Concilium Bulletin March 2010
REPORTS
Africa
Guinea:
Great joy was expressed at receiving the first minutes since 2003 from Conakry Comitium, which governs 3 local Curiae and an undisclosed number of Curiae throughout the country. The works of a reporting Curia include visits to hospitals and prisons, visits to families both Catholic and Muslim and teaching Catechism. Sixteen returns to the Sacraments were recorded.
Congo:
At the Brazzaville Regia, a reporting Curia undertook visitation of 8 streets meeting 306 Catholics, 162 Protestants, 72 Salvationists, 80 Muslims, 80 pagans and 40 members of sects. In the course of this mission, 5 people promised to come to pray at the Catholic Church, 3 enrolled for Catechism and one couple was encouraged to marry in the Church. During the year a praesidium contacted 4,530 people of all denominations and none. The Regia keeps an annual tally of streets, homes and persons visited, the latter figure rising from 80,000 in 2005 to 170,000 in 2009.
Equatorial Guinea:
The Comitium of Malabo is showing signs of extension. A new praesidium has been set up and another has been divided. The Comitium has given 2 Handbooks to each praesidium.
The Cameroon, Chad:
Dovala Senatus reported that three thousand Handbooks have been printed, 2,000 in French and 1,000 in English. Some of these will be provided to Chad which the Senatus caretakes. Yaounde Regia will be visiting the Buea Comitium. Extension and conversion work is prominent in reports. A Congress was held by the Curia of Obili as well as an Exploratio in Mvog Ada Curia. A nativity play was organised in a prison by Obili Curia. In Kumba, a new Comitium and 2 new Curiae have been established. Bamenda Comitium set up a new Curia in Bambui, which organised a Congress. Other councils mentioned new senior and junior praesidia as well as the holding of retreats. The Regia in Yaounde has 14 Comitia, 13 Curiae of which 3 are outside as well as 17 directly attached praesidia, totalling 12,000 active members spread over 3 Ecclesiastical provinces.
Burkina Faso:
Ouagadougou Comitium governs 16 Curiae in the Archdiocese, which between them care for 120 adult praesidia. Great efforts are being taken to develop the junior and youth Legion with a view to increasing the number of literate members. Works include home visitation with outreach to Muslims and the homeless and visits to the maternity hospital. The National Spiritual Director Abbé Narcisse Kiswendsida is working hard since his visit to Concilium to mould the Legion to its true profile both in Ouaga and in the other Dioceses.
Ivory Coast:
The new Senatus in Abigan presents a vivid picture of multifaceted works. Bouaké Comitium reported 122,128 persons contacted in a year (52,000 Catholics and 70,000 non-Catholics), among them a family restored to good living and regular practice of their faith. The Spiritual Director of this Comitium says the legionary apostolate is irreplaceable. Other Comitia reported worthwhile works were suburban Abobo-te and towards the West, San Pedro. St. Kizito praesidium Our Lady of the Holy Trinity extended its apostolic outreach to hospitals, homes, restaurants, waste ground, telephone kiosks, dressmaking and hairdressing salons as well as the markets
Asia and Oceania
Philippines
Senatus of Northern Philippines:
The average attendance for the last 6 months was as follows: Junior Curia 91%, Malolos Regia 87%, Metro Manila Comitia 87%, Provincial councils 85% and directly attached praesidia 53%. A Congress was held in August. The Annual audit was carried out. A number of Comitia were divided during the period.
• In Vigan Comitium, a school district supervisor established five praesidia.
• Kalmana Comitium set up 3 new Curiae.
• Binangonan Comitium organised 19 junior praesidia in a Catholic College.
• Antipolo Comitium was raised to Regia status at the August Concilium meeting.
• A praesidium of 8 members catechised 47 couples and brought 200 persons to the Sacraments.
Bicolandia Senatus:
A Congress was organised with the theme “Faith in Service to God to Conquer the World”. The institutional praesidium in Bicol University formed a senior praesidium when the membership of their junior praesidium graduated from junior ranks following intensive prayer to the Servant of God, Frank Duff.
In Daet Comitium a parish has formed 12 senior and 2 junior praesidia. Visitation of homes and hospitals is carried out. The Rosary is recited with the inmates during visitation of a jail and many people have been brought back to the Sacraments through home visitation.
Mindanao Senatus:
Wonderful works of conversion are being done with great sacrifices been assumed. Two medical cures were reported through the intercession of the Servant of God, Frank Duff and medical evidence has been requested. The University legionaries are encouraged to continue membership in their local councils after graduation. The Patrician movement is growing and legionaries are greatly encouraged by their clergy, who are actively involved as Spiritual Directors of councils.
Cebu Senatus:
Many legionaries joined with Cardinal Vidal in celebrating the 75th Jubilee of the Archdiocese of Cebu. The Senatus invited legionaries to pray for priests in this the “Year of the Priest”. Regular visitation of praesidia and councils is undertaken. Numerous councils reported Exploratio Dominicalis projects.
Talibon Regia reported on extension in the Municipal jail where 5 praesidia were established. Legionaries in several praesidia encouraged tricycle drivers, security guards and vendors to attend Mass and Confession. In many of the reports conversions, Patrician meetings, auxiliary rallies, extension and recruiting, new Curiae and Comitia were quoted.
