By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent

Some 150 members of the Legion of Mary from around Burlington and Mercer counties gathered to pray and renew their consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Legion of Mary’s Acies, March 23, in Incarnation-St. James Church, Ewing.

Click here to see photo gallery on this story.

The Acies, which is Latin for “an army set in battle array” and is held on or near March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, included a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and concelebrated by Father Michael Burns, diocesan Legion of Mary spiritual moderator for more than 35 years, and Trinitarian Father Santhosh George, pastor of Incarnation-St. James Parish. Another Legion of Mary Acies celebration for more than 100 active and auxiliary members in Ocean and Monmouth Counties was also held March 23 in St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, Toms River, with Father Stephen Piga, pastor.

“We need water to live,” stated Bishop O’Connell, focusing his homily on the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent which included the Gospel story of Jesus’ encounter with the Woman at the Well.

“Jesus knew that and he uses this strange occasion and meeting and conversation to make the point that he has something amazing and truly life giving to offer,” said Bishop O’Connell, reflecting on the conversation between Jesus and the woman. “Something as simple and commonplace as water becomes a symbol for eternal life.”

The Legion of Mary is one of the largest lay apostolic organizations of lay people in the Church, with several million active and auxiliary members in some 170 countries who serve their parishes through apostolic and  missionary activities including evangelization, instructing and preparing others to receive the sacraments, distributing rosaries, and visiting the sick, elderly and inmates in jail.

Noting that there are a total of 1,166 Legion of Mary (active and auxiliary) members and 195 active members in the Diocese, Judy Dallaris, a parishioner of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, and a member of the Legion of Mary for many years, said, “This is a hands-on organization to do evangelization.”

“Our mission is the Spiritual Works of Mercy and we help the parishes with their pastoral work,” she explained of the worldwide organization which fashion their organization after the Roman Army legions, and was established in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921 by Frank Duff.

Father Burns, who is pastor of St. Mary Church, Bordentown, thanked Bishop O’Connell for his presence at the 2014 Legion of Mary Acies.

 “It was a beautiful Mass,” stated Father Burns, as he reiterated the mission of the Legion of Mary and how it is a a spiritual organization that focuses on apostolic works.

“Our goal is to bring souls to Jesus through Our Lady and the Holy Spirit,” Dallaris said earnestly.  

According to the Legion of Mary website, “The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work.

“The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which is normally based in a parish. A parish may have more than one praesidium. To be an active legionary it is necessary to apply for membership in a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting and allocates a weekly apostolic task to the members, who generally work in pairs.

“The administration of the Legion is carried out through its various councils at local, regional and national level. The central council, the Concilium Legionis Mariae, meets monthly in Dublin.”