Past Legion Events 2007
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December Function
The Legion of Mary December Function was cancelled so that all members.....
active and auxiliary of The Legion of Mary would have the opportunity to attend the Celebration of our Diocesan Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, at the opening of this Liturgical Year dedicated to Mary and the Eucharist. We express our thank you to all our members who attended this first formal function planned by our new Archbishop, His Excellency Terrence Prendergast on Saturday December 8th, Notre Dame Cathedral . Following the 10 AM Mass, all were invited to attend a reception in the Church hall at which time our president sister Marilyn Montminy presented our Archbishop with a Spiritual Bouquet from the Legion with assurances "of our continued prayers, service and loyalty to Your Excellency and Holy Mother Church as we journey with Mary to Jesus."
Evening of Praise and Worship took place Friday, November 23, 2007, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! (Psalm 103) In the centenary year of the birth of Legionary Venerable Edel Quinn who had a Profound Devotion to our Eucharistic Lord, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Praesidium, St. Patrick Catholic Church 15 Steeple Hill Crescent, Nepean Fallowfield, organized an evening of Praise & Worship.
FATHER TOM RIOPELLE PRESIDED
Kathy McGee and her Choir lead us in songs of Praise & Worship.
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DEVOTION TO MARY TOOK PLACE AT SAINT MAURICE CHURCH
4 Perry Street, Ottawa ( Nepean) Ontario,
SUNDAY OCTOBER 28, 2007 1:15PM-300PM
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
HYMN: O SALUTARIS
OPENING PRAYERS: THE ROSARY:
JOYFUL, LUMINOUS, SORROWFUL AND GLORIOUS MYSTERIES,
WITH MEDITATION ON EACH DECADE
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
HYMN: AS I KNEEL BEFORE YOU
THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY
HYMN: IMMACULATE MARY
BENEDICTION
HYMN: TANTUM ERGO
THE DIVINE PRAISES
HYMN: HOLY GOD WE PRAISE THY NAME
A RECEPTIONED FOLLOWED IN THE PARISH ATRIUM
FALL RETREAT FOR MEN AND WOMEN
which was
SPONSORED BY THE LEGION OF MARY TOOK PLACE AT
NOTRE DAME DE LA PROVIDENCE RETREAT HOUSE,
ORLEANS, ONTARIO
RETREAT LEADER WAS FATHER JOHN VANDENAKKER FROM THE COMPANIONS OF THE CROSS
THEME: PATHWAYS TO CONVERSION
DATE : FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 7:30 PM TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 28 AFTER LUNCH
EDEL QUINN DAY
-LEGION OF MARY SUMMER OUTING -
SEPTEMBER 15, 2007
A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF EDEL QUINN
ON THE CENTENNARY OF HER BIRTH
REPORT TO SENATUS
OUR SUMMER OUTING WAS A PLEASANT, FULL DAY, DESPITE THE THREATENING WEATHER. IT BEGAN AT 11 AM WITH THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE IN VANIER AND CONTINUED AT THE VANIER COMMUNITY CENTER ( A FORMER RELIGIOUS CENTER FOR THE WHITE FATHERS OF AFRICA). WE HAD ACCESS TO A LOVELY RECEPTION ROOM WHICH OPENED UNTO THE GROUNDS. THE WALLS WERE DECORATED WITH QUOTES FROM EDEL QUINN. LUNCH, COMPLETE WITH COFFEE AND "BIRTHDAY" CAKE WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ROSARY, A READING ABOUT EDEL'S CAUSE AND A LIVELY DISCUSSION ON STORIES FROM HER LIFE. THERE WAS AMPLE TIME TO EXPLORE THE CENTER'S MUSEUM, WHICH FEATURED THE LIFE OF SAINT MARGARET D'YOUVILLE AFTER THAT, WE RE-ASSEMBLED FOR A LEGION SING-A-LONG FOLLOWED BY A DRAW FOR 3 PRESENTS ( CAN'T HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY WITHOUT PRESENTS!) WE CONCLUDED OUR DAY OUTSIDE, SAYING OUR LEGION PRAYERS BEFORE THE BEAUTIFUL STATUE OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA.
IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE DAY
Leslie Anne Juneau
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Legion of Mary Handicapped Pilgrimage
TO THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE CAPE
TROIS RIVIERES QUEBEC
Friday, September 7th, to Sunday, September 9th., 2007.
REPORT TO SENATUS
Our Lady of Light Praesidium, Ottawa Senatus with the assistance of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Praesidium, organized this year's Handicapped Pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine at Cap-de-Ia-Madeleine, near Trois Rivieres, Quebec. Again, this year, we offered pilgrims confined to wheel-chairs and others with less severe handicaps the chance to travel, pray and receive the sacraments and the blessings from being at this peaceful shrine from Friday, September 7th, to Sunday, September 9th., 2007.
We had twenty-four pilgrims accompany us, ten of which were handicapped, and four of which used electric wheel-chairs or scooters. With that in mind, we were fortunate to have identified another bus company whose buses have wheel-chair access, but whose under carriage storage is higher than the bus used in the past years. This enabled two pilgrims to enter the bus using the elevated lift for the wheel-chairs, be helped to their seats and then for their wheel-chairs to be lowered and loaded into the storage under the bus. We knew that this was part of Our Lady's plan since the under carriage storage was only 41 inches tall and a wheel-chair and the scooter were 39 inches tall, and both owners were slightly mobile with assistance. The other two chairs were much taller and their owners completely immobile.
