Senatus News Notes
Connection and communication are two important operating principles of the Legion of Mary. We have the Catena Legionis which binds all members spiritually in prayer through to the Fiat of our Blessed Mother. Then, we have the Legion of Mary organizational system that requires every Praesidium, Curia, Comitium be affiliated to a higher council, the Senatus (or a Regia). Ultimately, the highest council will be affiliated to the Concilium Legionis in Dublin, Ireland the seat of the Legion headquarters. We are a FAMILY, bounded unto Mary, unto Christ and unto the Catholic Church. Thus, to foster this unity, and ensure the efficient and effective carrying out of the Legion of Mary system, the San Francisco Senatus, as practiced by the Concilium itself has assigned a Legionary to be a correspondent to all its directly attached Council, and in some cases to a Praesidium located in distant places. The San Francisco Senatus News Notes is a monthly reporting tool that provides all our attached Praesidia, Councils and all our indirectly attached Praesidia and Councils, news around the Senatus. The quarterly or annual reports of our correspondents assigned to each Council and praesidia serves as the basis of our news. Hopefully this page provides our members some inspiration and perhaps sparks new ideas in the works of evangelization.
News From Anchorage Curia (Alaska)
Correspondent - Sister Tessie Velicaria
Anchorage Curia Quarterly Report - Quarterly Report by Sister Tessie Velicaria from the period October 1 - Dec 31, 2023. The Anchorage Curia has nine (9) praesidia - six (6) seniors and three (3) juniors for a total of sixty (61) active members. The percentage of attendance at their monthly council meeting is fifty percent. In order to improve their attendance, officers are sent constant reminders as well as continuing to emphasize the need to take more seriously this commitment. Sadly, the praesidium in formation at the Holy Family Old Cathedral failed to garner enough active members and hence been closed. Their apostolic works include door to door visitation, apostolate to the crowd, communion to the homebound, prison ministry, Pilgrim Virgin and teaching catechism. A praesidium, Mary Gate of Heaven, promotes the sacrament of confession, distribution of sacramentals, leading the praying of the rosary and the visitation of the sick. This praesidium also promotes visits to a monastery for Eucharistic Adoration. One of the challenges of the Curia is the consistency in visitation of their praesidia. They also reported that their junior praesidia are planning to organize a retreat for their members.
News From Utah Curia (UT)
Correspondent - Bro. Raymond Frost
Quarterly Report from Utah Curia (October 2023 report by Bro, Raymond Frost) - The Utah Curia has five (5) attached praesidia, four (4) located in Salt Lake City and the other in Saint George in Southern Utah. There is an extension effort at the University of Utah Newman Parish of Saint Catherine of Siena. The Curia would like to promote First Saturday devotion.
News From Seattle Comitium
Correspondent - Bro. Dave Marten
Seattle Comitium (Quarterly Report December 2023) - Comitium has a total of 16 praesidia - 14 seniors and 2 juniors. They are also responsible for six curiae in the Seattle area. Extension Drives resulted in the establishment of a new praesidium at the Holy Spirit Church in Kent, WA. The Annual General Reunion is scheduled for December 16, 2023 at the Immaculate Conception Church and the ACIES on March 23, 2024 at Saint Edwards. Congratulations to Sister Herera for being elected as the Comitium secretary. Please note that in the October 2023 meeting of the Senatus, we were visited by Sis Claudia Dickinson, Seattle Comitium president. In her report she stated that the Seattle Comitium first started as a Curia in 1939 and was lated elevated to a Comitium.
News From Idaho Curia
Correspondent - Bro. Ando Perlas
The Mother of Christ Idaho Curia quarterly report (ending period of March 2022) offers a great encouragement to all of us. This Curia is back to 'in-person' meetings, at every fourth Friday of each month, 1:00 p.m. They meet at Holy Apostles Church in Meridian, ID. Attendance at the Curia meeting is 95%! The Curia has a total praesidia (with two inactive ones at the moment). The Curia has a total of one hundred (100) active members and 128 auxiliary members. They are very busy with Extension Works and other apostolic works of the Legion of Mary (such as visitation of the homebound, Sacred Heart Enthronement and Pilgrim Virgin). Other works undertaken include Pro-Life ministry, Fatima, Corpus Christi and distribution of Rosaries and Miraculous Medals. One important highlight his quarterly report show an increase in Legion active membership. Bishop Peter Christensen celebrated their Centenary Mass along with four other priests and was hosted by Our Lady of Hope in Mountain Home. The Mother of Christ Curia has a complete set of officers, including a very committed and supportive Spiritual Director.
