LAKE WYLIE—Despite snow in the South, faithful members of the Legion of Mary met at All Saints Mission for the annual Acies ceremony and Mass recently.
Men and women expressed their loyalty and dedication to Mary at the Feb. 13 event, which is celebrated in honor of the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord.
The Acies Mass was celebrated by Oratorian Father Joseph F. Pearce, Our Lady of America’s spiritual director, and concelebrated by Father Fabio Refosco, provost of The Oratory in Rock Hill and administrator of All Saints. Deacon Steve Burdick from Our Lady of the Hills Church in Columbia was the master of ceremonies.
Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone was scheduled to attend but had to cancel because of snow conditions, which reached up to 7” in some areas. In fact, the unusual weather prevented about half of the scheduled participants from making the drive.
Still, legion members set up table linens, silver and floral arrangements to welcome the legionaries from 15 praesidia.
Approximately 115 people attended the ceremony to renew their spiritual devotion to Mary.
Legion of Mary members from the Columbia Curia co-hosted the event with St. Mary’s Praesidium from St. Philip Neri Church in Fort Mill. They were assisted by members of All Saints.
Father Pearce, the son of a legionary, delivered a spiritual and inspirational message about Mary, exemplifying his awareness of the significance of the Acies Mass.
The Legion of Mary altar was decorated with an embroidered, “Legio Mariae” cloth, and a statue of Our Lady of Grace surrounded by candles, flowers and the Vexillum. All members were invited to process toward the statue, where they placed their right hand on the Vexillum and made their individual act of consecration.
Amy Wise Taylor contributed to this article.