Western Visayas Regia:
At a meeting of the Regia 5 Comitia and 13 Curiae gave their reports. Mothers of juniors were recruited as active legionaries. Two suicidal attempts were averted. Follow-up apostolate resulted in returns to the Sacraments.
Papua New Guinea
Rabal Regia:
A 7th Day Adventist who converted to Catholicism is now an active legionary. A Curia has arranged the baptism of 12 children. Regular prison camp visitation is undertaken.
Mount Hagan Regia:
This Regia is delighted to have been elevated to Regia status. Legionaries help drug addicts, which is very serious among the young. Five persons with HIV/AIDS joined the Legion. Street girls are visited in their homes.
Madang Regia:
Legionaries offer literacy classes and work in marriage preparation courses. One hundred people were dissuaded from gambling and juniors are involved in catechesis through their peers.
New Zealand
Auckland Senatus:
The Councils in Tonga were visited last September. There are 8 praesidia attached and juniors have 20 to 30 members in praesidia. Works include home visitation with the pilgrim statue and visits to the sick and housebound. The translation of the Tongan Handbook is nearing completion.
American Samoa was visited and they met Bishop Quinn who is a legionary for 50 years. Prayers were requested for the restarting of the Samoan Curia. The four praesidia in the International Curia comprise of Samoan, Tongan, Filipino and English speaking legionaries. Handbooks, Vexilla, Statues and literature were requested.
Western Samoa
Apia Comitium had 90% attendance. Four senior and one junior Curiae are attached. In the Saval Curia a junior group teach 5-7 year olds how to read the Bible, say the Rosary and seniors teach religion at Sunday school. The Archbishop of Samoa thanked the legionaries for their work for the Church.
Australia
Sydney Senatus:
A Korean Curia with 14 praesidia brought 34 contacts back to the Church. Extension efforts continue and many contacts are made to Muslims and Buddhists. Their apostolate includes book-barrow work, Patrician meetings and teaching Catechism in state schools.
Brisbane Comitium:
This Comitium had 2,000 prayers leaflets of each of the 3 Causes – Venerable Edel Quinn, the Servants of God, Frank Duff and Alfie Lambe – printed and organised a Mass for the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe. Three of the Officers travelled 1,500 miles in Queensland to visit outline praesidia. The Korean Curia does home visitation and teaches Catechism to new immigrants.
Melbourne Senatus:
Fourteen new praesidia were started in 2009. Four of these praesidia are attached to Adelaide Comitium and includes one junior group. At the request of a Parish Priest, Perth legionaries spent 3 days visiting small farms to invite them to a parish mission. Bishop Timothy Costello led the annual Mass for the Servant of God, Frank Duff. Four hundred adults and 50 children attended. True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was well promoted.
Raising of Bangui Regia to Senatus (Central African Republic)
Bangui Regia currently controls 12 praesidia, 5 Curiae, 23 Comitia and an active membership of 38,000.
In July 2009 permission was given by Concilium to take steps towards raising a Senatus in Bangui with Regiae in the provinces.
Formal sanction for the raising of Bangui Regia to Senatus status to govern the Legion in the whole of the Central African Republic was given by Concilium at its meeting of 21st March 2010.
Four provincial Regiae are being considered in:
• Bangassou controlling 2 Comitia with a total of 4,439 active members;
• Berberati controlling 4 Comitia with a total of 2,627 active members;
• Kaga Bandoro controlling 3 Comitia with a total of 2,867 active members; and
• Alindao with 2,276 active members.
More details on these proposed Regiae are to be brought before the Concilium to enable them to be raised.
Tommy McCabe, on behalf of the Concilium, extended warm congratulation to the new Senatus in Bangui and said it was a great step forward for the Legion in the Central African Republic.
Two New Regiae in Rio de Janeiro Senatus Area, Brazil
The Senatus of Rio de Janeiro is a very big council, which governs the Legion in the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro and the 2 adjacent Archdioceses with 12 Suffragan Dioceses as well as the Legion in the Amazonian area with 3 Archdioceses and 27 Dioceses.
At the March 2010 Concilium meeting, Tadhg McMahon, Concilium correspondent for the Senatus, proposed the raising of two Regiae in the area close to the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro.
First Proposal:
To raise the Comitium Deigenitrix in the Archdiocese of Niterol to Regia status to govern the Legion in the Archdiocese of Niterol and the suffragan Diocese of Nova Frigurgo. The other eleven Comitia in that Archdiocese as well as the two Comitia in the Suffragan Diocese of Nova Friburgo are to be affiliated to the proposed Regia. The proposed Regia with 13 Comitia, 17 Curiae and 8 praesidia, will be affiliated to the Senatus of Rio de Janeiro.
