VISITATION OF PRAESIDIA
The Curia shall cause cach praesidium to be visited periodically, if possible twice a year, with a view to encouraging it and seeing that all things are being carried out as they should be. It is important that this duty be not fulfilled in a carping or fault-finding fashion which would end by causing the advent of visitors to be dreaded and their recommendations to be resented, but in a spirit of affection and humility which will presume that there is as much to be learned from as taught to the praesidium visited:(Handbook: Governmenl of the Legion). Some other points from the handbook in regard to this visitation should be noted:
  1. At least a full week's notice should be given.
  2. The various membership rolls, the Secretary's and treasurer's books, the Work Sheet and the other items of the praesidium system must be examined with a view to judging if they are properly kept, and to ascertaining if the Legionary Promise has been made in the case of each member who has fulfilled the required period of probation.
  3. The visitation should he made by two representatives of the Curia, not necessarily Curia officers; any experienced legionary may be appointed.
  4. The visitors are to submit a written report to the Curia officers.
  5. Defects which are found should not, in the first instance, be made the subject of open comment either at the praesidium itself or at the Curia. They should be discussed with the Spiritual Director and the President of the praesidium. If this does not secure rectification, the matter should be brought before the Curia.
It is evident from the above that advance planning by the Curia officers is required if each praesidium is to be visited twice a year. It may he useful to draw up a plan for the year so that, depending on the number of praesidia, one or more praesidia will be visited each month. It will be necessary also to plan for the availability of legionaries to carry out the visitations, taking into account the days and times of the various praesidia meetings. It seems desirable that notice of the day of visitation and the names of the visitors begiven at the previous Curia meeting, if possible, and that the Curia be informed at its next meeting whether the visits have been made or not. Without some such system of accountability, there is a danger that visits might be deferred or omitted. The handbook each praesidium should insist that this duty is not overlooked by the Curia.
Regular and careful visitation of praesidia is one of the most effective ways of strengthening the Legion in the Curia area. It provides an opportunity for encouraging the members and officers of the various praesidia; for legionaries to learn from other praesidia; for raising standards; for suggesting improvements: and for noting members with potential for officership or other responsibilities such as extension work or pioneering heroic work. Regular visitation enables the Curia to become aware of problems early on and it ensures that important items are not overlooked as for example: the making of the Legionary Promise in due time: that work is properly assigned and reported on; that recruiting is being given attention; that auxiliary membership is not neglected; that the handbook is being studied; that the Standing Instruction is read each month; that the annual Mass for deceased legionnries has been offered; that the Maria Legionis is available to the active and auxiliary members; that the annual audit has been carried out: and that the members are kept informed of the activities of the Curia and the Lcgion worldwide. Regular visitation also enables the Curia to monitor the progress of the praesidia and the manner in which previous suggestions have been implemented. The Curia officers have a particular responsibility to study the visitors' reports and to take whatever follow-up action may be judged necessary.