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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

July 3, 2026

26-07-05-PCOTW

A Week of Prayer for All of Our Priests and Consecrated Members: July 5th – 11th

/ pray weekly, Regnum Christi News

Regnum Christi invites our entire spiritual family and all our friends to join us in praying especially for our brothers and sisters living the consecrated vocations of Legionary priests, Consecrated Women, and Lay Consecrated Men in our territory.

Each week throughout the year, we will pray together for a different group of Legionaries and Consecrated, spanning all the communities across the territory, as our “Priests and Consecrated of the Week.”

Our Consecrated members are men and women who have said yes to Christ’s call to follow him, leaving everything behind to dedicate their entire lives to him and to join him in the mission of building his Kingdom. We come together to support them with our prayer, asking our Lord to strengthen them, hold them close to his Sacred Heart, and give them his deep joy as they live their mission each day.

 

This Week We Pray for

Ray_headshot Fr. Daniel Ray, LC is from York County, Pennsylvania and was ordained in 2006. He is the Pastor of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Soho, New York. In addition he also is chaplain to the Lumen Fellows program, supports Regnum Christi Young Adults, and is a chaplain for the local NYC chapter of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP).

Ochoa_headshotLucía Ochoa was born in Coahuila, Mexico and became consecrated in 1998. Her apostolates have included many years serving as an administrator and as a formator for other consecrated women. She completed a certification in spiritual direction from Divine Mercy University and spends much of her time as a spiritual director. She is currently a member of the consecrated community in Chicago, and is part of the formation team at East Lake Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Sepúlveda_headshotBr. Juan José Sepúlveda, LC is from Bello, Colombia. As a child attending Sunday Mass, Br. Juan José felt a draw to the service of the acolytes, which he considers to be the first whispers of a vocation. After attending high school at the Legionary vocational center in Colombia, he entered the seminary to become a Legionary priest. On August 10, 2025, Br. Juan José made his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and today he is a first-year humanist at LC Cheshire.

Swanson_headshotFr. James Swanson, LC was born in Montana and was ordained in 1994. Fr. James is currently a member of the LC community in the Hamilton diocese in Ontario, Canada, where he is the RC chaplain for the men’s and women’s sections, as well as spiritual director and retreat leader.

Houbeck_headshotMegan Houbeck was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was consecrated in 1999. During her years of consecrated life, she has been dedicated to serving Christ and his Church in Mexico, Italy, and Spain, through pastoral work with youth and young adults and the formation of consecrated women. Most recently, she has been serving youth and young adults in Cincinnati, at Benedictine College in Kansas, and in Atlanta.

Wilson_headshotFr. Daniel Wilson, LC is originally from California and was ordained in 2002. Since then, he has served as a spiritual director and retreat leader in Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, San Jose and most recently in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 2016, the Legionaries of Christ was given a parish in Calgary, where he served as the associate pastor for Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California, serving as a councilor of the LC community.

Prayer for Priests and Consecrated Members in Regnum Christi

God our Father,
We thank you for our spiritual family of Regnum Christi, and for those within it that you have called to total consecration as Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women, and Lay Consecrated Men.

We ask you to renew their encounter with your Son Jesus Christ,
who goes out to meet them and reveals the love of his heart to them.
Deepen their personal love for Christ
and their trust in his love for them.
Gather them close to him,
form them,
and send them out accompanied by your Son,
in the mission of forming apostles and Christian leaders who make your Kingdom present in hearts, in families, and in society.

Send your Holy Spirit to sanctify and strengthen them,
And to help them respond generously and courageously to their mission each day.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Week of Prayer for All of Our Priests and Consecrated Members: July 5th – 11th Read More »

