Legion of Mary Official Highlights “recruitment, extension” in Kenyan Church institutions

“After celebrating a hundred years in 2021, we continue to emphasize recruitment and extension of the Legion of Mary. This we hope to do in all our parishes even as we revive Praesidia that may have lapsed like those in some rural deaneries in Nairobi Archdiocese,” he said.

The member of the Clergy of Kenya’s Nairobi Archdiocese went on to highlight initiatives being undertaken to strengthen the movement in Kenya, saying, “Some deaneries have nominated a Priest to be a chaplain of the Legion of Mary.”

In other Kenyan Catholic Dioceses such as Ngong, Bungoma, Kisumu, Meru, and Machakos, Fr. Kariuki said that “the Bishops have appointed Spiritual directors for the Legion of Mary.”

There is an aspiration to venture into Dioceses where the Legion apostolate is absent, especially in some Northeastern parts of the country, including Marsabit, Nyahururu, Maralal, and Garissa, he said.

In an interview with ACI Africa in October 2021, Fr. Kariuki said that there is a need to strengthen legionaries in schools in an attempt to counter the declining numbers the association is facing.

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“We will strengthen the legionaries in our schools and introduce the movement where it does not exist. Here we will work closely with the Education Secretary in the Archdiocese of Nairobi,” he said. 

In the February 6 interview, Fr. Kariuki called for the recruitment of young children and youth from the institutions, arguing that learning institutions hold the future of the Marian movement in Kenya. 

“We particularly wish that more young children and the youth (junior legion) join the Legion in schools and institutions of higher learning. This is where the future of the Legion of Mary is,” he told ACI Africa.

The Kenyan Catholic Priest listed Marian Feasts this year, including the Annunciation, the Assumption, the Nativity of Mary, and the Immaculate Conception, and said that legionaries are keen on such celebrations.

On the feast of the Annunciation marked March 25, Fr. Kariuki said that all legionaries renew their promises in a function that is referred to as “Acies”.

Acies, he explained, “is the most important annual function of the Legion of Mary; it’s a ceremony in which all legionaries renew their fidelity ‘to Jesus through Mary’ and re-dedicate themselves to another year of service and prayer.”

He also spoke about the anniversary Mass of the death of Venerable Edel Quinn, the first envoy of the Legion of Mary to Kenya between 1936 and 1944, which is to be celebrated in May as part of the events that legionaries will participate in.

In his new year message, Fr. Kariuki wished the legionaries blessings and urged them to continue keeping their promise to Mother Mary as per the intentions of the founder, the Servant of God Frank Duff.

He said that the promises that legionaries need to keep include attending weekly Praesidium meetings, the daily prayer of the Catena legions, performing a substantial weekly apostolate, and reporting of the same.

Fr. Kariuki reminded legionaries about the importance of their promises, saying, “Any meeting or work done is always an appointment with Mother Mary and we do not want to disappoint her.”

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The Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary in Kenya sought to distinguish the Legion of Mary from Legio Maria sect, the latter having sprouted in Western Kenya in the 1960s.

“The Legion of Mary exists and functions with the permission of the Bishop in the Diocese and the Priests in the Parish. The sect is Legio Maria and is not part of the Roman Catholic Church,” he said, adding that members of the sect “have uniforms as their external manifestation and do their things a different way.’

Fr. Kariuki continued, “The Legion of Mary members following the ‘spirit’ of Mary: her quiet life at the home of Nazareth, Mary who treasured all these things, pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19), do not have a uniform.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.