July 17, 2026

A Week of Prayer for All of Our Priests and Consecrated Members: July 19th – 25th

July 17, 2026 / 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

Fr. Nathaniel Haslam, LC is from Harrisburg, PA and was ordained in 2010. During his four years of formation in Rome, he helped organize and coordinate the first-ever Vatican Executive Summit held in the Vatican Gardens. In his priestly vocation, he has focused on accompanying men and women on their leadership journeys, primarily as a chaplain for the Lumen Institute at the local and national levels. He has also written three books on leadership, most recently The Source and Summit of Leadership. Fr. Nathaniel is currently based in Houston, Texas—along with serving as chaplain for Lumen there, he is also the local chaplain for SENT Ventures and Young Catholic Professionals. In 2025, he finished his Doctorate in Pastoral Leadership at the University of St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein.

Fr. Adam Zettel, LC is a Legionary of Christ priest from Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, ordained in 2017. He serves in the Diocese of Hamilton and is deeply involved in the mission of Regnum Christi, with a particular passion for evangelization, youth and young adult ministry, spiritual direction, and missionary formation. In 2024 he was appointed Director of the RC Mission Corps Men’s Program for the North American Territory, where he forms and accompanies young men dedicating a year of their lives to missionary service. He also serves on the Regnum Christi Ontario Local College and continues to preach retreats, lead missions, and accompany individuals in their spiritual lives. Through his preaching, music, and daily homilies, Father Adam seeks to help people encounter Christ personally and discover the joy of living the Gospel with missionary zeal.

Nancy Nohrden grew up in Southern California and was consecrated in 1998. After completing her initial formation, she served in youth and family ministry as well as vocational support in Germany for five years, and then worked with young adults in Saint Louis, Missouri. In 2011, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, as director of formation at Pinecrest Academy, and in 2012, she was named director of the community of Consecrated Women. On November 25, 2012, she assumed the position of territorial director of Consecrated Women in North America and served on the Regnum Christi Territorial Committee from 2014–2019. In 2020, Nancy was elected director general of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi and named vice president of the General Directive College of the Federation. During her term in office, she completed a master’s degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership at Spring Arbor University. On February 2, 2026, she was re-elected as director general for another six-year term.

Fr. Joshua West, LC was born in Naples, Italy, and grew up in Virginia. He was ordained in 2009, and since then, he has served in various capacities: as a vocation director, Regnum Christi chaplain, school chaplain, and retreat center director. He is currently a member of the LC community in Raleigh, where he serves as the pastor for the Catholic Campus Ministry at North Carolina State University.

Fr. Jurandir De Oliveira Santos Junior, LC is from Dourados, Brazil and was ordained in 2025. He served as a formation instructor and teacher at the Highlands School in Dallas, and he is currently the dean of studies at the Legionaries of Christ Novitiate and College of Humanities in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Melissa Kuhn was born in Iowa and was consecrated in 1998. She has exercised ministry for 10 years in Regnum Christi schools in three different countries. She is currently a member of the Atlanta community, working with women, specifically those who have young children, providing them with formation activities and accompanying them spiritually.

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 19th – 25th Read More »

First Annual True Beauty Fashion Show a Success in Atlanta

July 17, 2026 / Christian Life, Purity and Modesty, RC Young Adults, Regnum Christi, Regnum Christi News

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

True Beauty, a new Christ-centered Catholic program designed to empower young women to live a life of goodness, beauty, and truth, hosted its inaugural fashion show in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 8. The first annual True Beauty Fashion Show was a tremendous success, drawing a joyful, sold-out crowd of approximately 520 attendees.

The show was created and directed by Brenda Sharman, founder and director of the True Beauty program. True Beauty was born out of Brenda’s deep love for young women, her concern about the messages girls are receiving in today’s culture, and her desire to help them discover their God-given dignity and worth.

Having grown up as a model in the fashion industry herself, Brenda is passionate about guiding a new generation of young women to discover that their true beauty comes not from the outside, but from a heart that loves God and serves others.

Brenda began her career in the fashion industry when she was just 17 years old, and worked as a professional model and actress for more than 25 years, appearing in numerous catalogs, magazines, commercials, and ad campaigns across the United States. In 1990, she was crowned Miss Georgia USA, finished in the top six at the Miss USA pageant, and later represented the United States in an international pageant in Osaka, Japan, where she won the title.

After becoming a mother, Brenda began a deeper search for God that eventually led her into the Catholic Church in 1999. Just a few years later, she felt called to use her experience in the fashion world to help young women recognize their God-given dignity and live and dress in accordance with that dignity. Back in 2006, Brenda founded Pure Fashion, a virtue formation program that has been revived and rebranded in an updated format under a new name—True Beauty…Living a Life of Goodness, Beauty and Truth.

“The name ‘True Beauty’ was intentionally chosen because we are living in a time when girls receive so many mixed messages about what is good, what is beautiful, and what is true. In today’s world, young women need a space where they are encouraged, affirmed, and reminded that their value comes from who they are, and not just how they look.”

Brenda Sharman

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue.”

Proverbs 31: 25–26

The True Beauty Fashion Show was hosted by Josh Harris and Allison Dalloul from “The Morning Quest,” Atlanta’s Catholic radio station. Jacquie Lustig, Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi in Atlanta, opened the event in prayer. Jacquie, who had the privilege of accompanying some of the True Beauty participants throughout the year, expressed her gratitude “to be united in the mission to bring authenticity and beauty into a world that needs it so desperately.”

“Over the past 16 years of my pastoral work with young women, I have had the gift of listening to truly countless young women who are growing up in a world that can be dark and confusing. And one thing I’ve learned from our young people and God in them, is that you don’t ever feel as loved and as beautiful as when God is looking at you.”

