By: Sam

10/14/04

Junior Legion of Mary is a group of students who make rosaries. The women who run the program are Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Plunkett. These two seniors that help out with this group are very dedicated, kind, and hard-working. The group meets every Tuesday in the McIntyre Room, located in the IHM Parish Center. It runs from 2:30-3:30 every Tuesday during the school year. They make rosaries for first communion students, elders, sick, and people who are hospitalized. During this hour-long program, they take time out from making rosaries and pray the Catana. They also have someone who writes down the minutes of the meetings, reads a prayer, and does roll call.

The Junior Legion gets money for the supplies (beads, string, and prayer pamphlets) from donations made to them by the parish community and the students that attend. The students are very involved in the meetings. They read from the Bible, make the rosaries, and guide one another. There are many older student volunteers that help out at the meetings. Sometimes the younger students help too! The program is very spiritual; it allows the children to pray with others their age and helps them to learn about the Bible. The children learn that there are other people who are less fortunate and we can help them out by just making them a rosary or giving them a card. These children also get to talk to their friends and talk about God as they make their rosaries. The kids here are very hard-workers. Some of the children who go to Junior Legion of Mary are involved in After Care, so they are there every Tuesday. The students participate in Junior Legion of Mary because it makes them feel that they have a purpose. It also helps them feel good about themselves because they are doing good things for other people.

You can join this wonderful program without invitation too. Just go to the McIntyre Room after school one Tuesday and they will sign you up!

Here are some of the reasons the students enjoy Legion of Mary:

Emily – “I enjoy it because after the meeting is over I have a feeling of pride in myself. I feel like I have done something important. I also enjoy Junior Legion of Mary because I enjoy helping little children make their rosaries. I have been involved in Legion of Mary since third grade and it has been a wonderful experience.”

Emily – “I enjoy Legion of Mary because I feel connected with God and Mary while we are making the rosaries and praying. I also enjoy being a volunteer because I like to help out the children. I like the fact that the rosaries we are making go to the confirmation candidates, children who are making their first communion, and the sick.”

Sandra – “I like it because it is fun because you get to make rosaries.”

Regina – “I like Legion because we make rosaries.”

8^th Grade Student Kindergarten Student

8^th Grade Student 1^st Grade Student

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