February 2004

Cincinnati Senatus: Seven new praesidia were established and 2 were closed. As a result of a recruiting drive 1 praesidium gained 13 new members and another which was down to 1 gained 9. A Peregrinatio team to Gate City, Virginia contacted 511 people, only 5 of whom were Catholics.

St. Louis Senatus: During 2003, 20 new praesidia were set up and 13 closed. In Jefferson City the Legion had set up praesidia in each of the 3 prisons. A Columban Drive resulted in gaining 24 auxiliary and 4 active members.

Philadelphia Senatus: 8000 attended a Rosary Rally organised by the Camden Comitium. In Allentown Curia 25 families were brought back to the Sacraments. A new Spanish praesidium has been set up by the Senatus with 10 members.

Los Angeles Senatus:The Senatus has accepted the division of its area with San Francisco being elevated to Senatus level. The Archbishop of San Francisco has agreed and appointed Bishop Wang as liaison with the Senatus. The city has a large Chinese population. 5 Councils have 26 Patricians groups.

San Francisco Senatus:Since the decision was made to raise the Comitium to Senatus, the Officers have been making due preparations, commencing with a Mass and meetings with Officers of directly affiliated praesidia and Councils so that all understand the extra responsibilities involved. They hope to hold its inaugural meeting in March.

Chicago Senatus:In Sandstone a legionary prisoner organises the RCIA classes in the prison and had 11 prisoners Confirmed and 1 Baptised. Works done by an attached Curiae include organising a Retreat for the Confirmation class, the sponsoring of a Day with Mary for children during the school holidays. They also reported 6 conversions and 4 returns to the Sacraments.

Arlington Regia:Another new Curia and 3 new praesidia have been set up in the past 4 months. The Junior Curia held a parents' night to explain the importance of the Legion to the children.

Seattle Comitium:A successful Congress entitled "A Call to Evangelisation" was held. A senior and junior praesidium was established.

Houston Regia:Dallas Comitium has grown from 1,000 to 2,000 members in 5 years. At the Peregrinatio Pro Christo Conference in Houston reports were received on projects in Mexico, Laredo and Marshall. A praesidium in the Austin Comitium visits a prison and organises a Rosary service each week. In Galveston a prison praesidium do very effective work among the inmates. One prisoner joined the local praesidium when released.

A group of 17 legionaries from Arlington Regia in the US were given a warm welcome to the Concilium meeting. George Bonina, president of the Regia addressed the Concilium body and said it was a great privilege for him and his group to be present. He mentioned the substantial growth which had taken place in recent years in the Regia area.

The Council how governs 10 directly attached praesidia, 2 Comitia and 14 Curiae in 7 Dioceses of the States of Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Extension is being undertaken in West Virginia but it is not proving easy to make progress there.

Sile Ni Chochláin, president of the Concilium said it was a joy to receive the group and she thanked the Regia for willingly taking on extra responsibilities for the government of the Legion, at the request of the Concilium.

Ottawa Senatus: Following a Columban Drive a new praesidium was started in January. An approach to a daytime prayer group resulted in the Legion being set up. Plans are under way to start the Legion in 2 other parishes. In Belleville Curia 1 legionary is doing a Prison Ministry course in preparation for legionaries to visit the prison in pairs. Sudbury Curia has 4 praesidia.

Montreal Senatus: (French) Children are prepared for Holy Communion and Confirmation. Holy Communion is brought to the sick and the lapsed are encouraged to return to the practice of their faith. Attached to the Senatus are 1 Comitium, 10 Curiae and 13 praesidia.

Toronto Regia:With the approval of the Bishop, legionaries spoke at 4 deanery meetings in the Niagara Curia. Four Patricians meetings had an attendance of 10 to 40. The Regia was invited to a Conference on the Rosary presided over by the Cardinal and they have been assigned the task of organising the Rosary Procession in May.

Vancouver Comitium:The Junior Curia is very active. They set up an intermediate praesidium and plan 3 others. Senior members are engaged in home and hospital visitation and they promote the family Rosary.

Edmonton Comitium:A new Curia now has 11 praesidia. Seven members went on Peregrinatio Pro Christo to the Indian Reserve, Hobbema. They visited the prison and 360 homes. Efforts are being made to set up more praesidia in Calgary.

Montreal Curia:(English) The Parish Council has asked the Legion to help in youth work and in the Chinese Mission.

