By Victoria Voon
KOTA KINABALU — The two most important functions that are being observed by all legionaries yearly are the Acies and the Annual General Reunion. The Acies would normally take place on 25 March or as near to the Feast of the Annunciation.
The Latin word “Acies”, which means army set in battle array, is appropriate to a ceremony in which the legionaries as a body assembled to renew their loyalty to Mary, Queen of the Legion, and from her to receive strength and blessing for yet another year’s battle with the forces of evil (extract from Legion handbook p173, Chapter 30, pt 1).
The Legionaries attached to Kota Kinabalu Comitium, the higher council of the Legion of Mary in the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, held their Acies on Saturday, 20 March at St Paul’s Church Dontozidon. Due to the pandemic, only Officers from each praesidium attended the event. Spiritual Director of Kota Kinabalu Comitium, Fr Alex Sipanul led in the renewing of the promise by reciting the well-known formula “I am all yours my Queen my mother and all that I have is yours”.
In his allocutio, Fr Sipanul reminded all legionaries to love their enemies and pray for those who hurt them. He also thanked God that despite the strict SOP, the legionaries were able to hold their Acies this year.
The Acies ended with a simple refreshment held at the parish hall of St Paul’s Church, Dontozidon.
