Reports Europe Italy Rome Senatus: A complete report on the Legion in Sicily was presented to the Senatus. The Comitium of Paterno governs 5 Curiae with a total of 50 praesidia. One new praesidium was affiliated to the Senatus. Milan Regia: The 25th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God, Frank Duff was celebrated in November with an exhibition, posters, on book barrows and remembrance in the prayers of the faithful at Masses. A young man of 20 was advised by his Spiritual Director to attend Legion meetings in preparation for his entry to a Seminary. Padua Comitium: Reports cover many works including preparing young couples for the Baptism of their children and keeping in contact with parents of children attending catechism classes. Malta Gozo Comitium: During 2005 legionaries contacted over 5000 tourists, offering them miraculous medals and Catholic enquiry cards to those interested in the Catholic Church. Two legionaries helped with instruction and were sponsors for an Anglican lady received into the Church. The new Bishop was formerly a Legion Spiritual Director. Malta Regia set up a praesidium of 8 after a recruiting drive. Visits are being made to refugee camps and the Regia is discussing the possibility of setting up praesidia in some of these. Countries under the care of Malta Regia Albania: The Malta Regia Vice-president and Mgr. Borg, S.D, of Gozo Comitium visited Albania in March to attend the first Acies functions of the various Curiae and praesidia in the country. There are 3 Curiae, one in each of the Dioceses of Shkoder, Sape and Lezhe as well as 4 praesidia, 2 in Durres, 1 in Tirana and 1 in Elbasan. The 3 Curiae Acies ceremonies were well attended, with about 300 members at the Sape function, at which Bishop Dide Gjergi presided. 40 legionaries attended the Acies in Tirana for the 4 praesidia in the south of Albania and Fr. George Frendo, O.P. Vicar General of the Tirana-Durres Diocese concelebrated the Mass at the ceremony. The visitors also attended praesidia meetings and visited the Bishop of Tirana-Durres. Meetings were held with the officers of the 3 Curiae and the Bishop of Shkoder was visited. Spain Madrid Senatus: Gradually more Spanish speaking immigrants are becoming active members. Reports note special importance being given to youth. Legionaries help in summer camps and also direct their apostolate to children who have just received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The monthly project "fishing for youth" continues with young adults being contacted on the streets and in bars to interest them in the Faith and the active lay apostolate. Bilbao Senatus: Among their works are an apostolate to street girls met in hospitals, contact with gypsies and immigrants. Leon Curia started jail visitation recently. Barcelona Senatus: Members of a praesidium spoke about the Legion to an Argentinian priest of the Oriental Rite who is in charge of Ukranian and Romanian immigrants. Portugal Lisbon Senatus: The Comitium of Faro has temporarily been reduced to Curia until more praesidia are set up. A Columban recruiting drive is being held in the Jeronimos parish of Lisbon. The Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon celebrated Mass in the new Oratory in the Legion House where they have the privilege of having the Blessed Sacrament. Cyprus: The 2 praesidia in Nicosia and Limassol are engaged in visitation of a home for the elderly, some home visitation and promotion of the Rosary. Gibraltar Curia: Home to home and prison visitation and visits to a day care centre for cancer patients are among works carried out. During visits to the prison miraculous medals and religious literature are distributed. Greece Athens Curiahas 5 praesidia attached, one of which is a Filippino one working among their own community. The apostolate of the other 4 consists mainly of works of service. Outside Athens there are 3 praesidia. Asia Bangladesh: At the request of the Concilium, Calcutta Comitium sent 2 legionaries to visit Bangladesh between 17 and 19 March 2006. The visitors discovered that the area in which the Legion operates is almost totally Catholic. They met 30 members of the 4 praesidia, with the oldest praesidium functioning since March 1947. The visitors were impressed with the way difficulties are overcome. The legionaries attended the Comitium meeting in Dacca at which 40 praesidia were represented. India Calcutta Comitium: The works of the reporting Curia include home and hospital visitation where non-Catholics are met. The Hindi speaking Curia teaches catechism, gives instruction to non-Catholics wishing to become Catholics and promotes prayer for the Legion Causes. Mumbai Regia: The Regia continues to educate its praesidia and councils in the government of the Legion. A Tamil Comitium with 3 Curiae was recently established. They undertook a visit to Delhi Curia at the request of the Concilium, the legionaries and the Archbishop. Goa Comitium does a very fruitful apostolate in the AIDS Hospice where many are introduced to the Sacraments. The annual audit has been carried out. Pondicherry Regia reported on a mini Peregrinatio Pro Christo project from 13 - 25 January 2006. 60 legionaries were divided into 13 teams in 9 parishes. 