people stopped satanic practices and began attending Mass. A Spiritual Director who started a Tertiary Institution Curia advised members in the Seminary that their continued Legion involvement as priests would help them and their parishioners. A recently deceased legionary used to walk long distances with her sister to attend council meetings and though illiterate, they tried to retain what they learned to share it, subsequently setting up 17 new praesidia.
NIGERIA
Abuja Senatus: Some months ago one Comitium reported that 3 Curiae and 4 praesidia were unable to hold meetings because of communal unrest. Despite the problems, that Comitium formed 17 new praesidia and had 30 conversions.
Ibadan Senatus: 99 praesidia were formed in the Senatus in the past year. 180 took part in an Evangelisation Project, making 3,384 contacts and leaving many cases for follow-up, which is being done by local praesidia under the direction of the Parish Priest. 8 of the 16 praesidia in one Curia have monthly Patricians.
Lagos Regia: One Comitium plans to establish more praesidia in government-owned schools and public Secondary Schools. In another Comitium 27 intermediates moved to senior ranks. All three Comitia reporting in November have quite a young membership.
Enugu Senatus: A Comitium with over 3,000 seniors and 15 junior Curiae and almost 5,000 members, established10 senior praesidia in parishes and a senior and a junior praesidium started in a Police Barracks.
Onitsha Regia: One Comitium prepared 236 people for Holy Communion, 640 Catechumens for Baptism. One Muslim was received into the Church.
Jos Regia: The legionaries are continuing to hold meetings and carry out their apostolate despite unrest in the area. The Annual Reunion had to be cancelled due to bomb blasts the previous day.
Ikot Ekpene Regia: A Comitium with 2,092 members had 61 couples married in Church. 46 lapsed returned to the faith and many other people were prepared for the Sacraments.
TANZANIA
Dar-es-Salaam Regia: All councils and most praesidia have conducted Seminars on family matters as requested for the Year of the Family. 18 members participated in a successful PPC to Zanzibar. Reports from 2 senior and 1 junior Curiae and a praesidium reported visitation of homes and basic Christian Communities, the sick and elderly at home and in hospital and recruiting, resulting in children receiving the Sacraments and marriages blessed in Church. One new praesidium was started and another revived.
Mtwara Comitium: A talk on the Legion in a Nurses Training College, led a student to agree to help start a praesidium in the College. To strengthen the Comitium, members prayed the Divine Mercy Novena. Weak Curiae are being visited. To promote The Year of the Family, it was decided that legionaries would visit Small Christian Communities in pairs to speak about the Legion, recite the Rosary and encourage families to pray it together.
Rombo Comitium: Reports include home and hospital visitation and visits to schools, trying to establish praesidia in them.
Hai Moshi Comitium: Works reported on include home and hospital visitation, contact with drug and alcohol addicts, encouraging couples to marry in Church and preparing adults and children for the Sacraments.
Mbinga Comitium: An e-mail from a priest working in a Seminary, expressed a need for Legion literature to help him spread the Legion in Secondary Schools. This literature is being supplied. Four schools have praesidia.
ZAMBIA
Lusaka Regia: A good amount of praesidium and council visitation was reported. Works include home visitation, visits to the sick at home and in hospital, to orphanages, police cells, prisons, visits of condolence, preparing people for the Sacraments and other works requested by the priests. In one parish a workshop for juniors was held, while in another, legionaries having undertaken the 33 day preparation, made the True Devotion Consecration.
SIERRA LEONE: The latest news from the Curia was an e-mail from Fr. Carew dated 20th March. He was happy to learn that photographs he sent were able to be downloaded after much difficulty and hopefully can be included in Maria Legionis. They have a great need of literature and equipment, but previous parcels did not arrive; other postal routes are being sought.
LIBERIA: Please continue to pray for all those in Ebola affected areas.
