Hope Awakens: The Regnum Christi family comes together for an online gathering at the beginning of the apostolic year
“As we launch out into mission in this new apostolic year, let us allow our hearts to be reignited by Christ, and him alone. The Lord is truly alive in our midst, and he is sending us out on mission. This is a new year of opportunities to make him present!”
On October 21, Fr. Aaron Smith, LC, hosted the online gathering Hope Awakens—members of the entire Regnum Christi spiritual family and apostolic body were invited to join in this one-hour interactive program designed to build missionary zeal, deepen the sense of communion, and unite RC members around their shared mission. Regnum Christi members, including Legionary priests, Consecrated Women, Lay Consecrated Men, adult lay and ECYD members, connected from all over the North American Territory, hailing from:
- nearly 30 US states
- 6 Canadian provinces
- 30 members from the Philippines
- and Mexico!
“To come together at the beginning of the apostolic year, to see each other and share a bit of what we’re doing, and to pray for each other, is, in itself, an outpouring of grace that strengthens the whole spiritual family,” said Fr. Aaron.
Regnum Christi is a spiritual family made up of members who gather as communities of apostles to pray, to evangelize, and to support and encourage each other in the living of their Christian vocation. Members from each of the four vocations of Regnum Christi—Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women, Lay Consecrated Men, and lay Regnum Christi members—shared what being a part of this community of apostles means to them.
Jorge Lam: Lay Consecrated Man of Regnum Christi
Jorge Lam was introduced to Regnum Christi while participating in family missions back in his home country of Venezuela. While preparing for his mission year with RC Mission Corps, he heard talks by a Lay Consecrated Man about the lay vocation, and he knew immediately that this was what he was called to: to give his whole life to God and to building his Kingdom, within the secular world.
“The essence of a community of apostles is that we come together as a group that is united on a mission: it’s a community of apostles that form other apostles. How do I contribute? First, by my consecration, just by being consecrated to God. My whole life, talents, time, relationships—everything is set aside for God. That’s how I offer myself to them.”
Mary Peach: Lay member of Regnum Christi
Mary Peach and her twin sister were adopted from Ethiopia into the Peach family when they were almost 12 years old. This transition to a new country, culture, and family was overwhelming, but it was within Regnum Christi that Mary first felt a real sense of belonging.
“I encountered Jesus for the first time in adoration at my first ECYD camp, and in that moment, I felt Jesus actually telling me that he understood everything that I’ve experienced, all the traumas, better than any friend, any family member, even my own twin sister, ever could. It was even part of my healing in understanding my relationship with my adoptive family, because I experienced this belonging in a spiritual family first. I belong here, I am meant to be here, God wants me here.”
Fr. Vinh Pham: Legionary of Christ
Fr. Vinh Pham was ordained a Legionary priest in 2021, and for him, one of the most important roles he plays in the Regnum Christi spiritual family is one of accompaniment.
“For me, as an apostle, as God’s instrument, I get to accompany people and hopefully form them, by God’s grace, so that they can go out and be apostles elsewhere. I just try to be faithful to my mission and my role, and God does so much in their lives. And to be an observer and to see that is for me the best thing, to be able to love these sons and daughters of his, and to be loved in return, as their father.”
Carrie O’Connor: Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi
Each one of the four vocations in Regnum Christi brings something unique to the spiritual family. For Carrie O’Connor, who has been consecrated since 2003, the role of the Consecrated Women is one of communion—to build up, safeguard, and always preserve a sense of communion within this community of apostles.
“In the different assignments that I’ve had over the years of my consecrated life, I have really been blessed by being able to work side by side with Regnum Christi members—everyone from lay people, to the Legionaries of Christ, the Consecrated Men, and of course, my fellow Consecrated sisters. I belong to this family, and these are my brothers and sisters, living and working and loving side by side in the mission that we share.”
To hear more of these stories, check out Regnum Christi: A Community of Apostles.
Message from the Territorial Directive College of Regnum Christi
Fr. Aaron is the delegate for the Territorial Directive College, which acts like a board of directors for Regnum Christi in North America. The TDC, which was established in 2019 as a part of the renewal process of Regnum Christi, is a collegial government made up of Legionary priests, Consecrated Women, and lay Regnum Christi members. Fr. Aaron was joined by the other members of the TDC:
- Shawn Aaron, LC: Territorial Director of the Legionaries of Christ
- John Bartunek, LC: Territorial Vicar of the Legionaries of Christ
- Kathleen Murphy: Territorial Director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi
- Helen Yalbir: Council member of the Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi
- Charles Bradley: Lay member of Regnum Christi
- Maria Gaviria: Lay member of Regnum Christi
The TDC presented the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, which is not simply a document, but a living mission that calls all Regnum Christi members to concrete action. The strategic plan is meant to help guide the RC mission for the coming five years, and presents three priorities:
- Promote a vocational culture
- Commit to be and to form Communities of Apostles that go out into the whole world
- Strengthen the evangelizing mission of Regnum Christi, with a particular focus on marriage and the family
“Each one of us, by baptism, is called to be a witness—we’re called to holiness, and we’re called to extend the Kingdom of Christ,”
Focus on Marriage and the Family
The strategic plan makes clear the primary apostolic focus of Regnum Christi for the coming years: marriage and the family. In response to this apostolic priority, the Marriage and Family Commission was launched at the end of August of this year—the commission is headed up by Jeannine and BJ Agugliaro, and includes Legionary priests and Consecrated and lay members of Regnum Christi. Together, they will canvas the North American Territory to discover what ministries and initiatives are already underway in individual localities to better share them with the larger RC spiritual family.
Joseph No and his wife, Jennifer, are one couple who have benefited from these family- and marriage-focused apostolates that have always been an important part of the Regnum Christi mission. They credit their involvement in these ministries for not only healing their marriage, but also drawing their entire family, including their two sons, closer to Christ.
“I was first introduced to the Legionaries of Christ back in 2017 at a men’s silent retreat. The RC retreat was led by the Legionary priests who worked closely with us on healing our marriage, and it was there that I really got my first taste of what it truly meant to be the man God intended me to be. That experience really opened my heart and mind to participate in marriage retreats, missions, and monthly men’s meetings led by LC priests and Consecrated Women. Those activities really strengthened our family and marriage, allowing us to walk together with Christ at the center of our lives. I am so grateful to Jen for giving me that small nudge that led our entire family to be a part of this beautiful spiritual Regnum Christi community.”
To share your locality’s marriage or family apostolate with the commission, email marriageandfamily@regnumchristi.com.
Hope awakens the new apostolic year
“This is the invitation,” said Fr. Aaron, “to allow the Lord to awaken hope in our lives and our hearts, to go out with enthusiasm, to preach and to give him on the highways and byways of our daily lives, to make the Lord present.”
And Fr. Aaron is already looking forward to hosting another Hope Awakens event next October. “Thank you to each of those who joined—let’s continue in prayer and support for each other as we strive to make the Lord present in all hearts and in society!”
Until then, you can visit Hope Awakens Online Gathering 2025 to rewatch the event, find out more about the evangelizing strategy of Regnum Christi for 2025-2030, or discover your next step in building Christ’s Kingdom!
And check out the official music video for the theme song Hope Awakens, by Regnum Christi Music Collective!
