Reports Europe France Senatus of Strasbourg: There was an attendance of 120 at the Acies. At their Day of Recollection, a presentation on Frank Duff was a highlight. A praesidium of three composed of a teenage brother and sister and one adult is now in its 10th year and has a remarkable record of achievement such as: a successful Passion Play organised after the Youth Days at Cologne and a talk on Our Lady to a student group. These are in addition to their regular works of running a youth choral group and conducting catechism classes. Paris Regia: The attached Versailles Curia has 4 praesidia with 26 active members and a new praesidium set up in 2005 has 6 members. A book barrow is operated during summer time. The Haitian praesidium has 16 members. It divided last year to form a new group with 9 members. Troyes Curia has 8 praesidia including a Vietnamese one. Valence Regia: A new junior girls praesidium has been started at Chateauneuf de Galaure. There are now 4 praesidia including 2 senior and 2 junior in this area. England Liverpool Senatus: Middlesbrough Comitium reported that door-to-door visitation resulted in some people returning to the Church after many years. A Book Barrow was staffed in the town centre on the first Saturdays of the month. An open air Rosary Rally was held in Widness in May. A Liverpool praesidium has 33 auxiliary members including 19 from Kerala. The Morning Star hostel for homeless men in Manchester is now run by a religious order but the legionaries keep in contact with the men staying there. A new praesidium in Liverpool visits a halfway house for young offenders. Birmingham Senatus: One praesidium organised a talk for non-Catholics at which 15 were present and two of these are taking instruction. Following door-to-door visitation by legionaries in the same praesidium 11 lapsed Catholics have returned to practice. Bristol Curia carried out an apostolate to street girls on Good Friday and very good contacts were made with 13 of them. Following door-to-door visitation by Birmingham Junior Curia, 2 non-Catholics are taking instruction. An Exploratioo Dominicalis project carried out in Coventry Curia resulted in 5 non-Catholics expressing an interest in the Catholic faith. The Senatus appointed an extension worker to the Plymouth/Devon area for a period of 5 to 6 weeks. Scotland Senatus of Scotland: Works include door-to-door visitation, Fatima statue visitation, street rescue and the erection of public cribs at Christmas. There are 10 active members on the Island of Barra off the West coast where harsh weather conditions make visitation difficult. Wales Cardiff Comitium: Active membership in 6 reporting praesidia ranged from 6 to 11. The sick and elderly are visited at home, in hospitals and Nursing Homes. 5 prisoners are being instructed in the Faith. Swansea Curia (under the caretakership of Birmingham Senatus): There are 4 attached praesidia and one of the parish priests has given permission for home visitation to be undertaken. Netherlands Senatus of Amsterdam: The English speaking praesidium do home, hospital and old folks home visitation, and prepare children for First Holy Communion. The Korean Curia has an increase of 40 new members. Luxembourg Luxembourg Curia: Attention is given to recruiting and the after care of auxiliaries. Belgium Brussels Senatus: The 60th anniversary of the Legion in Belgium was celebrated in conjunction with the Acies. Mass was concelebrated by 3 Spiritual Directors. Hymns were sung in French, English and Lingala. Germany Frankfurt Senatus: The Senatus has set up a committee to look after the Senatus website. Comitium Berlin has 10 directly attached praesidia and the attached Korean Curia has 5 praesidia. Eucharistic Adoration is used to promote the Cause of the Servant of God Frank Duff. Comitium Freiburg reported the establishment of 2 praesidia in Curia Bodensee. 45 legionaries took part in the Lenten retreat organised by the Frankfurt Korean Curia. Sancta Maria praesidium with 3 active members undertake prison visitation. Cologne Regia: Two members of the Korean Curia in Cologne took the Promise. Darmstadt Curia has 8 praesidia. 