Bahamas Curia:Our Lady of Grace praesidium with 13 members promotes the Rosary. During the course of home and hospital visitation Catholic and Non-Catholics are met.

Port of Spain Regia:Membership in reporting praesidia ranged from 3 to 26 members. Other reports included 5 Baptisms and 2 received First Holy Communion. A reporting Curia had 55 members and reported on home visitation, visitation of the sick and preparing children for the Sacraments.

The Senatus reported the setting up of 2 new praesidia and 1 Curia. The apostolate carried out includes the visitation of homes, hospitals and prisons, the preparation of people for the Sacraments and the evangelisation of street children. As a result of visiting homes, 13 people were received into the Church and 66 received First Holy Communion.

Senatus of Santo Domingo:A programme for the year includes Masses for the 3 Causes, 2 Retreats and the gathering of all the juniors in the area. The attached Comitium of La Navidad de la Romana with 13 praesidia has 518 active members, 175 Praetorians, 770 Auxiliary and 15 Adjutorians. Home visitation resulted in First Holy Communions, Baptisms and Marriage regularisations.

Asuncion Senatus:The Junior Comitium has 5 Junior Curiae and another is to be set up. A junior praesidium had meetings with young people including a group of 46 who hope to become legionaries. A dangerous drug addict was converted and now attends Sunday Mass with his parents who are auxiliary members. Caacupe legionaries held a torchlight procession for the closing of the Rosary Year. 20 Adjutorian members were recruited as a result of all praesidia in a Curia carrying out Exploratio projects. 70 legionaries in 6 groups took part in a Peregrinatio Pro Christo project to Caacupe. They gave out leaflets on Confession, Examination of Conscience and the Rosary, including the Mysteries of Light.

Caracas Senatus:Four junior praesidia were set up following 6 Exploratio projects and 2 praesidia were set up on a mini Exploratio project. The Senatus has 2 vocations to the priesthood and they hope to be able to set up a praesidium in the jail. Two praesidia work with prostitutes and visit the brothels.

Lima Senatus:The Senatus thanked the Concilium and its visitor Noel Lynch for his help in solving their problems. A Curia in Lima has 3 new Patricians groups.

Santiago Senatus:The Senatus held its Annual Reunion in December which included the Coronation of Our Lady's statue and Mass. For the first time the Senatus held a Procession through its Barrio. This was very well received by the local residents. Chillan Comitium has set up 2 new Curiae and Antofagasta Comitium has set up 1 new Curia.

Temuco Regia:A Curia of 12 praesidia with 121 active and 142 auxiliaries reported 39 visits to the prison, 89 street contacts and 39 retreats in a year. The Rosary is taught to people on visitation and catechism is taught to children in a special home in preparation for Confirmation.

La Paz Senatus:All praesidia and Councils celebrated the 45th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Alfie Lambe. Many conversions were reported and new Christians are being recruited into the Legion. In the course of visiting a children's hospital, parents are taught to pray with their children. Married legionary couples carry out an apostolate to families. Public rosaries are organised and contact is made with those who attend including street traders, homeless adults and children.

Quito Senatus:A praesidium with 150 auxiliaries on roll reported that in the course of visitation, every home in the parish was visited. Legionaries promote the Mass, the Eucharist, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and regular Confession. Prayers for Christian Unity are also encouraged. A praesidium took part in a "Mission of Evangelisation" which was planned by the Bishops of Ecuador.

Cuenca Regia:The 82nd anniversary of the Legion was celebrated with a Mass, a Talk and a lunch. A Marian grotto with a cross on its roof was blessed and there was much rejoicing. Four new praesidia were set up in Zumba by a religious sister. A priest has asked the Legion to set up "Assembleas Cristianes" and a praesidium has been started in a jail in Loja.

Kinshasa Senatus:Three praesidia with a total of 55 active, 10 auxiliary and 11 praetorian members reported on home, hospital and prison visitation. The majority of contacts are Catholics. All Councils report similar contacts in their areas resulting in the preparation of large numbers of children and adults for Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, the preparation of couples for marriage, the reconciliation of families, returns to Mass and Sacraments and the return of street children to their homes. All praesidia engage in prison visitation. Other contacts include street girls, unmarried parents, divorcees and hemp smokers. Functions organised included Legion anniversary celebrations, a Retreat in preparation for Feast of Assumption and Masses for the late Anne O'Connor who came as Envoy to the country in 1955.

