Living in this current era in Hong Kong, we are different from before, be it with regards to clergy, laity, or the general public, especially in terms of our sense of responsibility. Faced with the secular culture of our time, we must strive even more to maintain personal integrity. We need to strengthen our spirituality, equip ourselves through the liturgy and sacraments, and cultivate both physical and spiritual strength to confront the challenges ahead.
In The Legion of Mary Handbook, Chapter 33: The Basic Duties of Legionaries (2), it says “This work should be “substantial,” that is, the legionary should spend a couple of hours a week at it. But legionaries should not thus mathematically restrict themselves.” Work should be assigned by the president of the Praesidium; it is not about members doing whatever they prefer. Legionaries must not replace work assigned with personal devotions, pious acts, or prayers. Are these assignments based solely on the president’s decisions, or are they responses to the parish’s needs? We are the Legion of Mary of the parish and we must maintain a close and positive relationship with it. Our relationship with the parish priests should be interactive. The Legion of Mary serves as the right hand of the parish priests and should contribute constructively to it.
For each praesidium, we are grateful to have the guidance of our devoted Spiritual Directors. However, we should not rely solely on the Spiritual Director’s care; the nurture within the praesidium itself is also crucial. According to the system of the Legion of Mary, the Spiritual Director should be a priest, a sister, or a deacon. Yet, we have many experienced, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable members within the Legion. These devoted and selfless members can assist our priests and sisters, making up for any deficiencies. Let us cherish our weekly meetings and the fellowship among our members. We care and learn from our members. The devout participation of members is just as important as the role of the Spiritual Director. Let us encourage and support each other in this family!
Spiritual Director
Fr. Timothy Wan
21 September 2025