8 people showed an interest in the Legion in Fulda following a weekend extension drive. Siberia: Sr. Maria Cech and Sr. Birgit Metzler on their recent trip to Siberia visited the 3 praesidia in Krasnojarsk, Atschinsk and Bogotol and helped to regularise the officerships. Munich Senatus: The Senatus was represented at the meeting of religious movements in May and partook in Munich city May devotions. Visitation of the prison in Stadelhime and the women's prison in Neudeck is undertaken. Extension was carried out in 3 parishes in Gorlitz diocese. Extension initiatives were also carried out in Purbaum in the Diocese of Eichstatt. Comitium Augsberg has 3 directly attached praesidia along with Curia Krumback (5 praesidia) and Curia Allgau (6 praesidia). Stuttgart Comitium carry out street apostolate and preparation of children for First Holy Communion. Curia Ambert Weiden systematically visit their 12 praesidia. Curia Munchen North West has 7 praesidia and extended recently into the parishes of Seligenporten and Pyrbaum. Asia Australia Melbourne Senatus: A 2 day summer school on the theme of holiness was held in February, which was attended by 200 people including some from the Pacific. The Auxiliary Bishop, a former junior legionary gave the opening address exhorting the Legionaries to think of new ways of evangelising. Flemington Comitium which governs 2 Curiae and 12 attached praesidia is comprised mainly of Vietnamese speaking members. Frank Duff's book 'Can we be Saints' has been translated and 5,000 copies printed. Legionaries in the island of Fiji set up a Christmas crib in a public park. Sydney Senatus: Extension reports are taken monthly. Home visitation results in numerous requests for a visit from the Priest. A PPC project has been arranged to the Solomon Islands where a Curia with 13 praesidia exist. New Zealand Senatus: A visit was made by American Samoa where new praesidia of Samons, Tongans Filipinos and Americans were set up. Auckland juniors work with seniors and also promote the miraculous medal in schools and speak about the rosary to the First Holy Communicants. Chinese praesidia teach catechism and act as sponsors for the newly baptised. Papua New Guinea Madang Regia: Works by juniors included teaching catechism to 64 children, bringing 92 children to Adoration and visiting and saying prayers with 76 sick children. Other works included bringing 715 adults and 89 young Catholics to retreats on the Eucharist, 31 children were prepared for their First Holy Communion. Out of 162 lapsed Catholics who were met on home visitation, 40 returned to the Sacraments. Rabaul Regia has 6,500 members. Much conversion work has been done. Philippines Cebu Senatus: Recruiting features strongly resulting in 2 new senior and 2 junior praesidia. Reports include conversion of sect members, marriage validation and the conversion of a Jehovah Witness. 5 seminary praesidia undertake home to home visitation, prison visitation and also teach catechism. Bicolandia Senatus: 70 homes received the Stations of the Cross, 4 school boys and 4 adults were baptised. A Jehovah Witness family was brought back to the Church. A mixed praesidium was set up in a military establishment. Western Visayas Regia: 1 Curia has an apostolate with the book barrow. Legionaries persuaded a young student not to commit suicide. A seminary praesidium works in a public school. A Muslim couple were converted. Manila Senatus: 1 Comitium covers 40 parishes with 8 senior Curiae, 21 directly attached praesidia and 1 junior Curia. 9 Patrician meetings took place and 54 conversions were reported. Rosaries were also distributed. Curiae and Comitia reported the baptism of 550 adults, Catechesis was given to 452 children, 108 conversions were reported and many returns to the Sacraments. Through diligent follow-up a family of 8 were converted. Peregrinatio Pro Christo and Exploratioo Dominicalis projects were undertaken. In Makati South Comitium up to 14,000 homes were visited and 81 marriages were validated. 18 juniors graduated to senior ranks and 4 members entered the religious life. Africa Cabo Verde Praia Regia: 2 members from the Regia visited 2 islands and had meetings with Council officers and attended the 1st Congress of one of the Councils. New praesidia have commenced and there is an increase in membership. Ghana Accra Senatus: A 3 week trip to Sierra Leone was carried out by two members of the Senatus on behalf of Concillium. A Curia at Kotobahi has 10 senior and 5 junior praesidia. Kumasi Regia: has 13 councils and 9 directly attached praesidia. Some results obtained were as follows: 447 baptised, 302 received First Holy Communion, 459 received confirmation and a further 511 are under instruction. Over 300 attended a Mass for Ven. Edel Quinn. Sunyani Regia has set up a Comitium at Berekum. Bishop P.K. Atuahene was present at the inauguration of the Comitium in Goaso and a further Comitium was set up at Techiman. The Regia has now 25 catechists. Zimbabwe