Reports South America Brazil Belo Horizonte Senatus: 95% of contacts at bus stations are happy to talk to legionaries. Religious literature, miraculous medals and information on the Legion in the towns to which passengers are going are provided. A post-Confirmation apostolate seeks to remind young people of the Confirmation promises and to verify if they are still involved with the Church. In one area a suicide was prevented, the person now frequents the Sacraments. Salvador Senatus: A Comitium carries out monthly evangelisation projects in a poor area. Praetorian membership is reasonably high in city based councils. In the State of Alagoas more than a third of the legionaries are junior members. Among the works recorded in reports are numbers of children and youths prepared for the Sacraments, preparation of radio programmes, which sometimes include Bible Reflections and visitation of the sick, which involves works of hygiene and nursing. Rio De Janeiro Senatus: Alcantra Comitium has 14 senior and 4 junior Curiae. Extension carried out by boat resulted in 2 praesidia in a riverbank settlement in the Amazonian region. In another town in that area visitation focuses on parents and godparents of recently baptised children. In a destitute area near Rio known as "the dump" legionaries on a project organised the construction of a chapel, which they continue to administer. Sao Paulo Senatus: The inauguration of the new Regia in Lages, Santa Caterina State, was a joyful event. More than 1500 attended Mass, concelebrated by the Bishop and several priests. The Bishop is very happy with the Legion and is giving every support to the officers of the new Regia. Praesidia reports continue to show legionaries engaged in a very wide ranging apostolate to drug addicts, AIDS victims and street people. Brasilia Regia: The Regia has been asked to be the Legion's link with the Brasilian Bishops' Conference which has its secretariat in Brasilia. Many unmarried couples with unbaptised children were met on an Exploratio Dominicalis project. Junior members visited cemeteries on All Souls Day explaining the value of indulgences and they carried out a Christmas apostolate in a shopping centre. Sao Luis Regia: The annual report records an active membership of 70,000, about 1000 of whom are praetorians. 7,500 children, youths and adults were prepared for Baptism and almost 100,000 visits to homes were made. Fortaleza Regia: This Council is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. Argentina Buenos Aires Senatus: All Argentinian legionaries are delighted with the news of Bernardo De Nardo's appointment as Legion Envoy and say that he will put into action Alfie Lambe's plan to work in Asia. Some of the talks at this year's Senatus Retreat were given by Seminarians due to the shortage of priests. The Sancta Maria House run by the Senatus caters for unmarried mothers who are prepared for motherhood and hopefully for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Auxiliary members are now running many prayer groups thus freeing active members for other apostolic work. Salta Senatus: Tucuman Regia has about 2300 active members; they have started an apostolate to street girls. Congresses in the Regia area place great importance on every member preparing for and speaking at the sessions. Contact work in Plazas is carried out with a Legion Altar as the use of a book barrow poses problems. Corrientes Regia has councils and praesidia in 8 Dioceses in the North Eastern region of the country. Rosario Regia: A Comitium with 16 praesidia, 9 Curiae, 1200 active members and 69 praetorians engages in a varied apostolate ranging from visitation of homes, offices, factories and police stations to an apostolate to street children and their families. 3 young legionaries have entered a Seminary. Other councils visit prisons and recite a weekly rosary at a bus terminal. Africa Kenya Senatus of Kenya: Kisumu Regia has 19,000 active members and they report 353 marriages validated, 728 infants baptised, 500 lapsed returned to Sacraments, prisons were visited and of 160 witch doctors visited, 40 left their tools for burning. 1,904 catechumens were baptised and 1,800 were confirmed. Machakos Comitium had 207 returns to the Church, 122 joined for catechism class and 148 marriages were validated. The new Bishop of Isiolo, Bishop Ireri, told the Senatus he would like a vibrant Legion in his Diocese. Uganda Senatus of Uganda: Kampala A Comitium with 13 Curiae, in the course of their home and hospital visitation meet people of many religions. There are Schools Curiae in 8 Dioceses. Kabale Regia gave its first report - it has 19 Comitia, 122 Curiae ands 431 praesidia with 12,875 members. They arranged for 3,512 couples to have their marriages blessed in Church and prepared 1,216 people for Baptism and 619 joined the Legion. Malawi Blantyre Regia: The Regia governs 5 Comitia, 10 Curiae and 15 attached praesidia in Blantyre Archdiocese and also the councils in the 6 other Dioceses. Restructuring of the Legion in these Dioceses is being undertaken with the approval of the Bishops, and workshops and retreats are being organised to train council officers. 7,000 copies of the Chichewa Handbook have been reprinted and are being distributed. Nigeria Kaduna Regia: An officers' workshop has been arranged. As a result of their work a number of lapsed have returned to the Faith and 42 Muslims were converted. One legionary has entered the Seminary. Enugu Regia: There are 6,650 active members including 989 Praetorians in the 4 councils and 1 praesidium which reported. They had 193 conversions, 280 returned to the Faith and 1,581 seniors and 539 juniors were recruited. Ikot Ekpene Regia: They reported 92 lapsed returned to the Church and 7 conversions. 