Congress in Rockford, IL.

In 1965 came the ultimate: the Chicago Comitium was ele­vated to the status of Senatus, the highest governing body in our area. Ruth Prendergast, who had already served one term as president of the Comitium, be­came the first president of the Senatus. Msgr. McMahon was appointed Spiritual Director and Father Herne Assistant Spiritual Director.

Legion of Mary Congress was held May 23, 1965 in Lewis Towers. In this photo are seated from left to right: Albert Novell, president of Philadelphia Senatus; Ruth Pendergrast, president of the Chicago Comitium; Richard York, president of the Chicago south side Curia. Standing are: Dorothy Gubbins, congress chairman and Betty Oberst, Chicago North side curia president.

The first official move was a very successful Congress held in our headquarters at Loyola Uni­versity. The Second Vatican Council was just getting under way and everything was upbeat. That Congress was the forerunner of the many successful officers’ weekend meeting that were to be held in the future. The Senatus was now under the Conciliurn Legionis in Dublin, and various councils in the Midwest and West­ern United States were now under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Senatus. Our president and her commit­tee spent many hours lining up the various councils and appointing a correspondent to each. The first year was a little difficult, but with everyone’s cooperation, we were on our way.