News and Information

•Pilgrim Virgin Available to Take Home
If any St. Luke parishioner would like to have the Pilgrim Virgin in their home for one week to pray for world peace, the conversion of sinners, or any other intentions during this month of the Holy Rosary, please call the Parish Office to be connected with a Legion of Mary representative for arrangements.

Two members of the St. Luke Legion of Mary will bring the Pilgrim Virgin to your home at your request and pray the Rosary with you the first night of the visit.  The Legion of Mary will then pick up the Pilgrim Virgin from your home at the end of the week.

The wooden statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which is about 3 feet tall, was donated to the Legion of Mary by a parishioner.  Legion members pray the rosary together every Tuesday evening to further devotion to the Blessed Mother.  The Legion has several statues they rotate use of during sessions, but they wanted this statue to be utilized in a special way that focused on encouraged the devotion among parishioners and their families, not only Legion members.

The project promotes the rosary and places an emphasis on the beauty of prayers to the Virgin Mary, who intercedes for us and brings those prayers to the Holy Father through her Son, Jesus Christ.  Families who request the statue in their home are encouraged to create an altar for Mary and to say the rosary together.  They are also encouraged to invite friends and neighbors to participate.

The Blessed Mother said that for peace on earth and for the conversion of sinners, everyone needs to pray the rosary.  Through the rosary, graces will be received.  The rosary promotes a closer relationship and understanding of Jesus Christ.  We are able to meditate on Christ through the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries.

Ministry Highlights

May 2002- 1,000 Rosaries for Our Lady Project
The Legion of Mary wishes to express gratitude to the parishioners of St. Luke for their generosity during its May 2002 project to collect 1,000 Rosaries for Our Lady.  On August 15, 2002, the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, over 1,550 rosaries were sent to the missions in Africa.  May our Blessed Mother Mary shower you with graces for your benevolence.

The graces of our Blessed Mother will be extended to those in need as the St. Luke Legion of Mary have begun collecting rosaries that will be sent to several African missions.  This unique project is in its first year and serves as a tribute to Mary, the Mother of our Church, Barbara Rupnick, project coordinator said.
In keeping with the purpose of the Legion, members pray the rosary each day.  While praying her devotions, one member in particular envisioned the idea of 1000 rosaries.  The idea kept occurring and becoming stronger.  It eventually developed into the current project in which 1000 rosaries are being collected during the month of May, Mary's month.  These rosaries will be sent to those less fortunate in several African missions.

Barbara Rupnick is currently heading the project and says she is delighted at how it has all come together.  The initial plan was to collect rosaries from St. Luke parishioners and those from neighboring parishes such as Nativity in El Monte, Annunciation and Holy Angles in Arcadia, and All Souls in Alhambra.

"Many people have rosaries tucked lovingly away in dresser drawers, desks, and other places," Barbara said.  These rosaries can now be cared for by Catholics in Africa who desperately need such blessings in their lives.

When the first word of the project was published in the parish Sunday bulletin, Judy Farrell, a St. Luke parishioner and Legion member, offered to repair any broken rosaries that are collected.  The hopes are that we can now collect many more rosaries than initially thought.

The project is truly a group collaboration and the essence of it returns us to what the Blessed Mother asks.  The Blessed Mother asks us to pray the rosary each day, especially for peace in the world and for guidance in the current Church scandals, Barbara said.  By delivering rosaries, an important part of our praying experience, we can increase the power of prayer throughout the world.

The efforts of this project have thus enforced a two-fold message.  The Legion is dedicated to bringing awareness to the beauty and importance of praying the rosary as well as the faith enrichment provided through participation in the Legion of Mary.

The St. Luke Legion of Mary Presidium is one of the longest existing ministries at our parish.  It was founded in 1948 with many of its original members still involved.  Membership, which is open to all practicing Catholics, has increased over the years.  The St. Luke Legion is one unit of of one of the largest apostolic organizations of lay people in the Catholic Church.  The Legion has been active in the United States since 1931 and consists of over 3 million active members world-wide. 

Legion members are required to pray the rosary along with special prayers each day.  "We are blessed by just saying the rosary everyday," Barbara said.  She says she is inspired by the devotions of our Legion's members. 

