February 11, 2020

Nancy Nohrden Elected as General Director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi

The General Assembly of the Society of Apostolic Life of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi began meeting in Rome on January 19th, and will conclude on February 27th. On February 11th, the General Assembly elected Nancy Nohrden, an American, as the new general director.

Nancy Nohrden was born on February 4, 1974 in Bellevue, near Seattle, Washington, USA. She grew up in Southern California and finished her high school in Massachusetts. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, then worked at a law firm. She was consecrated in 1998, at the age of 24. After three years of formation, her first apostolate was working with youth and young adults in Germany for five years.

Between 2007 and 2011 she worked with youth in the Regnum Christi section in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2011 she moved to Atlanta, GA as the Formation Director at Pinecrest Academy and in 2012 was appointed the community director for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Atlanta. Since November 25, 2012 she has been the territorial director in North America, based in Atlanta, GA. She was a member of the 2014-2019 North American Regnum Christi Territorial Committee and has been the vice president of the Regnum Christi Federation’s Territorial Directive College since September 15, 2019.  She is currently studying a Masters Degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership at Spring Arbor University.

With these appointments, the term of the previous general director and general council, Gloria Rodríguez and her counselors Paula Errazuriz, Viviana Limón, María del Carmen Ávila, Denise Funke, Cristina Danel, and the general administrator, Beatriz Pimentel, concludes. The Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi thank the previous general government for their generous and selfless dedication in these past crucial years of the canonical configuration of the Apostolic Life Society and the configuration of the Regnum Christi Federation.

The newly elected general council consists of:

Vicar General and First General Councilor – Elena Bartolemé Larrey

 

Elena was born in Barcelona, Spain, on April 29, 1975. She studied Architecture at the Escola Técnica Superior de Arquitectura del Vallés, and was a Regnum Christi Missionary from 1999 to 2001 while completing her final project.

She was consecrated on the 29th of September 2001. During her first years of consecrated life she served as a formator in Cerro del Coto, community director of Mirasierra and vice-director of the Highlands School El Encinar, Madrid, Spain, between 2006 and 2009. She then spent six years in Barcelona in the youth section and supported the youth ministry of the diocese, serving as a Formation Instructor in the Santa Isabel School as well as the community director. She was a territorial councilor for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Spain between 2013 and 2015.

She has a degree in Education and Development from Anahuac University and a Master’s degree in Religious Sciences from the Ateneo Regina Apostolorum. She specialized in Educational Psychology from theUniversidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, and has a Master’s degree in spiritual accompaniment.

From 2015 to the present she has been the territorial director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Brazil.

Second General Councilor – Eugenia Álvarez

Eugenia Álvarez was born on August 16, 1980 in Caracas, Venezuela and was consecrated on August 21, 1999. She is the youngest of six children.

She joined Regnum Christi as a young laywoman in 1996, and was a RC Missionary in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1998. After her consecration in 1999, she did two years of formation in Monterrey, Mexico. During that time she worked apostolically with youth and in the area of spiritual accompaniment.

She began her full time apostolate in Mexico City working with youth. She went to Chile in 2005, where she continued working with youth and young adults.

In 2012 she was assigned to France as the community director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Paris. She studied a canonical degree in spiritual theology at the Centre Sevres of the Society of Jesus. In 2017 she worked in the are of catechesis in the Sant Honoré d’Eylau parish. She is currently studying her Masters degree in Spiritual Exercises at the University of Comillas.

Before being appointed General Councilor, she was the community director of Consecrated Women of the Regnum Christi in Paris, and a territorial councilor for the Consecrated Women of the Regnum Christi in the European territory.

Third General Councilor – Africa Pemán

Africa Pemán was born in Cadiz, Spain on September 14, 1965 and was consecrated on November 24, 1985.

She began studying law at the Universidad de Cádiz, but left half way through when she decided to consecrate herself within Regnum Christi.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Development from the Anahuac University, Master’s degree in Religious Sciences from the Ateneo Regina Apostolorum and a Master’s degree in Accompaniment from the Francisco de Vitoria University.

She has worked apostolically with youth, in schools, and in the formation and government of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi.  She has served in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and Spain.