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Uncle Eddy

St Thomas the Apostle

/ Uncle Eddy

Dear Tom, One of the secrets to prayer is honesty, which, as I can see clearly from your latest communiqués, you need a lot more of.  You can’t approach the Lord saying only what you think you are “supposed” to say. First of all, you’ll get bored very fast, and fall into a routine, and soon you will have no desire to spend time in prayer at all.  You (and me too, everybody, for that matter) need to put your heart into your prayer. You need to tell God what’s happening in the depths of your soul. Let him in! He’s dying for you to trust him as a true friend, an intimate confidante.  That’s why he came to earth in the first place. Of course, this takes courage. It’s a risk to bare our hearts – especially to God, who will most likely have a demanding solution for our problems. You should ask today’s saint for help on both these qualities (honesty and courage), which he demonstrated in abundance. Towards the end of Jesus’ public ministry, the Pharisees and Sadducees had put a price on his head.  So the Apostles naturally assumed that they would lay low, keeping away from crowded public places (like Jerusalem and its environs).  But when Jesus received word from Martha and Mary (the ones who lived with their brother Lazarus in Bethany and who were good friends with the Lord) that Lazarus was dying, he determined to go right into the hornets’ nest (Bethany was on the outskirts of Jerusalem).  The skittish Apostles did their best to dissuade him (more for the sake of their own skins, probably, than for his sake), but he would not be deterred. Amidst the fearful complaints of the Twelve, Thomas’s boldness rings a noble note: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  That’s the attitude we all should have: total trust in God, total confidence that at Christ’s side nothing will do us lasting harm – that’s Christian courage. But he also shows a straightforward honesty that we need to emulate.  During the Last Supper Jesus said, “Where I am going you know the way.”  Of course, the befuddled Apostles had no idea what he was talking about, but they were all ashamed to admit it (as if our Lord didn’t already recognize their confusion, even in their silence!).  Finally, Thomas plucked up his chutzpah, “Master,” he said, “We do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” And our Lord rewarded his simple, trusting honesty with a summary of the entire gospel: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”  After the Resurrection, Thomas kept up his exemplary frankness. He wasn’t with the group when Christ first appeared to them, and he found it hard to believe what they were telling him. He didn’t cover up his doubts but openly admitted that he wanted to see for himself. Once again our Lord honored his sincerity, appearing to them eight days later and showing his wounds specifically to Thomas, who then realized what the others hadn’t yet grasped, that Jesus was both “Lord and God.” You see, my dear nephew, the secret to real prayer, real conversation with God, is honesty.  He doesn’t care about beautiful words and fine phrases; he wants your heart. Take courage, then, and give it to him. God bless, Uncle Eddy

St Thomas the Apostle Read More »

Could a No-Marijuana Vow Be Renegotiated?

/ Ask a Priest

Q: If in middle school you made a vow to never use marijuana when it was illegal, are you still bound by the vow later in life when marijuana is legalized? Can you “renegotiate” a vow you made with God? — J.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

There are various dimensions to your question worth reviewing.

First, vowing not to use marijuana when it was illegal wasn’t necessary, since no one should be using illegal drugs. Likewise, there is no need to make a vow not to steal your neighbor’s car.

Second, did the person vow never to use marijuana as long as it was illegal? Or was it a conditional promise? “I won’t use it for now, but I might use it if it becomes legal.”

Let’s say for the sake of argument that the middle-schooler wasn’t even thinking that marijuana, or cannabis, would ever become legal in some places.

Third is the aspect of making a vow in middle school. At that age it could be a sign of youthful enthusiasm mixed with a bit of immaturity.

A fourth aspect — and this is where the person needs to be honest with himself — is this “renegotiation” simply a way to justify himself and go back on his word?

There are times, however, when the conditions of a vow could be justifiably changed; for instance, if a person suffers a financial collapse and can no longer tithe the way he previously promised.

In this case of marijuana, however, the person wants to be released from a vow in order to use something that is potentially harmful.

The legality of marijuana doesn’t necessarily justify its use. We have a general obligation to take reasonable care of our health and avoid unnecessary risks.

In short, the person would need to take this to prayer and seriously examine the motives for wanting to ditch the vow. He should then speak with his pastor.

Could a No-Marijuana Vow Be Renegotiated? Read More »

26-07-03-DM

July 3, 2026 – Peace, Not Doubt

/ Daily Meditations

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

 

John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, help me to place myself into this Gospel scene and learn from Thomas on his feast day.

Encountering Christ:

  1. One of the Twelve: Doubting Thomas was “one of the Twelve,” as was Judas the betrayer, Peter who denied Christ, and the two brothers who coveted seats at the right and left of Jesus in his Kingdom. Jesus’ closest companions were very flawed humans. Praise God, because we, too, doubt, betray, deny, and covet at times. When we fall, if we turn to Jesus, we will realize that we can experience the same patient, gentle, reassuring Jesus that Thomas did.

     

  2. Unbelief: Sons and daughters of God who encounter him regularly in their prayer, through the sacraments, and experientially in life can’t help but proclaim, “We have seen the Lord.” Hearts overflow with love expressed as evangelical enthusiasm. Yet, many people resist. Like Thomas, they say, “I will not believe.” There’s nothing sadder. True love requires, however, that we don’t ostracize unbelievers. On the contrary, we continue to love them and pray for them until Jesus himself draws from them their own proclamation, “My Lord and my God.”

     

  3. Blind Faith: This story of Thomas’ doubt ended with some truly consoling words from Jesus, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Since none of us have seen what the Apostles saw, yet we believe, we are “blessed.” The blessing Jesus alludes to is faith. “Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him. Before this faith can be exercised, man must have the grace of God to move and assist him; he must have the interior aid of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind and makes it easy for all to accept and believe the truth” (CCC 153).

Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you for the great gift of faith. I know that the theological virtue of faith is infused by you into my soul every time I ask for it. When I doubt you, as did Thomas, I know that I can expect to hear you encouraging me: “Peace be with you.”

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make a sincere act of faith, hope, and charity.

For Further Reflection: There are many versions of Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Here is one:

Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became Man, died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Act of Charity

O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of over thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.

July 3, 2026 – Peace, Not Doubt Read More »

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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!