History of the Establishment and Approval of the Curia
The establishment of our Curia was guided by proper ecclesiastical channels and higher council approvals to ensure administrative unity and the service of souls. Our presence and operations are fully authorized, as documented by the official records below
1. Official Authorization from LA Senatus
Below is the formal document received from the Los Angeles Senatus, officially sanctioning the boundaries and creation of our local council.
2. Official Acceptance from OC Comitium
Letter of blessing and formal acceptance of the new Curia from the President of the Orange County Comitium.
Canonical History: Boundary Violations & Financial Misconduct
The crying of Mother’s children has reached the Throne of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Purpose
The purpose of this page is to formally request the reinstatement of at least 21 of our most active members across two Praesidia, which were dissolved due to policy-violating interference by the Queen of Peace Curia, Orange Diocese.
We seek to restore fairness and bring full transparency to how and why these actions were taken—actions that have actively damaged and undermined the Legion of Mary by directly contradicting the official Legion of Mary Handbook. Reminded of our Christian duty, we love and pray even for those who have committed these wrongs, asking that their hearts be changed and their harmful actions brought to a stop. Beyond our steadfast prayers, we must take action to halt these unauthorized policies, preventing further expansion of these practices and protecting our Saint Mary’s members from additional harm.
Notice to all Legio Mariae Members: This canonical history chronicles the four-year effort by the Mother of Perpetual Help Curia (San Bernardino Diocese) to protect regular system boundaries, sacred funds, and the integrity of the official Legion of Mary Handbook against unauthorized interference by officers of the Queen of Peace Curia (Orange Diocese).
I. Core Canonical & Handbook Violations
Every member must understand that the actions of the implicated Orange Diocese officers directly violate the basic laws of the Catholic Church and the Legion:
1. The Invasion of Diocesan Boundaries
- The Rule: The Legion of Mary Handbook (Chapter 28) dictates that a Curia’s authority is strictly territorial.
- The Violation: Officers from the Orange Diocese have operated unlawfully within San Bernardino territory without authorization from the San Bernardino Ordinary (Bishop) or our local Curia, causing severe administrative confusion.
2. Misappropriation of Holy Mass Offerings
- The Rule: Mass stipends are sacrosanct under Canon Law. No officer has the authority to split, divert, or demand a portion of a Mass offering.
- The Violation: Prior to a major Curia event, explicit demands were made by Orange officers to divert 50% of the Holy Mass offerings for personal or unauthorized council use.
3. Misuse of the Secret Bag (The Tessera)
- The Rule: Handbook Chapter 34 (Finances) mandates that Secret Bag collections are reserved strictly for official works, administration, and true charity under strict accountability.
- The Violation: Funds from the Secret Bag have been wrongfully diverted to pay for private social parties for the Queen of Peace Curia.
4. Invented “Cancellation Policies”
- The Rule: No Curia can fabricate arbitrary financial penalties or administrative blockages to control or punish praesidia.
- The Violation: Unsanctioned “cancellation policies” were implemented to manipulate local operations and subvert legitimate Legion governance.
II. Timeline of Administrative Action & Silence
Formation & First Intrusions
2022 – 2026
The Mother of Perpetual Help Curia is lawfully formed in the San Bernardino Diocese. For four years, continuous boundary intrusions occur from Queen Of Peace Curia, Orange Diocese members. Repeated complaints are met with empty promises from LA Senatus President, Sr Elin.
Formal Petition to LA Senatus
March 14, 2026
Having exhausted verbal remedies, a formal written Petition is submitted directly to the LA Senatus. The petition is presented in the presence of four Senatus Officers and the Spiritual Director, Father John. The Senatus verbally admits that the Orange Diocese practices in San Bernardino are completely wrong and promise a resolution.
Follow-Up & Official Silence
October 2022 – June 2026
The multiple written emails are sent to all LA Senatus officers and on May 12, 2026, email, requesting the formal, written Decision Letter required by Legion procedure. The LA Senatus breaks its verbal promises and maintains absolute silence, refusing to issue the letter.
Public Publication of Facts
June 30, 2026
Due to the prolonged silence of the LA Senatus and the ongoing risk to sacred funds and diocesan boundaries, this Canonical History is published to inform all active and auxiliary members of the truth.