1500 homes were visited; reconciliation between husbands and wives were arranged for 26 families and many persons were introduced to the idea of Catholicism. Kazakhstan Works reported upon included visitation of the sick and lonely, including the cancer wards and preparation of people for Baptism and Confession. Myanmar Rangoon Senatus: A 4-day visit was undertaken to a distant Curia. Praesidia in 3 villages were visited and legionaries from surrounding villages also came. Good discussion and encouragement was given. To reach these areas they travelled by bus, tractors and crossed rivers by boats and walked long distances through forests. They brought with them Handbooks, Tesserae and prayers for the Legion Causes in English and Burmese. 2 legionaries also travelled a distance of 200 miles and found a praesidium of 6 members and 7 auxiliaries. Pakistan Karachi Comitium: A praesidium of 15 members giving its first report runs bible classes and First Holy Communion classes in an orphanage. They also work for handicapped children. Vietnam The Senatus has 24,200 active senior and 11,100 junior members. They arranged for the Baptism of 4,222 adults and 3,103 children during 2005. Great heroism is shown in carrying out the Legion apostolate and help is given to priests in many mission stations. Africa Benin Cotonou Regia: Praesidia reports deal with home and hospital visitation, contacting Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and members of Sects, recruiting catechumens and teaching catechism. New praesidia and new Curiae have been set up and a widespread recruiting campaign is in progress. Enclosed retreats were organised and well attended. The Junior Curia has 5 praesidia and efforts are being made to increase its membership and that of the "Frank Duff Clubs" for children. Congo Brazzaville Regia: Works include home, hospital and hostel visitation, crowd contact on local streets and Sunday evangelising projects with large groups participating. Contacts include Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and others. Catechumens are recruited, taught catechism and prepared for Baptism and other Sacraments. Contacts are encouraged to visit the Blessed Sacrament in local Churches. Some new praesidia were started at Regia and council level. Gabon (in care of Cotonou Regia) Libreville Comitium is trying to increase the membership of its praesidia. The one Patrician group there continues to hold monthly meetings. Oyem Comitium has a total of 956 active and 120 auxiliary members and has recently organised a new praesidium. Legionaries in one area are caring for 2 orphans. Ivory Coast Abidjan Regia: During a period of 3 months reports were taken from 6 attached praesidia with memberships ranging from 16 to 50. Works reported include visitation of homes, hospitals, detention centres and other institutions, recruiting catechumens, teaching catechism and bringing the lapsed back to Mass and Sacraments. Contacts on the streets included members of 6 different sects. Reports show a great improvement in the administration of the Regia. Visitation of praesidia and contact with affiliated councils results in the revival of praesidia in many areas and reorganisation of Curiae. Days of formation and retreats are being organised. The activities of the Comitia of Yopougon and Grand Bassam (both in Abidjan city) were mentioned in reports. Equatorial Guinea: Bata Comitium: Most of its work is done in nursing homes. A couple and their daughter were reunited after counselling and much prayer. Burkina Faso: Communication is very poor. It is certain that the Legion is at work in every diocese but reports are awaited from the main body, the Comitium of Ouagadougou. Central America Costa Rica Senatus of San Juan: Extensive visitation is carried out with great results. Honduras Senatus of Tegucigalpa: Had a special Mass in the Cathedral in thanksgiving for the good results obtained over the year through door-to- door visitation. Belize: One praesidium visits shut-ins and recites the Rosary in homes in May and November. A project resulted in 3 praesidia being set up. Nicaragua Regia of Managua: The Regia has 1 Comitium, 5 Curiae and 18 praesidia attached - a total of 78 active members and 148 auxiliaries. The usual works are done including jail visitation. They hold Retreats and in Lent they organised Stations of the Cross on Fridays with very good attendances. Guatemala Comitium of Camotan: Recent minutes received covered the works of 7 senior Curiae, 6 senior praesidia, 2 Junior Curiae with approximately 404 auxiliaries and 20 probationers. The auxiliaries are taught the prayers in the Tessera. Usual works including prison visitation and inviting lapsed to return to the Church are undertaken. The junior legionaries join with the seniors in home visitation, help the sick and invite children to join the Legion. A retreat was held. The sects are active in the area. El Salvador Senatus of San Salvador: This council reports many conversions. The Comitium of Zacataluca has set up 2 junior praesidia. The Curia in Chalatenango has set up a new junior praesidium and another is instructing 20 children with hopes of getting them into the Legion. Praesidium Santa Maria had a retreat for 130 prisoners and 32 made their First Holy Communion. The Regia of San Vicente also had 52 prisoners at a retreat and 2 families who had converted to Protestantism returned to the faith. The Regia of Santa Ana has 1 praesidium working in the area of prostitution and a junior praesidium has been set up. A Mormon couple returned to the faith and are now legionaries. A little girl of 11 received instruction and her parents have now become Catholics. Mexico Mexico City Senatus: The Senatus continues to extend. 