Testimonials of Local Members
My name is Beverly Ezrow and I am a member of the Legion of Mary of Mary. I come from a large family of ten children. In our family we have Mormons, Baptists, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. We have those who believe and those who don't, but we all seem to get along.
I became a Catholic at the age of twenty, and I have been a member of the Legion of Mary for many years. Though there are various ministries in the Legion, prayer has been a very important part of my Legion work. I am not ashamed to say the rosary or prayers in front of my family members. They all seem to accept the fact that I do this. Many times they have phoned me asking for prayers for themselves or others because they know I will readily do that for them. In fact, they know that I am the only one in the family that will do so.
Even though they don't outwardly share my devotion, somehow they realize that prayer is a powerful thing, and my asking Mary and her Son to intercede for them seems to give them assurance that they will be helped.
My prayers are united with the prayers of the other members of the Legion and together we are a powerful source.
My name is Sue Flanigan and I am a member of the Legion of Mary. I have been volunteering for several locations for some time but doing so in a philanthropic manner. I didn't realize that these works that I was performing could be done in a way that I was offering them up to God through the hands of Mary. I became a member of the Legion when I learned that I could obtain many more graces for the work I was doing. This brought me great satisfaction.
I also believe in the power of prayer. I used to pray only in church, but now I find myself praying at home and other locations. The Legion has expanded my vision and my willingness to do good for God and Mary.
My name is Janet Buchholz and I am a member of the Legion of Mary. Why did I join the Legion last fall in 2015? I had a small handful of surgeries over the past three years. So last year, I had to have two surgeries in 97 days. I was home bound and this lady came to my home every week to bring me the Eucharist and we prayed together. She was always so kind and patient with me and always brought a SMILE with KINDNESSES...I was very impressed that this busy woman always made time for me. She came to me every week without fail. She never missed one week. I call that dedication!
My personal conversations with God was something like this - that if I could be so blessed to be able to walk again, I, too, would join the Legion to be able to someday help others.
I have been an Eucharist Minister in the past, and find that a personal visit of prayers and a smile helped me to recover with more zeal and faith, and hope that God is with me. My visits with this lady were for several months, about seven in all. I am grateful to God, our Blessed Mother, and my new friend and Legion of Mary member.
I like going to the meetings with a wonderful group of people. I have always had a close connection with the Blessed Mother. I love the Legion of Mary Prayers. We get to read several readings and I get to learn more and more about our Catholic faith. I love being a part of Mary's army!
"For it is Mary, Mary, as plain as any name can be..."
Hi, I'm Pat Schreiner, a proud member of the Legion of Mary. As I was educated in Catholic schools from kindergarten through college, I developed a strong devotion to our Blessed Mother. I was also born in the month of May - the month of Our Lady!
When it was time for me to make my Confirmation, I chose the name Mary, in devotion to our Blessed Mother, but also in honor of my Godmother, whose name was Mary. My Confirmation sponsor's name was Marie, as well.
Membership in the Camp Fire Girls, gave me the opportunity to study about our Blessed Mother and then take an oral exam administered by our parish priest. If he felt you were knowledgeable enough, you were awarded the Marion Medal...I still have that medal 56 years later!
After reading the invitation in the church bulletin to come to a meeting and see what the Legion of Mary was about, I decided to attend a meeting. A little over a year now as a Legionnaire, I am so glad I saw that notice! The meetings have not only deepened my devotion to our Blessed Mother through our weekly recitation of the Holy Rosary, our spiritual readings and discussion regarding events affecting the Roman Catholic Church, it has also given me the opportunity to develop new friendships.
Really think about it and come to a meeting to see if the Legion is your cup of tea!
The year was 2008, and Father Leone was pastor of Saint Cecilia Church. I was involved with altar serving, Eucharistic ministry, faith formation and baptismal preparation. Father Leone approached me and asked me if I had ever heard of the Legion of Mary. I said I had not. He told me he believed it would be a good fit for me and that I should give it a try. After reading a bit in the Legion handbook, I told Father that I didn't think I could live up to the standards put forth in the book. He told me to not be afraid of what I thought the expectations were, but to attend a couple of meetings and see for myself what it was about. I did as he suggested (having made no promises). When I met the people involved, I was taken by how warm, friendly, and loving they were. It didn't matter how many things you were involved in or how much you did - it was that what you did do was given to Jesus through Mary and that one's little work was magnified in His eyes because it was presented by His loving mother. Needless to say, I stayed and have never regretted it.
Please give it a try. There's a place for everyone. (Jan Caretta)
(Editor's note - Jan is currently a member of three Praesidia. She is President of two Praesidia at St. Kateri Parish and is Vice-President of a new Praesidium at St. Joseph's & Holy Spirit Parishes.)
The first time I joined the Legion of Mary as an active member was in 1951 at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. Mary, Queen of Apostles Praesidium was affiliated with the Monroe Curia which met monthly at St. Anne's Church. At that time almost all the parishes had a praesidium. A few of them also had a junior praesidium.
We were all employed. There were men and women in our group. At that time very few women had cars. We walked everywhere. All of our assignments were within the parish boundaries. Our visits were mostly in the homes. The parish priests made the hospital and communion visits. Our spiritual director was one of the assistant priests. Our president was Ed Farrell. His wife, Kathy, was also a member. Ed was assigned from St. Augustine Parish to start a praesidium at Sts. Peter and Paul.
