SIBU — Catholic Bishop of Sibu, Right Reverend Bishop Joseph Hii, called on all members of the Legion of Mary to always serve with humility in carrying out their active works in the community.
Speaking at the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Legion of Mary in Sibu on Sunday (Dec 14) at Kingwood Hotel, he reminded members that the bigger the movement becomes, the humbler they should be in their service.
“As we grow, now in our 70th year, let us be reminded that the greater we are and the more members we have, we must continue to serve with humility. We can fall because of our pride,” he pointed out.
He said the Diocese of Sibu is always grateful for the presence of the Legion of Mary, which is now the biggest movement in the diocese.
Today, the Legion, especially the English Curia, has expanded the movement to the Iban and Melanau communities, whom he believes will play an important role in the growth of the movement.
He thanked the current leadership for its forward vision in recognising the need to include native communities to reach out to more people, especially in rural areas.
“We are now involving the natives. They are still young, but they are very strong, and they are the future of the Legion of Mary in the next century,” he pointed out.
Hii also believed that the Legion of Mary exists because the Church was inspired by the Holy Spirit hundreds of years ago, even before the Second Vatican Council.
The people of God, under the leadership of Frank Duff, stepped out and founded the Legion of Mary. Today, the movement has spread all over the world and is growing stronger.
“The Legion of Mary is a movement that is filled with the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit, we cannot do it,” he said.
He also thanked the priests, church members, and all those who have been involved in the Legion of Mary and in promoting the movement.
“I would like to challenge you and remind you to always put your service first for the glory of the Church, the Legion of Mary, and ultimately, God,” he said.
Meanwhile, the spiritual director of the Sibu Comitium, Reverend Father Philip Hu, called on all legionaries to continue praying for the beatification of the founder of the Legion of Mary, Frank Duff.
He said Duff’s dedication in establishing the Legion of Mary in Dublin in 1921 inspired many Church leaders to spread the Legion’s spirituality.
For those in Sibu, he said members’ participation in parish life through works such as visiting families and the sick has brought hope to the community.
“Over the years, we have seen more and more people attracted to this way of living the Christian life. Let us take this opportunity to renew our legionary promise and commitment so that we may continue to work for God in the spirit of Mary,” he said.
More than 1,000 members attended the celebration, which was filled with entertainment and recognition. Two members were given the recognition for their 70 years of service in the Legion of Mary.
Also present at the celebration were treasurer and correspondent of Singapore Senatus Peter Jong and President of Good Counsel Comitium Philip Kong.
Before the celebration, a Thanksgiving Mass was held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