Second Proposal:
To raise the Comitium Regia Apostolorum in the Diocese of Duque de Caxias to Regia status to govern the Legion in that Diocese as well as the Legion in the Dioceses of Nova Iguaca and Itaguai. The other Comitium in the Diocese of Duque de Caxias, the five Comitia in Nova Iguaca Diocese and the two Comitia in the Diocese of Itaguai are to be affiliated to the proposed Regia. The proposed Regia with 8 Comitia, 7 senior and 1 junior Curiae and 8 praesidia will be attached to the Senatus of Rio de Janeiro.
The Senatus of Rio de Janeiro will then govern 4 Regiae, 28 Comitia, 2 Curiae and 12 praesidia.
These proposals were formally seconded and then approved by the Concilium body.
Tommy McCabe, on behalf of the Concilium, wished the two new Regiae every grace and blessing.
Northampton and Leicester Curiae
At the March Concilium meeting, permission was given to raise Northampton Curia to Comitium status and to attach Northampton South Curia to it. This will govern the Legion in the Diocese of Northampton, which is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Westminster. It was also agreed to explore the possibility of Birmingham Senatus caretaking the new Comitium as well as Leicester Curia, which governs the Legion in the suffragan Diocese of Nottingham.
Ecclesiastical approval will be needed for this caretakership.
Visit by Correspondents to the Comitia of Southwark and Brentwood
As correspondents for Southwark and Brentwood Comitia, London, Sile Ní Chochlain and Miriam Phelan visited the two council meetings on 15 and 16 February 2010.
A very warm welcome, by both councils, was experienced and there was an opportunity to have a short meeting with officers after the meetings.
The reports presented at both Comitia were of good quality and there was good participation from the body of the meetings. One of the reports from a junior praesidium has a membership of 32 and carried out very worthwhile works.
Both councils were encouraged to continue in their extension efforts and thanked for the good work the legionaries are doing in the two Archdioceses.
Commemoration Mass for the Servant of God, Alphonsus Lambe
Holy Mass for the Beatification of The Servant of God, Alfie Lambe, Legion of Mary Envoy to South American from 1953 to 1959, took place on Saturday 27th February 2010 in the Church of Mary Immaculate Refuge of Sinners, Rathmines, Dublin. The chief celebrant and homilist was Fr. Oliver Skelly, P.P., Vice Postulator for the Cause along with seven other concelebrants. In his talk Fr. Skelly spoke on Alfie’s presence at the Eucharistic Congress held in Rio in 1955. There was an attendance of approximately 350 people, which included the Argentinean Ambassador to Ireland. The organist was John Hughes and the soloist Joanna Campbell Griffin whose music and singing contributed greatly to the ceremony.
The Holy Eucharist as an Instrument of Conversion
Too much time is often spent on arguments, which – even if they are proved – do not attract to the Church. The aim in all discussions should be to make those outside the Church catch a glimpse of the treasures, which are within. There is no more effective way of doing this than by the presentation of the doctrine of the Eucharist.
Even those who know Jesus dimly and uncomprehendingly are lost in admiration of him. On the strength of human evidence they acknowledge that he exercised an unexampled power over nature, so that the elements obeyed him; the dead returned to life; and infirmities fled at his command. He did all these things directly of his own power, because, though man, he was likewise the Eternal God himself, who made all things, whose word is might.
The Scripture tell how once that God-man – among innumerable other wonders – accomplished the sweet miracle of the Eucharist. “Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said ‘Take, eat; this is my body’.” (Jn 6:60) The objection of some even of his own disciples has echoed down through the centuries to the infinite loss of souls: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (Jn 6:52) Those disciples could almost be pardoned for their unbelief, for they had not grasped the real nature of him who stood in their midst. But what is it that clouds the minds of those persons who acknowledge the Divinity and hence the omnipotence of Christ? Surely these should see how deceptive – how unthinkable therefore – it would be for that same Divine Person – when solemnly addressing simple folk – to say “My Body,” while meaning “not My Body.” Let them absorb the ruthless logic of Pascal: “How I detest this folly of not believing in the Eucharist. If the gospel is true; if Jesus Christ is God; where is the difficulty in the matter?”
The challenge of so overwhelming an idea as the Eucharist cannot be heard unheeding. To hold up persistently to the notice of those who are not Catholics this crowning glory of the Church must force their minds to contemplate its possibility; so that many will reason to themselves: “If this is true, how dreadful is my present loss!” In the pang of that thought will come the first big impulse towards their true home.
Legion of Mary Handbook – pages 317-18
Request for articles for Maria Legionis
In a recent issue of the Maria Legionis it was stated: “Since set up by Frank Duff in 1937 the magazine has been the voice of the Legion of Mary, bringing to life its spirit through articles on doctrine, devotion and practice combined with news of Legionary activities throughout the world.”
In order that the magazine should continue to fulfil this purpose legionaries are invited to send in articles (of not more than 800 words) dealing with the apostolate and mission of the Legion of Mary. Cameos and short narratives, based on legionary activities and experience, depicting interesting legionary apostolates, contacts or functions will be welcomed for consideration for possible publication in Maria Legionis. It would be helpful to have good photographs to accompany and illustrate the articles, which should be addressed to:
The Editor,
Maria Legionis,
De Montfort House,
Morning Star Avenue,
Brunswick Street,
Dublin 7, Ireland.
e-mail address: [email protected]
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, IRELAND.