Four volunteer-legionaries who were going to Papua New Guinea were given a send-off Mass celebrated  by Bishop Manuel C. Sobreviñas, and the spiritual director of the Senatus for northern Philippines at the St. Mary Goretti Church at Pius XII Catholic Center.

Three are going as Incolae Mariae and one as Extension Worker. They are Nelda Natividad, Emma Egan, Ma. Elena and Bro. Mariano Bernabe.

Bro. Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary gave these explanations for the two undertaking:

“Incola Mariae literary means “an inhabitant for Mary”. He needs to be a legionary who understands the true spirit of the legion system and to be dedicated enough to give the portion of his free time daily (at least two hours for five days a week) to build up the legionary apostolate in every possible way-Peregrination, Extension, New works, True Devotion to the Nation, above all the apostolate  to those outside the Church”.

“The word Incola means a sojourner, a bird of passage in the strange country. In the Psalms the word occurs a number of time in relation to the word 'Peregrination' and shows the two linked in the divine thought. Incola ego sum et peregrinus’- I am a sojourner and a pilgrim’. So the word expresses ideally  the state of legionary who goes to a strange place in a pursuit of an apostolate of a higher order, that of bringing the faith to those who do not possess this pearl of great price”.

“In placing the Incola Mariae Extension Worker, care should be taken to place him where his services would be more beneficial from a legionary point of view, and where daily Mass and Holy Communion would be available. He would, of course, have to submit himself humbly  of the discipline of the local legion, but the local legion must act toward the Incola Maria/Extension Worker with the understanding that he had come to live legion life to a little more fully.”

The Extension Worker differs from the Incola in that the former renders full-time voluntary service for at least one year. Among those who witnessed the solemn send –off and blessing was Sr. Pacita D. Santos who together with Sister Joaquina Lucas served as Legion Envoys for many years in Spain and South America. She is now the chairman of the Committee on Incolae Mariae.