Legion of Mary group visits shut-ins, elderly

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 25, 2006

DENISON - The Mary Queen of Peace Praesidium of the Legion of Mary group in Denison meets weekly at St. Rose of Lima Church. Members also visit local institutions and participate in other activities.

According to Rosemarie Penn, an active member, the Legion of Mary group was formed at St. Rose of Lima Parish in 1972. They have had close to 1,700 weekly meetings in 34 years.

There are currently 10 active members and about 42 auxiliary members. Father Ed Murray is the director of the group and meets with the group a few times a year, added Penn.

At the weekly meetings, the group discusses new business and the members are asked if there is anyone they know who needs prayers or help.

"The Legion of Mary is the Rosary Crusade link," said Penn. "If anyone requests prayers for any intention, one of the group members calls five auxiliary members to assign a decade, and the rosary is recited for them for two weeks."

Penn explained that the rosaries could be said for someone undergoing surgery, waiting for medical test results or recovering from an injury. Prayers are also recited for such things as a relative who is ill, loss of a job or any special intention.

The group visits four institutions weekly. At the Care Center, they host bingo and serve lunch. Penn noted that she and her husband call bingo every Tuesday.

At the assisted living home, Reed House, they have weekly rosary, occasional Mass and weekly visiting and refreshments.

"We feel that our primary work is to make sure the nursing home residents and shut-ins are not forgotten by their parish," said Penn. "We want to make them feel like active members of the parish."

At the Eventide Nursing Home, they say the rosary weekly, attend Mass on First Fridays and visit residents.

"If there is a new resident to any of the nursing homes, we bring it to the attention of our pastor and recommend that he visit them," said Penn. "When a parish member is hospitalized, we visit them there as well."

Not only do the members visit those in the care facilities, they also visit shut-ins and other elderly and do what they can for them.

"I think it is very important because these people don't have transportation," said Penn. "They can't get to Mass anymore. It is so nice for Catholic people to come out. We keep them going. We tie the church with the people who need contact."

The group also leads the rosary at Catholic wakes and helps serve funeral dinners. Some members help with weekly parish bingo as well.

About two years ago, the Legion of Mary initiated Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, which begins at 8 a.m. after Mass until 5 p.m. that day.

"The members should feel important and like they are filling a need," said Penn.

Once a year the Legion of Mary holds ACIS, a meeting of all the active and auxiliary members. They have a special Mass with fellowship afterwards.

"The group is active and tries to keep communication open as we reach out to those who need us," said Penn.

Penn pointed out that there are other groups in Carroll and Vail. Once a month, the officers from the three groups meet for a Curia.