7 members of the seminary praesidium were ordained deacons. Lagos Regia: They report the establishment of 53 senior and 73 junior praesidia in the last year and 7 senior and 5 junior Curiae were formed. 1 Curia had 238 marriages regularised. Ibadan Regia: 32% of the membership of 1 Curia are probationers. Abuja Regia: Many marriages have been regularised and there is a steady flow of Muslim converts. A praesidium with 27 members has 7 junior praesidia and 1 Comitium reported 830 new members in 14 months. Jos Regia: 2 reporting Comitia had a combined total of 278 Baptisms, 432 First Holy Communions, 305 Confirmations, 20 marriages solemnised, 26 conversions, including 10 Muslims and 74 returns to the Faith. Many new members were recruited, 12 prostitutes returned to their families and 2 young legionaries joined the seminary. Benin City Regia: 1 Curia reported 26 lapsed returned to the Sacraments and 19 non-Christians converted, while a Comitium giving its first report contacted 43,530 persons and had 332 returns to the Sacraments, 69 Muslims converted and 122 marriages ratified. Another Comitium reported the conversion of 23 other Christians and 45 non-Christians and the establishment of a Curia and 12 new praesidia. Zambia Kasama Regia: News from Mansa Diocese tells of 2 praesidia set up and some lapsed praesidia revived in 1 Comitium area. Liberia Monrovia Curia: A letter was received from a Missionary with very sad stories from the war. However there is great work being done by him and his team at their mission and he stated that the 2 praesidia started by the Curia continue to meet. Tanzania Njombe Comitium: Recent minutes and a letter are being translated at present. Songea Comitium: After a long silence an e-mail was received and correspondence is being resumed. Mbinga Comitium: The last known state of this council was 22 Curiae, 115 praesidia and 2,129 active members. Ethiopia Jimma: The praesidium there has 19 young members. A Christmas Card was received from the president expressing thanks for the visit by the Ugandan legionaries in the autumn. Europe Austria The Senatus has set promotion of True Devotion to Our Blessed Lady as an objective for all councils in 2006. 64 attended the Senatus winter school. In councils directly attached to the Senatus extension initiatives have been undertaken by several Curiae. 2 new praesidia have already been established by Comitium Innsbruck in Landeck and Salzburg. Linz Comitium organised a pilgrimage to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of the servant of God, Frank Duff. Councils under the care of Vienna Senatus Czech Republic: Prague Comitium officers had an audience with Cardinal Miloslav Vik who confirmed his support for the Legion. Slovakia Curia Zseliz has 27 probationer legionaries and carries out an apostolate to all sections of the community. A new Curia has been established in Schuettinsel. Croatia Zagreb Comitium has set up 4 new praesidia and a new Curia with 7 praesidia in Zadar. Bosnia Herzogovenia: 3 praesidia have been established in Sarajevo by Zagreb Comitium. Slovenia Curia Ljubljanais being encouraged to persevere and extend its works. Belarus A new Curia has been established in Vitebsk. Junior legionaries in Viteika do evangelisation among their own age group, distribute magazines and medals and visit an orphan asylum. A praesidium of 15 members in Minsk visits hospitals, a home for the elderly and speaks with young people in public parks. 60 legionaries attended a Congress in Zhodino. Bishop Antony Denianko celebrated the Holy Mass and was delighted with the work of the legionaries. Hungary Regia: A former legionary was ordained to the priesthood. Extension efforts are ongoing and a great variety of works undertaken. These include apostolate to children living on the streets, the homeless in the underground, orphans and gypsies. Children are prepared for the Sacraments. Retreats for men and women were organised. Szeged Comitium reported 11 returns to the Sacraments before death. Some statistics for 2005 include 2,500 active members, 5,500 auxiliaries, 722 conversions and 615 returns to the Sacraments. Latvia A praesidium of 7 members engaged in street contact and home and hospital visitation report that 4 of the families met with no religious beliefs accepted the visit of a priest and have undertaken instruction. In the course of hospital visitation, an 81 year old woman was prepared for reception of the Sacraments after a lapse of 30 years. Riga Comitium stressed the great need for more home visitation in an effort to counteract the great numbers who are converting to Jehovah's Witnesses. Lithuania 2 praesidia reporting had memberships of 6 active members with 67 auxiliaries and 4 active members with 190 auxiliaries. Among the works undertaken was visitation of a TB hospital where 4 patients agreed to see a priest and receive the Sacraments. Poland Lublin Regia: Extension work continues. Works undertaken are visitation of homes, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, organising of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary Circles and Pilgrimages. Some results were 16 children brought to Baptism, 27 persons to Confession and 5 couples to Matrimony. The Regia is celebrating the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Legion as the year of Frank Duff with legionaries being encouraged to become acquainted with his life and work. A special Mass will be celebrated for his beatification. Ukraine Zhitomir Comitium: There are 4 directly attached praesidia and the Curiae at Kiev and Berdichev have a total of 19 praesidia. A varied apostolate is carried out including the teaching of catechism and work among alcoholics and drug addicts. A report was also received from Kaminiec Podolski Curia, which visits the sick and prays with them and promotes the Rosary. Asia Indonesia Senatus of Jakarta: One Comitium and 7 Curiae reported. 