聖母軍 | Legion of Mary

The spirit of the Legion of Mary is that of Mary. Especially does the Legion aspire after her profound humility, her perfect obedience, her angelical sweetness, her continual prayer, her universal mortification, her altogether spotless purity, her heroic patience, her heavenly wisdom, her self-sacrificing courageous love of God, and above all her faith… "(Legion of Mary Handbook Chapter 3).

Legion of Mary is a worldwide apostolic association of Catholics who want to live up their faith like the apostles through prayer and active co-operation, “with the sanction of the Church guidance and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces.” (Handbook Chapter 1).  They involve and co-operate in the Church’s work of crushing the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15), her warfare against the world and its evil powers. They serve in the spirit of faith and that of our Lady to serve Christ herself for the glory of God. They aim to become devout Catholics themselves as well as to bring Christ to others so that they too will become devout and faithful. In 170 countries all over the world, there are over 10 millions members of the Legion of Mary. Each member must attach to an unit named "praesidium" (a Latin term meaning an army).    Each member is required to attend weekly meeting (of about 1.5 hour) for prayer, reporting assignments done and gaining spiritual enrichment from Spiritual Director/Directress, and to do their weekly assignment (of 2 hours for an adult member or 1 hour for a youth member) with on-the-job training given by experienced members. 

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Weekly assignments include serving in the parish as mass helper, choir member, altar boy/girl, Parish Youth Association member, Sunday School teacher, parish librarian, flower arrangement helper, catechist etc. and outreach services such as visiting elderly home, sick at home or in hospital, prison, training the juniors and any other works which are apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish or the Church.

In Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, there are 3 praesidia (plural word of 'praesidium'). They are:
 

1.    Shield of the Church Praesidium 
Spiritual Directress: Sr. Ferdinand Bouckhout
Members : English-speaking adults
Weekly meeting : Every Wednesday, 6:15 pm
Contact person:  Ms. Nancy Au Yeung

2.     Our Lady of Mount Carmel Praesidium 
Spiritual Directress: Sr. M. Jennifer Irenea Villamor
Members : English-speaking adults
Weekly meeting:  Every Sunday, 3:00 pm.
Contact person: Ms Judith Gomez

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3.     Mother Most Pure Praesidium 
Spiritual Directress: Sr. Cecilia Lam
Members : English/Chinese speaking youth of 18 or below years old
Weekly meeting: Every Saturday, 10:30 am
Contact person: Miss Teresa Lai

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「聖母軍的精神，就是聖母的精神。聖母軍特別效法聖母深深的謙遜，絕對的服從，天神般的溫順，常常的祈禱，時時的刻苦，無瑕的純潔，英勇的忍耐，天上的智慧，自我的犧牲，堅決的孝愛天主，尤其是聖母的信德…」(聖母軍手冊第三章)

聖母軍是一個全球性的負起宗徒傳教使命的天主教教友善會。聖母軍是“教會批准，在無原罪聖母、諸寵中保有力的領導下，藉著祈禱和積極地與聖母和教會摧毀蛇頭（創3：15），對抗世俗和它的惡勢力”(聖母軍手册第一章)。他們要活潑地活出基督的信仰，如宗徒們一樣為光榮天主服務 ，並效法聖母的信德和她服務基督的精神。 他們的目標是要成為虔敬的教友，並讓更多人認識基督，為使他們也會虔敬和充滿信德。 現在全球170個國家裡，有超過一千萬的聖母軍團員。 每個成員都必須隸屬於一個支團(英文名稱是“praesidium”,  一個拉丁文名詞, 意思是軍團)。每支團成員需參與週會（大約1.5小時）專務祈禱，工作報告及接受神師靈修訓導，及執行每週受派遣的服務（成年人團員工作2小時/青年團員1小時）。服務的培訓是由有經驗的團員指導，邊做邊學。

每週服務包括在堂區內服務，例如擔任彌撒服務員、歌詠團團員、祭台服務員、堂區青年聯會會員、堂區圖書館管理員、主日學導師、插花義工、慕道班導師等。另外有外展工作，例如探訪老人院、在家或在醫院的病人、監獄、培訓青年聖母軍或其他教會/堂區推薦的傳教工作。
聖母聖衣堂有3個聖母軍支團：

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1.    仁慈之母支團
神師: 張靜嫻修女
團員 : 操廣東話的成年人
會議時間: 逢星期二晚上7時30分
聯絡: 李子慧女士

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2.    瑪利亞諸殉道者之后支團

神師：林艷君修女

團員：操廣東話的成年人

會議時間：逢星期五上午10時30分

聯絡：劉璟璣女士

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3.    至潔之母支團
神師: 林艷君修女
團員是操英語及廣東話的青年人(18歲以下)
會議時間: 逢星期六上午10時30分
聯絡: Miss Teresa Lai