Hwange Comitium: Fr. Tim Peacock Spiritual Director and some of the legionaries from the Comitium carried out extension work in the Kimativi Strip which resulted in the setting up of 7 praesidia. Preparations are underway for the visit to the new Curia in Namibia. A Praesidium in a resettlement area near the Victoria Falls has been affiliated to the Comitium. Members of the attached junior Curia have visited a resettlement area on a few occasions and were welcomed by the Chief who is a Moslem. Lesotho Lesotho Senatus: An attached Comitium has set up a new praesidium. The Acies ceremonies were held. Visits were made to homes, prisons and hospitals and people are under instruction for the various sacraments and marriages have been regularised. Republic of South Africa, Namibia and Swaziland Cape Town Senatus: A member of the Seminary praesidium was ordained in Port Elizabeth. A talk was given by a youth group in Lambert's Bay on the Rosary and the Miraculous Medal. The Curiae at Mitchels Plain and Parow have 128 and 146 auxiliary members respectively. The praesidium commenced by the extension group from Port Elizabeth in Grahamstown has grown to 17 members. A non Catholic was so impressed with the reverence shown for the Blessed Sacrament when it was brought to her home for her sick husband, that she has since come into the Church. Johannesburg Senatus: A praesidium in Rietvallei with 20 members reported returns to practice, regularisation of marriages and the visitation of prisons. Contacts are made in Se-Sotho, Zulu and English. Reports were received from the Comitium of Soweto and the Curiae at Natalspruit, East Rand Kimberly and Pietersburg. Marianhill Comitium: the Zulu translation of the Handbook is being proof read. Matatiele Comitium: A praesidium reported 7 returns to practice and 4 marriages regularised. Two discussion groups are held on patrician lines. St Augustines Comitium: It has 12 attached Curiae. 424 attended the Acies. Angola Benguela Regia: The Bishop of Benguela, Dom Oscar Braga attended the December meeting and encouraged all the legionaries with children to instil the spirit of the Legion in them, so that they will be good legionaries in the future. Cubal Comitium set up a new Curia and has gained a good number of young people. Huambo Comitium was divided and 4 new Comitia have been set up with 5,12, 7 and 7 Curiae respectively. A Curia with 26 praesidia has 465 members. Extension Work in Birmingham U.K. Jacinta McGorian and Seamus Rickard were sent by Concilium on extension work in Birmingham for a period of three weeks from the middle of June to July. They met with many of the Priests of different Parishes, and at weekends they spoke at the Masses and contacted many people afterwards and also went on home visitation during the week. Their untiring work bore great fruit as two new praesidia were set up while there and they held another two explanatory meetings which was attended by those interested in starting the Legion in their area. They also visited the Senatus of Birmingham as well as some established praesidia. Visit to Albania In agreement with the Malta Regia, 2 Dublin Legionaries, Maureen McManus and Fiona Hodge appointed by the Concilium joined a youth group from Malta, which worked in a parish (north of Tirana) in Albania from 19th June to 2nd July. The Maltese group comprised 5 young legionaries, 3 senior legionaries and a Spiritual Director, Fr. Emmanuel Spiteri. The work was addressed to the local youth between the ages of 7 and 22 years who were invited to the parish centre for a mixture of classes, crafts and discussion interspersed with spirituality which are intended to be a witness to Christian values and therefore an encouragement to the young Albanians. They also visited two praesidia, one in Tirana and another in Lac and they also visited the Catholic radio station Radio Maria which is the second biggest Albanian station. Tommy McCabe, President of the Concilium expressed his thanks to the two legionaries for undertaking the project. Visit to Chile / Bolivia Noel Lynch was sent by the Concilium to visit Chile and Bolivia over a period of three weeks. Jorge Garcia, an officer of the Senatus of Buenos Aires and former extension worker accompanied him on the visit to Chile. They visited the tomb of Alfie Lambe in Buenos Aires before they set out on their journey to Chile. During their first few days in Santiago, meetings were held with the new Senatus officers on a daily basis as well as with correspondents and other legionaries. A meeting was held with the