History of the Legion of Mary in Toronto
The First 50 Years
The Legion of Mary was started in Toronto in 1934. Rev. Fr. Tim O’Sullivan, C.S.S.R. introduced this novel concept from Dublin, Ireland after attending the International Eucharistic Congress there in 1932. He and Rev. Frs. Daniel Ehman, John Lockwood and other Redemptorist priests spread the word. 1934 was also the year Miss Mary Duffy, the first Legion envoy, was sent to the United States by Dublin. After visiting New Brunswick, she came to Toronto to organize groups in St. Patrick’s (German and English), St. Michael’s, St. Basil’s, St. Peter’s and other parishes. Mrs. Eva Manz, then and now President of the German group, proudly held the Minutes of their first meeting on October 18, 1934. With her still as original member Mrs. Ann Bergan. The Spiritual Director of this very first group was Rev. Fr. Ehman.
By the spring of 1936, the several praesidia established were formed as Toronto Curia. Mrs. Kay Griffith was the first President; Miss Anna White was the first Vice President; Miss Kate Sweeney, the first Secretary; and Mrs. C.F. MacLellan, the first Treasurer. Records indicated 34 praesidia in 1939, including 3 Junior groups. Subsequently, a very successful Legion Congress was held in October 1944 attended by Mr. John Murray who succeeded Mary Duffy as envoy. It gave the necessary impetus to the ten-year old growing Curia. His Excellency, Most Rev. James C. McGuigan D.D. was the Archbishop of Toronto at that time. Miss Helen Cronin, now a resident and member of an auxiliary circle in Providence Villa, was one of the subsequent Curia presidents. Miss Isabel Staley, still an active member and praesidium officer, was a twice-elected Vice President of the Curia and later of Toronto Comitium. To these two Legionaries we are indebted for records and information. Together with the late Mary Zimmerman they helped extend the Legion to the other parts of Ontario, notably to the cities of Kingston, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Windsor, and as far as Sault Ste. Marie Diocese.
While Dr. Louis A. Markle, D.D. was the Spiritual Director, Toronto Curia was raised to a Comitium in 1955 upon the formation of Immaculata Curia. There was also a Junior Curia in existence, the first President of which being Ms. Helen Patterson. During all this time, Toronto like all the other councils in Canada was still directly under the Concilium in Dublin. Later in 1956 they were incorporated into Ottawa Senatus after it was established as the regional governing body for Ontario.
Before long, Dr. Markle’s warnings were coming true: the Rosary was under attack – the Blessed Sacrament was losing devotional status – the Mother of God was put in the background – Toronto Comitium was declining in numbers! But … the little faithful remnant group rose to the occasion; it preserved the Rosary and brought back Our Lady to a demoralized world; even produced another Curia — Scarborough Curia in October, 1963! Etobicoke Curia was formed a year later and it lasted till the death of Dr. Markle in 1972.
Also in 1972, Miss Mary Kennedy ended her eight-year envoyship in Canada and joined Toronto Comitium. In 1973, Rev. Fr. Ambrose E. Sheehy was appointed as the new Spiritual Director. Together, they set to work to extend and strengthen the Legion in the Archdiocese. Although Immaculata Curia had to be suspended in 1976, Mississauga Curia was founded in 1977. At this time, more ethnic praesidia were inaugurated. Then in 1978, the Legion in Toronto acquired the status of Regia, given control over the councils in Southern Ontario, namely: Hamilton Comitium, Scarborough, Mississauga, Windsor and Niagara Curiae. Miss Mary Kennedy became the first President of the only Regia in Canada. She was succeeded in 1981 by Miss Leonita Rios who had previously helped in extension work and initiated Peregrinatio Pro Christo and Exploratio Dominicalis projects in 1974 and 1976 respectively. In the same year, Immaculata Curia was revived and in 1982, Peterborough Curia was affiliated, transferring from Ottawa Senatus. During this time, the Legion of Mary has taken root in Midland and later branched into Penetanguishene.
In 1983, Toronto Regia finally acquired permanent headquarters at 2472 Danforth Avenue. Our sincere thanks to all those who made it possible and are still doing what they can do to help with the payments. 1984, our Golden Jubilee Year, saw a new slate of officers except for Leonita Rios who was re-elected. With joyful thanksgiving to God and the Blessed Mother, we look forward to more fruitful years to come.
(Taken from the 1984 Jubilee Year Souvenir Programme. Officerships have changed since then. The mortgage on the Nazareth House is also now fully paid.)