This Friday 25 March, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (5:00 pm Rome time). This follows several similar papal consecrations made in response to the requests of Our Lady of Fatima.

The Pope has invited all the bishops of the world, with their priests, to unite with him in this act. Cardinal Krajewski, as envoy of the Pope, will bring the consecration to Fatima itself; and at Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis also invited ‘every community and all the faithful to unite with me…for the Solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that she, the Queen of Peace, may help us obtain peace.’

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge said, ‘Acting as the Universal Pastor of the Church, Pope Francis will renew the consecration urged at Fatima more than 100 years ago. The bishops of Australia are united with the Holy Father as he leads the faithful around the world in this act of consecration and we invite all people to join us in praying for peace in Ukraine. We urge people to spend part of their day on March 25 in prayer – attending Mass, praying with family or friends, in silent prayer at a local parish or chapel or in whatever way you can.’ (Media Release, 18/03/22)

Legionaries will especially wish to respond to this call of the Pope and the bishops, and also to be praying special prayers even in these days leading up – for peace, and for the maximum fruitfulness of the Consecration.

• pdf Click here to download our A4 PDF of Pope Francis' Act of Consecration for Russia and Ukraine (1 MB)

The Legion of Mary celebrated 100 years on 7 September 2021. It was a time of joy, of celebration and of thanksgiving.

Fr Justin Ford will celebrated Mass from St Mary's Church, Ascot Vale on Tuesday 7 September at 10am (AEST). Click here to view on YouTube.

Archbishop Dermot Farrell celebrated Mass on Saturday 4th September at 4.30am (AEST) in St. Nicholas of Myra Church, Dublin, Ireland. Click here to view.

Heavenly Father, we praise and bless you as we celebrate the joyful centenary of Mary’s Legion. Under the loving rule and guidance of their Mother and Queen, and in the grace of the Holy Spirit, legionaries have come to Jesus through Mary and have led countless souls on that same shining way. Grant that in our own time, we her Legion may be renewed on this path of holiness and evangelisation, for the salvation of the world, to the praise of your glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mary Immaculate, our Queen, our Mother, intercede with your divine Son for your Legion, that it may be strong in faithfulness and abundant in fruitfulness, as we move forward in trustful hope.

Last weekend I wrote to the clergy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne expressing concerns regarding a new government bill, tabled in Parliament:

- Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020: Table of Provisions
- Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020: Explanatory Memorandum

The bill purports to protect vulnerable people from harm through what has been called ‘conversion therapies’. In faith communities, ‘conversion’ has a meaning of positive change, upholding human freedom and dignity.

For the 150^th Anniversary of Saint Joseph being proclaimed Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis has declared a ‘Year of St Joseph’ from 8 December 2020 until 8 December 2021, publishing for the occasion the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (‘With a father’s heart’).

Many will be especially delighted by this – simply because we love St Joseph! In the Legion there is deep awareness that the heartbeat of faith isn’t ideas and abstractions, but enthusiastic and devoted love for real-life persons. Ruling all, obviously, is our encounter and relationship with God, who has become flesh in Jesus Christ. Yet this love overflows – most especially into our love for Our Lady, but also for all the Saints, and in a special way for the humble St Joseph, the ‘just man’ chosen by God for the extraordinary role of husband of the Blessed Virgin and foster-father of God the Son made man.

O Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love, protect our families so that they may always be united and bless the upbringing of our children.

1. Day and time – December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception – to be started at 12 noon and will continue until 1 PM (one full hour of prayer).
2. During this hour the person making the ‘Hour of Grace’ either at home or in the Church must put away all distractions (do not answer the telephone or answer any doors or do anything but totally concentrate on your union with God during this Special Hour of Grace)
3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying three times the 51st Psalm with outstretched arms.
4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God meditating upon the Passion of Jesus saying the Holy Rosary, praising God in your own way or by using favourite prayers, singing hymns, meditating upon other Psalms, etc.

22 August is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  On 11 October 1954, Pope Pius XII established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary to be celebrated throughout the world, and commanded that on that day each year, the world should renew its consecration to her. 

But Mary’s Queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord”.  As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, she is closely associated with Jesus: Her Queenship is a share in Jesus’ Kingship. 

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life for body and soul. You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, grant us renewed confidence in the victory of life over death. Amen.

This year Support Your Priest Sunday will be held on Sunday 2nd August 2020.

Support Your Priest Sunday is a day of national significance for Catholics that will take place each year around the feast of Saint John Vianney, patron of priests.

Please join in the novena below at any time to pray for priests.

• pdf Click here to download and print the Novena for Priests (910 KB)