Liverpool Senatus:The Comitium of Newcastle has 5 attached Curiae with a total of 32 senior and 2 junior praesidia. Three students have joined the Ushaw Seminary praesidium which visits hospitals, schools and prisons. The Legion's 70th anniversary was marked by a Mass concelebrated by 8 priests in St. Joseph's parish in Sunderland. A junior praesidium in Blackburn (Manchester Comitium) has 15 members. Wirral Curia attached to Leeds Comitium reported that its Patricians groups are doing well.

London Senatus:The core of the Senatus consists of 14 directly attached praesidia including 2 Vietnamese ones based in central London. Active membership in praesidia ranges from 3 to 13. Also attached to the Senatus are 8 Curiae in Westminster Archdiocese and 3 praesidia in the Diocese of Portsmouth. The Senatus also governs 2 Comitia with praesidia in the Archdiocese of Southwark and the Dioceses of Arundel and Brighton and Brentwood. Each of the Dioceses of Northampton and Nottingham has a Curia. A Mass to mark the anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Frank Duff was celebrated in St. George's Cathedral, Southwark on November 1st 2003. The homily was given by Rev. Fr. T. McGuckin, Spiritual Director of the Senatus. A new praesidium was established at Kensington High parish following a recruitment drive.

Birmingham Senatus:At the request from the Chaplain of Birmingham University legionaries in South Birmingham Curia attend Mass in the College after which they make contact with the students with a view to starting a praesidium. Eighteen legionaries in this Curia carried out a weekend project in Bartley Green. From the 900 homes visited some non-Catholics expressed an interest in the Catholic Church, parents requested baptism for their children and a number of housebound people asked for a visit from the priest. One non-Catholic man who was asked if he had ever considered the Catholic Church contacted the priest himself and is now taking instruction. Bristol Curia held a number of outdoor rosaries to mark the close of the Year of the Rosary. Three lapsed Catholics returned to practice in the Coventry area. One of them had been under the influence of an Evangelical sect and after repeated visits by legionaries she has now returned to the full practice of her faith.

Cardiff Comitium:Two affiliated praesidia have a total of 18 members whose main work is the visitation of the sick and housebound. In the attached Curia of Bridgend, two praesidia have been amalgamated.

Wrexham Curia:Five affiliated praesidia visit hospitals and residential homes. Recruiting drives have been held in Wrexham and Colwyn Bay. Swansea Comitium was visited by 2 members of Birmingham Senatus who gave them advice and encouragement.

Glasgow Senatus:A reporting praesidium has 8 active and 2 probationary members who engage in various forms of the apostolate in the parish. As a result of hospital visitation, a man who had been lapsed, returned to the Faith before he died. His wife has since asked the legionaries to call and pray the Rosary with her. At Christmas the Rosary was recited hourly beside a Christmas crib and contacts were made with people passing by. The attached Curia of Motherwell has 19 praesidia which visit homes, organise school rosaries and promote the Mysteries of Light. In Dundee Curia, a Fatima pilgrimage is organised to a different parish on 13th of each month.

Senatus of Amsterdam:The Korean praesidium in Rotterdam has 5 members and the Korean Curia in Amsterdam continues to grow. A praesidium in the city which organises a late night apostolate in one of the parks reported on good contacts including a Muslim who asked for information about the Catholic Church. Work is proceeding on the revised translation of the Handbook.

Antwerp Senatus:Families of new born babies are visited and given Miraculous medals. Works of service are carried out and retreats, days of recollection and local pilgrimages are organised.

Brussels Senatus:A new praesidium has been set up in Vielsalm.

Luxembourg Curia:Three new members in one of the attached 3 praesidia are due to take the Legion Promise.

Lucern Comitium:In addition to 5 affiliated praesidia there is an attached Curia at Olten and a new Curia at Gossau. Public rosaries, street apostolate and the distribution of Miraculous medals figure in reports. Auxiliary members are being recruited and recruiting drives are being organised.

Fribourg Comitium:The sick are visited in their homes and Nursing Homes. Works of service are done for them.

Cologne Regia:Legionaries from Monchengladback visit two prisons. The visitation of invalids is a priority for members of the main Korean Curia which has 10 praesidia in various centres. A new Korean Curia has been formed in Hamburg. 23 parishes are to be approached by the Regia for extension purposes.

