Reports South America (Argentina and Brazil) Brazil Sao Paolo Senatus: The annual national Legion pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida had an attendance of 75,000. A retreat for young legionaries in the Senatus area had an attendance of 120. A Peregrinatio Pro Christo project with 19 legionaries to 2 communities on an island resulted in 2 new praesidia. Ponta Grossa Regia set up 38 praesidia , including 7 junior and 2 Curiae. Rio De Janiero Senatus Two Rio legionaries were encouraged during their 2 month visit to Amazonia to involve local legionaries in their visits. Street apostolate involves contact with street people, taxi drivers and recitation of the rosary at the metro station. A council in the Amazonian region conducts a regular hour long radio programme on evangelisation. Salvador Senatus Catechetical work is carried out extensively with about 18 pupils to each legionary catechist. Infants up to the age of six receive pre-catechesis as part of an apostolate to families. In Alagoas the Rosary is taught to street people and domestic works of service is carried out for 167 who suffer from paralysis. In several places up to 48% are juniors - one Comitium having 900 juniors. Belo Horizonte Senatus A focus on the family apostolate includes visits to non-Catholics, involves guidance to parents on catechesis for their children and prayers for family harmony. Evangelisation is carried out among families of prisoners and addicts. Prison apostolate besides evangelisation also involves the provision of documents, the transference and even the release of prisoners. One Comitium has 80 praetorians and 187 adjutorians. Sao Luis Regia The newly appointed Archbishop attended the Regia meeting and expressed his gratitude for the courtesy visit paid to him by the Regia officers and said that he looked forward to strengthening the links between the Legion and the Archdiocese. Prison apostolate resulted in prisoners being released, some transferred to rural jails and others were allowed home for Christmas. Brasilia Regia A Columban recruiting project resulted in a praesidium. A tourist apostolate is carried out daily at the Cathedral. A centenarian accepted a visit from a Priest and returned to the Sacraments. Legionaries in the distant State of Tocantines have a particular apostolate to expectant mothers, disturbed families, single parents and addicts seeking their participation in parish life. Fortaleza Regia This Regia is being raised to Senatus at the end of this month. Argentina Buenos Aires SenatusThe Buenos Aires Regia has 70 young adult legionaries and a Korean Curia with 22 praesidia. They also work hard on the cause of Alfie Lambe, giving talks, setting up prayer groups and taking care of Alfie's tomb. Salta Senatus Legionaries from many praesidia prepare young recruits for the Sacraments. Intermediate members visit with seniors on home visitation. Cordoba Senatus Will be celebrating their golden jubilee this year. Rosario Regia A Curia with 9 praesidia, 68 members visited 90 homes during an Exploratio project. Another Curia visited a barrio resulting in many children and adults baptised. A Comitium with 5 Curiae and 15 praesidia record marriages validated, returns to the Sacraments and reception into the Church of members of sects. Europe Austria (and attached Councils) Vienna Senatus: Curia North West contacts young people at the bus stop on their way to a disco. The Student Curia work includes door to door visitation in the Student House. 30 students attended an Irish evening to promote Frank Duff, 200 to 300 young people attended Christian youth festivals, 44 legionaries have volunteered for 8 PPC projects organised for this year. Graz Comitium: True Devotion to Our Lady was undertaken by 5 active and auxiliary legionaries. Bregenz Comitium : 3 junior praesidia organise each month a Christian festival for young people. Innsbruck Comitium: A legion day to discuss the apostolate to other religions, especially Islam was held. There were 2 reported favours, one from depression and one from aids through the intercession of Frank Duff. Many of the Comitia officers had meetings with their Bishops who expressed their appreciation of the Legion. Czech Republic Comitium Prague: A youth praesidium was started in a Catholic school and opened a Frank Duff cafe comprising discussions on Frank Duff and his practical spirituality, classical music, coffee and cakes. A new book in Czech on Alfie Lambe has been published. Slovakia Curia Kormorn: A woman was brought back to the Sacraments before her death. Moldova: Bishop Cosa celebrated Mass at the Acies. Ms Waechter from Vienna Student Curia spent 10 days visiting the praesidia there. Slovenia Curia Ljublana with 7 praesidia recruited 19 auxiliaries. Croatia Zagreb Comitium established 2 new Curiae. It now has 8 Curiae and 20 directly attached praesidia. A second Comitium is under consideration. Bosnia/Herzegovina Sarajevo: The 3 praesidia are making progress. Hungary Works include visitation of hospitals, nursing homes where patients were prepared for Mass and Confession; recitation of the Rosary on Catholic Radio; children are prepared for First Holy Communion and Confirmation; Eucharistic Adoration is promoted. The Pilgrim Virgin Statue is brought to homes and pilgrimages are organised. One Comitium has recently set up 3 new praesidia. Nagybatomy Comitium has 256 active members, 24 probationers, 424 auxiliaries and 59 children in Nazareth groups. 