The Legion of Mary is an international Catholic association for the purpose of the glory of God through the holiness of its members, developed by prayer and active cooperation in Mary’s and the Church’s work.
We engage in door-to-door evangelization.
We bring the good news of the Scripture and Communion to nursing homes and residential homes.
We meet weekly and always begin with the recitation of the Holy Rosary.
We are more than 100 years old.
About the Ministry
The largest lay apostolate organization in the world, whose primary purpose is to bring personal sanctification to its members and, secondly, to bring all others into a closer relationship with Jesus through Mary and His Church on earth. The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active cooperation, 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 Spirit of the Legion
The spirit of the Legion of Mary is that of Mary herself. Especially does the Legion aspire after her profound humility, her perfect obedience, her angelical sweetness, her continual prayer, her universal mortification, her altogether spotless purity, her heroic patience, her heavenly wisdom, her self-sacrificing courageous love of God, and above all her faith, that virtue which has in her alone been found in its utmost extent and never equalled.
To become a Legionary is to be part of Mary's Army of Angels & Legionnaires. The legionaries hope to render themselves worthy of their great heavenly Queen through their loyalty, their virtues, and their courage. The Legion of Mary is therefore organized on the model of an army, principally on that of the army of ancient Rome, the terminology of which is adopted also. But the army and the arms of legionaries of Mary are not of this world.
The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, originally from a Latin word used to designate a detachment of the Roman Legion performing special duty, that is, a section of a military line, a fortified post, or a garrison. Each praesidium is named after a title of Our Blessed Lady (e.g. Mother of Good Counsel), from one of her privileges (e.g. The Immaculate Conception), or from an event in her life (e.g. The Visitation).
A praesidium meets every week, conducted after the manner described in the Legion of Mary Handbook Chapter 18, Order of the Praesidium Meeting, and shall have its own officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and a priest as Spiritual Director.
St. Michael Catholic Church has five praesidia:
- Mary Help of Christians, adult English
- Meets Mondays, alternately via Zoom and in person at the St. Michael Convent, 2nd Floor, Legion of Mary room (Saint Cecilia room).
- Contact Ricardo Echon, 925-223-7790
- Mother of Good Counsel, adult English
- Meets Tuesdays at 7:30 pm in person in the Conference Room (next to the Adoration Chapel) and also via Zoom
- Contact Joel Bautista, 925-216-3213
- Estrella de la Manana, adult Spanish
- Meets Wednesdays at 8 pm in person at the church's Family Room
- Contact Irene Moore, 925-493-1335
- Mother of Mercy, youth English
- Meets Fridays at 4:30 pm via Zoom
- Contact Coren Macias, 415-310-1807
- Our Lady of Fatima, youth English
- Meets Fridays via Zoom
- Contact Rhoda Pereira, 510-432-6645
* For Zoom meetings, please contact respective praesidia representatives.
Every praesidium is under the governance of a higher body called the Curia which comprises multiple praesidia within a region. The next hierarchy following the Curia is Comitium, a group of curiae. Curia and Comitium are lower councils that report to a Senatus. A Senatus is typically the highest council within a country. In certain regions where there are no Senatus, a lower council called the Regia is instituted. The highest governing body of the Legion of Mary to which all Senatus councils throughout the world report is the Concilium Legionis which is based in the Legion's founding country, Ireland.
All the English praesidia at St. Michael's are under the Queen of Peace Curia, which is under the Oakland Comitium and the San Francisco Senatus. Below are diagrams showing the coverage of the San Francisco Senatus (not updated) and all the Senatus and Regia in the US.
Programs
Bringing graces of Fatima and Our Lady's message of hope, peace, and salvation to families' homes.
Most people are unable to make a pilgrimage to Fatima. Our Lady, with characteristic humility and love, overcomes this difficulty by reversing the process. She becomes the Pilgrim. Instead of making a pilgrimage to her home in Fatima, she makes a pilgrimage to your home. This is the heart of the Pilgrim Virgin Home Visitation Program.
Inviting a statue of our Blessed Mother, decorating a pedestal to place her statue, and praying as a family at her feet are all part of a time-honored tradition being practiced by countless Catholics around the world.
When was the program started?
In 1947 when the Bishop blessed two statues of Our Lady of Fatima sending one to the Far East and one to the West, the Ambassadors of Mary was founded and in 1954 began bringing Pilgrim Statues to homes in Chicago. As of 1987, there were 190 statues on pilgrimage in our country. This was the birth of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue program.
