Athens Curia: There is ongoing contact with Orthodox Christians for whom works of service are undertaken and which are much appreciated. The Legion was invited to participate in a Conference on integrating immigrants into parish life.

Malta Regia: Gozo Comitium commemorated the 82nd anniversary of the Legion with a night vigil which had a good attendance. 700 attended a Marian function, led by the Bishop of Gozo. A praesidium of 9 members has been set up in a prison. Their apostolate is to their fellow prisoners, the officers are from another praesidium in the Curia. This Curia also carries out an apostolate to Muslim families and keeps regular contact with separated couples. An evening for parents was organised by a Junior Curia. Other items of interest include an apostolate to bus drivers and a Curia with 4 Patricians' groups.

Rome Senatus: Of the 330 parishes in Rome, 100 have the Legion. Extension and Exploratio projects are undertaken. It was proposed to send the Holy Father a Spiritual Bouquet comprising rosaries offered by active and auxiliary members and by others who undertook the rosary at the behest of legionaries. The Filipino Curia held a Congress on the theme "The Rosary in our life".

Milan Regia: Genova Comitium Congress discussed the Cardinal points of the Legion and reflections on the concluding Prayers. The Italian Legion Journal published a comprehensive article on the Patricians including a list of recommended subjects for discussion. The Regia president recommended reading the biography of Venerable Edel Queen in preparation for her 60th anniversary this year. Pavia Curia has young members including university students who teach catechism. Another praesidium helped to find employment for 5 families and it teaches Italian to immigrants.

Padua Comitium: A former legionary was professed as a Benedictine nun. A praesidium transmitted an hour of spirituality on Radio Maria in July. Patricians were mentioned in two reports. A number of returns to practice of the Faith were recorded in reports from both Milan and Padua.

Lisbon Senatus: Legionaries took part in a Christmas initiative in the city centre during which 4 Churches held Eucharistic adoration and Rosary recitals. Legionaries did street contact explaining the significance of the Crib and inviting all to visit the Churches and participate in the various ceremonies. Members of Evora Curia helped to prepare for the Pastoral visit of the Archbishop and accompanied him in the distribution of Holy Communion to the sick. Leiria and Viseu Comitia, attached to Coimbra Regia, have had some success in recent extension efforts.

Madrid Senatus: One of the projects planned for this year is to deepen the knowledge of St. Louis Marie de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary. A meeting for priests and Spiritual Directors had a good attendance including one of the auxiliary Bishops who asked all priests to respect the spirituality and rules of the Legion. Those present had an opportunity to express their views which were all positive. To help visitation in high-rise apartments a special apostolate is directed to porters of the buildings, including an invitation to a special Mass in honour of their patron St. Peter.

Barcelona Senatus: A praesidium of 17 members in a Nursing Home on the Island of Majorca carry out an apostolate to the 800 residents, accompany them to Mass and distribute Holy Communion to those unable to attend. A praesidium of 14 carry out an apostolate to drug addicts, to prisoners in jail, and to their families. When necessary drug addicts are accompanied when they take on a recovery course.

Bilbao Senatus: A praesidium of 16 help Alzheimer patients, gypsies and immigrants. Two former legionaries were ordained to the priesthood. As about 35% of young people encountered know very little about the Faith the legionaries are drawing up a ten point programme to interest them in the Legion. A praesidium whose average age is 77 has 4 members who are 85 years old and who are doing excellent work.

Limassol praesidium has been assigned to do the Readings at Evening Mass and is responsible for a monthly Filipino/English Mass. They undertake many works of service in the Church and parish. They are pleased to tell us that the Legion of Mary team won the Philippine Sports League Volley Ball Competition.

Gibraltar Curia: Annual audits have been carried out. Some new members have been recruited; the elderly, the sick and prisoners are visited.