Munich Senatus:Extension was carried out for the purpose of setting up a praesidium for Albanian youth as well as in the towns of Rass and Soecking. Sancta Maria praesidium with a membership of 15 make contacts in the bars and sex cinemas. Officers from the Senatus of Frankfurt, Munich and Austria as well as Cologne Regia met in Munich to discuss the World Youth Day in 2005.

Frankfurt Senatus:Curia Darmstadt reported that 20 new legionaries were recruited last year. A Bible exhibition was organised. In Berlin a new praesidium was started resulting from the 2003 Peregrinatio Pro Christo project. Six praesidia in the Berlin Korean Curia undertake home visitation. 8 adults were baptised in November 2003. Three retreats were organised by the Korean Curia in Frankfurt. The baptism of 4 children and the setting up of a new praesidium in the parish of St. Martin was reported by Friburg Comitium.

Paris Regia:This Council is comprised of 15 - 20 attached praesidia and 5 Curiae including a Vietnamese one. A praesidium is engaged in the evangelisation of the caretakers of apartment blocks and it arranged a Mass for their deceased relatives at which 75 people attended. There are 10 praesidia in the Vietnamese Curia and the members carry out an apostolate among their compatriots. They arranged for the Baptism and Confirmation of 6 adults and 4 children. Caen-Lisieux Curia with 3 praesidia helped to prepare several former Jehovah's Witnesses for their return to the Catholic Church.

Valence Regia:There are 16 senior and 1 junior praesidia affiliated as well as 1 Comitium and 4 Curiae. Extension and recruiting receive attention and a few praesidia have gained new members. A variety of apostolic work is carried out in parishes. The praesidium at Crest organised a pilgrimage on 15 August 2003 and a night procession on 8 December 2003. The Vietnamese Curia ran a pilgrimage to Ars with 150 people participating and an Advent retreat with 60 people present.

Beirut Comitium:There are 5 senior and 2 junior praesidia affiliated to the Comitium as well as 3 senior Curiae. All are in the vicinity of Beirut. Members visit homes with the priest and take Holy Communion to the sick. The Rosary is promoted and great care is taken of junior members for whom Summer Camps, days of prayer and social functions are organised.

Jerusalem Comitium:Praesidia reports cover a wide apostolate to the sick, to families, the promotion of the rosary, pilgrim statue visitation, teaching of catechism, preparing children for the Sacraments and an outreach to the lapsed. Attached Curiae are unable to attend Comitium meetings at present.

Benguela Regia:The Huambo Comitium set up 3 new Curiae. The Bocoio Comitium has set up a Curia, giving it a total of 11 Curiae to govern 99 praesidia. Former legionaries, prisoners and the sick in homes and hospitals are visited. Two adobe houses were built for poor elderly people.

Luanda Regia:The 2002 annual report tells of 2 Curiae being raised to Comitia status and that the total active membership is 35,000.

Guinea Bissau Curia:A Congress held in May 2003 had an attendance of 250.

Maputo Regia:The Spiritual Director wrote in January 2004 reporting that the Regia is doing well and is visiting its praesidia and Councils.

Praia Regia:A praesidium which presented its first annual report has 28 members of whom 11 are Praetorians. Praesidia and Councils are visited on a regular basis and a monthly information bulletin includes local and world Legion news.

Accra Regia:The Regia has been informed that the Concilium wishes to raise its status to that of a Senatus for the purpose of governing the Legion in the whole country and that it is intended to raise the Comitia of Sunyani and Kumasi to Regia status. An attached Curia has 144 senior and 69 junior members and it reported 70 confirmed. Members of a praesidium in the University visit 66 inmates in a Borstal. A 3 day project involved 345 legionaries from 14 districts within the Sunyani Comitium and they divided into 10 groups and visited 35 villages and towns. Among the 9655 contacted were Catholics, lapsed Catholics, separated brethren, Moslems and traditional worshippers. 2 showed an interest in coming into the Church and 5 lapsed returned to practice.

Bolgatanga Comitium:A praesidium has been revived with 15 members. The attached Bongo Curia has 160 senior and 50 juniors in its 10 praesidia.