8 marriages were regularised. Belarus: 2 Senior praesidia in Minsk, one with 7 active members and 38 auxiliaries, the other with 15 active and 25 auxiliaries do home and hospital visitation. They prepare the patients and residents for the sacraments and visit of a Priest. They visited two villages and spoke about the Legion after the Mass. A recently formed junior praesidia in Baranovichi visit children who do not go to Mass regularly and speak about God to fellow students in a student hostel. Legionaries from Lida have helped with the formation of a new praesidium of 11 in Grodno. The Comitium now has 7 senior and 1 junior praesidia. Poland Lublin Regia: Radzyn Comitium gave permission for the setting up of 3 new praesidia. After a 30 year lapse a person received the Sacrament of Penance just before dying. Katowice Comitium The Cause of Frank Duff is well promoted. In Katowice Cathedral 30 priests concelebrated Mass for his beatification. Approximately 500 legionaries participated in the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Czestochowa. Warsaw Comitium: Fr. Tadeusz Mierzwinski MIC has retired from the Spiritual Directorship of the Comitium. He was the first Spiritual Director of the Curia, later Comitium, he gave a home to the Legion in his parish of St. Boniface, Stegny, where it still resides, was an unfailing advocate of the Legion with Cardinal Glemp and was a pillar of strength to the Legion at all times. Cardinal Glemp has appointed as his successor, Fr. Boguslaw Binda MIC who succeeded him as Parish Priest in Stegny recently. The Concilium recently joined with the legionaries sending greetings to the Cardinal on his Sacerdotal Jubilee The Malbork Curia reports a continuance of its good work in the local youth clubs with Winter Camps and recreational and spiritual activities. Asia Indonesia Malang Senatus: Attendance 83%. Works mentioned, visitation of homes for disabled children, helping Priest with regularisation of marriages, giving guidance to Catholic students in state school. Senatus conference took place, with an attendance of 100, plus 7 Spiritual Directors, the theme was "The Legion of Mary in this challenging era". Jakarta Senatus: Quarterly reports were received from 8 Curiae and 1 Regia. Works include the visitation of hospitals, homes, the sick and Auxiliaries, helping to bring Holy Communion to the sick, teaching children at Church and prison visitation. A Curia in Meruya helped the victims of the Yogyakarta earthquake disaster. Five new Praesidia were set up. A Comitium is planning extension to 3 parishes. Korea Seoul Senatus: His Eminence Cardinal Nicolao Jung Archbishop of Seoul and the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea were among the speakers who gave a series of lectures on the prayer of the Angelus to Legionaries during the month of May. 1,400 legionaries attended each lecture. The Incheon Regia showed an increase of 6 Curiae, 38 senior and 5 junior praesidia over a period of 11 months. 3,157 catechumens were baptised and there were 4,140 returns to the Sacraments. Many visits were made to Catholics and non-Catholics who were sick or infirm. Yongsan Comitium was divided into two Comitia leaving it with 13 Curiae and the new Comitium with ten Curiae. The six officers of the Senatus and the Spiritual Director visited Ireland this month and had a meeting with Concilium Officers. They also visited the grave and house of Frank Duff and Myra House. Gwangiu Senatus: A new Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Kimyanghoe, John Bosco took up office in May. A Comitium in San Jeong-dong parish showed an increase of 24 active and 99 auxiliary members and a Comitium in Jeojeon-dong parish had an increase of 6 praesidiae, 103 active ad 35 auxiliary members. A praesidium in Lim-dong parish gained five new members, bringing their membership to 15 and instructed 8 persons into the Church. Daegu Senatus: Street contact work in Hyomok Comitium resulted in 65 people registering for catechism classes. Waegwan Comitium which is in a rural area has five junior praesidiae. A Curia in Daegu Catholic University has