EUROPE
SPAIN
Madrid Senatus: About 100 legionaries, representing every attached council, and 3 Spiritual Directors attended the Senatus Congress. There were 5 talks followed by a discussion. The subjects were: ‘Legion Spirituality:’ ‘Frank Duff:’’ The Legion Apostolate Today:’ ‘Legionary Formation and Youth.’ A video on the life of Frank Duff was shown. Bros. John Alonso and Noel Lynch had ample opportunity to speak with most of the officers present. All the Legionaries are anxious to work with youth and the many South American immigrants. Many of the legionaries who participated are married couples. There were also a big number of male legionaries. The Senatus is seeking extension workers for Andalucia.
Senatus of Bilbao: Three active members were recruited in January. They enquired if Orthodox Christians could be legionaries, the answer being, yes. The majority of the work is of ‘Consolation.’ Basauri Curia has two book barrows; they hold a monthly Holy Hour for vocations. Algorta reported having a good Rosary Group for non-practicing people.
Barcelona Senatus: Two praesidia amalgamated. School entry was obtained for the children of prostitutes. Holy Communion was distributed in prisons and prisoners families helped. A talk was given on the late Sister Pacita Santos and the setting up of the Legion in Barcelona in 1955. They had a three-day Retreat. The death was reported of Sr. Monserrat Prats, a former Senatus president and life-long legionary.
PORTUGAL
Lisbon Senatus: All 7 members of one praesidium are Praetorians and 27 of their auxiliaries are Adjutorians. Another praesidium distributed Miraculous Medals to over 1,000 street contacts. Legal support is given to elderly people with Social Welfare problems and in making their Wills. One praesidium teaches catechesis to children. In the Setubal district a Prayer Group for vocations is organised. 84 of their active legionaries and 34 auxiliaries participated in the Annual Legion Pilgrimage to Fatima. Three priests were approached regarding Legion extension. Coimbra Regia made contact with 5 priests and it is hoped to form 2 new praesidia. At Beja Curia catechesis is taught to 33 children. Cascais Comitium reported Pilgrim Statue visits to homes. Transport is provided to bring special needs persons to Mass. Visits are made to schools to enroll children in Catechism classes.
ITALY
Senatus of Rome: There are 7 Curiae in the city of Rome, one of which, with 13 praesidia is of Filipinos. The Senatus Secretary, Bro. Renzo Tartar and his wife Martha Cubas, had the privilege of representing the Senatus at the ceremony in Buenos Aires pertaining to the Cause of Alfie Lambe.
Milan Regia: A new praesidium has been set up in Acqui Terme Curia, Ovada. The Filipino praesidia are organising Rosary Crusades among Peruvian, Spanish and Filipino families. Polish legionaries were contacted through the internet. The Papal Encyclical ‘Gaudium Evangelii’ was discussed at a Patrician meeting.
Padova Comitium: Catechesis and home visitation feature in the reports of the Nigerian praesidia in Padova and Verona. The Lana Curia held Retreats and Auxiliary Rallies. Extension is continuing in Busa di Vigenza and Volta Brusegana.
CYPRUS: The Limassol praesidium hosted the Acies, also attended by the three praesidia from Nicosia. Limassol legionaries visited a local jail where they assisted a Nepalese national to defend her freedom and innocence from cruel treatment by her employer. She now has a satisfactory new employer.
MALTA
Malta Regia: A new praesidium was set up in Valetta. Two half-day Retreats for auxiliaries had attendances of 23 and 30. A praesidium with 5 members contacted tourists, visited homes and hospitals and prepared two school classes of children for Confirmation. A praesidium of 8 members reported on contacts with non-Catholics. One Curia is in contact with 5 Muslim families. A 35 year old person was prepared for and received Confirmation. Two returns to the Sacraments were reported. Another Curia has an outreach to those on drugs and with other addictions. One Curia set up a new praesidium of 7 members in Safi. A Curia had Exploratio Dominicalis projects to two parishes, following which two families had their homes consecrated to the Sacred Heart. Two people were recruited by Queen of Peace Curia as a result of Pilgrim Statue visitation. The Statue was accepted in some non-Catholic homes. The husband in a mixed marriage is being instructed in the faith. Another Curia reported 5 homes consecrated to the Sacred Heart and returns to the Sacraments after many years.
