HISTORY OF LEGION OF MARY
The Legion of Mary was founded by Frank Duff on September 7, 1921 in Dublin. His idea was to help Catholic laypeople fulfill their baptismal promises and be able to live their dedication to the Church in an organised structure, supported by fraternity and prayer.
The Legion was first only open to women; the first men apart from Duff himself joined it in 1929. The legionaries first started out by visiting hospitals, but they were soon active among the most destitute, notably among Dublin prostitutes. Frank Duff subsequently laid down the system of the Legion in the Handbook of the Legion of Mary in 1928.
The Legion of Mary soon spread from Ireland to other countries and continents. At first, the Legion often met with mistrust due to its dedication to lay apostolate which was unusual for the time. Only after Pope Pius XI expressed praise for the Legion in 1931, could such mistrust be quelled.
Most prominent for spreading the Legion was the Irish legionary Edel Mary Quinn for her activities in Africa during the 1930s and 40s. Her dedication to the mission of the Legion even in the face of her ill health due to tuberculosis brought her great admiration in- and outside of the Legion. A beatification process is currently under way for her, as also for Frank Duff himself.
STRUCTURE
The organization of the Legion is modelled on the Roman Army, starting with the praesidium as its smallest unit, and going up from there. The praesidium, usually a group of 4-20 members, meets weekly in its parish. The Curia is the next level up, and one Curia supervises several Praesidia. The next level is the Comitium, which is in charge of several Curiae, usually over an area like a big city or a part of a province. The following level is the Regia, in charge of larger territories like a province or state (in the U.S.). The Senatus is the next highest level, and it generally has control over the Regiae in a very large area, usually a country or very large territory. The Concilium is the highest level. It has its seat in Dublin, Ireland, and has control over all of the Legion.
Each level of the Legion of Mary has the same officers: The President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Spiritual director. The latter must be a priest or a religious. All other offices are held by laymen or -women.
THE LEGION IN OUR PARISH
The objective of the Legion Of Mary is the GLORY of GOD through the holiness of it’s members developed by prayer and active work.
Each parish unit is attached to the Mumbai Regia. The Regia officers visit us twice a year to inspect on it’s proper functioning. Secret bag collection is made every meeting to bear the expenses. Excess amount is contributed to Regia.
WORK UNDERTAKEN
Family Apostolate- Home visitation is done, first of all to maintain friendship and spread Marian devotion. To bring awareness of the prayas Kendra and recruiting for other parish associations.
Youth Apostolate- We have a junior group under our care, involved in home visit, and visit to institutions.
Institute Visits Shanti Dhan,Clergy home and Leprosy home were visited.
Hospital visits were carried out at Karuna and Bhagvati Hospital for Catholics as well as Non-Catholics.
Sunday School- Two Legionaries engaged in teaching Catechism to children on Sundays.
LEGION EXTENTION
Besides helping in other local parishes one of our members goes to Ahmednagar, Haregaon,Rahata, Srirampur every month to consolidate the legion which is just started there.