Again, this year the program included many opportunities for the sacrament of confession, Mass each day, an out-door Rosary and Way of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a Healing Mass on Sunday. We know that pilgrims highly value this opportunity to partake of these sacraments and services and that both their spiritual and physical benefits are immediate and long lasting. One of our pilgrims has had Muscular Dystrophy since birth and is in quite a bit of pain. She relates that only at the Shrine does her pain ease off a bit.
On the return trip on Sunday, September 9 we stopped at Blessed Father Frederick's Shrine in Trois Rivieres. For several years we have included this visit and have prayed for specific miracles both for the benefit of pilgrims but also for verification of the sanctity of Father Frederick, as only one other documented miracle is required for his beatification.
We would be remiss, though, if we did not mention the generous support the Knights of Columbus provide to this pilgrimage. In fact, without their support and that of other donor's, including Archbishop Prendergast of the Diocese of Ottawa, most handicapped pilgrims would not be able to participate in this pilgrimage. This year eight Councils of the Knights of Columbus contributed to offset the cost of the wheel-chair accessible bus, which is two more than last year. Next year two more Councils have committed to include support in their budgets. Their support, the generous physical support of able-bodied pilgrims and the attentive care provided by priests and staff at the Shrine made this year's pilgrimage very special.
Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Clingaman,
Pilgrimage Co-Ordinator
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THE LEGION OF MARY MARKET MINISTRY
AUGUST 11 -12, 2007
REPORT TO SENATUS
This was the first year that Our Lady Seat of Wisdom organized the Market Ministry and we considered it an honour to be asked to do this. There were two hour shifts from 10:00 to 5:00 both days and we greatly appreciated the fact that Sr. Cheryl Clingaman came with her experience to help with the set up. We owe Our Lady of Light Praesidium a great deal of thanks for having begun this Ministry and persevered with it through these nine years.
The Market Management were very helpful, again providing a table, two chairs, a very welcome canopy, and overnight storage of all our supplies.
We handed out Rosaries, medals, and Catholic literature. Sr. Cheryl even handed a medal to everyone in a bridal party who were having pictures taken on the opposite side of the street.
A big thank you to all who helped in this important Ministry - especially to those who were brave enough to come for the first time – I hope it won’t be your last!
We did have trouble finding volunteers for the last shift of each day and are most grateful to our Parish’s Assistant Priest and Deacon who signed on for four hours Saturday and two more hours on Sunday. With their long black cassocks they were a real magnet for people. The Sunday crowd was different from the Saturday crowd. As the day wore on, some passers by were rude and aggressive and verbally abusive to our priest. To be persecuted for our Faith is a sign that we are doing the right thing and ought to continue.
For the most part, though, people were appreciative of our work and we have many names to add to our personal prayer list.
Again, we were pleased to be asked by Senatus to do this work of Our Lady and we felt her hand in its organizing.
Respectfully submitted
LEGION OF MARY PILGRIMAGE
TO THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE CAPE
TROIS RIVIERES QUEBEC
Formerly CAP DE LA MADELEINE
4-6 August 2007
REPORT TO SENATUS
The Legion of Mary pilgrimage to Cap de la Madeleine was very successful! One hundred and thirty two pilgrims travelled in three coaches, coaches filled with prayer and songs of praise. I wish to extend heartfelt thanks to the bus supervisors, Pat McLeod, Wayne Smith and Marilyn Halls Montminy. Without their diligence to organizing the buses the pilgrimage would not have unfolded as efficiently as it did.
At 0930 on Saturday 4 August three buses departed the Ottawa Diocesan Centre on Kilborn Place. Due to this being a different location, I had concerns that some ‘well seasoned’ pilgrims would report to the previous location. In order to calm anxieties over this possibility, Anne Stewart and Sister Cora McKenna watched over Nepean St. in order to direct any ‘misplaced sheep.’ My worries were needless as all pilgrims arrived promptly at the new location.
We stopped for lunch at the beautiful Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Montreal. This prayerful location was exceptionally beautiful and brought immense joy and peace to the pilgrims.
We arrived at Cap de la Madeleine around three and were welcomed by Father Dunston. The itinerary for the weekend was very full; many pilgrims immediately participated in Mary’s Way of the Cross. Masses were said each day and there was ample opportunity to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Eucharistic adoration was offered and we received individual blessings from Father Oullette and Father Dunston. Each evening we experienced the beautiful and sacred candle light procession.
Two buses carrying about 100 pilgrims travelled to St. Anne de Beaupre on Sunday. Outdoor Stations of the Cross were said by many, small hillside shrines were visited and Eucharistic adoration was held in the Basilica. The spirituality of St. Anne’s was particularly prominent this year. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is preparing us for the upcoming Eucharistic Conference in June 2008.
Monday brought thunderstorms; but this disturbance was no competition for pilgrims who spontaneously recited the rosary while Sister Marilyn and Brother Jean Pierre organized transportation to mass in the old chapel. Our Blessed Lady's presence was palpable as she protected us from harm’s way. The resonance of pilgrims reciting the rosary was one the most memorable sounds I recall, just like a chorus of angels. It is worth mentioning that the last pilgrims arrived at mass just as the consecration was beginning. A group photograph was taken inside the old chapel on the steps of the altar with Our Lady of the Cape smiling down on the pilgrims of the Legion of Mary. A copy of that photograph is included with this report.
The financial report for the pilgrimage will follow; I am very pleased to say that with all expenses paid, remaining in the account is the original $2000 as well as a small excess that will be given to Senatus when the final statement for the 2007 pilgrimage is submitted.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Snell, Pilgrimage Coordinator