praesidia made up of professors and administration staff as well as praesidia of students. Reports from councils continue to show large numbers of catechumens and many returns to the Sacraments. Andong Regia reported two new praesidia established. Japan Osaka Senatus:A praesidium, Our Lady of Lourdes undertakes catechisis, instructing children on a Sunday morning while a parent attends and they also contact the housebound by telephone as well as visiting them. Tokyo Regia: Among their works is attendance at funerals for those living alone. Nagasaki Regia: Extension work has been undertaken by visiting new Churches in Nagasaki City. Visitation of the sick is carried out almost universally and visits with the Priest bringing Holy Communion is welcomed. Malaysia Kuala Lumpar Regia Works include teaching and helping in Sunday School. Home and hospital visitation to Catholics and non-Catholics. Members facilitate at RCIA classes. Taiwan Senatus: The Senatus is made up of 12 directly affiliated praesidia, 12 directly affiliated Curiae and 1 Comitium. There is a Legion presence in 5 out of 7 suffragen dioceses. Much good work is being done in preparing those wishing to become Catholics. Hong Kong ComitiumElections took place in June and a new President was elected. Works include contact work in flower market out of which 11 joined Catechism class, tuition class for students, internet evangelisation, book barrow, leading rosary, pilgrim statue visitation and orientation for newly baptised. Macau Curia has 7 praesidia with a junior attachment of 4 praesidia. Their assignments record visits to three hospitals, a home for the handicapped, elderly home and a hospital for lepers in the Mainland. Their evangelisation covers catechism classes in parishes and prisons. Singapore Senatus Concilium gave permission for the printing of the Handbook and that is now taking place. Junior Curia reported leading morning assembly prayers and stations of the Cross, together with senior Curia. 120 legionaries were present. They also organised Chinese New Year Mass. Africa Kenya Senatus: Most Rev. Bishop David Kamau was chief celebrant at the Mass at the grave of Ven. Edel Quinn on 14th May and among the concelebrants were a Tanzanian and two Ugandan Priests. Plans are underway to celebrate 70 years of the Legion in Kenya in December and also the centenary of Edel's birth in September 2007. Thika Comitium reported 2 people baptised, 8 under instruction, 6 marriages validated and that special care is given to auxiliaries. Many orphanages are visited. Uganda Senatus: One council organised a vigil to mark the 62nd anniversary of Edel's death. 1,000 legionaries from various parts of Uganda and 3 priests attended. 87 Ugandan legionaries travelled to Nairobi to join in the celebrations there. A junior music festival was held with the aim of keeping juniors strong in their faith. Great efforts are being made to increase the patrician movement. Prison reports continue to show miracles of grace and one prison praesidium has split to form a second. Mbarara Regia with 32,000 seniors and 11,000 juniors reported that in the past year 685 people became Catholics including 50 Moslems, 212 pagan shrines were destroyed while a number of people returned to the Church from the sects. A Comitium giving its first report has 1,665 seniors and 901 juniors and had one Moslem converted, 6 pagan shrines demolished and 20 people baptised. Malawi Blantyre Regia: The Bishop of Mzuzu diocese gave permission for the setting up of 10 Comitia because of the distances between parishes. Nigeria Enugu Regia: One Comitium reported having 9,690 senior and 6,747 junior members. 7 junior praesidia were established, 4 homes were consecrated to the Sacred Heart and 17 ex prisoners were converted. Abuja Regia: Praesidia reports show a large number of probationers. Lagos Regia: One Comitium formed 28 senior and 6 junior praesidia and 4 junior curiae in the year. Another Comitium reported 5 Muslims converted and 13 women left brothels. Ibadan Regia: A university praesidium reports a very good regular attendance. Archbishop Job attended the March Regia meeting. They are delighted with their elevation to Senatus status and their inauguration is planned for September. Kaduna Regia: Two of the four reporting praesidia have juniors attached and 2 organise patrician meetings. All councils and Regia were encouraged to carry out Exploratio projects. Benin City Regia: 9 legionary couples had their marriages blessed in Church. 2 legionaries were ordained and 2 made their final religious profession. 