Who runs the program?
Locally, the program is facilitated by the Legion of Mary Mother of Good Counsel and Mary Help of Christians praesidia at St. Michael Catholic Church, Livermore, CA. The Legion of Mary is a worldwide organization that evangelizes men, women, and children to promote their prayerful participation in Marian prayers and rituals, spread the knowledge of Catholic faith, history, and practices, and actively work as disciples of the Word of God under the banner and mantel of protection of Our Blessed Mother Mary.
How does it work?
At the pre-arranged time, Legion of Mary members go to the home where the “Pilgrim Virgin” will be enthroned. Attendees recite the Rosary and the Prayers to the Mother of God. The family receiving the “Pilgrim Virgin” must prepare a suitable pedestal or table for Our Mother and commit to praying and seeking her during her visit. At the end of the visitation, which typically lasts a week, Legion of Mary members visit the home again to do a farewell ceremony and take the statue to the next home.
"I will bless the home in which the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored."
The Enthronement is a solemn installation of the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a Christian home.
It is an Act of Consecration recognizing the rule of Jesus and Mary over the family, and a profession of faith to the salvific sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the sorrows endured by the Blessed Mother for the love of her son and the family of God. The image reminds the family of their Christian responsibility to love one another and their community, protect the faith, and uphold Christian values toward sanctity.
How does the Enthronement work?
Prepare. Before the enthronement ceremony, the family must recite certain prayers to prepare their hearts and homes for the Consecration.
The homeowners must also set an "altar," "throne," or "shrine" where the images can be enthroned. It may be decorated with a cloth, fresh flowers, and candles. If no suitable level area is available, the images may be enthroned and hung on a wall. Ideally, the enthronement should take place in a conspicuous place in a home: a family room, dining room, or where the family and friends gather most frequently.
Receive. A clergy and some Legion of Mary members visit the home at the scheduled time and perform the Enthronement ceremony which typically takes about half an hour.
Live. The family must strive towards holiness seeking the guidance of Jesus and Mary, and renew their Act of Consecration especially on special occasions, e.g., Feasts of the Sacred Heart, Christ the King, Immaculate Concepcion, Anniversary of the Enthronement, anniversary of parents, birthdays, etc. See the FAQ's for more details.
Is there a follow-up to an Enthronement?
Yes, you invite Jesus to share your everyday life as Friend, constant Companion, and King. Family prayer, especially the rosary, is the best. Also, a daily renewal of your Consecration helps keep your Enthronement alive.
What is the daily renewal of Consecration?
It may be prayed as follows: "Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus, we renew our pledge today of love and loyalty to You. Keep us always close to Your loving Heart and to the Most Pure Heart of Your Mother. May we love one another more and more each day, forgiving each other's faults as You forgive our sins. Teach us to see You in the members of our family and those we meet outside the home, loving them as You love them, especially the poor and the oppressed, that we may be instrumental in bringing about justice and peace. Please help us to carry our cross daily out of love for You, and to strengthen this love by frequent Mass and Communion. Thank you, Dear Jesus, King and Friend of our family, for all the blessings of this day. Protect us and all families during this day. Help us to live that we may all get to heaven. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! St. Joseph, pray for us! Our Guardian Angels, pray for us!"
Do we have to say such long prayers?
No! You may say any prayer that comes from your heart such as: "All for You, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary," or "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I give myself to You through Mary," or any other prayer you wish.
What else can I do to make my Enthronement effective? In the home: be kind and loving to others, read scripture, and pray together. Keep flowers or a plant by your images at the "shrine." Candles at the “shrine” may be lit during prayers, if desired. Outside the home: be faithful to Sunday Mass attendance, go to Confession frequently, and receive Holy Communion frequently, especially on First Fridays and First Saturdays. Practice the corporeal and spiritual works of mercy. (Find out what they are!)
How much does it cost?
There is no charge in having the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary enthroned in your home, for this is a service of charity and evangelization. The Legion of Mary even provides an option to print out a high-resolution image for participants. Participants only need to provide a picture frame of their choice.
Upcoming Events
Contact Us
For direct contact information, see the "Legion of Mary @ St. Michael's" tab above.
Works
Like Mary, Legionaries make haste to do the will of God and the work of the Kingdom through conversion, conservation, and consolation.
