Bulletin Feb 2005

Philadelphia Senatus: Eighty-one members took part in a day of Evangelisation; 1,314 homes were visited and they had 500 contacts with 16 possible converts. Works include book barrow and prison visitation during which they bring the Sunday Scripture and pray the Rosary with the inmates.

Houston Regia: Reports include the visitation of homes and Peregrinatio projects. El Paso Curia had 114 returns to the Sacraments. In Amarillio Curia the Vexilium led the proceedings at the Cathedral for the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Their Bishop and a large congregation were present. The Spanish Curia, Our Queen and Our Mother, visited 600 homes and enthroned the Sacred Heart in 75. They did an Exploratio Dominicalis resulting in an increase in membership and a new youth praesidium.

Los Angeles Senatus: Out pf 70 reporting praesidia only 1 had a Patrician group. A 7th Day Adventist was converted and a lady who was 60 years away from the Sacraments was reconciled with the Church. Twelve legionaries went on Peregrinatio Pro Christo to Mexicali and reported that Mass attendance had improved since their last visit, however out of 1,042 homes visited, only 52% of the residents were practising.

Boston Senatus: One praesidium was started as a result of a Columban Drive. Visitation is done in a jail and one prisoner was instructed for Baptism. Seventeen boys were instructed for First Holy Communion and catechism is taught to adults. Apartment blocks are visited. A lady who said she was a Catholic but never baptised was brought to an RCIA meeting for enrolment. Communion services are conducted on First Fridays.

Chicago Senatus: The Senatus is busy preparing for the 40th anniversary of the setting up of the Council. A report on visiting a prison in the Mankato Curia was received. It is comprised of "White collar" inmates who have committed crimes that are non violent. At first the legionaries went to Mass with them but quickly realised that the men wanted to know more about their faith. A Patrician meeting was set up and there have been returns to the faith and conversions. In North Dakota efforts are being made to start a praesidium in the local Seminary.

New York Senatus: This Senatus and attached Councils are actively extending the Legion. A praesidium, which closed, was reopened with five members and another was started with six members. Crowd contact is done at fairs, markets and outdoor events. Over 3,500 contacts were made. Maria Elena de Louisa who had done extension work in Mexico on behalf of the Concilium and who died recently RIP.

Senatus of Notre Dame de l'Assumption: A Comitium has over 4,700 members. They visit homes, hospitals, orphanages and do street contact. Many people of different faiths and none are met. Other works include preparing people for the Sacraments, catechism classes and organising retreats. The Rosary is said on the Radio by members of the Legion. A young legionary died as a result of the flooding in May last, as did many parents of legionaries.

Senatus of Port au Prince: Many active and auxiliary members are recruited through home visitation. Book barrow work has been started. The Senatus has difficulty in recruiting young members but a new senior Curia has been set up. A Curia, which teaches catechism in the local prison, state that it is easier to gain more converts following a meeting with the Sisters attached to the Prison Renewal.

Regia of Santiago de los Caballeros: Reports show good solid work being done in homes, hospitals and prisons. A praesidium with 19 members including 9 Praetorians visited 2,800 homes had 5 conversions and secured the last Sacraments for 11 sick people. The Comitium Medalla Milgrosa has 12 praesidia and 9 Curiae attached. They have 278 active members visit the sick and taught catechism to 708 children and prepared 3213 for First Holy Communion. Among the cases quoted was a youth who wanted to kill his sister after a quarrel but following counselling from legionaries they were reconciled.

The Regia has 9 Curiae and 110 praesidia directly attached. In Grenada, which was badly damaged in the hurricane last year, the Convent where the Legion meets was knocked down. The Church was also damaged and Mass had to be said on the road. The Curia in Barbados has 3 praesidia attached with 26 active members and 108 auxiliaries. Results included the return of a person who was lapsed and a marriage validated. The Catholic population on this island is small. Homes and hospitals are visited. A school praesidium recites the Rosary after lunch and encourages the students to visit the Blessed Sacrament.

Toronto Regia: Reports show good work being done on home and hospital visitation. One report states that juniors are showing great interest in the Legion Handbook. New praesidia have been set up in Toronto city and in Windsor. The Korean Curia in Toronto state that they have 27 praesidia and 153 people have been received into the Church. Four or five Patrician meetings are reported on each month.

Vancouver Comitium: One new praesidium has been set up. As a result of a Peregrinatio project to Nelson, a further visit has been requested by the priest. Good work is done in homes and hospitals. Results from an Exploratio include the conversions of three adults and the return to the faith of a man who was 30 years away from the Church.

