Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - On the occasion of celebrations for the 85th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion of Mary, the spiritual director of the local Praesidium Fr Ferdinand Lok Hung Cheong, told Hong Kong’s weekly diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao about the activity of the Legion in the territory. “Here in Hong Kong we members of the Legion of Mary live a life of prayer and service, we help consolidate the faith of newly baptised Catholics, we visit people in hospital, prison, or drug detoxication centres, and most of the people we visit are non Christians. We help in the diocese with evangelisation taking part in Mission Sunday initiatives …. The Legion gives special attention to the formation of its spiritual directors fostering in this way the growth of the Christian community”. In these years of service the Legion of Mary has worked to consolidate the faith and its members have been the first to benefit. Mr Zhao Qiu Ming, for 20 years a member of the Legion of Mary, and elected president last year said “the Legion is every more present in Church activity, we live the faith concretely so that it permeates our lives”.
Celebrations for the 85th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion of Mary on 31 December were presided by the Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Auxiliary Bishop Tong and Rev. Lok Hung Cheong. Many of those present were members of the Legion from other countries, Korea, Philippines resident in Hong Kong.
The Legion of Mary was founded in Dublin, in Ireland by Frank Duff, in September 1921, and it arrived in Hong Kong in 1949 where today there are 1,500 members involved in visiting people in prison or in hospital, helping with parish work and evangelisation. The members recite a daily rosary and attend weekly meetings to pray together and discuss activity. Every member promises to give two hours of service a week. (NZ)(Agenzia Fides 10/01/2007 Righe: 31 Parole: 330)
