Legion of Mary prays and serves

That changed in 1983 when she read a pamphlet on the Legion of Mary. The parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Glens Falls recently completed her second term as president of the Legion's Our Lady of the Snow Praesidium.

"You can't get away from Our Blessed Lady," Ms. Herrick said. "She gets a hold of you. She is a mother, after all."

Worldwide work

Donald Plante, a member of St. Patrick's Church in Troy, leads the Albany Comitium of the Legion of Mary and belongs to the Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Praesidium. He visits the VA Hospital with his fellow members and enjoys chatting with patients about their love for Mary.

"Some of them are very, very religious," he said. "You try, when you are there, to get your message across to them."

Serving others

Among the members' activities are spending time with senior citizens in homes or adult care facilities, going to the Rensselaer County Jail for visits with inmates and distributing fliers at religious events.

The Legion of Mary appealed to Ms. Proper because of Mary's mothering instinct; she wishes others would see the benefits of getting involved.

"There's no age limitations. We are looking for younger members and more members," she said.

Prayer and work

One reason she enjoys her service in the Legion of Mary is because she sees the similarities between her own motherhood and Mary's. Helping others grow closer to her is similar to raising her own children.

"The Legion, to me, is wonderful," she explained. "I relate to it as a mother. It is a mother to take care of her children and what more do you want than to bring them up in the faith?"

(For information about the Legion of Mary, call Donald Plante at 235-4630. The Legion and Family Rosary are sponsoring a Rosary Rally at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.)

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