Legion of Mary member nears 50 years with organization

Intermountain Catholic

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Vera Blockovich

KEARNS — Vera Blockovich has been a member of the Legion of Mary since her baptism into the Catholic Church on April 28, 1963, at Saint Francis Xavier Parish.

"Father Thomas Meersman baptized me during the Easter Vigil and told me to be at his house the following Monday because I also was going to be a member of the Legion of Mary," Blockovich said, adding that she asked "what is the Legion of Mary?"

The Legion of Mary was started by Frank Duff, who was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1889. In 1913, Duff joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and as a member he developed a love for the poor and underprivileged. In 1917, he came to know the Treatise of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort on the "True Devotion to Mary." He founded the Legion of Mary in 1921.

"A lot of people in the Church are unfamiliar with the Legion of Mary, but it is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church with over 3 million members in almost every country of the world," said Blockovich. "It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last six popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members."

"The Legion of Mary mission is to evangelize to those who are unable to attend Mass on Sunday," said Deacon Doug Biediger, St. Francis of Xavier Legion of Mary spiritual director and member.

"These people are so hungry to have someone talk to them especially about God and the Blessed Mother," he said. "Without the members, we would be overwhelmed; they are really a great help to priests and deacons."

The Legion of Mary is a quiet organization, said Blockovich. "We pray the rosary and the Legion of Mary prayers. We take Communion to the shut-ins, visit new parishioners and people in care centers, transport people to Mass or appointments, and do works of mercy. We don’t do material things like feed the poor."

Since joining the Legion of Mary, Blockovich has been an officer in the organization, in either the Curia or the Praesidium, she said. The Curia is the Legion of Mary on the diocesan level and the Praesidium is the organization on the parish level.

"Vera has been one of the mainstays for the Legion of Mary, not only in our parish, but the whole state of Utah," said Deacon Biediger. "She has held the organization together for years by going to all the meetings and by promoting it. She’s a great inspiration and a strong person for the Mother of God."

In addition to St. Francis Xavier, there are Legion of Mary members at Saint Ann, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, and Saint Francis of Assisi parishes. At one time there were members active in about 14 parishes, said Blockovich.

Blockovich was a convert from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and when she was married her husband, who was Catholic, they decided they would let their children decide what religion they wanted to be. The children chose to go to the Catholic Church with their father.

"I helped them with their catechism and my children actually converted me to the Catholic Church," she said. "I wish I had $1 for every time I said ‘I would never become a Catholic.’ The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. Being a member of the Legion of Mary has brought me very close to our Lord; everything I have or ever will have has been through our Lord and his Blessed Mother. I have become a better person and a better Christian, but I still have a long way to go."