89 members taught catechism and one catechism centre was established. A rally entitled Edel Quinn and Youth was held. 17 people were received into the Church. Sierra Leone On behalf of Concilium legionaries from Ghana visited the Curia and praesidia in Freetown and then moved up country. They were welcomed in Makeni, the Western Province by Bishop Biguzzi. Liberia The visit by legionaries from Nigeria to Liberia went very well. They worked hard, spoke at Masses getting a good response which enabled them to strengthen existing praesidia and set up new ones, laying the foundations of two new Curiae and giving Monrovia Curia a mandate to look after them. Fr. Gary was most helpful and they met the Archbishop. Zambia Lusaka Regia: They have carried out visitation of councils and extension work in Livingstone Diocese. Tesserae and beatifiction prayer leaflets have been translated into the local language and are being distributed. Visits to hospitals, prisons and police cells continue. Kasama Regia: Planning meetings have been held by the Regia. Prison visitation continues. Tanzania Rombo Comitium: One Curia with 6 senior and 10 junior praesidia reported teaching catechism to adults, encouraging couples to have their marriages validated and visiting sick people and arranging for them to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. Dar-Es-Salaam Comitium: The Swahili Handbook is now ready for printing. Songea Comitium: An annual report stated that the council has 1,692 active members, 389 auxiliaries and 151 probationers. Works include visitation of homes, street children, orphans and sick, disabled and abandoned people. They prepare people for the sacraments and held Frank Duff and Edel Quinn Masses. Njombe Comitium: Works include visiting the sick, encouraging people to have their marriages validated and the lapsed to return to the faith. Sumbawanga Curia: Have a membership of 1,515. Works include visiting hospitals, dispensaries, prisons and orphanages. They encourage people in their faith and help with family problems. Visit of Officers of Malta Regia Rev. Fr. Tonio Milanes, Spiritual Director, Alfred Sammut, President, Joseph Micallef, Vice President and Carmen Bonnici, Assistant Secretary were welcomed to the Concilium meeting. The Regia President reported on the progress of the Malta Regia and of its care of the Legion in Albania and three other countries, which it carries out on behalf of the Concilium. The four officers attended a meeting with officers of the Concilium on the day before the Concilium meeting and reported in detail on their work. Recitation of the Prayer of the Servant of God Frank Duff We wish to inform you that a decision was taken by the Concilium at its April 2005 meeting permitting the recitation of the Prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God, Frank Duff. The recommendation was that the prayer would be recited at the end of every Legion meeting (praesidium and council) which takes place throughout the world. It is to be understood that the recitation of this prayer is not interfering with the prayers invariable coming, as it does, after the Concluding Prayers of the Legion and is provided for under Chapter 19, Section 16 of the Handbook. It is also to be understood that the recitation of this prayer for beatification refers only to Frank Duff in his capacity as founder of the Legion of Mary. The idea is to mobilise all 3 million active members of the Legion encouraging those already reciting the prayer to continue to do so daily. For those not already saying the prayer to encourage them to undertake daily recitation. Hopefully the 10 million Auxiliary members will be encouraged likewise. The Concilium commends those councils throughout the world which have had the Prayer for Beatification translated into the languages used by the legionaries. The Concilium will gladly assist in paying for the translation and printing of those written languages and dialects yet to be translated. Where translations have already been done we encourage every council to print copies of the Prayer leaflet for distribution to all their members and for the general public so that, if God so ordains, the Servant of God, Frank Duff can yield many favours and miracles. In writing to the councils directly attached to the Concilium we ask your co-operation in making this decision known to all directly attached praesidia and councils in your care. The Concilium has no doubt that the implementation of this decision will shower many graces not just on those working for the Cause but on us as members and on the Church as a whole. It is an opportunity for us all to read up as much as we can about our founder and come to a fresh realisation of just how blessed by God and Our Lady he was. From when he was a young man right throughout his life to his death in 1980 Frank Duff was in the special care of the Providence of God. Each one of us owes him our deep gratitude. Recitation of the prayer for his beatification is one way of showing this.