Gozo Comitium: The 75th Anniversary of the Legion in Gozo was celebrated with a Mass, which was televised on TV 2. Their apostolate includes contact with tourists. A Retreat was organised for male auxiliary members.
GREECE: The praesidium in Rhodes has 17 active and 15 auxiliary members. Works include home visitation, visiting the sick and helping families with problems. Some Legion literature was sent to the English-speaking praesidium in Thessalonica, which is made up of non-Greek members.
ALBANIA: Two members of Malta Regia are to visit Albania in May; they hope to organise a Congress for the Comitium and the three attached Curiae.
IRISH PROVINCIAL REPORT
COMITIA
Dromore Comitium: A Day of Payer had a very good attendance. 260 pupils from 3 schools received Rosary Beads and Miraculous Medals and were shown a video on the Medal. The works of the juniors in Burren praesidium include Mass serving. They wear the Miraculous Medal and promote it when they can. They study the Children’s Bible during part of their meeting. Their senior praesidium has 6 members and 60 auxiliaries. They arrange Eucharistic Adoration twice weekly, sell Catholic newspapers and are involved in most Church activities. Prayers are offered for more priestly vocations in homes. They recite the Rosary at Wakes (prayers for the recently deceased) and show a DVD on the Miraculous Medal to school children.
Navan Comitium: In the course of home visitation members of one praesidium spoke to approximately 200 people. The lapsed were encouraged to go to Confession and return to Mass. A number of Polish people encountered said they don’t go to Mass as they don’t know sufficient English. They were told that the Mass is celebrated in their language once a month. Settled Travelers are visited and the Rosary recited with them. The praesidium in Drumconrath helped to organise the Corpus Christi Procession in their parish and promoted the Legion during the local Harvest Festival; they also do home and hospital visitation. Mullingar Curia has 7 senior praesidia and one junior praesidium. Clara praesidium erected a picture of Edel Quinn in the Church and displayed the prayer leaflet for Edel’s beatification. Trim Curia has 7 praesidia. Trim praesidium members visit homes and hospitals and post an emigrant newsletter to Trim emigrants three times per year. Rathoath praesidium visits homes and hospitals and helped with a Recruitment Drive in Dunboyne. The annual Alfie Lambe Mass was celebrated in Coole, Co. Westmeath. Dublin based South American legionaries were in attendance.
Derry Comitium: One praesidium has two pairs on home visitation most weeks. A praesidium which has 29 auxiliaries visits homes and residential homes. Queen of Peace Curia has 27 members in 5 praesidia and about 371 auxiliaries. Works include hospital, nursing home and Pilgrim Statue visitation. Inishowen Curia has 44 members. Moville praesidium has reopened with 3 new members.
Raphoe Comitium has 8 senior, 3 junior praesidia and one Curia attached. Stranolar praesidium has 7 members and 138 auxiliaries. On the first Sunday of every month a local hospital is visited. On home visitation bottles of Holy Water, Miraculous Medals and Catholic literature are distributed. They visit the country area in the summer and town area in the winter. Their attached junior praesidium has 7 members aged from 5 to 12 years. Falcarragh praesidium has 75 auxiliaries. Works include visitation to Falcarragh Community Hospital and parishioners in 2 nursing homes. During Lent they promoted Divine Mercy and Confession. The first meeting of an Irish speaking praesidium in Cnoc Fola on 9 March had 10 in attendance.
CURIAE
Leitrim Curia: Mohill praesidium has 8 members and 20 auxiliaries. The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady is brought to homes and the Rosary prayed with the families who accept it. Catholic literature and Rosary Beads are utilised to open contact with those met in the Housing Estates. The Rosary is recited every Saturday at the town clock in Carrick-on-Shannon with an average attendance of 15 people. A disabled parishioner who became seriously ill and had no relatives in Ireland was given practical help; assistance was also given with details of his funeral. Mohill praesidium started a praesidium in Carrick-on-Shannon which now has 5 members.
