Grotto Information

• Do you want to learn more about the Catholic faith?

• Do you want to enrich your prayer life?

• Do you want to develop close Catholic friendships?

• Do you want to grow closer to Jesus and His Mother?

Legion of Mary

Kathy Kozlowski, President

Legion of Mary meetings are held Monday nights at 745 pm on the second floor of the school building. Any practicing Catholic interested in joining the legion is welcome to come to a meeting. Legion of Mary work consists mainly of home visitations and evangelization in the parish area. The people in the area are hungry for the truth of the Catholic faith but they do not know it. We try to bring them small doses of the truth in their capacities to receive.

We as a group give out invitations, miraculous medals, rosaries and various assortments of prayer cards and pamphlets. To ensure the privacy of the individuals evangelized silence on what is developed during the home visits must be maintained.

The Legion of Mary is an association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate; Mediatrix of all Graces, have formed themselves into a legion for service to the Church and Our Lady.

The object of the Legion of Mary is the Glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation, under ecclesiastical guidance, in Mary's and the Church's work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ.

The Legionaries hope to render themselves worthy of their great heavenly Queen by their loyalty, their virtues, and their courage.

The Legion is built on two masterpieces of organization --- the Roman Legion and the modern Society of St Vincent de Paul. From the Roman Legion comes the call for loyalty, courage, and discipline. From Fredrick Ozanam's St Vincent de Paul Society comes its spiritual, adaptability, fraternal charity, the personal report at the weekly meeting, and visiting in pairs during their assigned work.

The Legion of Mary was founded by Frank Duff on the eve of Our Lady's Nativity, September 7 1921 in Dublin Ireland. Today the Legion is the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church carrying out a universal spiritual apostolate.

The basic unit of the Legion of Mary is the Praesidium, a Roman army term indicating a frontier guard, a bulwark for defense, a symbol of courage.

The primary obligation set by the Legion as a standard procedure is regular attendance at the weekly meeting, a brief weekly report, and accepting the spiritual work of bringing Christ to souls and souls to Christ. This work is assigned by the spiritual director or the president and is usually done in pairs.

Fr. Perrone has assigned the Legion of Mary Praesidia the task of visiting all of the Grotto's neighbors within the parish's borders and inviting them to our Church and bringing them the fullness of truth of the Catholic faith.

All are welcome to visit us at any time.
 

WHAT IS IT?

The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last 6 Popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, crowd contact, religious education, visiting the newly baptized, Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. Legionaries are under the guidance of a spiritual director named by the pastor. The Legion is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of the pastor.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion in a family setting. Then they do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of their spiritual director.

WHO CAN BELONG?

The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics who:

• Faithfully practice their religion;

• Are animated by the desire to participate in the Church's apostolate through membership in the Legion;

• Are prepared to fulfill each and every duty which active membership in the Legion involves

HOW DO I START?

The first step is to be a guest at a meeting of the Legion of Mary. Guests are always welcome and can go on one of the work assignments with an experienced member if they choose.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFO?

For more information, ask any member of the Legion of Mary or contact the parish office to obtain the name and telephone number.

GROTTO INFORMATION

For the first time our Shrine Committees parish council had two representatives from the Legion of Mary to give their report  and keep us updated on their activities in the parish.

Fr. Perrone has assigned the Legion of Mary Praesidia the task of visiting all of the Grotto’s neighbors within the parish’s borders and inviting them to our Church and bringing them the fullness of truth of the Catholic faith.