9 praesidia and 3 Curiae were set up recently. Crowd contact work is carried out in the bus stations, the metro and on the street. The parents of children in the catechism classes are given religious instruction. Legionaries also give formation talks to godparents and teenagers. All reports indicate big numbers, including young adults, returning to Mass and the Sacraments and a large number of couples were prepared for and received the Sacrament of Marriage. At least 3 families who had joined the Jehovah's Witnesses returned to the practice of the Catholic Faith. Reports indicated that Exploratio Dominicalis and Peregrinatio Pro Christo projects were carried out. Guadalajara Senatus: Legionaries organise a tridium to promote the Brown Scapular in the month of July and the Miraculous Medal in the month of November. They have recently appointed 6 correspondents for the 6 distant councils. Merida Regia: A junior Curia with 14 praesidia has 160 junior legionaries. They teach catechism to young children and make contact with their own age group. An attached Comitium reported visiting 2000 homes and they met 282 families who had joined the sects, 3 returned to the practice of the Faith and 44 families agreed to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart. In addition to preparing children for the Sacraments, parents and godparents are given instruction as well and encouraged to go to Confession. All reports from senior councils indicate that they have a junior Curia or at least some junior praesidia attached. Great emphasis is placed on the junior movement. One of the reporting Comitia has 37 Curiae and other Comitia have an equally high number of Curiae attached. Hermosillo Regia: The Regia set up a new Comitium in a distant area and affiliated the other 4 Curiae in that area. A new Curia with 6 praesidia was also set up in a distant town. A praesidium prepared 59 children and 20 adults for the sacraments. The same praesidium runs a book barrow outside the Cathedral. Monterrey Regia: The attached Comitium of Saltillo set up 3 new praesidia and the Regia itself is extending in the neighbouring Diocese of Linares. 2 prison legionaries on transfer to another prison set up 2 new praesidia. A number of legionaries took part in a mission with the local seminarians in a remote area of the city where there is no resident priest. The local priest responded very well by attending the mission ceremonies every day. A young legionary who helped during the project subsequently joined the seminary. Most of the reports indicate that the three Legion Causes are promoted in the different councils. Visit of officers of the Budapest Regia, Hungary to the Concilium A very warm welcome was given to Rev. Fr. Zahar Bela, Spiritual Director, Konde Gabor, President, Lindmayer Antalne Kati, Vice President, Bognar Jozsefne Katika, Secretary and Szabadi Sandor, Assistant Treasurer of Budapest Regia who attended the Concilium meeting and brought greetings from their Council. The Regia comprises 7 Comitia, 39 Curiae, a total of 325 praesidia with a membership of about 3000. This expansion has been achieved during the past 10 years. Tommy McCabe, President of the Concilium thanked the officers for coming and for attending an afternoon of discussion with officers of the Concilium on the day before the Concilium meeting. Election of New Concilium Officer Three candidates were formally proposed and seconded for the office of Assistant Secretary. Following 3 ballots, Ann Cahalan was formally elected to fill the vacancy. Venerable Edel Quinn The 62nd Anniversary Commemorative Mass for the Venerable Edel Quinn was celebrated on May 13, 2006 in St. Saviour's Church, Dominick Street. Dublin. The principal celebrant and homilist was Very Rev. Adrian Farrelly, O.P., P.P., Prior of St. Saviour's. Two Irish and two African priests concelebrated with him. About 300 people attended. The Servant of God Alphonsus Lambe Alphonsus Lambe, (known as Alfie) was born in Tullamore, Ireland on the feast of St. John the Baptist, Friday, 24th June 1932, during the international Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. Like St. John he was a precursor - the precursor of the Legion of Mary, which Pope Paul V1 described as "the greatest movement which has been established for the good of souls since the era of the great religious orders". After spending a period of his youth in the novitiate of the Irish Christian Brothers, he had to leave because of delicate health, but found his vocation in the Legion of Mary. He was appointed Envoy in 1953. With Seamus Grace he left for Bogota, Columbia on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16) of that year. For almost six years he worked ceaselessly in promoting the Legion of Mary in Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay and Brazil. After a short but grave illness he died on the feast of St. Agnes, January 21, 1959. He is buried in the vault of the Irish Christian Brothers, in the Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina. God has bestowed on him great natural gifts, a personality which attracted souls to the service of and love of God, an infectious enthusiasm, and a facility for learning languages, which enabled him to rapidly attain fluency in Spanish and Portuguese. During his years in South America he set up a great number of branches of the Legion of Mary, and trained a multitude in the apostolate of the Legion. His devotion to Mary was outstanding, and in contacts with Legionaries and others he explained and urged the practice of the True Devotion to Our Lady. The Cause for his Beatification was introduced by the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires in 1978.