Mid Clogher Curia: One praesidium has gained two new members.
West Clogher Curia: This council has 9 praesidia attached. Two praesidia did displays on the Legion in their Churches on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Derrygonnelly praesidium sells the Irish Catholic and a number of religious magazines. When delivering literature the legionaries spend some time with the housebound and if necessary do works of service for them. They provide transport to Mass for the elderly and also for medical appointments.
Clonmacnoise Curia: The works of the 3 praesidia attached include home and hospital visitation. Six Primary Schools in the area and a special school were visited before Confirmation.
Immaculata Curia: (Diocese of Down & Connor). This council has 6 praesidia. The reporting praesidia have 4 and 8 members and a total of 261 auxiliaries. Works include Pilgrim Statue visitation and visits to five nursing homes. One praesidium leads a children’s Rosary Group. The new praesidium in St. Theresa’s parish is doing well.
Down Curia: This council has 8 praesidia. The two reporting praesidia have a total of 11 members and 71 auxiliaries. They circulate 10 Fatima Statues. One praesidium visited the First Holy Communion and Confirmation classes in two schools.
Armagh Curia: (Archdiocese of Armagh). This council held its 700th meeting on 25th February. Two members of Drogheda Curia were also present to learn of the continued progress of the new praesidium in Keady. Thanks were expressed to Drogheda Curia for its help with extension.
Drogheda Curia: Preparation for the True Devotion to Mary Consecration was arranged from 26 February to 25 March. An Afternoon of Prayer in Sienna Convent had an attendance of 36. The 8 members of Ardee praesidium do home and nursing home visitation and organise Patricians. Two members started a new praesidium in Collon and both praesidia are helping the new praesidium in Keady, Armagh Curia. The 3 reporting praesidia in Drogheda have a total of 20 members. Works include home, nursing home and Pilgrim Statue visitation, plus street contact. Two members of one of these praesidia attend the praesidium in Mosney every week.
Dundalk Curia: At the January meeting some members drew attention to the importance of legionaries working in pairs. The Correspondent and Concilium Officer in charge of Ireland attended the February meeting having met the Curia Officers beforehand. The Curia plans to sell their House in Quay Street.
DUBLIN SOUTHSIDE CURIAE
(February & March 2015)
Annunciata Curia: 14 legionaries and 30 patricians attended 5 meetings. One praesidium distributes 70 copies of Maria Legionis; a copy is left in the library, music school, swimming pool and each of the parish’s 24 religious houses. 13 of their 36 auxiliary members are Adjutorians. 34 Bars were visited to recruit for the Good Friday Retreat. Permission was sought and obtained to promote the Rosary Confraternity in a parish. In another parish, 19 blind or partially sighted people attended the Annual Retreat. 17 blind people were accompanied to Knock (National Shrine of Our Lady). 10 new patricians were recruited for their monthly meeting which attracts up to 14 people.
Assumpta Curia: 25 legionaries and 49 patricians attended 4 meetings. A praesidium with 6 active members, 4 of them Praetorians held a recruiting drive which yielded 3 new members. During street contact a Hindu girl told of going to Mass every Sunday with her father. At Christmas a portable crib was popular with people of various faiths. A monthly DVD night has an average attendance of 20. Some school visitation is done. A praesidium has re-opened with 3 former members and one probationer and 3 outside legionaries helping out.
Gloriosa Curia: An extension drive was held in March. A new praesidium was set up. Another praesidium does home and nursing home visitation, plus hostel duties. The praesidium in Celbridge had 5 visitors during the year; one took the promise. Around 100 auxiliaries attended a Rally in May, most of whom take the Maria Legionis. As well as supporting the Leixlip praesidium each week, the members do home and nursing home visitation. Street contact was done at Easter and Christmas, inviting people to Mass and Confession. An African woman was instructed in the faith in order to have a Catholic marriage. An Exploratio Dominicalis resulted in 145 homes being visited.