She did her formation in Rome from 1985 to 1988. From 1988 to 1996 she worked in ECYD in Rome. She then worked in the Regnum Christi youth section in Guadalajara, Mexico. From 1999 to 2005 she was the Director of the Colegio Del Bosque in Mexico City. Between 2005 and 2012 she was the Director ofHighlands School El Encinar, Madrid, Spain. In 2012 she went to serve in Chile as the Territorial Director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi.  During that time she completed a course offered for religious superiors in San Juan de la Cruz at the Universidad de la Mística, in Ávila, Spain. For the last year and a half, she has been in Cerro del Coto, Madrid, Spain, as a formator in the formation center of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi.

Fourth General Councilor – Viviana Limón Olavarrieta

Viviana Limón was born in Mexico City on August 18, 1978. She was a member of ECYD, Regnum Christi, and a Regnum Christi Missionary in Madrid, Spain in 2001. She already had her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences from the Universidad Anáhuac. She was consecrated on August 22, 2002 and did her formation in Madrid, Spain. She became vice-director of the Le Châtelard Academy and director of the youth section of Regnum Christi in Montreux, Switzerland.

From 2007 to 2012 she served in Paris, France as the community director for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi and director of the youth section of Regnum Christi. During this period, in addition to the work done within the sections and apostolates of Regnum Christi, she carried out a variety of pastoral activities collaborating with the Archdiocese of Paris and the Diocese of Nanterre in diocesan Catholic schools. From 2007 to 2010 she worked in Brussels, Belgium, with Catholic formation programs for youth, young adults and parents. In July 2012 she was appointed territorial director for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Europe, until she was elected general councilor by the general assembly in December 2013. She was a member of the commission for the revision of the General Statutes of Regnum Christi, and oversaw the commission for the Life and Mission for the General Government of Regnum Christi.

Fifth General Councilor – Jacinta Curran

Jacinta Curran was born in Dublin, Ireland on April 4, 1960 and was consecrated on July 21, 1979. She was a member of ECYD and Regnum Christi, which she first got to know in 1975. She studied psychology at theUniversity College Dublin and received her degree in 1981. After two years of formation in Rome she went to the United States where she founded the Overbrook Academy in 1984 and became the first director, serving there for six years.

She was then assigned to Mexico City where she directed the Irish Institute for eight years. She spent five years in Vienna, Austria, as community director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi and coordinator of apostolate in the territory of Central Europe. She went to Seville, Spain as the community director for ten years and director of the Highlands School Seville for nine years. Jacinta has been the territorial director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in the territory of Western and Eastern Europe since 2014.

The general administrator  will be appointed by the general director, with the consent of her council, after having heard the opinion of the territorial directors, for a three-year period, with the possibility of renewal for another three years.

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: What If I’ve Been Blackballed From Parish Ministry?”

Q: For over 10 years I was active as an adult altar server, reader and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion in my parish. About seven years ago my then pastor badly overreached and banned me from every function on my parish’s campus except for Mass. My pastor overreacted to me admonishing another liturgical minister (and wealthy parish benefactor) for unlocking the tabernacle and leaving its door open, while no one was in the unlocked church. My action was in no way extreme or egregious. The pastor’s overreaction was stunning to those around me and devastating to me. With God’s grace, a number of trips to the confessional, the passage of time, and understanding my former pastor’s pathology (alcoholism), I have been able to forgive him. Our current pastor arrived about a year ago, and I explained what had happened and asked if I could attend other parish events and be reinstated to liturgical ministry. He said I could attend any event that any other parishioner could. But he wouldn’t give me an answer about being reinstated to ministry. He seemed very ill at ease that I would even ask. Later I checked with a friend and she confirmed that I had been effectively “blackballed” by my former pastor, and the current pastor was just following suit. All that said, I still very much long to serve in a liturgical manner. I’m not in denial – I realize I won’t be reinstated, and I realize it’s not healthy to be so attracted to something (ministering) that could be taken away as easily as it was. This is really wearing on my spiritual life. Any words of wisdom would be deeply appreciated. – M.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: I’m sorry to hear about the situation.