News From Portland Curia (OR)
Correspondent - Bro. Raymond Frost
The Curia has eight (8) praesidia - 7 seniors and 1 junior with a newly affiliated praesidium, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, located at Saint Mary's Cathedral. A praesidium recruited four (4) new active members in the past year and has a total of ten (10) active members. Works include Communion services and homebound visits to the sick and elderly. Crowd apostolate at a nearby library was also conducted. Another praesidium has nine (9) members including two (2) new members. This praesidium visits the sick in care facilities and in their homes. They also facilitated the Sacred Heart Enthronement and the True Devotion to Mary. Same praesidium oversee a junior praesidium consisting of ten (10) members. The Curia is planning to hold two major events - a Congress and a Retreat in September. Finally, the Curia continues to do Extension work in an effort to get more praesidia opened in the Portland area.
News From Sacramento Comitium (CA)
Correspondent: Bro. Ando Perlas
Sacramento Comitium Quarterly Report (November 2023 - January 2024) - The Sacramento Comitium has nine (9) total attached praesidia - with eight (8) seniors and one junior. It has five attached curiae with a total of nineteen (19) praesidia. One of the curiae is a Spanish curia. Attendance at the council meeting is only 47% due to the aging numbers of officers, travel distance, work schedules and to a certain extent, language issues. One of the praesidia, Our Lady of Champion is continuing to recruit new members. Their apostolic works include bereavement, Book Barrow, giving Holy Communion to the homebound. Sacred Heart Enthronement, PIlgrim Virgin and Catechism. Other Legion works include coordinating memorial Masses and the distribution and promotion of sacramentals such as Miraculous Medals and rosaries. The Sacramento Comitium, much like other Legion of Mary councils, experience the lack of membership and thus is taking a more proactive stance in recruitment. Retention of existing members is also another challenge.
News from Northwest Coast Korean Comitium
Correspondent: Sis. Carmen Perlas
Northwest Coast Korean Comitium (Quarterly Report, August 1 to October 31, 2022, presented by Sister Carmen Perlas, Correspondent) - Comitium has 8 praesidia and 6 curiae. 2 praesidia are still struggling to resume weekly meetings in person. Council members Workshop was held on November 19. The San Francisco Korean Curia had a Cemetery Mass and Visitation in November. San Jose Koran Curia had ACIES on June 11. and Members Workshop on October 15. Anchorage Korean curia is not meeting at this time and Comitium Officers are helping in the possibility of electing officers early next year. Monterey Curia had its Acies on June 11.
News From San Jose Comitium (CA)
Correspondent - Raymond Frost (Interim)
No report from the San Jose Comitium has been received by the San Francisco Senatus during the prior reporting period.
News From Stockton Comitium (CA)
Correspondent - Lorna Garcia
(Quarter Report as of Jan 2022) - Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Stockton Comitium has a total of fourteen (14) directly attached praesidia and two (2) Curiae (Modesto Curia with two (2) praesidia and SSJC Curia - Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit Curia with eight (8) Praesidia - 5 English, 2 Spanish and 1 Junior). The Comitium has returned to in-person meeting since late December 2021 with most of their attached praesidia now meeting in person. Extension works are being done in the Modesto Curia and is projected to be Spanish Curia.
The Stockton Comitium reported that many of the Legion apostolic works are once again being done (with the exception of door to door visitation). These works would include: Apostolate to the Crowd through the Parish Festival; Weekly Stockton City Hall Rosary;: Curia Public Rosary at Bedquarters and Spanish Public Rosary in Spanish at Woodward Park in Manteca; bereavement ministry (leading Rosary during wake); homebound and shut in ministry - giving Holy Communion to the sick; Catholic Radio Campaign; Pilgrim Virgin - outdoor Rosary and hosting weekly novenas (such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Divine Mercy).
Other apostolic works are teaching Catechism (CCD and RCIA) and participation in retreats.
