Legion of Mary, Extension, Organization, New Praesidia, FAQ

I.        So, the curia gave you and extension assignment! What do you do now?

A.        You should begin by getting together extension material. Look over all the active and auxiliary membership leaflets. Check the forms section of our website. Pick out some appropriate material and study it well. You need to study like it was a school homework assignment.

B.        Do you have any material especially appropriate for a priest, such as "The Priest and the Legion"? Or articles from magazines? A letter of introduction? A copy of the Bishop's letter.

II.        How do you contact the pastor?

A.        Your first job is to get an appointment. The Legion used to believe in "cold calls" where two members would visit unannounced. In this day in age, with our busy priests, that is not usually a good idea.

B.        Call and make an appointment. Your next job is to get past the parish secretary. Some rectory workers think their job description is to try to keep as many people as possible from seeing their boss.

C.        Tell whomever you talk with you want to discuss an important matter with the pastor and would prefer to speak only with the pastor - not a secretary and not an assistant. It is better not to mention the Legion of Mary, but you may say "an organization I belong to.

D.        Try to schedule a half-hour appointment. You must be flexible;         make your visit accommodate the time the pastor has available.

III.        He said, "No," so that's that, right? -- No

A..        Any good salesman says, "'No' is just the start of the sale." Do not argue. Try to understand everything the pastor says. Remember WWMD? (Act as Mary would.)

B.        It is a good idea to study the section of the Handbook, "Objections Which May Be Anticipated." Again, do not argue! Agree with everything you possibly can.

C.        A good tactic is to "play back" what the priest said. "I understand you do not have an assistant, and feel the Legion would just be an added burden; is this correct? Maybe we can help"

D.        Above all, try to let the door open for a return visit in three months, six months, or a year.

IV.        He said, "Yes." What do I do now?

A.        Don't do what one group did: Run right back to the curia with the good news, but without any follow-up.

B.        Determine the method or methods of recruiting members he wants to use.--hand pick, form a cadre, or the Columban method.

C.        If he wants a recruitment drive, try to pick a day. Accept the date he thinks is best.

D.        Pick a firm time, place, and date for the first meeting.

        E. Try to get a feel for the kinds of works he wants his praesidium to do.   Bishop Victor specifically mentioned evangelization and contacting inactive Catholics.

V.        What are the methods for recruiting members?

A.        There are five possible approaches:

1.        Hand picked method.

         2.    Recruitment Drive (Columban Drive).

3.        Bulletin Announcements.

4.        The pastor speaks at all the Masses.

5.        A Legionary speaks before all the Masses.

B.        What method is best? It very much depends on the parish and the pastor. Usually a combination of two or more is best. Each method has it advantages and disadvantages.

VI.        What is a Columban drive?

A.        The first Columban drives were held in England by the Columban Fathers, thus the name. They have been used throughout the world.

B.        A priest speaks at all the Masses about the Legion. It is best if he can work some mention of it into his homily.

C.        Cards and pencils are in all the pews. As the priest speaks, he tells the people to fill in their name, address and phone numbers and hand them to a Legionary as they leave the church.

D.        A LARGE NUMBER of Legionaries are at every Mass
- a half hour before and a half hour after - to contact as many as possible.
E.        During the day the Legionaries visit each person who turned in a card and urge them to come to the first meetings - usually the next night.

F.        The era we live in is a time when circumstances may prevent completion of the Columban drive as described above. Be aware that any variation will mean less prospective members. However we must work with what is available to us.

VII.        How do you set up the first meeting?

A.        Ideally it should be Monday evening. However, in some parishes that is not practical. You may find a Saturday morning meeting is better because both working people and non-working people can attend.

B.        Whatever you do, make sure the meeting time, place and date are announced weeks ahead so everyone will know when it is and feel welcome. (Failure in this regard will almost certainly lead to a false start.) Write the information on the leaflets you hand the people

VIII.        What do you do at the first meeting?

A.        The biggest mistake for first meetings is trying to tell too much. They have a lifetime to learn about the Legion of Mary. Tell only what is absolutely necessary.

