About the Legion

The Legion of Mary got to the shores of Ghana in the year 1940 with the help of Bishop Adolph Noser. The Legion, in 2021, celebrated its Centenary worldwide. The theme of the celebration in Ghana was "Love, Mercy and Sacrifice: Mary's way to her Son".

Father Noser was ordained into the Priesthood for the evangelization in the mission in the USA a few years after the Legion of Mary was started in Dublin, Ireland in September 1921.

Convinced of the apostolic potentialities of the Legion of Mary, Father Noser established a Praesidium at St. Mary's Major Seminary in Techny, Illinois, USA when he became its Rector. His idea was that with this establishment, all the S.V.D missionaries trained there would be charged with the zeal for the spread of the gospel and salvation of souls before going abroad. It was natural therefore that when Father Noser himself was sent as the first missionary superior of the S.V.D to Accra, Gold Coast in 1939, he immediately established the Legion of Mary in the country. His historic and inquiring letter of 26th April 1940 to Concilium Legionis Mariae, Dublin was promptly answered by Mr. John Nagle, then Concilium President, with enough materials for the start of the Legion.

Accra Senatus

The first praesidium of the Legion of Mary in Ghana, "Mother Pure Heart" (an Ewe speaking praesidium) was established at Sacred Heart Parish, Derby Avenue, Accra in July 1940. The first English speaking praesidium "Our Lady of Sacred Heart" was established in 194, also at the Sacred Heart Church Derby Avenue in Accra. The Legion spread quickly; Koforidua had a Praesidium in 1942, Nsawam in 1943 and Nkawkaw in 1947.

With the growth of English speaking Praesidia in Accra, the first curia, "Mother of Divine Grace" was formed in August 1947. The curia was elevated to a Comitium "Mother of Divine Grace" in 1949. From Accra the Legion spread to Cape Coast (Central Region), where it grew rapidly due to the fact that the majority of the members were literate Akans. By 1966, the Legion had spread across the country to the extent that a Legion of Mary Congress was held in Kumasi. Cape Coast became a Comitium under Accra in 1970. For Sekondi Takoradi Diocese, "Queen of Universe", which was a praesidium in 1999, became a curia with seven other affiliated praesidia in April 2000.

It was inaugurated as "Our Lady of Assumption" Comitium at Asankragwa in August 2001. Unfortunately, the Comitium collapsed until 2016, when a donation from Rev. Sr. Julia Anokye, HSC was used to revive the Legion into "Mirror of Justice" Curia, Takoradi. Tema became a Comitium under Accra in 2011. Accra received Regia status in 1992 and Senatus in 2004.

Kumasi Regia

The Legion of Mary was established in Kumasi, then a Vicariate in the Gold Coast, in 1941. At that time, what used to be Kumasi Vicariate is now the Kumasi province, comprised of the Dioceses of Kumasi, Sunyani, Obuasi, Konongo-Mampong and Goaso. Due to the increasing number of praesidia, permission was granted for the formation of a curia in Kumasi which was named "Mother of Christ" Curia, with the ever-increasing number of praesidia and Curia in 1969. After several years of dedicated services by the "Mother of Christ" Comitium, the Concilium conferred the status of Regia on the Comitium in December 2005.

Sunyani Regia

In 1941, a Praesidium was also established in Kumasi from where it got to Bechem in 1947 through Bro. J.A. Yawson. In 1948, Brother Peter Nyamekye-Asante also established a Praesidium at Berekum. It was extended to Wenchi in 1951 and to Dormaa Ahenkro in 1954. In Sunyani it was started in 1960 by Brothers A.A. Oppong-Peprah, George Ayensu, Sisters Sophia Ackon, Mary Manu and others. All the four whose names are mentioned are deceased. May their souls rest in peace. The first Praesidium was Star of the Sea.

From 1968 onwards, the Legion started growing steadily. Star of the Sea Praesidium in Sunyani was raised to the status of a Curia in 1973. Six years later the Curia was raised to the status of a Comitium. On 25th February 2005 they were raised to Regia status.

The Northern Councils

In North Western Ghana, the Legion of Mary was first introduced in the Kaleo Parish in the Wa Diocese. The first Praesidium in Kaleo, "Queen of All Saints", was started in March 1958 by the SMI Sisters. In 1963, the Nandom Praesidium was started by a White Father. In 1996 Dublin granted Wa Deanery a Comitium status. Wa, Jirapa and Nandom are now Comitia under Sunyani Regia. Damongo is a Curia under the Regia. Bolgatanga and Tamale are both Comitia affiliated to Kumasi Regia.