Cotonou Regia: Seven praesidia with 112 active members made contact with Catholics, traditionalists, Protestants, Muslims and members of sects in the course of home and hospital visitation. 83 baptisms were recorded as well as returns to Mass and the Sacraments, the reconciliation of families and validation of marriages. Large numbers of catechumens were recruited. The re-established Junior Curia is making good progress and Councils are urged to set up junior groups. New adult praesidia have been started.

Niamey Curia, at present under the care of Cotonou, was asked to join in prayer for the success of Jubilee celebrations in Benin.

Conakry Curia: Efforts are still in progress to organise 19 praesidia in the country under a new Curia, so that a Comitium can be established.

Brazzaville Regia: In spite of poor administration, apostolic efforts are excellent. Contacts are made with people of many religions in the course of visitation of homes, hospitals, orphanages and community centres. Others met included abandoned people, street children and those with suicidal tendencies. Members recruit catechumens, teach catechism, prepare people for the Sacraments, bring back the lapsed, promote the rosary and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Exploratio type projects are organised. New praesidia and new Curiae have been set up. Three members of the Regia spent 19 days carrying out a project in Owando Diocese, encouraging and invigorating existing groups, setting up new praesidia and organising new Curiae. They travelled a distance of about 1,341 kms and had great support from priests and people.

Oyem Comitium: Works noted were preparation of children for the Sacraments and preparation of adults for Catholic marriage. A lady, baptised a Catholic, but practising Buddhism for several years, was brought back to the Church. A new Curia was set up in September.

Abidjan Regia: This Council has not sent minutes during the past four months, possibly due to the state of unrest in the country.

Lomé Regia: Eight praesidia with 141 active members, contact people of many denominations in course of their home and hospital visitation. They promote family prayer and the rosary, distribute Catholic literature and teach catechism. Functions organised by the Regia and its Councils included Patricians meetings, retreats and Congresses. Exploratio Dominicalis projects and functions to promote the Causes of Venerable Edel Quinn and the Servant of God Frank Duff were organised. New praesidia, both adult and junior, have been set up. The Junior Curia with 13 praesidia had a day of formation for its members.

Dakar and Joal Curiae: Lomé Regia, which has been caring for Legion affairs in Senegal for several months, reports that the two Curiae with 13 and 21 praesidia respectively need help with administration. A visit in due course will be necessary to revitalise existing membership and to try to recruit young adult men and junior members.

Senatus of Douala: Eight Curiae reporting in November had a good programme of apostolic work where visitation of Catholics and non-Catholics at home and in hospital resulted in returns to the Sacraments, conversions and regularisation of marriages. Many prayer sessions were organised; one Curia held monthly Patricians meetings. Seven of the eight Curiae had junior praesidia attached. Visitation of some attached Councils in recent months shows that there is need for reorganisation.

Mexico City Senatus:As a result of a solid apostolate in a number pf prisons many prisoners were prepared for and received the Sacraments. Through the intercession of Our Blessed Lady two prisoners, who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison were released unexpectedly. In thanksgiving one of them is now very active evangelising in his community. A sick man, who had great devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, went to confession after 30 years and died the following day.

Guadalajara Senatus:Prayers for the success of the 48th Eucharistic Congress are promoted on home visitation and the new Mysteries of Light are explained and encouraged particularly to auxiliaries. A Curia reported having organised an Exploratio Dominicalis project.

Merida Regia:An attached Comitium with 11 directly attached praesidia and 9 Curiae reported that 80 couples received the Sacrament of Marriage, seven of which had been members of one of the sects. One couple has since joined the Legion of Mary. 220 children, 25 young persons and 17 adults were baptised and 131 sick persons received the Sacrament of the Sick. Both directly attached praesidia and Councils are visited regularly.

Hermosillo Regia:An attached Curia with 10 senior praesidia set up one senior and 4 junior praesidia in the past year. A number of the legionaries including the juniors teach catechism to both adults and children. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is promoted on visitation and in some cases parishioners are accompanied to the Exposition.

