Second week of the General Chapter: Going Deeper into the Mission in a Spirit of Listening and Fraternity
The second week of the 2026 General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ has been marked by intense days of listening, reflection, and fraternal dialogue, mainly focused on the presentation and analysis of the reports of the different areas of the General Directorate and from the territorial directors.
The reports presented offered a broad overview of the life and mission of the Legion in the different territories and its service to the Church. This global perspective has allowed the Chapter Fathers to enter into the work of discernment with peace, openness of heart, and a deep desire to seek God’s will for the Congregation.
Reflections were made on the state of religious and community life, fraternal life, priestly accompaniment, the shared mission within Regnum Christi, our presence in dioceses and parishes, our service in schools and universities, and our commitment to a solid ministry and culture of abuse prevention, focused on caring for people. Special attention was also given to vocation promotion, the accompaniment of elderly or sick Legionaries, the current state of our prevention-focused safe environemtns programs, and the improvement of processes that seek justice and respect for those impacted.
The Chapter Fathers have recognized and expressed gratitude for all the dedicated work of so many Legionaries who generously serve in their missions as territorial directors; superiors of communities; formators; chaplains; vocation promoters; directors of schools and universities, works of evangelization; as well as work in parishes and as collaborators in different dioceses. They also remembered their sick and our elder brothers with gratitude for their self-giving.
In addition to the presentations in plenary sessions, there have been times of work in small groups. This synodal methodology allows for deeper discernment guided by the Holy Spirit, giving space to all to express their perspective and walk together towards the issues that the Chapter must address. All of this is happening with the desire to focus on what is essential, and on what truly requires the guidance and consensus of this supreme governing body.
The contributions of the Territorial Assemblies and the individual proposals that were received are also serving as a basis for analysis, in a climate of realism, co-responsibility, and fidelity to the Church.
The Chapter Fathers also received the news of the Holy Father’s message to the participants in the General Assemblies of Consecrated Women and Laity Consecrated Men and Women of Regnum Christi with joy. In his address, the Pope encouraged the members of the spiritual family to rediscover and authentically live their charism as a gift of the Spirit for the Church and the world, fostering an ever deeper communion among all its members. He emphasized that this communion— lived from the diversity of vocations and in apostolic co-responsibility— is the work of the Holy Spirit and a living witness of fidelity to the call received. He recalled that “ the Lord makes no noise, but his Kingdom springs up and grows in every corner of the world,” and encouraged a response filled with hope, unity, and openness to the Spirit in this moment of grace.
In this same spirit of communion, the Chapter Fathers also look forward with gratitude to an upcoming meeting with the Holy Father. This audience will represent a culminating moment of the General Chapter, in which they seek to receive from the the Successor of Peter the pastoral guidelines that will guide their mission and the Legion of Christ’s service to the Church in coming years.
Community prayer and the daily Eucharist spiritually sustain the work of the Chapter Fathers. In one of this week’s homilies, it was emphasized that the grace of the Chapter does not consist in leaving with many decisions, but in leaving with a transformed heart, more united, open, and guided by the Spirit.
Thus the path of the General Chapter continues, with a deep desire to respond to the most pressing needs of the Church, in harmony with its pastoral plans and in keeping with the identity and mission of the Legion of Christ.
Did you know?
33 of the 60 Chapter Fathers are participating in the General Chapter for the first time.
Fr. Shawn Aaron was born in Ridgecrest, California, and was ordained in 2002. He has served in a variety of roles, including LC development director and national chaplain for The Lumen Institute in Manhattan. From 2017–2020, Fr. Shawn served as the North American territorial vicar general for the Legionaries of Christ; in March of 2020, he was named the North American territorial director.
Br. Austen Davis grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is currently a first-year humanist at the LC novitiate in Cheshire, Connecticut. After attending a “Test Your Call” retreat in Cheshire, he signed up for the Aspirancy program, and then entered the Candidacy in the summer of 2023. Two years later, on August 9, 2025, Br. Austen made his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Legionary of Christ.
Denise Funke, a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and was consecrated in 1992. She has served as a school principal in the United States and Ireland and as a general counselor in Rome. With extensive experience in family and youth ministry, she currently serves as a formator at The Highlands School in Dallas and as a spiritual director.
Amelia Hoover is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was consecrated in Regnum Christi in 2010. She served in ECYD for eight years in the DC area, and is currently the girls’ ECYD director in Houston. She also serves as a member of the ECYD Life Department Team for the North American Territory.
Antonio Maza is a Lay Consecrated Man of Regnum Christi, currently serving as VP of Finance and Administration at Divine Mercy University. Along with his community of Lay Consecrated Men in Northern Virginia, Anthony dedicates his entire life to the service of the Church, spreading the good news in the social and professional world.
Fr. Timothy Walsh is from Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, and was ordained in 2006. He has served in various roles, including vice-rector and then rector of two of the Legionary apostolic schools, and as chaplain to the Regnum Christi communities in Ohio and Houston. In 2020, he was appointed rector-president of the novitiate in Cheshire, Connecticut, where he oversees the initial formation of new members and seminarians.
Fr. Bruce Wren was born in Cottonwood, Idaho, and was ordained in 1996. He served as instructor of novices in Cornwall, Canada, and in 1999, he was appointed rector of the apostolic school in France. In 2014, he became the local superior of the LC community in Chicago and served in a variety of chaplaincy roles. Currently, Fr. Bruce serves as the local superior of the LC community in Cumming, Georgia, and as chaplain to the RC men’s section in Atlanta, as well as being a territorial councilor for the Legionaries of Christ in North America.