B.        Give those attending a very brief history of the Legion of Mary. They are not really interested in history at this point.

C.   Have each Legionary present tell what the Legion means to him         and the types of work he does. This is very important. Personal         testimony sells more than high pressure presentations.

D.        Conduct it as if it were an actual meeting - which it is. Begin with the         prayers, spiritual reading, have sample minutes ready, take roll….

E.        Read the Standing Instructions and briefly outline what they mean. You can go into details at later meetings.

F.        Do not put a lot of emphasis on weekly meetings. At this point we are only interested in getting them understand the need for the Legion and to come back next week - not for the rest of their lives. (That comes later.) Also DO NOT speak about auxiliary membership.

F.        Say the Catena. If the pastor is present, ask him to give an Allocutio. (Warn him ahead of time.)

H.        Allow for questions and brief answers.

I.        Go around the room and ask each person present if he
thinks the Legion would be a good thing in this parish.
(Do not permit him to give excuses why he can't join -
stick to the question.)

J.        Then ask each person if he will come back next week at the same time for more information.

K.        Assign each person to try to enlist one person to come with him next week.

L.        Say the closing prayers and the Frank Duff prayer for the         success of the Legion in the parish.

IX. What do you do at the next meeting?

We are publishing a new booklet which will detail the method for organizing a praesidium. The following is a brief outline:

            A.    Basically follow the same format; that is Legion meeting                         Number 2

B.        Appoint acting officers. Stress they are acting for this week's meeting only.

        C.        Distribute Handbooks (at second not first meeting) and get names of those who take them. (Tell them the cost - $7 - which can be paid later.).

D.        Expand on the standing instructions.

E.        Ask for reports on the recruiting efforts.

F.        Begin to briefly discuss auxiliary membership.

G.        Give more specific assignments for recruiting active and auxiliary members. (Use the names you collected and other suggestions.)

H.        If there are experienced Legionaries available, give them assignments to complete.

I.        Subsequent meetings follow in the same manor
.
J.        You MUST continue meeting with the new group every week for months until officers are appointed and trained. Then wean them away.

X.        In subsequent years, as the praesidium gives report after report, remember that your efforts and those of your brothers and sisters helped Our Lady to get the results she wanted for her Son.

NOTE: The organization of a new praesidium of the Legion of Mary requires the attention and devotion of a number of experienced Legionaries to make the new group strong. You will need to "mother hen" your new "baby chicks" for two, three, and more months until they can fly on their own.
I.        So, you completed the curia's extension assignment; a drive was held; the first meeting is set; what do you do now?

A.        You should begin as always by getting together the "stuff" the new praesidium will need to start out:
1.        Altar
2.        Rosary and Tesserae
3.        Handbooks
4.        Recruiting material
5.        Notebooks and pencils
6.        Worksheets for officers
7.        Secret bag and treasurer's book
8.        Forms for collecting names, addresses.
B.        Look for material especially appropriate for the spiritual director to use as allocutio material - "The Priest and the Legion," articles from magazines, other books.........

II.        Sit down with the pastor/spiritual director and explain his role. Determine what works will be undertaken and when. Try to get a commitment for him to attend at least one meeting a month. Be sure he is present when you do your recruitment drive and supports you with his homily or remarks.

III.        Gather a list of appropriate Handbook readings for spiritual reading. (For the first year, the praesidium must use the Handbook for spiritual readings.)

A.        The excerpts from the Venerable John-Paul II show great insight into the Legion and cover the basics. It is found near the front of the Handbook.
B.        Or Chapters 1 and 2 of the Handbook
C.        If the spiritual director is present, a good reading is "The Priest and the Legion," Chapter 10 #4.
D.        Or the first part of Chapter 5, "The Devotional Outlook of the Legion."