Bangui Regia: Reports are taken across the spectrum of Comitia, Curiae and praesidia under the headings such as pro-life, Christian marriage, domestic reconciliation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Under the first heading, there are numerous reports of abortions prevented but also reports where the intervention came too late.

Kigali Senatus: During a period of three months, reports from praesidia at Senatus and Council levels dealt with visitation of homes, hospitals, orphanages and prisons. Their contacts included the sick, aged, handicapped, distressed persons, prisoners and families of prisoners. Recent converts and people who had returned to religious practice and still in need of encouragement, those under instruction for Baptism and those preparing for Catholic marriage. New praesidia have been set up in some areas. The number of junior praesidia is increasing. Ruhengeri Comitium has a Curia in the prison and a Junior Curia composed of praesidia in schools. Prayer and formation sessions are organised for all groups.

Bukavu Senatus: Minutes dealt with a total of 10 Comitia and one Curia. Reports from all Comitia gave detailed accounts of a great variety of apostolic works carried out while coping with the spiritual and personal needs of people of all religions. Many non-Christians have been brought into the Catholic Church.

St. Denis Comitium: Praesidia report large numbers of Praetorians and very large numbers of Auxiliary members. Works undertaken in all areas include home and hospital visitation, attendance at wakes, teaching catechism, youth work, bringing Holy Communion to the sick with special emphasis on promotion of Eucharistic Adoration during this year. Among reports of many returns to the Sacraments, was one of an 87 year old lady, another of a young man who was ill with cancer and was helped by prayer on the part of legionaries to go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shortly before he died.

Madagascar Comitium (under the care of St. Denis Comitium): Three representatives from St. Denis Comitium visited Madagascar and spent 3 weeks there. They were met by the newly appointed Spiritual Director who accompanied them around and introduced them to the Bishops. They visited the three existing Curiae and one praesidium in each of them. Travel was difficult, requiring a return journey by bush-taxi to get to a Curia meeting and a plane journey from one area to another. At Nosy Bé the visitors found 3 praesidia with up to 40 members in each. They advised division of these groups.

Sile Ni Chochláin, president of the Concilium expressed her thanks to the legionaries from Reunion Island who undertook the important visit to Madagascar.

La Paz Senatus: The Senatus is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral and a simple social gathering afterwards at which they will hear the history of the start of the Legion when the Servant of God Alfie Lambe set up the first praesidia in the country. The celebrations are being used to promote greater knowledge of the life and Cause of Alfie Lambe. One of the praesidia that reported to the Senatus mentioned that one of their special works is with abandoned street children, with whom they celebrated Christmas. Legionaries contact many young boys who are doing their military service. Many of these boys have been prepared for the Sacraments as they come from towns where there is no Church presence.

Lima Senatus: Several praesidia were set up and a Curia of 6 praesidia was affiliated. A Comitium of 562 members had 100% attendance at its Acies. A jail praesidium has 12 members and a praesidium is being set up in a women's jail. Chosica Comitium reported the conversion of an Adventist and an atheist. This Comitium has 11 Curiae and a large number of Praetorians and Auxiliaries.

Asuncion Senatus: This Council works well and it has set up 2 new Curiae. A Curia promotes Eucharistic Adoration and does street contact work and recent minutes mentioned 19 prisoners baptised and confirmed during Mass. A Comitium of 18 Curiae reported the baptism of 15 adults and 24 native people.

Caracas Senatus: Exploratio projects, Columban Drives and Family groups were mentioned in many reports. A meeting of people who help Sancta Maria House was held in October. Former prostitutes have visited the House and some have left life on the streets. New Curiae and praesidia were set up and the Junior Curia was divided.

During the weekend 12 - 14 February the Senatus of Barcelona celebrated 50 years of the Legion of Mary in that area. Celebrations commenced with Mass at 12.00 p.m. on Saturday 12 February in the parish of St. Philip Neri, the parish where the first praesidium was set up by the late Pacito Santos on 12 February 1955. The Mass was concelebrated by the Archbishop of Barcelona Monsignor Luis Martinez Sistach and 27 priests. About 500 legionaries and former legionaries attended. As well as a large number from Barcelona city, there were representatives from the Senatus area - Valencia, Tarragona, Zaragoza Murcia and Palma de Mallorca. There were also representative from the Senatus of Bilbao and Madrid and one legionary from the Comitium of Zagreb in Croatia, Ann Murray, Concilium Assistant Treasurer and Joan Barry, Concilium Correspondent represented the Concilium. The Archbishop thanked the legionaries for their contribution to the Church over the years and encouraged them to continue their apostolate and in particular their devotion to Our Blessed Lady.

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 25th 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.