legion of mary

Clergy, Members of Legion of Mary Renew Consecration

By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the Issue of 3/29/07)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde presides over the service at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington last Sunday.

A multicultural atmosphere was evident last week at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington when priests and members of the diocesan Legion of Mary gathered to renew their consecration to Mary.
The annual bilingual ceremony (English/Spanish) was presided over by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde. Fathers Paul F. deLadurantaye, in residence at the cathedral; Ramón Báez, parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church; and Stephen F. McGraw, parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax; also participated in the service last Sunday.
Carrying banners of the Virgin Mary, and some dressed in their native costumes, hundreds of parishioners solemnly participated in the service that lasted approximately three hours and concluded with a reception that underlined the culturally diverse diocese.
“Today we renew our consecration and commitment to Jesus,’ said the bishop, who on that Sunday completed eight years of service in the diocese.
One ritual during this service is made up of many prayers, songs, hymns and periods of silent mediation.
It also included exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament by the bishop, and a dialogue between the priests and the faithful.
Clergy and parishioners made a procession to the “Legion vexillum,” which was located at the altar. Priests, first, one by one, put their right hands on the “Legion vexillum,” repeating “I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have is yours.” Then legionaries also processed two-by-two to do the same.
“The act marks a public and collective renewal to the consecration to the Holy Mary,” said Father Báez.
“It was a beautiful, unforgettable event,” said Luis Coronel, a native from Bolivia and a member of the Legion of Mary at the cathedral. “We had more Hispanics than we were expecting.”
“I felt very emotional and happy to participate in the service,” said Berene Tajuna of Kenya and a parishioner from St. Ann Parish in Arlington.
The bishop and concelebrating priests joined parishioners at the cathedral social hall for a reception, where a buffet with international food was served.