Benedicta Curia: This council has re-opened a praesidium with some former members returning and with the help of other Curia members. Another praesidium does home visitation and visits a hospital. Students in two classes of the Loreto School were enrolled in the Miraculous Medal on 8th December.
Spouse of the Holy Spirit and Immaculata Curiae: In a joint initiative, 13 legionaries manned a stall at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Tallaght Stadium; the Legion altar attracted much attention and 800 specially produced leaflets were distributed to passers-by as well as 500 Miraculous Medals.
Spouse of the Holy Spirit Curia: Two praesidia amalgamated; work will continue in both parishes; their works are home and hospital visitation, a weekly Church bookstand and monthly Patrician and Frank Duff Prayer meetings.
Immaculata Curia: 42 legionaries and 57 patricians attended 13 meetings. In their, “Ask 800 Campaign.” 505 people were asked to join the Legion in March and April. A talk by Fr. Michael Ross on True Devotion to Mary drew an attendance of 70. The evening praesidium has 4 full members and 1 probationer. A Pilgrim Picture of the Holy Family is used during Advent. Legionaries put an unemployed man in contact with someone working in his area of expertise. Another man who accepted a Miraculous Medal told legionaries 8 months later that Our Lady had helped him to survive cancer. An average of 9 attended their Patrician meeting, mostly non-legionaries. 5 children attend a Club on First Fridays. A new member in one praesidium brings the total to 5; they have 6 Adjutorians amongst their 33 auxiliary members. The main works are home and school visitation, the Church Repository (for sale of religious items), a Patrician meeting and organising a monthly Fatima Prayer Group.
Mater Ecclesiae Curia: 20 people attended an evening of prayer and adoration for PPC. One praesidium visits the Chesire Home, accompany residents to Mass and stay for a chat and a cup of tea. On Saturday afternoons legionaries join with locals to recite a public Rosary at the local Grotto. Following the annual Edel Quinn Mass the Parish Priest suggested that a more suitable shrine be built to honour Our Lady. One praesidium had 4 visitors during the year; they have 130 auxiliaries. Works include weekly recital of the Rosary followed by hymns, songs and chat with residents in two nursing homes.
Our Lady of Fatima Wicklow Curia: The Newcastle praesidium has seven active members. They visit the hospital each Sunday with Holy Communion and each Wednesday to recite the Rosary in the Alzheimers Unit. In the Edel Quinn Prayer Group they focus on a different African country each month; a Nigerian family regularly attends and they had a talk from a Nigerian sister who works with the destitute of that country. A legionary is on the Parish Council and chaired the group which set up the parish website.
Ancilla Domini Curia: A good number of Protestants were amongst the 26 who attended the Pauline Circle in February with a topical paper entitled, “The unique and precious nature of marriage,” well researched and delivered by retired journalist Bruce Arnold. 12 were present in March for a paper by Professor Ray Kinsella on the same topic. The Pauline Circle is organised by the Joy of Israel praesidium of 9 active members, having recruited 2 in the last year; one of them (with other adults) helps run the Homework Club in Myra House. The praesidium also organises the Pillar of Fire discussion group with Jews; the last meeting in March had an attendance of 6; the paper was prepared by a Jew, the sole Irish survivor of the Holocaust. Temple Bar (in the city centre) street contact, a monthly Holy Hour and home visitation complete their works.
NORTH AMERICA CANADA AND WEST INDIES
Boston Senatus: Mystic Valley Curia started a new praesidium, with 19 members and has a junior praesidium attached. The Vietnamese Curia has 142 active and 179 auxiliary members; most praesidia have about 15 members. Apostolic works for 3 praesidia in Worchester Curia include visitation of 2 prisons and promoting the Legion at Church Fairs. Providence Comitium has 4 Curia attached and 109 active members in its 13 attached praesidia. One man attributed cancer healing to prayers of legionaries. 10 people returned to the Church and Sacraments, due to efforts of a praesidium. 3 recruitment drives resulted in 2 new praesidia. 90 homes in a parish were visited. Bayview Curia has 56 active members in 4 praesidia. Recruiting attempts yielded a new praesidium and some extra auxiliary members.