Monterrey Regia:The Comitium of Monterrey was raised to Regia status on 27 November 2003 with a large attendance present at the meeting including the Spiritual Director and a number of officers from the Comitium of Saltillo - the new Comitium in the Diocese of Saltillo which has been affiliated to the Regia of Monterrey. Bishop Jose Lizares Estrada was also present. He congratulated the legionaries on the growth and progress of the Legion in the area and outlined areas where he would like to see the Legion set up. He encouraged the Spiritual Directors present to continue to form legionaries so that they grow in their love and understanding of the Legion, the Church and their Christian vocation and he thanked the legionaries for their loyalty to the Hierarchy.

Senatus of Tegucigalpa:Santa Rosa de Copán Comitium with 25 Curiae and 1,120 active members carried out over 1,000 Celebrations of the Word. A Curia is working on the third "hermita" where the priest celebrates Mass when he comes and where the legionaries have their meetings.

Senatus of San Salvador:All Councils reported having Exploratio projects. One man received the Sacraments after 3 years visitation and the marriage of a couple of 92 and 83 years was blessed after three years visitation. The Regia of Santa Ana set up 3 praesidia and reported 15 marriages regularised, 6 Confirmations and a young man of 21 was baptised and married.

Regia of Managua:Members work with alcoholics, drug addicts, prisoners and they visit schools to pray with the children. 35 children received their First Holy Communion. Teams of extension workers are being formed.

Comitium of Jalapa:A Curia mentioned studying the Handbook and the Bible for the purpose of training officers. A Curia asked to be divided and a new praesidium of 16 members was set up.

Comitium of Camotán:Four senior and 2 junior praesidia were founded and 7 senior and 2 junior praesidia are being developed. A Junior Curia revived a junior praesidium and carried out Peregrinatio Pro Christo and Exploratio projects. They participate in the Catholic Radio programme, carry out Celebrations of the Word and recruit married couples for the Legion. Each praesidium was asked to have a Solemn Rosary on 7 September to commemorate the founding of the Legion and its founder, Servant of God, Frank Duff.

Belize Curiahas 5 praesidia attached. Religion is taught in the schools, visitation of homes and hospitals is done and the Rosary is promoted in May and October.

Panama Comitium:New praesidia are being established in the Coole Province and elsewhere.

Thailand Senatus:The Spiritual Director takes a great interest in the Legion. In a recent Allocutio he said "thanks be to God and to the author of the Handbook as it contains everything you need - no long prayers, talks or speeches etc". Evangelisation takes the legionaries to Aids sufferers and to an Abandoned Women's Centre. 16 marriages were regularised.

Myanmar Senatus:This Council has 2 Comitia, 5 Curiae and 13 directly affiliated praesidia. Evangelising efforts resulted in 7 adult and 2 children's baptisms. Hospitals, orphanages, houses for the poor and a leper colony are visited. Those absent from the Church are visited along with the depressed who cannot attend Holy Mass. Legionaries play a big part in parish activities. The Handbook is being translated into Burmese.

Sri Lanka Senatus:Visitation of homes is very successful. It brings legionaries in touch with Hindus and Muslims, a number of whom were received into the Church. One Council prepared 81 for baptism. Promotion of the Rosary features in many reports as well as returns to the Sacraments. Legionaries are also in touch with prisoners, drug addicts, sick people and they teach children to read. One Curia held its first Congress.

Chennai Senatus:The apostolate is concentrated on home/hospital visitation when the destitute, handicapped and elderly are met. Enthronement of homes to the Sacred Heart and teaching of catechism also feature. Exploratio projects carried out result in Hindus/Muslims being met.

Mumbai Regia:This is a very vibrant and active Council with priority given to visitation of Councils and extension. A training session on "how to approach people of other Faiths" had 65 present. Every Council/praesidium reports on contact with people of other Faiths. They are met in homes, hospitals, slums, Institutions and on the Street. They organise Frank Duff and Edel Quinn days.