IV.         The first meeting:

A.        Pass out Rosaries and Tesserae
B.        Say, "Every Legion of Mary meeting since the very first one has begun with the Invocation of the Holy Spirit and five decades of the Rosary. I will lead the first, third and fifth decades, and you will respond. You will lead the second and fourth decades and I will respond. Don't worry if you mess up- -even experienced Legionaries do some times. These prayers are normally said kneeling, but many of us cannot, so it is OK to sit."
C.        After the prayers, pass out Handbooks. It is OK if some have to share. Say: "The Legion of Mary Handbook costs us $__.___ (currently $8 in Jacksonville) It is the only thing we ask you to pay for. I will collect the Handbooks after the meeting unless someone wishes to buy one today.
D.                Spiritual reading (less than 5 minutes.)
E.                Minutes - prepare sample minutes telling works being done in the area and have one of the experienced Legionaries act as secretary. Show them the secretary worksheet.
F.                Standing Instructions - read and explain briefly.
G.                Roll Call - Pass around a form for them to write their name, address, and phone number.
H.                Treasurer's Report - Have an experienced Legionary explain the secret bag. Explain what the curia is giving to them to get them started and why it is necessary to contribute to the higher council.
I.                Report on Assignments - Have experienced Legionaries explain the types of work they do, and recount an interesting event. (Less than 30 minutes.)
J.                Catena and Allocutio (Hopefully by spiritual director.)
K.                Discussion of Handbook. Allow for questions. (No more than 20 minutes.) Show the president's worksheet and explain that this is the agenda for every meeting.
L.                This is important: Go around the table and ask each person, "Do you think the Legion of Mary would be an asset to your parish." ("Yes" or "No" - no discussion.) "Will you come again next week?"
M.             Give each one material to recruit active members - not auxiliaries, not yet - assign them to contact at least one other person and bring them next week. If you have names of prospects that are not, you may assign them to be contacted.
    N.                    "After the closing prayers we will be available to answer questions."
    O.                     Closing prayers and Frank Duff prayer.

V.        The second and third meetings: Follow the same format as a regular meeting.

A.        At the third meeting introduce the idea of auxiliaries - how they are recruited, cared for, and how important they are. Auxiliary membership should not be regarded as an "easy out" from our apostolic obligation.
B.        Be on the lookout for prospective officers.

VI.        Third or fourth meetings:

A.        Invite a member to sit beside each of the experienced Legionaries and see how they do their officer job.
B.        Then next time (or when ready) have a member of the new group take over and the experienced Legionary may advise.

VII.        Fifth or sixth meeting:

A.        The group should now have their apostolic action in full swing. You may need to accompany them on more difficult tasks.
B.        You can cut back to two the number of experienced Legionaries you assign to attend the new praesidium's meeting.
C.        It is desirable to rotate the duties among the experienced Legionaries.
D.        Be on the lookout for potential officers.         Explain that officers will be appointed by the         curia after they have taken their promise.

VIII.        Seventh to Twelfth meeting:

A.        Explain the promise
B.        After 12 weeks the members should start taking their promise one or two at each meeting.
C.        Make the promise-taking an event.
D.        Recommend officers to the curia.

IX        Gradually start to wean the group away from your intervention. Every other week at first and then go back after a month for a final check and answer questions.

X        CHECK LIST FOR PRESIDING OFFICER:

Before Meeting
q           Prepare president's worksheet

Spiritual Reading (suggest starting with Chapter 5)
Handbook Discussion (suggest starting with Chapter 39 - one member should be assigned to lead discussion.
Assignments for the coming week.

q           Get flowers and set up room for meeting.
q           Prepare allocutio if SD cannot be present.
q           If you cannot be present, be sure another member (vice-president or acting VP) has the workbook and is prepared to take over.
q           You may change the time, the place, or the day of the meeting, but a meeting MUST be held each and every week without fail, even if only a very few Legionaries can attend.