III. Implicated Parties
To ensure full transparency, the following individuals are identified as directly or indirectly responsible for these ongoing violations:
| Name | Role / Jurisdiction | Primary Action Involved |
| Br. Jeff | President, OC Comutium, Orange Diocese | Has known nothing about the San Bernardino Diocese, leading to a refusal to police boundary lines and the ongoing ignoring of San Bernardino Diocese realities. |
| Br. Joseph Huu Bang Pham | Queen Of Peace Curia, Orange Diocese president was stepped down. | Demanding 50% split of Holy Mass offerings before event and in event 15 minutes before mass; out-of-bounds operations. |
| Sr. Kathy Bui | Queen Of Peace Curia, Orange Diocese Vice president was stepped down. | Demanding 50% split of Holy Mass before event and said we do this many years. |
| Br. Thao & Sr. Tuyet | Was Vice president and now is President of Queen Of Peace Curia, Orange Diocese & Was Treasurer of Queen of Peace, diocese was stepped down. | Facilitating and defending out-of-bounds practices. |
| Br. Y, Sr. Hai Hanh, Br. Lam, Sr. Hong Hanh. | San Bernardino Territory | Unlawfully cooperating with an outside Diocese against their home Curia. |
Final Statement: “This is not our money; this is holy money. These are not our lines; they are the Church’s boundaries.” We stand firm against administrative pressure and favoritism. We call on all members to review these facts, stand by the official Handbook, and pray for immediate accountability and reform.
Letter July 7, 2026
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2026 11:41:09 -0700
Subject: Re: San Bernardino Curia: Status Clarification and Awaiting Formal Letter
Dear Brother Ernesto,
Thank you for your direct and fraternal message regarding our communication and the San Bernardino Vietnamese Curia (Mother of Perpetual Help) website. I appreciate your concern for the order, unity, and discipline of the Legion of Mary.
As an officer of the LA Senatus, it is important that you have the full context of this situation. Without this website, it is impossible for anyone to fully understand the crisis we have faced or the true purpose behind why this public record exists.
For four long years, we tried to resolve these issues strictly through proper, private internal channels. We reached out repeatedly regarding council boundaries, distinct diocesan jurisdictions (Orange Diocese vs. San Bernardino Diocese), and the tragic, forced dissolution of 21 dedicated, excellent Legionaries. Unfortunately, our private letters were ignored, and the formal, good-faith decisions promised by leadership were never provided.
We have already lost 21 excellent members to this conflict. Do you expect me to wait until all 164 of our remaining members completely lose faith and leave the Legion before we address this? I cannot in good conscience hide the truth or take down the website while the spiritual well-being and loyalty of our current members are actively at stake. They deserve to know the truth, and they deserve leadership that protects them. To keep our members fully and truthfully informed of where things stand, I will be adding our current email correspondence—including your letter and this response—to the website as part of the factual record of our ongoing appeal.
I strongly encourage you to read all the information and history laid out on the website to truly understand what has happened:
- Main History: https://www.legiomariaeca.org/
- Questions & Answers: https://www.legiomariaeca.org/questions-answer/
- The Curia Petition: https://www.legiomariaeca.org/curia-petition-3/
It would be much faster, simpler, and more productive for the Senatus to finally issue a formal decision letter resolving these boundaries and restoring our members than to pressure us to take down the site or hide the truth behind a password before anything is actually solved. Once a fair, formal, and written resolution is provided, we can happily move forward and adjust the website.
To show you where this matter currently stands, I am attaching the final email I sent to Sister Elin on May 12, 2026, which has still received no reply or documentation from leadership:
Dear Sr. Elin,
Thank you for your email. I am responding to clarify our position regarding the San Bernardino Vietnamese Curia (Mother of Perpetual Help) website.
First, we must be clear: Orange diocese is Orange Diocese, and San Bernardino Diocese is San Bernardino Diocese. These are distinct jurisdictions. The information on our website is a true and factual record of the events that led to the current situation. As the administrator of this site and as a leader, I view the request to remove truthful information as a violation of my First Amendment rights to speak the truth and keep our members informed.
I cannot in good conscience remove any content until I receive the formal, fair, and good-faith decision you promised regarding our boundaries. Furthermore:
- The 21 Members of Our Curia: Previous actions forced the dissolution of 21 excellent, dedicated members of our curia, Mother of Perpetual Help Curia in the San Bernardino Diocese. These souls have been lost to the Legion’s work, and the Senatus has ignored the letters I submitted on their behalf. I will not remove their story from the public eye until they are restored to active duty within our San Bernardino jurisdiction.
- Request for Concilium Correspondence: Since you stated that the Concilium and Sr. Patricia O’Donaghue are in agreement with your request, I officially request that you forward the direct email and/or letter from the Concilium to me. I have already sent my own letters and the website link to Dublin; I wish to see exactly what they have written to ensure they have the full context of the 21 lost members and the jurisdictional facts.
I am committed to a resolution, but that resolution must be based on truth and the restoration of our members. I await the formal decision and the direct documentation from the Concilium.
In union with Mary, Br. Mark Nguyen President, San Bernardino Regional Council
Like you, my intention is strictly the good of the Legion and the work of Our Blessed Mother. However, a true, lasting resolution must be built on truth and justice for our members. I remain fully committed to resolving this just as soon as the Senatus provides the formal decision we have been waiting four years to receive.
In Christ through Mary,
Br. Mark Nguyen President, San Bernardino Regional Council