First Week of the III Ordinary General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi: A beginning marked by prayer in the heart of the Church
On Monday, January 12, the forty‑three delegates of the III Ordinary General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi began a path of discernment that will extend over the course of five weeks.
On January 6, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the Consecrated Women participated in the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Basilica, which included the closing of the Holy Door at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year. After Mass, the Holy Father invited the whole Church to be “artisans of hope” and to walk toward the future along new paths.
That same afternoon, the delegates began a retreat preached by Fr. Cristóbal Fones, S.J., whose content prepared them for the communal discernment that will mark the coming weeks.
Formation Day
Saturday, January 10, was dedicated to a formation day designed to prepare the delegates for the development of the Assembly in an ordered, participatory and synodal way.
The day provided delegates with a practical orientation to the Assembly, including introductions to support teams, technical systems, discernment frameworks, procedural rules, communication principles, and the digital tools that will support their work.
This ensured that all delegates shared a common operational and spiritual framework for beginning the sessions of the Assembly.
Day of Rest and Pilgrimage
Sunday, January 11, was dedicated to rest, fraternity and pilgrimage. The delegates visited the Shrine of Santa Maria ad Rupes, a place of deep spiritual tradition in the outskirts of Rome known for its atmosphere of silence and recollection.
The day unfolded in a spirit of community and getting to know one another. Participants talked, shared lunch, and enjoyed time of fellowship. As a community, they prayed the rosary, visited the various prayer spaces of the shrine. The day strengthened the bonds among the delegates.
Opening of the Assembly
On Monday, January 12, the Assembly’s opening Mass took place in the Choir Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., Pro‑Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. In his homily, the Cardinal invited the consecrated women to let “the Holy Spirit be the true protagonist of the Assembly,” encouraging them to live this time in communion, conversion, and openness to God’s action.
At 3:00 p.m., the Assembly continued at the See of the General Directorate with the invocation of the Holy Spirit singing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus. Afterwards, in the Assembly hall, the list of delegates was read, and Nancy Nohrden officially declared the III Ordinary General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi constituted.
First Steps: Approaching the Reality of the Society
During this first week, the Assembly is dedicated mainly to understanding the overall situation of the Society of Apostolic Life and its relationship with the Church and the entire Regnum Christi. The delegates listen, read, and discuss the reports of the general government and each territory, seeking a broad, realistic, and appreciative perspective on the journey so far and the challenges ahead.
This initial work lays the foundation for the topics that will be addressed in the coming weeks.
The delegates are living this time in a deeply prayerful spirit, marked by the sincere desire to let God manifest Himself in all they do, pray, discuss, and discern, embracing the invitation to walk together, open to the surprise of the Holy Spirit.
A Message from the Dicastery
On January 14, the Assembly received a letter from the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, signed by the Pro‑Prefect, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime. In his message, the Dicastery expressed closeness and prayer for the work of the Assembly, encouraging the delegates to live this time “in listening to the Holy Spirit and to your sisters, in dialogue and communion.” The Cardinal also underscored the spiritual demand of the chosen theme, reminding them that being “Sent as Apostles of Hope” implies renewing an authentic missionary spirit and keeping the flame of the Spirit alive in the heart of each consecrated woman.
A Shared Spirit
In communion with the Legionaries of Christ and the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi—who are also celebrating their respective chapters and assemblies this month—the consecrated women welcome this time with hope, as a moment of interior renewal, fidelity to the charism, and openness to the Holy Spirit.