Jirapa Comitium:Visitation to a Curia resolved several difficulties. Over 5,000 attended the annual Pilgrimage to Yezu Tang mountain, and present were the Nuncio, the local Bishop and two Bishops from Burkino Faso and Germany. The attached Daffiama Curia with its 10 praesidia prepared many for the various Sacraments and 39 couples had their marriages regularised.

Wa Comitium:Its members also attended the Pilgrimage to Yezu Tang mountain. A praesidium of 16 has 97 under instruction, another praesidium of 25 members is reaching out to the neighbouring villages. The Legion has recommenced in the local Secondary School. The attached Naville Curia with its 6 praesidia has prepared 26 for Baptism and has 64 under instruction. The central Curia has 11 senior and 2 junior praesidia attached.

Hwange Comitium:Fr. Tim Peacock the Spiritual Director of the Comitium travelled with 2 legionaries to Dete and set up a senior praesidium and held a meeting in the Minor Seminary. There are now 9 praesidia at Katima Mulilo in the Kaprivi Strip. A group of 27 visited the Legion at Sesheke, Zambia.

Mutare Comitium:A praesidium of 24 reported that there is much hardship among those visited, especially those who are endeavouring to look after their grandchildren.

Kadoma Curia:Members visit the prison, a school for the blind, old folks' homes as well as private homes.

Senatus of Lesotho:There are 16 Comitia, 2 Curiae and 6 directly attached praesidia. A new praesidium of 12 was set up in November in St. Augustine's Seminary in Roma and among those present was Bishop Sebastian Khoarai. Many children including some shepherds are under instruction, several people have received the various Sacraments, marriages have been regularised and many have returned to practice.

Cape Town Senatus:The following are some extracts from a letter received by the Senatus from His Grace, Archbishop Lawrence Henry: "I am deeply consoled by all that the Legion of Mary does and achieves and I would again encourage you to keep up the good work as members of Mary's army. I would want to see the Legion of Mary grow in strength… I would nevertheless encourage more active recruiting. This needs to be done especially among the young members of our parishes… Challenge them and confront them with what the Legion of Mary is all about… We need to make the Legion of Mary attractive to the young members of the Church. Let us pray and work to make this happen". A praesidium of 15 members has 65 auxiliaries and a praesidium of 9 juniors. 327 legionaries attended a Congress at Nyangana in the Kavango Region of Nambia.

Johannesburg Senatus:A praesidium does crowd contact on the streets, in the shops, at railway and bus stations. It had 5 under instruction, 2 returns to practice ands a non-Catholic was baptised prior to his death. The Soweto Comitium had a successful retreat and a recruiting drive gained 55 people including some juniors. A praesidium of 13 prays the Rosary with AIDS patients and bereaved families and visits in camps.

St. Augustin'e Comitium:An isolated Curia has come under its wing with a full compliment of officers.

Mariannhill Comitium:A praesidium of 17 recruited 5 new members, among its many works is the distribution of Miraculous Medals and the telling of the story relating to same.

Matatiele Comitium:Deep sorrow was expressed on the death of Fr. Manus Campbell O.F.M., who was murdered in November. He supported the Legion for many years especially in Bizana and Matatiele, R.I.P. A praesidium of 8 reported 50 baptised, 6 marriages regularised and 2 separated couple reconciled.

Madang Regia:There are 23 Comitia, 3 Curiae and 3 praesidia attached. Vemino Comitium reported that 18 couples were prepared for marriage, 69 children were baptised and 127 children were prepared for Confirmation. Other reports mentioned that 65 Catholics returned to the practice of the Faith.

Rabaul Regia:This Council is due to celebrate its Golden Jubilee this year.

Sydney Senatus:Korean praesidia contact non-believers, care for the newly baptised and prepare children for the Sacraments. Forty undertook catechism classes and 21 adults and 2 infants were baptised. Many auxiliary members have been enrolled.

Melbourne Senatus:So far this year 18 new praesidia have been established and further extension drives are being planned. Active membership stands at about 1700. A Summer School was organised. 3500 homes were visited in the course of Exploratio Dominicalis projects. In general praesidia in the Senatus visit homes and hostels and work closely with the priests of the parish. The Rosary has been introduced into 6 Catholic Schools. The Senatus gives excellent attention to the Legion Councils in several of the Pacific Islands. The Mareki Comitium in Kiribati governs 3 Curiae with 41 praesidia. Their main apostolate is home to home visitation. Bishop Paul Mea gave his support to their Golden Jubilee celebrations last August.

