III Ordinary General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi: Main Events
The III Ordinary General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi brought together 43 delegates from 11 nationalities from around the world in Rome, from January 12 to February 14. Following its conclusion, the general director, Nancy Nohrden, wrote a letter to the members of Regnum Christi where she shared the discernment process carried out and the main themes and decisions made during the Assembly:
“These experiences confirm the grace of walking together in service of the Church, bringing to life the conclusions of the General Convention of Regnum Christi, which have been integrated into our 2032 vision.”
During the Assembly, the delegates discerned the vision toward 2032, the horizon to which God calls them to be signs of the Kingdom. This vision was synthesized in six points, in continuity with the General Convention of Regnum Christi and the apostolic projection plan of the Consecrated Women. At the request of the Holy See, they drafted a new number for their Constitutions expressing the contribution and distinctive traits with which they live the shared charism.
They also approved concrete affirmations in living poverty with greater coherence and service to those in need, and they reviewed a sustainability plan based on viability, subsidiarity, evangelical poverty, and solidarity with the Church and Regnum Christi. They concluded the discernment regarding a contemplative community, elected a new government, and were received in private audience by Pope Leo XIV, together with the Lay Consecrated Men. The conclusions and decisions were gathered in a final communiqué.
The 2032 Vision
Throughout the Assembly, the delegates developed the Society’s vision for the year 2032. This vision describes the horizon toward which they believe God calls them to be signs of the Kingdom in the world, in continuity with the General Convention of Regnum Christi and the apostolic projection plan of the Consecrated Women.
They seek to be more contemplative and ardently evangelizing, embracing reality as a theological space, living as communities of apostles with a renewed sense of mission and missionary audacity, offering their specific contribution in service of the common mission of Regnum Christi, and joyfully sharing the beauty of their vocation.
Proper Law and Charism
In continuity with the revision carried out in 2020, the General Assembly delved into certain aspects of proper law that required updating, confirming the coherence of the Constitutions and the Rule of Life. On this occasion, there was no comprehensive revision, but rather specific adjustments that will be sent to the Holy See for approval.
Among this requiring the greatest dedication was the formulation of a number related to the charism. The Assembly addressed the request of the Holy See to articulate more clearly the gift that the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi offer to the Church, organically integrating elements already present in their proper law. This process made it possible to reach broad consensus and to approve a wording that expresses more clearly and forcefully the identity, purpose, and mission of the Consecrated Women, while remaining in full communion with the charism shared by the entire Regnum Christi family.
Deepening the Lived Experience of Poverty
Following the mandate of the 2020 General Assembly, the second stage of discernment on the lived experience of the vow of poverty was addressed. This work included the integration of reflections and insights from the territorial assemblies and a conference by Fr. Aitor Jiménez, CFM, on the evangelical, communal, and apostolic character of poverty.
A plenary session brought together the main conclusions regarding the lived experience of poverty, solidarity, and aid to those most in need.
Sustainability and Co-Responsibility
The Assembly also dedicated several days to the topic of economic sustainability, with the presentation of a general plan prepared by the general finance officer, Sonia Baldwin, based on territorial plans. The principles addressed included long-term viability, subsidiarity, evangelical poverty, and solidarity with the Church and Regnum Christi.
Fr. Miguel Campos, S.J., contributed an ecclesial and juridical perspective on legitimate forms of economic support for Societies of Apostolic Life.
Election of the General Government
The General Assembly then entered a particularly prayerful atmosphere to address the election of the new general government. Based on reflection materials and a central question—What do the Consecrated Women need today from their government and from the general finance officer?—the delegates opened themselves to the light of the Spirit through listening and dialogue.
In this context, on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Nancy Nohrden was re-elected General Director for a second six-year term.
After listening to the experience of the outgoing government and assessing the current needs of the Society, the Assembly determined that the most appropriate structure for the next six-year term would be a council of four councilors. On February 3, the following were elected:
- Perla González de la Fuente, Vicar General and First Councilor
- Eugenia Álvarez Espinoza, Second Councilor
- Kathleen Murphy, Third Councilor
- Camila Melo, Fourth Councilor
On February 4, the election of the general finance officer took place, and Sonia Baldwin was elected for a second term of service.
Mandates to the New Government: Fraternal Life and the Development of Spirituality
The Assembly entrusted two mandates to the new government:
- To promote a process of listening, analysis, formation, and accompaniment regarding fraternal life in the communities of Consecrated Women.
- To foster the development of our spirituality, delving deeper into key elements: being signs of the Kingdom amid temporal realities, the renewed sense of mission (Jn 20:21), and the specific promises of the Consecrated Women.
Audience with Pope Leo XIV: A Moment of Communion and Mission
On January 29, the delegates of the general assemblies of the Consecrated Women and the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi had a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, an encounter marked by a spirit of closeness and spiritual communion.
The Pope offered words of encouragement, underscoring the value of the Regnum Christi charism, governance as service, and communion as the foundation of all apostolic action. He invited them to “promote ever greater communion throughout the whole Family, sharing spirituality and apostolate, and fully living the vocation received.”
During the audience, the Holy Father personally greeted each participant. The general directors, Félix Gómez and Nancy Nohrden, presented the Pope with a book on Regnum Christi and an icon of Christ the King created by Consecrated Woman Taís Gea. The Pope, in turn, gave a rosary to each participant and posed with the group for a final photograph.
Several participants shared their impressions of the experience, highlighting the Pope’s invitation to communion, the responsibility of safeguarding the charism, and the renewed impulse for evangelizing mission.
An Assembly Enlightened by the Church
Throughout the Assembly there were various moments of prayer, Eucharistic hours, and spaces of intercession for all vocations of Regnum Christi, as well as a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria ad Rupes. There was also a dinner with the chapter fathers of the Legionaries of Christ and the delegates of the Lay Consecrated Men.
At different moments, Legionaries of Christ, Lay Consecrated Men, and members of other ecclesial realities participated to give light to the discernment or celebrate the sacraments, including Fr. Cristóbal Fones, S.J., Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., Msgr. Markus Graulich, S.D.B., and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, among others.
The Consecrated Women concluded the Assembly with renewed hope and a firm commitment to continue proclaiming Christ, in communion with and in service to, the Church and in Regnum Christi.
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Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.