Legion of Mary

History

Frank Duff, founder of Legion of Mary, was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 7, 1889.  He entered the Civil Service at the age of 18.  At 24, he joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul where he was led to a deeper commitment to his Catholic faith and to a greater sensitivity to the needs of the poor and underprivileged.

Along with a group of Catholic women and Father Michael Toher of the Dublin Archdiocese, he formed the first presidium of the Legion of Mary on September 7, 1921.  From that date until his death on November 7, 1980, he guided, with heroic dedication, the world-wide expansion of the Legion.  He even attended the Second Vatican Council as a lay observer.

St. Genevieve Parish

The Legion of Mary at St. Genevieve was started in 1959 by Monsignor Charles Fortier, the second pastor of St. Genevieve Church.  St. Genevieve Parish has two presidiums:  Our Lady of Prompt Succor and Our Mother of Perpetual Help which is an all-male presidium at Village du Lac.

Each presidium meets weekly, one on Monday at 2:00p.m. and the other on Tuesday at 6:00p.m.  Both presidiums meet with the director, Reverend Jerome Frey, at the Community of Jesus Crucified on the second Tuesday of each month at 2:00p.m.

Activities

What does the Legion of Mary do?  They make home to home visitations and shut-ins.  They attend rosaries at funeral homes for deceased members.  They pray the rosary at Amelia Manor, Courtyard Manor, Maison de Lafayette, and River Oaks Retirement Manor weekly.  At Amelia Manor and River Oaks Manor they attend Mass weekly.  The members assist with Bingo, cake sales, auctions, and barbecues at River Oaks Manor.  At Maison de Lafayette, the Legion assists with Lotto and serves coffee and water.

Volunteers from the Legion also coordinate reconciliation, Holy Hours, and Eucharistic processions in the nursing homes.  They do hospital visits, participate in memorial services in nursing homes for deceased residents, and during Lent, they pray the Stations of the Cross at the nursing homes.  In addition, they assist the Men of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with all-night vigils.

Both presidiums coordinated pilgrimages to St. Martinville for the residents of Amelia Manor and River Oaks Manor to visit the Shrine.  They also took the nursing home residents to St. John’s Cathedral and the gift store.

The Legion members also do Communion Services if a priest is not available to celebrate Holy Mass.  Additionally, they distribute religious articles and books to the nursing home residents and to shut-ins.  They are beneficial in helping bring people to the Sacraments.

Finally, they provide transportation for the needy to doctor appointments, to church, and to shopping centers or elsewhere.  Anyone interested in learning more about this valuable organization can contact the parish office.