Kigali Senatus:Praesidia with a total of 74 active and 77 auxiliary members visits homes, prisons, hospitals and orphanages. Contacts are almost 100% Catholic. Members of two families and 6 individuals were prepared for Baptism. Holy Communion is brought to the sick and distressed. Orphans in their own homes are cared for, and manual work is done for those in need. Three out of eight families who had joined sects were brought back to the Church. Reports from Curiae and Comitia indicate regular visitation of their dependent groups. Efforts are made to set up more Junior praesidia and to recruit more Auxiliary members. Ruhengero Comitium has a Curia of student praesidia and 1 among prisoners. Spiritual Directors advise legionaries to keep close contact with Catholics who are not practising and with those who have recently resumed religious practice.

St. Denis Comitium:Results of home visitation included the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation by 3 young people on return to practice of their religion after years of neglect, reconciliation of a separated couple after arrangement of a meeting with a priest at their request. The return to the Church of a couple who had joined a sect many years ago, the Baptism of their 2 year old child and the current instruction of their 8 year old child in preparation for Baptism and First Holy Communion.

Gitega Senatus:The Senatus expressed its condolences over the death of Irish born Mgr. Michael Courtney who was their Nuncio, calling it a catastrophy. They have temporarily lost the service of their zealous National Spiritual Director, Abbe Venant Mpozako, currently in Europe for studies. Among the many works reported are the preparation of adults and youth for their Easter duty, helping AIDS widows and orphans and welcoming returning fugitives.

Bangui Regia:The Councils current programme puts self-sanctification as its top priority and goes on to list Christian marriage and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as objectives for legionaries personally and for their apostolate.

Mauritius Regia:At a meeting of the Regia a Curia report gave an excellent account of the apostolate carried out by its praesidia. In course of home visitation the sick, the aged, the lonely were contacted. Holy Communion was brought to the housebound and the handicapped were taken to Mass. Contact with lapsed Catholics resulted in some returns to the Church. Members also organised the recitation of the Rosary at a grotto and helped with parish activities.

In January 2003, the Concilium decided to take initial steps to raise Medan Comitium in Indonesia to Regia status. The necessary ecclesiastical permissions were obtained by Jakarta Senatus and approval was given at the February 2004 meeting of the Concilium to raise Medan Comitium to Regia status to govern its 15 directly attached praesidia, 2 Comitia and 6 Curiae in Medan Archdiocese and 4 suffragen Dioceses.

In 1956 Paddy was appointed by the Concilium as Envoy to the Gold Coast. Due to travel restrictions at the time he travelled to Salisbury in Rhodesia and thus commenced working in the Umtali Vicarate. After some time he moved to Port Elizabeth in South Africa.

Finally he returned to the Gold Coast now Ghana and worked in Cape Coast, Kumasi and Accra and helped to build up the Councils there.

On his return to Dublin in 1959 he was the Chairman of the Correspondents Group for English speaking Councils in Africa. In later years he was associated with a praesidium in the Morning Star Hostel. Condolences were extended to his wife and 2 daughters. May his generous soul rest in peace. He died on December 2003.

Why should people say an Office? The special value of the liturgy is that it is the official prayer of the Church, the voice of the Mystical Body in which all our poor voices intermingle with the voice of Our Lord and take on the quality of His prayer. This places liturgical prayer on an eminence above our own individual prayers.

But here is another vitally important aspect. In itself, and quite apart from that other official value possessed by it, the Office is a supreme form of pure prayer. It puts us facing God, using the words of the Holy Spirit. The Office is made up for the most part of the Psalms and extracts from the Scriptures, interspersed with lovely hymns, including the supreme canticles - the Te Deum, Magnificat, Benedictus, Nunc Dimittis.

Some of the verses are set in the mouth of God and some in the mouth of the person addressing God. Therefore it is a case of a dialogue between God and that person. There we have the ideal form of prayer: a conversation with God.

Secondly, as the words are those of the Holy Spirit, we can rest content with them. We have not to distract ourselves by having to work out phrases of our own. We lie in the arms of God, just as a child would in the arms of a beloved parent, holding our effortless chat with Him.

Every line of the Psalms affords food for thought and love. There is literary beauty in them, not that this represents an ingredient that can be called vital; nevertheless, it is of help. All the emotions and the trials of life are covered. All the time we can readily apply the words to our own personal circumstances. Either we are pleading with God in regard to our necessities or we find He is replying to us about them.