17 councils are listed for visitation. Senatus plans to hold a Conference in August 2006. Malang Senatus: A reporting praesidium mentioned problems about guiding juniors whose homes were distant. The Senatus held a guidance course for praesidia. Efforts are being made to revive lapsed or weak praesidia. A praesidium brings old people to Mass once a month. Taiwan Senatus: 3 Curiae and 4 praesidia have a membership of over 400 active members. Works include home and hospital visitation, accompanying priests visiting the sick, helping with Church services and running catechism classes. They also visit migrants and prisoners and do crowd contact. Hong Kong Comitium: 2 junior Curiae organised retreats. Rosarii senior Curia had 108 in attendance at their retreat. 33 Spiritual Directors and Directresses attended a 4 hour meeting. Annual reports were received from Macau Curia. Japan Osaka Senatus: Kobe and Hanshin Curiae reported. A lady who had long contact with the Legion and the Church has been baptised. In Hanshin Curia visitation of the sick and aged takes place, the rosary is recited and is greatly appreciated. Queen of Assumption praesidium, Albeno Church are active in communicating with Protestants whom they meet at a morning prayer ecumenical meeting. Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Regia: Works include teaching catechism, Patricians, book barrow, visiting an orphanage, conducting prayers for the sick in 46 Catholic and 3 non-Catholic homes and prison visits. 2 Exploratio Dominicalis projects were reported. 300 legionaries and auxiliaries attended the 25th anniversary Mass for the Servant of God, Frank Duff. 700 legionaries and auxiliaries attended the Acies. The Archbishop and Spiritual Director of Regia and other Spiritual Directors were present. Korea Seoul Senatus: The Senatus has put a lot of effort into encouraging the junior and youth legionaries. 432 members joined in a pilgrimage for juniors and 523 took part in a pilgrimage for youth legionaries. Taejeon Regia reported an increase of 1 Comitium and 4 Curiae. The Regia has a total of 16,148 active members and 12,294 auxiliaries. They reported over 3,000 people baptised and 3,816 returns to the Sacraments. Songpa Comitium, Seoul, which has 18 Curiae attached, with a total of 259 praesidia, increased their membership by 148 active, 253 auxiliaries, 32 Praetorians and 13 Adjutorians. All councils report large numbers of visits to those who have not got the Catholic faith, and many visits to Catholics and non-Catholics who are ill or in mourning. Gwangju Senatus: 1 Comitium, which has just over 200 members in its attached praesidia, had an attendance of about 97% at both the Acies and the Annual Reunion. JeonJu Regia obtained excellent results of 4,000 persons getting Baptism and Jeju Regia reported that 2,000 persons received Baptism. Masan Regia has 11,804 active members and 6,917 auxiliaries while Pusan Regia has 30,812 active and 20,420 auxiliaries. Legionaries are active in recruiting catechumens and encouraging people to return to the Sacraments. Daegu Senatus: A new praesidium has been set up at Gyongbuk University. A praesidium of 7 members, which is 1 of 4 praesidia in a prison, reported 8 Baptisms. 1 of 6 Curiae in Dusan parish has been raised to Comitium. The Concilium's guidelines for websites have been distributed to praesidia and councils. Archbishop Lee, the Archbishop of Daegu expressed his great support for the Legion of Mary. The Andong Regia reported 544 persons baptised. One of the works of the legionaries is taking care of newly baptised Catholics. Visit by Officers of 2 English Comitia to the Concilium A meeting took place on 22 April 2006 with officers of Southwark and Arundel and Brighton Comitium and Brentwood Comitium, England, which are at present directly attached to the Concilium. Very positive and useful discussions took place and the Concilium is grateful to the officers who made the sacrifice to attend. The Comitium of Southwark and Arundel and Brighton governs 15 directly attached praesidia and 6 Curiae in an area stretching from South London, including Kent and part of Surrey. Brentwood Comitium comprises a total of 27 praesidia and has 2 Curiae attached. It is situated mainly in Essex on the north side of London. The visiting legionaries attended the April meeting of the Concilium. One from each Comitium addressed the meeting and expressed their joy at being present. Causes of the Venerable Edel Quinn and the servants of God, Frank Duff and Alphonsus Lambe For the purpose of widely distributing the prayers for the three Causes, it was suggested by the Concilium that in large countries, one of the major Legion Council might accept the responsibility of printing a large supply of the prayers for the above Causes for the use of all the legionaries in the area. Over to You! The Concilium (The International Centre of the Legion of Mary) would welcome receiving articles (500 words) with photographs or a video of Legion events. These may be of use in promoting the Legion through the Maria Legionis Please send them to The Editor Maria Legionis Concilium Legionis Mariae Morning Star Avenue Brunswick Street Dublin 7, Ireland Or e-mail to:concilium@legion-of-mary.ie