Kerala Senatus:16 Comitia, 22 Curiae and 20 praesidia a re directly attached. People of other Faiths are met and two were received into the Church. Prisons are visited and the Rosary is widely promoted. Married couples are counselled and 140 family reconciliations were recorded. Legionaries are very involved in teaching catechism and preparing children for the Sacraments. 4 new senior and 1 junior praesidia were established.

Calcutta Comitium:Regular visitation of praesidia/Councils is carried out. The Rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are promoted. 397 attended a Rosary Rally.

Astana Diocese has 5 praesidia with membership of 21, 15, 10, 4 and 8. Their evangelising takes them to the streets, markets and homes. They prepare people for Confession and First Holy Communion and conduct Sunday prayer and weekly cleaning of the Chapel. They also visit a regional hospital and a Cancer Clinic.

Saigon Senatus:Christianisation of one area resulted in a praesidium of new Christians working among the non-Christians. A Curia with 37 praesidia reported 106 adult baptisms; 29 teenage baptisms, 49 marriages regularised. A Curia with 5 praesidia discovered 400 Chinese born Catholics in a very densely populated city. The Curia reported 83 baptisms. A group of opium smokers were evangelised. A former Buddhist who for 50 years had no contact with God became a Catholic.

This Congress which was held in Rome from 17 - 22 November 2003 was attended by Tadhg McMahon and Michael O'Neill on behalf of the Concilium. They were present at the various lectures which dealt with the many dimensions of the pastoral care of refugees. Each day concluded with a work shop session are the two legionaries acted as reporting secretaries at these sessions. Their reports will be utilised for the final draft of instructions which will be presented to the Church in due course. Both representatives expressed their gratitude to the President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and to the Secretary of the Council. They were assured that their participation would benefit the Council.
Sile Ni Chochláin thanked both legionaries for attending the Congress.

Prayers were asked for the repose of the souls of Mgr. Thomas B. Falls of Philadelphia and Dr. Michael O'Carroll C.S.Sp of Dublin who died recently R.I.P.

Mgr. Falls was appointed Spiritual Director of Philadelphia Curia in 1961 and under his guidance the Council rose from Curia to Comitium and later to Senatus. He remained faithful to his office until his death. He represented all the priests of the at the Second Vatican Council and he helped Frank Duff (founder of the Legion) to arrange appointments with many Bishops during the Council. He was author of many booklets including "The Priest and the Legion of Mary".

Dr. O'Carroll C.S.Sp was a special friend of Frank Duff and a great supporter of the Pillar of Fire and the Mercier Society which were established by the Legion to have dialogue with people of Jewish and Protestant backgrounds. He regretted the cessation of these Societies. When they were re-established in more recent years he regularly attended both the Pillar of Fire and the Pauline meetings and other ecumenical gatherings. He was a scholar and author of great talent, writing much on the Holy Spirit and Our Lady including Theotokos and a 5 volume encyclopaedia on these subjects.

Work on these Causes viz trhe Venerable Edel Quinn, and the Servants of God, Frank Duff and Alphonsus Lambe is progressing. A seminar was recently held by the Concilium and many who were present recalled when they met Frank Duff and how he impressed them. The reminiscences of other legionaries throughout the world would be welcomed by the committees working on his Cause. We will be commemorating the 60th anniversary of the death of Edel Quinn in May 2004 and perhaps Councils will arrange a Mass or other functions to make her better known.

Dear Ms O'Connor,
Please accept my grateful acknowledgement of the copies of the Legion of Mary Bulletin which you regularly send to the Secretary of State and myself. I thank you for keeping me informed of the efforts of the Legionaries aimed at bringing Christ our Saviour to today's world.

I would assure you that the Holy Father prays for the success of your activities and for all Legionaries. He appreciates the generous support given to the promotion of the Gospel by fervent prayer and zealous dedication to the apostolate in so many parts of the world. Commending all of you to the loving protection of Mary, Mother of the Church, His Holiness cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.