About This Praesidium

Established in 2013, Our Lady Mother of Mercy Praesidium is based at St. Oliver Plunkett Parish in Belfast. The praesidium meets every Wednesday evening in the side room off the church porch — not in the parish hall — and members give around two hours of active duty each week on top of the meeting.

Legionaries work in pairs, following the apostolic model. Every week they pray the Rosary with the residents of Colinvale Court Nursing Home and take their turn at the St Mary’s book stall. Once a month they go home to home, meet people in the local park and carry the outreach into Cornmarket. The Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is taken into homes across the parish, and members call on the sick whenever they are asked.

The praesidium also carries much of the parish’s prayer life: the Rosary Hour in the church every Thursday evening at 6:30 PM, the Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament every Monday evening at 7:30 PM, and monthly Adoration at Frank Duff House.

As Saint Mother Teresa said: "The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth."

Activities & Apostolic Works

• Weekly Rosary with the residents of Colinvale Court Nursing Home
• Weekly duty at the St Mary’s book stall
• Home-to-home visitation and park contact in the local area, once a month
• Street outreach in Cornmarket, once a month
• Visitation of homes with the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima
• Visits to the sick of the parish, on request
• Rosary Hour in the church every Thursday evening at 6:30 PM
• Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament every Monday evening at 7:30 PM
• Monthly Adoration at Frank Duff House