Legion Of Mary
Traveling from home to home, visiting sick or invalid parishioners, the Legion of Mary from Annunciation Parish’s Holy Spirit Church in Evansville collectively administers the Eucharist and prays with those unable to attend Mass. By focusing on serving homebound Catholics’ spiritual needs, members say they also increase their own sanctification through discipleship.
"Through the Legion, we grow closer to Jesus through Mary because she's our guidance," said Nellie Rivera, president of Holy Spirit's Legion of Mary program. "And the Legion's basis is in the Blessed Mother. We bring Jesus to others as well, and we help the people that we visit with their spiritual needs, especially by bringing them the Eucharist. Because of illness or injury, people aren't able to come to church; so we are the bridge to connect them with the parish and ultimately Jesus."
Started in Ireland by Frank Duff in 1921, the organization has spread to more than 170 countries, and the Legion is praying for the beatification of their founder. Being part of an organization that stretches across the world, Holy Spirit's members adhere to the Legion's official handbook and structured itinerary during their weekly Monday meetings.
"The name was inspired by the Roman legion," Mary Guertin, secretary of Holy Spirit's Legion of Mary, said. "There is a military structure, and we obey with hopes to seek a spirit of humility. Mary is not only our queen but our general as well. We place everything in the Blessed Mother, and she protects. We fight with our spiritual belief, and we are soldiers of Mary."
Annunciation Pastor Father Alex Zenthoefer is the Legion's spiritual advisor, and instructs the organization by giving them different assignments. Going on visits in pairs, members of Holy Spirit's Legion go on visits together after praying at the church – and they pray with those they visit.
"We hope that Mary moves through us," Guertin said. "And really, it's the Blessed Mother who is meeting the people we visit. We pray to invoke Mary, and through us she comes to the people. Everything we do is done through a deep devotion to Mary."
Legion membership inherently brings obligations. For three months, potential new members pray and deliberate about joining the program. After that time if the potential member still isn't sure about joining, she has an additional three months to discern – but has to choose after the six months.
"If you're an active member, you've sworn a promise to the Blessed Mother," Rivera said. "We promise to the Holy Spirit through Mary that we're going to serve her. So it's definitely a spiritual commitment with weekly meetings, daily prayers, and apostolic work. It's something to strive to keep and maintain for the rest of your life. I think of it as a calling or a vocation really.”
Along with being a serious commitment, the Legion becomes a huge part of members' spiritual journey in both challenging and rewarding ways.
"We have to give our time; and sometimes we suffer alongside these parishioners who are sick," Rivera said. "They are like family; so when they're in pain, we're in pain. We are part of the physical body of Christ, and we go through that suffering for the parishioners and Jesus."