Philadelphia Senatus: Our Lady of Mercy, a downtown praesidium in Philadelphia, arranged the funeral of one of their very faithful members, who died suddenly and without family in the U.S.A. They had difficulty locating and informing the next-of-kin of his death. The works of this praesidium range from visiting nursing homes and hospitals, to a book barrow on the busy pavement outside the Church. The members of a prison praesidium in Scranton Curia called, ‘Our Lady of Lost Souls’, are very apostolic among their fellow inmates. Norristown Comitium, covering Montgomery & Chester Counties, PA, has a varied range of works including; Sacred Heart enthronements, staffing a book barrow and conducting 2 Patrician groups. A specialised praesidium caters for street people twice a week at their premises. Another group visits the state hospital for long-stay residents. Eastern Montgomery Co. Curia operates a Book Stand at their local train station where they make useful contacts. Holy Family Curia has recently started a senior and a junior praesidium. The Curia members provided staff for the Maria Legionis office and participate in Extension Days. Harrisburg Comitium has Curiae attached in Lebanon, Lancaster, and Northern and Gettysburg, PA. 1,236 contacts with people of many faiths were made at the York Fair, 54 legionaries distributing 1,783 sacramentals.
Chicago Senatus: Duluth Curia, Minnesota, has 20 members in a praesidium in the Federal Prison. The legionaries had arranged adoration in their first week and 3 of their members have since been confirmed. Another prison has a 15 member praesidium and arranges Mass in the prison on two occasions in the month. In the prison there have been ten conversions since 1991. A praesidium in Aloysius, Chicago, visits a Correctional centre for women inmates and arranges a tri-lingual service once a week with a legionary, escorted by the prison chaplain, leading the service. Our Lady of Grace annual report tells of 3 families returning to practice of the faith. They also had an introductory Legion event in their parish, distributing literature and sacramentals. The Korean Comitium reports 27 active and 30 auxiliaries enrolled at a recruiting drive. 17 returns to the Sacraments and 10 prepared for Baptism at Easter.
St. Louis Senatus: Two new praesidia were formed. Legionaries call on new parishioners to make them welcome.11 conversions to the Church were reported by two praesidia. Due to the legionary apostolate, two Baptisms, one Confirmation and two interested in the RCIA programme (non-Catholic Instruction programme) were listed. Prison praesidia are working well, improving the lives of the inmates.
San Francisco Senatus: A praesidium of 8, in its 41st year, makes contacts at Farmers’ Markets. They conduct RCIA, patricians and enlist the help of auxiliary residents to bring the Pilgrim Statue into a Senior Citizens Complex which is not accessible to active legionaries. A Patrician Group has 9 – 25 attending. Bishop Vasa was pleased with improved Mass attendances following PPC in Santa Rosa. Another praesidium arranges Confession and Sacrament of Sick for housebound. A Columban drive had 22 names for follow up. A Curia in Stockton enlisted non-Catholics to pray the Rosary. Idaho report high attendance at meetings. Visitation of Korean Comitium show 5 Curiae, with 52 senior and 4 junior praesidia.
New York Senatus: One Curia reports 35 returns to the Sacraments. A praesidium organised a Retreat for parents of Confirmation classes, resulting in a father being reunited with his family. Other works reported were, CCD classes (catechetics), Pilgrim Statues brought to residents of new districts and street contacts giving Mass-times and other useful parish information.
Houston Senatus: Two new Curiae were set up in the north east & west of the city. Many problem families request the Pilgrim Statue to be brought back a second time due to the unifying affect it had in their households. The homeless ministry each Sunday morning continues at Fatima House in downtown Houston, where the street people are able to use the facilities and join in refreshments, prayer and Bible study. Many attached councils do prison visitation. Two PPC Projects took place and more are planned for this year.
