KK comitium organises inaugural founder’s anniversary Mass

INOBONG, Penampang – The Kota Kinabalu Comitium organised the inaugural memorial Mass for Legion of Mary (LOM) Founder on 7 Nov 2016 at the Sacred Heart Church here.

Spiritual Director Father Alex Sipanul presided over the 36th anniversary Mass for Frank Duff, founder of the Legion.  It was also the 18th anniversary of the comitium.  Around 70 members attended the event.

Duff was born in Dublin Ireland on 7 June 1889.  He entered the Civil Service in 1907.  In 1913 he joined the Society of St Vincent de Paul where he was led to a deeper commitment to the Catholic faith.  At the same time he acquired a great sensitivity to the poor and underprivileged.

On 7 Sept 1921 he formed the Legion of Mary along with a group of women and Fr Michael Toher of Dublin Archdiocese.  Since then until his death on 7 Nov 1980 he guided the worldwide extension of the Legion.  He attended the Second Vatican Council as a lay observer.

His profound insights into the role of the Blessed Virgin in the plan of Redemption, as well as the role of the laity in the mission of the Church, are reflected in the Legion Handbook, almost entirely his own composition.

In July 1996 the Cause of his canonisation was introduced by the Archbishop Desmond Connell of Dublin.

Duff is now known under the title Servant of God, the first stage in the process of canonisation.

The first praesidium of the Legion of Mary – Our Lady Help of Christians – was formed on 8 Sept 1950 at St Michael’s School Penampang under the guidance of Father Desmond McLindon.  It soon spread to other parts of Sabah.  The KK Curia became a Comitium in 1998.