My guess is that the new pastor, like a lot of new pastors, doesn’t want to rock the boat. He probably already has a lot on his plate. So in a number of areas he might prefer to take a “safe rather than sorry” approach, based on the guidance he received from the previous pastor. This is understandable. Many priests today face more than their share of challenges.

That said, you might think of your being blackballed as a way to share more deeply in the cross of Christ. Our Lord was misunderstood (and reviled) to a far worse degree.

By offering this cross that God has allowed in your life, you can grow in humility and patience. Perhaps you might consider offering up some of this suffering for your past and present pastors. This would be an oblation pleasing to Our Lord.

And by all means, continue to take advantage of the sacraments at your parish. Your faithfulness might someday give the pastor reason to rethink his decision.

At the same time, remember that the arena for us to serve Christ is vast, much larger than liturgical service. By closing this door, at least for the time being, perhaps Our Lord is inviting you to explore other options.

To that end, you might find it useful to watch The Complete Christian: A Retreat Guide on the Calling of the Twelve Apostles, or read my colleague’s book Go! 30 Meditations on How Best to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.

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Ten Years of Regnum Christi in Hong Kong and China

Several Legionaries and Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi have been travelling to Hong Kong and China to work with the academic fields of bio-ethics and business ethics. On January 23, they had a special Mass celebrating the 10th anniversary of this work

In the last decade, several Legionary priests have given spiritual and academic conferences. In the academic field, courses on bioethics and business ethics have been offered. In the spiritual field, retreats and conferences about marriage and the Bible have been preached. In addition, they have come in contact with ecclesiastics, academics, and businesspeople.

Most of the Legionaries of Christ working in China have come from the community of professors in Rome. Ten lay people from Macao and Hong Kong attended the Mass of Thanksgiving on January 23, concelebrated by Fathers Joseph Tham, LC, Thomas Montanaro, LC, and Marco Cho, LC.

Fr. Marco Cho, LC, preached the homily on the Gospel passage of the man with the withered hand. He recalled that “Jesus wants to enter our lives to heal us.” Fr. Marco added, “Regnum Christi is, for us, the answer through which we give Christ the opportunity to enter into us, life, soul and heart. For us Regnum Christi is the answer to the vocation of love and the vocation to love.”

Hong Kong has over 7 million inhabitants, and Confucianism with ancestor worship is the predominate religion. Only 10% of the population practices Christianity. About half of those are Catholics. Fr. Joseph Tham, LC, explained Regnum Christi’s role: “The laity seek a deep formation and a stronger spiritual life, to be able to participate adequately in the ethical, social and political debates around them according to the Catholic faith.”

Since 2010, Fr. Joseph Tham, LC, a native of Hong Kong raised in Canada, has been a visiting professor at Holy Spirit Seminary College, where he periodically offers a curricular bioethics course. In addition, he has several assignments in the diocese as Fellow of the Bioethics Resource Center of the seminary, advisor to the diocesan commission for pastoral care for people with same-sex attraction and their families, and chaplain of the St. Justin Fellowship of Catholic Scholars.

Several legionary priests have also been able to visit and participate in conferences and retreats in mainland China. Some have accompanied Chinese pilgrims to the Holy Land, Poland, Spain, Italy and Greece as chaplains. Others have also accompanied Chinese young people in some of the World Youth Days since 2013. Also, several young people of Chinese origin have joined the Legionaries of Christ.

In the field of training and accompaniment of executives and other professionals, the legionaries have organized several retreats and meetings in Hong Kong, Rome and the Holy Land. 

Fr. Joseph Tham, LC, spoke of how important their work is: “China is currently the second strongest economy in the world. There is no denying its influence for the future of the world and the Church. Its cultural and economic leadership has an immense weight. Although there is a complicated ecclesial situation, Hong Kong is presented as a bridge or as a gateway to China. Despite the cultural differences and challenges presented by Chinese culture, there is a warm welcome for our spirituality and the apostolic methodology of Regnum Christi. It seems that Providence acts in an unexpected way, opening new possibilities at this moment in our history.”

You can read the Spanish original on the Legionarios de Cristo website.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!