Praesidia in the Senatus engage in evangelisation through the visitation of homes, hospitals and prisons and they organise Patricians groups. A visit was paid in December to the Comitia in Apia and Savai'i in Samoa, where the Legion is growing. The Archbishop was met and he recommended that the Legion members work closer with other Church groups.

Western Visayas Regia:A monthly Mass is organised for the sick, poor and elderly. Numerous marriages have been regularised. First Fridays Devotions are promoted. Junior legionaries are trained to recite the Rosary and to introduce it into their homes.

Bicolandia Senatus:Reports mention returns to the Sacraments and regularisation of marriages. The Mysteries of Light have been introduced to school children through drama. A praesidium of stall holders engage in an apostolate to their fellow community. Extension work which had the full approval of a parish priest resulted in a new Curia being established. A Jehovah's Witness couple became Catholics through being introduced to the Rosary.

Cebu Senatus:The members' commitment to apostolic work is exemplary. Included in their undertakings is home to home visitation, prison visitation, crowd contact in market places and transport terminals, teaching catechism in schools, promotion of the Rosary, enthronement of homes to the Sacred Heart and Bible study. New initiatives undertaken include the organisation of Leadership Training Seminars for all praesidia.

Cagayon de Oro Senatus:This Council governs 2 Regia, 9 Comitia, 25 Curiae and 14 directly attached praesidia. Constant visitation and follow up work result in receptions into the Church, returns to the Church and the return of elderly lapsed to the Sacraments. Block Rosaries are organised and auxiliary members are recruited.

Manila Senatus:In the 7 Archdioceses in the Senatus area there are 32 Comitia, 20 Curiae as well as 17 directly attached praesidia. Evangelisation is directed to Chinese establishments, to families living on the side-walks and in push carts, to taxi drivers, people in the markets, to seamen and to homes. One Comitium reported 22 conversions to the Catholic Faith and another Council had 10 conversions. The regularisation of marriages and Baptisms feature prominently in reports. Several Comitia have 19, 18 and 25 Patricians groups. There is a Curia with 17 praesidia in one of the prisons. AIDs patients are visited and encouraged to receive the Sacraments.

The function to commemorate the newly bestowed distinction of Senatus upon the Legion of Mary Comitium of Pondicherry, was celebrated with much enthusiasm on the 17 January 2004.

The solemnisation commenced in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary with a concelebration of High Mass in the presence of the Most Rev. Dr. Michael Augustin, (Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore) and another ten priests from various parishes all across Tamil Nadu.

The Mass was followed by a procession from the Cathedral to the Petit Seminaire School, the venue where the actual inaugural festivity took place. Members from all the Curiae from Pondicherry Diocese and Curiae and Comitium from the rest of the Dioceses in Tamil Nadu gathered at the Cathedral and fervently participated in the procession, faithfully displaying their devotion to Mary.

The function in the premises of the Petit Seminaire School was presided over by the Most Rev. Archbishop of Pondicherry, who felicitated the occasion by ethnically Lighting the oil lamps and blessing the new Senatus.

Rev. Fr. Thomas the parish priest of the Cathedral and the Spiritual Director of the Senatus of Pondicherry heartily welcomed the many participants.

It is recommended that whatever surplus funds remain after the needs of the praesidium have been met, should be sent to the Curia for the general purposes of the Legion". (Handbook Chap. 35 on Funds). Praesidia and Councils should not hold on to surplus funds but pass them on to the next highest body in accordance with the handbook.

Funds for special purposes, such as literature, should also be subject to an annual audit and be regularly and fully reported on, and accounted for, to the praesidium and relevant Council. These special funds should not be allowed to grow much larger than is necessary for their needs. Surplus funds should be passed on.

Many legionaries, on taking on an office where they have to handle funds, have had no previous experience in handling money or in dealing with accounts. In order that financial matters are properly managed Councils should ensure that correct procedures are put in place and ensure that they are followed. This would include:

That larger amounts of money be held in a bank account in the name of the Legion body and not in the name of an individual
   That two signatures are required for withdrawals
   That a system to properly record receipts and payments is put in place
   That the annual audit is carried out (the completion of the annual audit is the key to maintaining finances in good order)
   That all funds are fully reported on and
   That surplus funds are passed on in accordance with the handbook