Devotion to Mary through the Legion can truly change our lives.  It helps one to handle the pain and sorrow we are sometimes faced with, Barbara said.

A recent loss in the family brought about the presence of the Blessed Mother in Barbara's life in ways she did not expect.  Two friends of the family attended a funeral for a family member and the experience has inspired them to return to the Church they had strayed from, Barbara said.

Barbara is certain that the Blessed Mother was at work in her life and is devoted to her guidance.  She has been a member of the Legion for almost three years now.  She encourages parishioners to consider this calling.

Along with daily devotions, membership calls on one to perform Apostolic work.   In fact, much of the work that parishioners do in other ministries such as visiting the sick at convalescent homes, teaching religious education, serving as Eucharistic Ministers, or Lectors, qualifies as such work.  One can attend the morning or night presidium or serve as an auxiliary member and pray individually.

Since Sept. 11, the Legion is still hopeful that parishioners might consider the comfort and power this ministry provides.  We are reminded that our graces flow through the Blessed Mother.  When we pray to Mary and ask for guidance, she prepares our prayers for presentation to our Lord.

Through the Legion's Rosary Project, it is hoped that the beauty and grace of the rosary and the reinforcement that the Blessed Mother provides for our Church can be realized.  It is essential for us as Catholics to spread such messages and this project humbly reflects just that.

It is unclear why 1,000 rosaries was the message, but Barbara says that the Legion is determined to keep the project alive until 1000 rosaries are indeed collected for our fellow brothers and sisters in Africa.  

About Us
The Legion of Mary meets weekly on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Parish Office to pray the rosary together and further the devotion to the Blessed Mother.  

Their focus is evangelization and they visit the sick, the elderly, shut-ins and convalescent homes to strengthen our brothers and sisters in the spiritual life. They assist in contacting parishioners, lax or lapsed Catholics, and interested non-Catholics in need of spiritual help. 

The Legion at St. Luke Parish is a longtime organization. It was formed when the parish was founded, more than 50 years ago.  The Legion currently has 11 active members and 106 auxiliary members.

Practicing Catholic men and women of at least 18 years of age can become an active or auxiliary member of the Legion.  Active members must be able to attend weekly meetings.  Auxiliary members say the rosary and Tessera prayers at home daily and are not required to attend weekly meetings. 

The prayers offered by the auxiliary members are the powerhouse of the Legion of Mary and are of utmost important to the successful mission of the Legion.  

Practicing Catholics under the age of 18 can apply for membership in a junior praesidium.  St. Luke Church does not currently have a junior praesidium; however, the Legion would be willing to establish a junior praesidium if there is adequate response from the young people in the parish. These juniors can then join the adult praesidium when they reach the age of 18. 

To become an active or auxiliary member, call the Parish Office.

(Legion of Mary Handbook)- The Legion of Mary is an Association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces, have formed themselves into a Legion for service in the warfare which is perpetually waged by the Church against the world and its evil powers.  The Legion of Mary is therefore organized on the model of an army, principally on that of the army of ancient Rome, but the army and the arms of legionaries of Mary are not of this world.

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 under ecclesiastical guidance, in Mary’s and the Church’s work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ.

The Legion of Mary has been referred to as the “foot” of our Blessed Mother crushing the serpent’s head and as “Mary’s Army” waging war against Satan by bringing souls to Christ.

The purpose and mission of the Legion of Mary is the saving of souls for Christ through evangelization.  The following are a few examples of how this is accomplished.

-Home visitations.
-Conducting religious education classes.
-Visitation and care of the handicapped, the sick and the old, including, when necessary, making arrangements for a visit of the priest.
-Recitation of the rosary at wakes and funerals.
-Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the homes of people.
-Devotion to our Blessed Mother through the Pilgrim Virgin visitation to homes.
-The making of the parish census.
-Visitation of hospitals, including psychiatric hospitals.
-Visitation of prisons.
-Eucharistic ministers to the sick.

The powerhouse for the Legion of Mary is prayer, particularly Her rosary, through which the legionaries receive the Graces necessary to wage war against Satan and bring souls to Christ.

“I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have is yours.”