Miami Regia: In Atlanta, Georgia, there are now two Korean Curiae at work in addition to the other two Curiae. Regina Pacis Hispanic Comitium, Miami, has 9 praesidia and 3 Curiae with a total of 46 praesidia. Our Lady of Grace, Haitian Curia, Miami, has 18 praesidia plus one under construction. Their work includes door to door visits and crowd contact. At the Focus Conference of Catholic students, over 300 participants expressed interest in the Legion. The Regia hopes to follow up these contacts and enlist volunteers for the Youth Fair 2015.
CANADA
Senatus of Toronto: The Spiritual Director, Msgr. Sheehy organised, with the help of the legionaries, a luncheon for the Spiritual Directors from the attached praesidia, which was well attended and enjoyed. Scarborough Comitium started two new praesidia. A Day of Recollection had 150 attending and 224 legionaries at their Reunion in December. 50 officers attended the Day for Officers. London/Windsor Curia had 64 at their Reunion. A praesidium in Hamilton Comitium, on the point of closure, revived with the influx of 4 new members. Winnipeg Curia gained 16 active and 26 auxiliary members, establishing two new groups, adding to 22 existing praesidia attached. Queen of Martyrs Korean Comitium had 455 members at their Reunion. The Regia of Ottawa, with 15 attached praesidia, does works ranging from door to door & Pilgrim Statue visitation, and work for the handicapped. Mississauga Comitium has 24 senior & 5 junior praesidia, with 264 senior and 57 junior members. A praesidium at St. John XXIII Parish, does crowd contact at a Mall.
Vancouver Comitium: Our Lady of Hungary praesidium Vancouver in their 11th Annual Report has 6 active and 59 Auxiliaries. Legionaries visited 31 families during the year with the Pilgrim Statue, 4 were first time. The legionaries teach some families, especially children who are not attending Catholic Schools how to pray the Rosary. The Immaculate Heart of Mary praesidium gave their 31st Annual Report. They have 11 active members, 41 Auxiliaries, 4 Praetorians & 1 Adjutorian. During the year they introduced a 3rd Pilgrim Statue to meet the demands for Our Lady in the homes. One family with a daughter suffering from cancer requested the statue many times. Their daughter made a full recovery and the family give the credit to the intercession of Our Lady and to the faith, devotion and support of the legionaries.
Montreal Senatus: Extension resulted in a new praesidium at St. Geneviève. Three praesidia reports include consolation work, patricians, organising pilgrimages, and assisting at funerals. Moncton Curia has 5 praesidia; they promote consecration of newly baptised to Our Lady of Miraculous Medal. Quebec Comitium reported visiting the L’Arche de Jean Vanier Centre and the housebound. The English-speaking Curia organised Pilgrimages and had a Legion Stand at a Diocesan event in a few parishes to promote their work. Edmonton Comitium: A praesidium visits the elderly, teaches Catechism and does Pilgrim Statue visitation. Another praesidium of 9 members visited 78 homes with the Pilgrim Statue, conducts a Marian hour on 1st Saturdays, organised Mass for Frank Duff’s Cause, attended a Rosary Rally and encourages families to pray the Rosary. A Curia with 132 members in 16 praesidia does a wide variety of work; Pilgrim Statue and nursing home visitation; they also promote vocations and youth ministry. Our Lady of Lourdes Curia celebrated its silver jubilee with 200 attending a Mass. 18 attended a patrician group and the priest requested that the patricians be continued. An extension to 2 new parishes is being considered and a Seminarian is interested in having a praesidium in his College.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Senatus of Santo Domingo: All praesidia visit nursing homes, and the sick in hospitals and at home; many visit the local jails. The praesidium Estrella de la Mañana prepared 35 children for Holy Communion and has formed a new praesidium of 19 members in a neighbouring community. The Comitium Reina de la Paz, with 200 members and 30 Praetorians, has 2 junior praesidia with another in formation. El Comitium La Natividad with 4 Curiae, 360 members, and 140 Praetorians helped with the regularisation of 8 undocumented immigrants. They had 35 youth and adult Baptisms plus 11 Confirmations and officiated at 358 Wakes (prayers for recently deceased). Many members are training to be Ministers of the Eucharist. The praesidium Nuestra Señora del Carmen helped 5 immigrants regularise their situation and their children have been enrolled in school.