Auxilary Bishop of the Archdiocese Mons.Andres Arteaga. The Hierarchy were fully behind the transfer of the Senatus seat to Benedicta Curia. The new Senatus officers were very grateful to Concilium for sending two representatives to be present for the transfer. The power of prayer was very evident during this time. The first Senatus meeting had an excellent attendance and very good participation on reports were given. Many legionaries came up to them afterwards to thank them for an excellent meeting. All agreed that they could feel a new beginning had happened and that Mary's Legion was entering a new era. The visit to the Senatus La Paz Bolivia was an extraordinary event. Many of the Legionaries who met them at the airport cried openly for joy as they greeted them. It had been more than forty years since the Concilium had come to visit them personally. This visit was done with the help of extension worker Susana Maciel from Argentina who has offered her services to Concilium for 12 months. They met hundreds of legionaries, many of whom did not speak Spanish but do an excellent apostolate in the Amara and Guarani languages. The Legion exists in many rural areas where many have worked faithfully for years in primitive conditions keeping the Church alive and also keeping sects from overrunning their villages. They also met the Cardinal and the Nuncio who were very impressed with the international nature of the Concilium visit. They also commended the legionaries for the contribution they give to the apostolate of the Church. USA/Canadian Officers Conference 63 Officers and 9 Spiritual Directors from 16 directly affiliated councils in USA and Canada attended a four day conference held at Concilium Headquarters from the 10th to the 14th July. The theme of the conference was 'the Mission of the Legion in the United States and Canada - The New Evangelisation'. Great emphasis was laid on thinking and planning in Christ and the True Devotion to Our Blessed Lady and the need for extension and new evangelisation in an overall population of approximately 350 million. All were encouraged to step up the promotion of the 3 Legion causes i.e. the Servants of God, Frank Duff and Alfie Lambe and Venerable Edel Quinn as models to the modern lay apostolate. Fr. Bede McGregor, Spiritual Director of the Concilium encouraged all to study the Handbook as it can be regarded as a treatise on the true devotion to the Holy Spirit just as St. Louis Marie De Montfort has given us a treatise on true devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Tommy McCabe, President expressed appreciation of the generosity and commitment of the participants and hoped for a new springtime of evangelisation for the Church and the Legion in the North American continent. Promotion of the Causes Each council throughout the world can assist actively in the promotion of the Causes of the 3 Legion candidates - Venerable Edel Quinn, and the Servants of God Frank Duff and Alfie Lambe. This can be done very effectively by doing the following: Appointing Promoters of the Cause: These can be legionaries, not necessarily officers - and can be non-legionaries too who have a particular interest in one of the candidates. They would have a good stock of prayer leaflets available as well as some literature on the candidate for distribution. Organising a Prayer Group for the Cause: This can take the form of a monthly meeting, commence with prayer with the recitation of the Rosary recommended, followed by a reading about the person - Frank Duff, Edel Quinn, Alfie Lambe, followed by a time for petition, time for favours received, quiet time for reflection and concluding with the Prayer for Beatification. Organising an Annual Commemorative Mass: This can be done around the birth-date or anniversary of death. It would be good if possible to invite the Bishop of the Diocese to celebrate the Mass and have him or someone else give a homily on the person whose Cause is being commemorated. At the Mass prayer leaflets for the candidate can be available for all attending. Asking all Legionaries - active and auxiliary - to recite the prayer daily, to carry leaflets on their person and give it to people we meet in the course of our Legion assignments and to people who cross our paths day to day. In order for a favour to be meaningful to the progression of a Cause it must be assigned to one of the three, rather than be a combination of a couple of them. That too would be even more applicable when it comes to looking at paper work required to back up an attested miracle.