Concilium Bulletin February 2007
REPORTS - AFRICA
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Correspondence with the Regia of Lubumbashi and the Senatus of Kananga, Bukavu and Butembo is being reestablished after being seriously interrupted by nine years of warfare.
RWANDA
Kigali Senatus: Reports of excellent apostolic work - spiritual formation of members, regular visitation of praesidia and councils and creation of new praesidia. There are at present 24 Comitia attached to the Senatus.
REUNION ISLAND
St. Denis ComitiumThere are four attached Curiae. Works include home and hospital visitation, during which many people were brought back to the Church after long absences and many families reconciled. Teaching Catechism is an ongoing work. A junior praesidium teaches Catechism to children and visits elderly people.
SOUTH AMERICA
COLOMBIA
BOGOTA SENATUS In a recent extension drive 7 praesidia were set up in three different villages.
MEDELLIN SENATUS: 33 legionaries took part in a Mission project to a remote area for a period of two weeks. They divided the parish in 4 sectors and as well as visiting the homes they held catechism classes for children. Many lapsed were met and all were invited to return to the practice of the faith. An attached Comitium has 25 Curiae. In the course of home visitation they encounter many families with problems. 70 soldiers were prepared for Confession, First Communion and Confirmation.
PARAGUAY
ASUNCION SENATUS: There are 20 praesidia, 26 Curiae and 6 Comitia all affiliated to the Senatus of Asuncion. In all there are 14,000 active members and 20,000 auxiliaries. The junior movement is extending, there are 11 junior Curiae with 310 junior legionaries. All dioceses have a Legion presence but there is scope for extension in all of them. Among works carried out is prison visitation and contact with the families of the prisoners.
BOLIVIA
LA PAZ SENATUS: Legionaries are carrying out an apostolate to parents of young children awaiting Baptism. They encourage them if they are not already practicing to return to the Sacraments. The secretary of the Senatus visited Tarija and a new praesidium was set up there. Many have returned from the sects and legionaries continue to keep up contact with them to ensure continued religious instruction. The Rosary is recited in schools and it is hoped to set up a Patrician group for students and another for teachers.
CUBA
Comitium of Havana: One Curia on the outskirts of Havana divided recently, the Legion is growing in this area particularly among the young people.
PERU
LIMA SENATUS: The Senatus held a Congress for its directly affiliated praesidia. An attached Curia reported progress with extension in its area. Prison visitation is done.
ECUADOR
QUITO SENATUS: The extension committee set up 6 new praesidia. The Senatus visited the Comitium of Puerto Viejo, which has 19 Curiae and 18 adult and 36 junior praesidia. At the request of the Bishop, 6 legionaries did extension for 2 months with very positive results. In the Cuenca Regia there are 15 junior praesidia. There are also two praesidia in the jail.
VENEZUELA
SENATUS OF CARACAS: A number of praesidia have been set up in the Senatus area, an attached Curia set up 2 new praesidia. A new Curia and a new Comitium have also been set up. A number of brothels are visited and in addition to the spiritual contact, the girls are given details of computer and sewing classes etc to enable them to train for work. Three former Jehovah Witnesses returned to the Sacraments.
URUGUAY
MONTEVIDEO SENATUS Cards of introduction are winning entrance to apartments. Enthronement of families to the Sacred Heart in many homes was reported. Book barrow work is carried out. At the request of the Military Hospital the legionaries arranged Mass for staff and patients. In the women’s jail, the legionaries teach Catechism to the women in small groups and also meet for discussion with the local Priest. Many marriages have been regularized in the jail.
CHILE
SENATUS OF SANTIAGOA Curia with 6 praesidia reported that it had a Congress last year, they do home visitation, street contact and run a Patrician group. Two other praesidia also reported running Patrician meetings and one praesidium does book barrow work. A new praesidium has been set up in a neighbouring diocese where there was no Legion. The attached Comitium of Saltilllo has set up a new distant Curia. All attached Curia report setting up new praesidia.
