Legion of Mary - Tota Pulchra Mariae Curia

23/05/2026

Our Junior Legionaries enjoying this Saturday afternoon with lots of games and foods! 🥳😆

23/05/2026

ATM: Fun Saturday for the All Beautiful Mary Junior Curia 🥳🤩

23/05/2026

Tota Pulchra Mariae Curia represent at Our Lady's Home for the Seminar on Praesidium Administration and Seminar on Multimedia (Social Communications) 🌻

23/05/2026

Tota Pulchra Mariae Curia represent at Our Lady's Home for the Seminars on Praesidium Administration and Multimedia 🌻

23/05/2026

23/05/2026

More about Social Communications...

23/05/2026

Second part of the seminar: Seminar on Multimedia - Social Communications

23/05/2026

At the moment, Tota Pulchra Mariae Curia at Our Lady's Home for the Seminar on Effective Praesidium Administration and Seminar on Multimedia, conducted by the Senatus of Northern Philippines 🩵

18/05/2026

Monday Bulletin | DID YOU KNOW?

THE BEGINNING: THE LEGION OF MARY IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Legion of Mary in the Philippines traces its humble beginnings to a small sewing room in Manila — a modest start that would later spark one of the most influential Marian apostolates in the Far East.

On July 21, 1940, the first Legion of Mary praesidium in the Philippines was officially established at the Hospicio de San Jose in Manila. More significantly, it was recognized as the very first praesidium in the entire Far East, marking a historic milestone in the worldwide growth of the Legion.

The praesidium was founded by Fr. Manuel de Gracia, CM, together with pioneering legionaries Joaquina Lucas and Pacita Santos. It was given the beautiful title “Purification of Our Lady.”

Few people realize that the first meetings of the Legion in the Philippines were held not in a grand chapel or large parish hall, but in the Obrador, the sewing room of the Hospicio de San Jose located on Isla de Convalesencia in Manila, accessible through Ayala Bridge.

From this simple location, fifteen active members gathered in prayer and apostolic commitment, unaware that their small group would eventually help spread the Legion throughout the nation and beyond. An interesting historical detail is how Fr. Manuel de Gracia first encountered the Legion of Mary. He reportedly discovered the organization through a copy of The Boston Pilot, a Catholic newspaper. Inspired by what he read, he contacted the Legion headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, requesting official materials and guidance for establishing the movement in the Philippines.

The Legion’s growth in Manila was extraordinary. Within just over a year, the organization had already expanded to 14 active praesidia in the Manila area by December 1941. However, the outbreak of the Second World War would soon interrupt many Church activities across the country. Despite the hardships and uncertainties of the war years, the Legion of Mary survived and continued its mission through the faith and perseverance of its members.

What began in a humble sewing room in Manila in 1940 has now become part of a global apostolate reaching millions of members worldwide. The story of the first Philippine praesidium stands as a reminder that great missions often begin quietly—with a few faithful individuals willing to answer God’s call through the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Today, generations of legionaries continue the mission first entrusted to those fifteen pioneering members of “Purification of Our Lady,” carrying forward a legacy of holiness, evangelization, and Marian devotion across the Philippines and beyond.

12/05/2026