Senatus of Santiago de los Caballeros: The Comitium Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia with 9 attached Curiae, 14 senior and 8 junior praesidia and 1,200 members, plans to start a new Comitium. The Comitium Nuestra Señora del Pilar reported 2 adults converted. Curia Dulce Corazón de Maro report a youth who was involved in drugs and prostitution has changed his ways and is now an active legionary. The praesidium Reyna de los Pecadores has 4 married couples among its 14 members. It reports two marriages regularised. Youths of 14 and 15 years were baptised and received First Communion and Confirmation. The Regia Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, La Vega has 10 Comitia with over 4,000 members. An evangelical woman was received into the Church on her deathbed, and died in peace.
HAITI
The January and February 2015 minutes include reports from one Comitium, 2 Curiae and one praesidium. Among the works undertaken are home visitation, visits to the ill and elderly and accompanying priests with the Sacrament of the Sick; visitation of hospitals, l’Arche, prisons and markets; visits of condolence and contact with the bereaved at Mortuaries; organising Catechism Courses, preparing people for the Sacraments, training juniors and doing street contact resulting in many receiving the Sacraments, some returns to the Church and resolution of family conflicts. Prayers were asked for peace in Haiti as they are undergoing political turbulence.
PUERTO RICO
The Senatus has 5,297 active members, l8 junior praesidia and l2,922 auxiliaries. There are 20 Comitia, l0 senior praesidia and junior Curiae attached. They report taking children and old people to Mass and to the doctor. Help is also given with translations. Weekly visits are made to the jails. They organise l0 Patricians and a book barrow. The son of evangelists was brought to the Sacraments; the old are helped to cook; a married man was helped to get a liver transplant. New works include; promotion of Adoration and of Divine Mercy for youths. A lady of 96 returned to the Sacraments months before death. Two autistic children were prepared for First Holy Communion. One legionary was asked to give two talks to candidates for the Deaconate.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
A reporting praesidium has 8 active members and 118 auxiliaries. Works undertaken include street contact which resulted in 7 lapsed Catholics returning to Mass. In Our Lady Assumed into Heaven Curia, among their works are home and hospital visitation and street contact work. Religious Instruction was given to 94 students in three non-Catholic schools, with six being prepared for Confirmation. A new junior praesidium started in a Catholic school with an initial membership of 14. The Curia of San Fernando has seven senior and three junior praesidia attached. During home visitation eleven lapsed Catholics returned to the practice of their faith.
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NEW REGIA FOR SOUTHERN MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
The Concilium has raised Mary the Mediatrix Comitium in Pagadian City to Regia with 5 Comitia attached and 6 directly attached praesidia. The total active membership is 2,572.
Mary the Mediatrix Comitium in Pagadian City is presently attached to the Regia of Aurora which in turn is governed by the Senatus of Mindanao, Southern Philippines.
The new Regia will govern the Legion in the Southern Mindanao area and has been advised to increase the number of directly attached praesidia in the short term and increase general extension efforts.
NEW REGIA FOR NAMIBE DIOCESE, ANGOLA
The Concilium has raised the Comitium Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Namibe Diocese, Angola, to Regia to govern the Legion in the Namibe Diocese. The Comitium has seven directly-attached senior praesidia, two junior praesidia and four attached Curiae with a total of 40 praesidia. Three other Comitia in the Diocese, with a total of 17 attached Curiae, will be affiliated to the new Regia, which will be attached to the Senatus of Benguela. The Comitium which has been raised to Regia is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its foundation in May. They were advised to increase the number of directly affiliated praesidia to the new Regia and to increase extension efforts generally.
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