NORTH AMERICA - WEST INDIES
UNITED STATES
PHILADELPHIA SENATUS: Regina Pacis Hispanic Curia set up two new praesidia. They give great assistance to new immigrants. An Evangelisation day had 32 legionaries and 12 parishioners participating. Results included two conversions and a Church wedding. The sales of Maria Legionis have increased in the US and Canada since the Officers conference in Ireland last year. Mater Dolorosa Curia reported a new work of book barrow done at 5 locations with 110 contacts made. Norristown Comitium provides services for street people.
LOS ANGELES SENATUS: East and West Curiae have redoubled their praesidia in the past year. Pasadena Curia has two Patrician groups and two Exploratio projects in the last six months. Pomona Valley has five Patrician groups.
CHICAGO SENATUS: One Curia has a Landings programme for returning Catholics. It seems to be a way of welcoming them back to the Faith and making their return easy.
CINCINNATI SENATUS: New praesidia were started in Pennsylvania. The first Exploratio Dominicalis was held and 150 homes were visited.
ST. LOUIS SENATUS: The Senatus has visited a Comitium and 3 praesidia in Kansas. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project took place to Oklahoma. Columban drives gained several new members. Several returns to the Sacraments were reported including 3 who died shortly afterwards.
NEW YORK SENATUS: In the South Bronx Curia works include home and hospital visitation and book barrow. Results reported Baptisms, Adult confessions, First Holy Communions and Confirmations.
HOUSTON SENATUS: In San Antonia, jail ministry and door to door visitation is done. Mother of Fatima Korean Curia provides support to newcomers and evangelises immigrants. Dallas Comitium has 9 Curiae attached. A new praesidium was started. The new Northern Curia reported a third praesidium in a parish and 2 new praesidia in Texas.
ARLINGTON REGIA: The Korean Curia reports many conversions and returns to the Sacraments. A new praesidium in West Virginia is already involved in extension in the State.
MIAMI REGIA: The Spanish Comitium has 48 senior praesidia. A successful Congress was held for their attached praesidia in the Regia. Reports show conversions.
WEST INDIES
SENATUS NOTRE DAME DE L’ASSOMPTION HAITIA: new praesidium has been formed and the Seminary praesidium has split. Extension and visitation of councils continue. Works reported include Patricians, street apostolate, Rosary on the radio and pilgrimages. Many were prepared for the Sacraments.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
SENATUS OF SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS: There was great rejoicing in the Regia when it was raised to a Senatus. Reports show excellent work done by all praesidia and councils. Comitium Madre de la Creacion has 7 praesidia with 130 active, 150 auxiliary members and 13 praetorians. Works include prison visitation, catechetical instruction, Baptisms, First Holy Communions and Marriages regularized.
SENATUS OF SANTO DOMINGO: Excellent work done in home, hospital and prisons. Reports are notable for the number of Praetorians and Adjutorian members.
TRINIDAD REGIA: The eight attached councils were visited by the Secretary. Martinique and Guadeloupe are French speaking. In Martinique Comitium there are about 600 legionaries and 400 auxiliaries. In Guadeloupe Comitium there are 450 active members and 900 auxiliaries. The other 6 councils are English speaking. Barbados Curia has 23 active members and 101 auxiliaries. As a result of home visitation 2 people are receiving instruction in the Faith. Grenada Comitium has a majority of young members. St. Lucia Comitium celebrated its 70th anniversary recently. They have 675 active and 800 auxiliaries. Antigua is a very non Catholic country and has one praesidia with 24 members. Trinidad and Tobago have 677 active members and 3278 auxiliaries, 77 Praetorians and 106 Adjutorians.
CANADA
MONTREAL SENATUS: Holy Communion is brought to the sick and housebound. Funerals are conducted. One person was baptized. 16 new members were recruited in the Senatus area.
VANCOUVER COMITIUM: Kilowna Curia was visited. They have 3 praesidia including one of Native Indians. Great dedication is given to the spiritual aspects of the work. A Mass for the Servant of God Frank Duff last November was well attended.
