By Rev. Fr. Victor Ezeanya, Chaplain of Marian Societies Council, Onitsha Archdiocese
On October 4, 2025, at the Holy Trinity Basilica Square in Onitsha, a truly unique event unfolded during this year’s celebration of ‘A Day with Mary,’ an annual festival for all Marian societies.
During the offertory procession, various societies were called to the altar, one after another, to present their offerings. Sadly, their numbers often reflected the current, widespread trend of dwindling membership across many pious societies.
However, when the members of the Legion of Mary were invited, their presence was massive, far exceeding everyone’s expectations, especially when set against the backdrop of the general decline we are currently experiencing. It was quite amazing.
What is happening? Why are other societies decreasing while the Legion is on the increase? Are they somehow more committed Marians than the rest?Even within my own parish, among all pious societies, the Legion of Mary is not just surviving but is waxing stronger day by day.
While a few other surviving pious societies are barely living on life support, the Legion boasts a remarkably high population of youth and children. It is often observed that most of those who attend daily Mass and who are regular in ancillary parish activities are Legionaries.
They demonstrate serious commitment, irrespective of the general laxity we are witnessing today.The ‘Legion Challenge’This stark contrast led to a discussion at the Marian Societies Council, which we dubbed ‘the Legion challenge.’ Our goal was to unravel what the Legion of Mary is doing right that other pious societies may be doing wrong.
Why is the Legion’s membership increasing while others are depleting? Our preliminary observations reveal several key factors that have assisted the Legionaries in maintaining a preeminent position among all religious societies:
1. Recruitment Focus: The Legion consistently establishes Junior Presidia for children, thereby ensuring a continuous, self-sustaining flow of youth and adult members.
2. Cell System: Once a Presidium reaches a predetermined maximum number of members, it is systematically divided; a disciplined practice that ensures the regular, organic growth of the society.
3. Accountability: They enforce a weekly works schedule that includes vital activities such as scouting for new members, reaching out to inactive members, attending daily Mass, and performing both corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This ensures serious commitment and accountability from all members.
4. Strategic Meetings: The meetings of their various Presidia are planned strategically, ensuring that members can always find a meeting time that suits their schedules.
5. Discipline: They exhibit deep commitment to their society’s rules and structure.
6. Formation: They require compulsory daily prayers, reinforcing spiritual discipline and fulfillment.The Call to ActionA more detailed study is certainly required to fully reveal all the underlying reasons behind the Legion of Mary’s consistent success. However, for the Legion of Mary to survive the current trends unscathed strongly suggests that the rest of the societies are, to a large extent, the architects of their current misfortunes. We can no longer exonerate ourselves by simply hiding behind the slogan: “trends of the time.” Sadly, many erroneously argue that pious societies do not appeal to the current age.
The Legion’s success debunks this view. Religiosity transcends age; it is timeless.We must implement adequate checks and balances, just as we see in the Legion of Mary, so that our moribund pious societies can be resuscitated.
These societies were the foundation upon which the Catholic Church stood in the past. If we are able to revive them, especially now that we have social media as a great aid, church attendance and participation in other church activities could definitely increase significantly.
We have serious work to do. It is rare to see someone consistently attending daily Mass or Sunday evening instruction who does not belong to one pious society or another. Trying to convince people to attend Mass directly often yields little result; we must commit them through the channels of these tested pious societies.The executives of various pious societies should rise up to this challenge.
If the Legion of Mary can do it, why not you. If the right tools are applied, dwindling membership will be a thing of the past. We might need to make some fundamental changes in the ways we run our societies so that they can continue to appeal to the people. Jesus made it clear, “go into the whole world and proclaim the good news” (Mk 16:15).
He mandated us to scout for members, but more often than not, most pious societies have left this mandate unattended.Chaplains of the various pious societies need to take a more active interest in the affairs of their respective groups, especially during this challenging period.
The chaplains should ensure that the executives are up and doing; for currently, there is too much lethargy in the system. Parish priests equally have much to contribute in this regard. If we put all hands on deck, we can still revive these ailing societies, especially now that some of their former active members are still available. If we succeed in waking these ailing societies from slumber, there will most likely be a great reawakening in the Church.