News From Oakland Comitium (CA)
Correspondent: Bro. Ed Miller
(Quarterly Report, November 2023 Sister Priscila Abaya, President)
Comitium Average Attendance is 66%. The attendance continues to be a challenge, however, the Comitium officers have been persistent on the importance of each officer's presence at the council meeting. One of the two praesidia being established in San Leandro CA, Our Lady of the Assumption will have its first meeting in January. There are still two praesidia being received (or are in formation), one in Alameda and the other in Hayward. Nine (9) Columban Drives were held during this quarter by the Comitium. Elderly members are now engaged in some type of apostolic work such as Altar Society. serving and leading prayers at funeral services. More than fifty members attended the Annual Legion of Mary Conference held in September (2023) at the Cathedral of Saint Mary's of the Assumption in San Francisco. The Retreat held on October 21, 2023 at the Sacred Heart Parish in Oakland was well attended.
News from Monterey Curia (CA)
Correspondent: Sis. Virginia Fabi
The Monterey Curia continues its Legion evangelization works such as Apostolate to the Crowd, Book Barrow, rest home visitations (with Eucharistic or Communion services and recitation of the Rosary). The Curia continues its efforts towards extending the Legion of Mary in three parishes, namely: Holy Cross and Star of the Sea in Santa Cruz and Saint Patrick in Watsonville. At Saint Patrick's Church, a total of 1400 rosaries were distributed during a weekend in October.
News From San Mateo County Comitium (CA)
Correspondent: Sis. Tessie Velicaria
Quarterly Report - November 2023 - Jan 2024 (Reported by Sis Lorna Garcia, President) - The San Mateo County Comitium has fifteen (15) attached praesidia of which fourteen (14) are seniors and one (1) is junior. It has two curiae, South San Mateo Curia with nine (9) praesidia and the San Mateo Curia en Espanol with five (5). Attendance at the Council meeting is 57%. They have one praesidium (1) with an incomplete set of officers. To improve the monthly council attendance, officers are reminded of their duty to attend the monthly meetings and at the end of the year give recognition to those praesidia with good attendance. A Columban drive was held at Saint Anthony Church in Menlo Park and successfully recruited six (6) members to the Legion. Another successful Columban drive, November 18-19, 2023 held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Redwood City) resulted in the formation of a new praesidium. Our Lady of Mount Carmel. At All Souls Church in South san Francisco, Day of Evangelization was conducted, Feb 3, 2024 and almost close to 500 homes were visited in 2 1/2 hours. The San Mateo Comitium sadly bid farewell to its Spiritual Director, Fr. Gabriel Wankar who has been recently transferred to a different parish in Marin County. Other activities and functions of the San Mateo County Comitium during this reporting period included the Annual General Reunion held on Dec 9, 2023 at Mater Dolorosa Church. Beginning January 2024, apostolate to the crowd work will be held at four different locations each month.
News from Santa Rosa Spanish Curia (CA)
Correspondent: Sis. Angela Jimenez - Miller
From the Quarterly Report of January 2022 - The Blessed Virgin Montserrat Spanish Curia is based in the Diocese of Santa Rosa (CA) and holds their monthly Curia meeting at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Yountville, CA. They have twelve (12) Praesidia with 147 Active and 266 Auxiliary members. Average attendance at the Curia meeting is 80% for officers and 20% for members. Their apostolic works include Pilgrim Virgin Visitations and Family Rosary - during this pandemic a total of 520 families received the Pilgrim Virgin and Rosary packet. No personal contact was made to protect everyone concerned. The families were instructed to pray daily - the image of Our Lady was picked-up by members of the Legion and then moved to another family. Some homes were blessed by their Spiritual Director. Another apostolate work done by the Curia is "Mantle of the Virgin of Guadalupe" visitations where approximately 720 families participated. Again, due to health restrictions, the reception of the Mantle of the Virgin of Guadalupe was held outside the home (an altar was set up to receive Our Lady). Other works included teaching Catechism and visitation of and giving Holy Communion to the sick and the homebound. Among the Legion functions and events of the Curia include the Outdoor Curia Meeting, 40 Days For Life, Pro-Life (West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco) and the weekly Armata Bianca weekly prayer group at Saint Eugene Cathedral. The main objective of Armata Bianca is the spiritual care of children through their consecration to God the Father in Mary. For more information regarding Armata Bianca, please click here.