EDMONTON COMITIUM: The Archbishop and 9 Priests concelebrated Mass for the Servant of God Frank Duff. Columban drives have taken place and Patrician groups organized. The Rosary is said in Nursing Homes and Non Catholics also attend. A new praesidium was set up in Calgary Curia. Buddhists and Pentecostals are contacted.
ONTARIO SENATUS: A second Korean praesidium was formed. A book barrow is staffed in a market area.
EXTENSION WORKER - SUSANA MACIEL IN BOLIVIA
Susana has been giving attention to young legionaries and to building up the junior movement. She is amazed at the generosity of the existing young legionaries particularly for extension. She spends a lot of time on the master and apprentice system, doing Legion work with them as well as explaining their duties of office. She has been visiting many distant councils always with the help of one or more of the local legionaries.
VISIT TO CONCILIUM BY FRANKFURT SENATUS
Among the visitors were Fr. Differenz , Spiritual Director of Frankfurt Senatus and 8 officers of Frankfurt Senatus and Munich Senatus. In his address to the Concilium Fr. Differenz spoke of the positive sign in the Legion’s coming back to Berlin where there is a Comitium comprising an international Curia and a Korean Curia. Maria Cech, President of the Senatus of Frankfurt said the Legion is in 15 of their 17 dioceses. There are 570 active and 5570 auxiliary members. The Senatus also takes care of the Legion in Siberia on behalf of the Concilium. Johann Hofberger, President of the Senatus of Munich said there are 700 active and 6000 auxiliary members in Munich Senatus. Among the works being undertaken are street barrow apostolate, visitation of the red light district and an apostolate to the homeless.
CONCILIUM VISIT TO CHENNAI
On behalf of the Concilium Noel Lynch and Colm Mannion visited India and Sri Lanka from the 27th November to 16th December 2006. They reported a very positive atmosphere on their arrival at Chennai (India) where a new Spiritual Director and Officers gave them a great welcome and showed enthusiasm for running and developing the Legion. Afterwards they went to the South to Madurai, and encouraged them in developing the Legion. In Bangalore, they met the Regia Officers and the Archbishop. They found in one parish with five praesidia that over 100,000 mainly non-Christians attend the Thursday Infant of Prague devotions. Moving on the Sri Lanka they attended Singhalese-, Tamil- and English-speaking praesidia. The Archbishop insisted on the great value of the Legion.
MASS FOR THE SERVANT OF GOD ALFIE LAMBE
On Saturday the 17th February the Mass for the Servant of God Alfie Lambe took place in Rathmines Parish Church in Dublin. Fr. John O’Connor SCA celebrated the Mass. Among those who attended the Mass were some of Alfie’s relatives as well as some former envoys to South America.
THE ACIES
Extract from Chapter 30 in the Legion of Mary Handbook
Bearing in mind the importance of devotion to Mary in the Legion system, each year there shall be a consecration of legionaries to Our Lady. The consecration - which shall comprise both an individual and a collective consecration - will take place on the 25 March or on a day close thereto, and will be known as the Acies. This Latin word, meaning as it does an army ranged in battle array, is appropriate to a ceremony in which the legionaries as a body assemble to renew their fealty to Mary, Queen of the Legion, and from her to receive strength and blessing for yet another year’s battle with the forces of evil. Moreover, the word is in effective contrast with praesidium, which contemplates the Legion, no longer drawn up in united array, but split up into its various sections, each engaged in its own particular sphere of duty. The Acies is the great central annual function of the Legion, so that it is necessary to stress the importance of attendance on the part of every member. The essential idea of the Legion, upon which all else is built, is that of working in union with and in dependence on Mary, its Queen. The Acies is the solemn expression of that union and dependence, the renewal-individual and collective-of the legionary declaration of fealty. Hence it is manifest that any legionaries who can attend, and yet fail to do so, have little or none of the spirit of the Legion in them. The membership of such persons is not an asset to the Legion.
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.
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