In 1953 Fr. Kress, our spiritual director, assigned me to start a junior praesidium in the parish. The members were boys and girls from the 7th and 8th grade at the school. My weekly work was to conduct the meetings and assign the work. I was married in 1954 and resigned when I was expecting my first child.
My husband and I and our infant son moved to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in 1956. In 1969, the pastor Fr. Wohlrab invited me to become an active member there. I did, but after a few years I resigned because my mother came to live with us and needed my care. I rejoined again at Good Counsel in later years. Our Praesidium disbanded in the late eighties due to low membership. I joined Stella Matutina Praesidium at St. Augustine Parish and remained active with them until 2004 when my husband started dialysis treatments. After my husband died I became active again in 2010 in Stella Matutina Praesidium at St. Monica until 2014.
Through the years there were many changes in the types of work we performed. We made home visits, assisted at funerals, visited nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities where we prayed the Rosary and brought the Eucharist. We taught religious education to children. You had to have a car for transportation.
The Curia disbanded due to the closing of so many praesidia. Now, we just have the Comitium. But the Legion of Mary endures. I have been either an active or auxiliary member these many years. I have had many moving encounters with the people we visited. I felt privileged to be with them. My faith has been strengthened by my affiliation with the Legion of Mary. I have deepened my love for Jesus and the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother and the Rosary. (Mary Robinson )
(Editor's note - Mary has been a member of the Legion of Mary for 65 years.)
My Legion of Mary membership reflects a special period of gratitude for the blest role it has played in my life. I credit my dear friend, the late Genevieve Mooney, for having invited me to join. One Spring day in 1981, as we were leaving daily Mass at St. Boniface Church she asked, "Would you like to join the Legion of Mary." I hesitated, said I'd have to think about it, as I was already into serving in a few volunteer groups. Tho - after asking where they had their "services", she responded, "the Psychiatric Center". Having been there as a Red Cross Grey Lady - for several years, and having been very happy to serve the residents there - my immediate "Yes I will" - came forth.
We would gather the people into a location - where after passing out Rosaries, began to pray with prayerful response. Group singing followed and pleasant response from all. Following the Rosary session we would meet in the Chapel with Fr. Hoctor, the Chaplain. Another Rosary, and a prayerful and instructive period was spent, and pleasantly so.
The Legion of Mary members are wonderfully attached to the lovely Devotions to Our Blessed Mother. Any and all of the services are dearly observed. The camaraderie is ever so prayerfully apparent. My continuance, tho now as an auxiliary member, remains - as dearly grateful and pleased for all I have been blessed with as a Legion of Mary member.
(Margaret Nordbye)
(Editor's note - Margaret has been a member of the Legion of Mary for 35 years. She was president of the Monroe Curia at the time of it's closing. Although in her 90's, she still attends Legion functions.)
We have been active in the Legion of Mary many years in Rochester and Florida, both as Active and Auxiliary Members. We are looking for people who love Our Blessed Mother and her Rosary and are willing to serve her in the Legion of Mary. My wife and I visit people in local Nursing Homes and pray the Rosary with them. They are glad to see us and love to talk and pray with us. In November, Masses are said for all deceased Legion of Mary members throughout the world. It's nice to know that even if family members forget you after you die, the Legion of Mary never forgets you.
(Al & Sarah Nozzi - Members of the new Legion of Mary group at St. Joseph's & Holy Spirit Parishes)
Participation in the Legion of Mary provides an opportunity to proclaim and practice a strong and courage filled faith. Through daily prayer and apostolic action, our faith and hope become sustained. Our Baptism which made us God's children and heirs of Heaven can be realized. We are not alone in our daily and eternal quest with Jesus and Mary as our guides and advocates. The Legion offers Auxiliary and Active memberships and is a most profitable investment for all ages.
(Esther Hoefen - Member of new Legion of Mary group at St. Joseph's & Holy Spirit Parishes)
I am so grateful to God for the apostolate that he has blessed me with in the Legion of Mary! As a third Order Carmelite preparing for profession, I had been asking the Lord in prayer, for a year, how He would like me to serve Him. He, and Our Blessed Mother, led me into the opportunity of being the first to take my promises in starting up a new praesidium in my parish, at the request of my pastor. It has been a tremendous grace to come to participate in the meetings and assignments that assist the priest with attending to the needs of God's Church in a variety of ways. In addition to the Liturgy, fellowship at special events, and interaction with people of the parish in the community, this worldwide organization provides and promotes ongoing spiritual growth for people of all ages.
(Kathy Nicastro - Member of new Legion of Mary groups at both St. Jerome's and St. Joseph's & Holy Spirit Parishes)
Why did I join the Legion of Mary? Great question! I had never heard of the Legion of Mary. My parish Pastor asked me to come to the meetings. I asked what is the Legion of Mary? He said, "come and find out"! So after three to four weeks I did go to find out. It took me about six months to understand what it is all about. Almost a year later, I am still here.
I discovered through prayer, the short readings and homilies we have at our meetings and service work we perform for others that the Legion of Mary has strengthened my faith. It has been a blessing on so many levels. I highly recommend that others come to discover for themselves what the Legion of Mary is all about! Just come and see what it can mean for you!
(Terry Meng - Member of new Legion of Mary group at St. Jerome's Parish)
Needing to fill my days in retirement, I wanted to serve the Lord by visiting the sick and lonely. My strong devotion to Mary make the Legion of Mary a perfect match. It is a win-win situation because in addition to helping others, it makes me feel good.
(Rick Duncan - Member of Legion of Mary Praesidium at Holy Trinity Church, Webster, NY)