The fashion show featured performances by RC Music Collective’s own Colleen McKenna, including her original song “WWJD.” One of the most memorable moments of the event was Colleen’s performance of her song Reason to Trust. The powerful lyrics—centered on the message “Jesus, I trust in You,” and inspired by the Divine Mercy devotion—were interpreted by well-known ASL performer and Deaf influencer Hayden Daum.

“Modesty is the guardian of the mystery of the person.”

–St. John Paul II

Throughout the program, the audience enjoyed seven unique fashion scenes, featuring 22 young True Beauty models, each highlighting clothing that was trendy yet tasteful, modern yet modest—all selected by the models themselves.

In the True Beauty program, the models are not simply walking a runway—they are setting an example by the way they dress, speak, and carry themselves. By choosing to live with dignity and confidence, they become role models in their schools, their communities, and even their own families. In one scene, the True Beauty models walked down the runway hand-in-hand with their little sisters, followed by several future True Beauty models who joined them on stage.

“It was a powerful reminder that when older girls choose to live with dignity, joy, and confidence, they quietly tell the younger ones, ‘You are enough, you are worthy, you were created for a purpose that only you can fulfill,’”

- Brenda Sharman

Between scenes, the audience heard from one of the True Beauty team leaders, Lisa DePalma O’Connor, who was also a model in the original Pure Fashion program.

“What Pure Fashion gave me went far beyond the fashion or the runway—it helped me deeply understand the dignity of women, and the truth of our interior beauty. The true goal of this program, then and now, is that every girl leaves knowing, without a doubt, that she is deeply and unconditionally loved by God.”

- Lisa DePalma O’Connor

True Beauty team leader and student at the University of North Georgia, Monica Henkel, shared with the audience about the virtue of modesty—it is not about young women suppressing their identity, limiting their freedom, or hiding their beauty, but rather living in a way that honors their beauty and dignity, and the beauty and dignity of those they encounter.

“This afternoon is more than just a fashion show—it is a mission. So, as you watch these young ladies walk, you are not just seeing fashion—you are seeing young women learning that their beauty is not defined by others. Because true freedom comes when we stop trying to prove our worth to the world, and start living confidently in the dignity God already gave us.”

The show concluded with a final scene showcasing prom and homecoming dresses. In this segment, the models were escorted by two young men, Matthew Sharman, Brenda’s son, and Bradley Magnusson; their presence added a meaningful reminder that young men are also called to rise to their vocation—to be men who protect, respect, and honor the dignity of the young women before them.

“The afternoon was a beautiful celebration of goodness, beauty, and truth, all of which ultimately come from Almighty God. The True Beauty Fashion Show was not only entertaining but uplifting for the entire family, reminding everyone present that beauty, faith, and joy shine brightest when they come from a heart rooted in God.”

- Brenda Sharman

To watch the 2026 True Beauty Fashion Show, click here.

Register now for the 2026-2027 season!

Model registrations for the 2026-2027 season are now open, and spots are limited!

For more information about the True Beauty program, check out their website at truebeautymodel.com or visit True Beauty Model Search 2026 to register. Follow them on Instagram @truebeautymodel.

Because of the success of this year’s fashion show, the True Beauty team in Atlanta is moving to a larger venue for next year’s show, to be held on March 7, 2027, at Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. But Breanda also hopes to see the True Beauty program offered in more cities so that girls all across North America can be equipped to stand strong against the pressures of today’s culture. For information about offering True Beauty in your own city, email info@truebeautymodel.com.

Brenda Sharman lives with her husband, Steve, in Atlanta, and is the proud mom of three sons. In addition to being the founder and director of True Beauty, she works as a development officer for the Legionaries of Christ.

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Uncle Eddy

St Speratus

July 17, 2026 / Uncle Eddy

Dear Perry, If you had lived under the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, you would have had to pay for publicly acknowledging yourself as a Christian in the same way that today’s saints did: they got their heads cut off for it. Silence would have saved their skins, or infidelity (they could call themselves Christians as long as they still offered public worship to the Emperor – but that entailed a practical denial of Christian doctrine: “We believe in one God…”). These seven men and five women refused to remain silent, however, and they refused to worship the Roman gods. The Roman proconsul gave them multiple opportunities to weasel their way out of the death penalty, if only they would compromise their faith, and they stood strong – supported especially by the fearless humility of St Speratus. When the roll call of those sentenced to death was read off, each of the future martyrs responded to their name with a remarkable “Thanks be to God.” Why do I remind you of this (I imagine you already know the story well, since St Speratus is your namesake and patron, whom I am sure you invoke frequently to help you with his prayers, right?)? Well, it’s really quite simple. As you enjoy the comforts of a cushy summer, I can picture you slowly but surely pushing your Catholic identity conveniently into the background, while the pleasures of increasing popularity and recognition take center stage. To be at all vocal about your faith and it’s often uncomfortable (not to mention politically incorrect) moral tenets could result in ostracism from your new crowd of friends and colleagues. Therefore, your watchful uncle is coming to the rescue. There is no need to be afraid of staying true to your friendship with Christ; there is no need to hide your faith. As long as you are exemplary in your duties and in the kindness and consideration with which you perform them, you will enjoy a kind of spiritual leadership, enabling you to help others come closer to Christ. If you are faithful to Christ and are courageous in how you live out and defend his teaching, do you think he will let you down? Do you think the princes of this world can make you happier than the Prince of Peace? Of course, you don’t – you just needed a little reminder. So, instead of covering up your Christianity (and risking its total eclipse), take a lesson from St Speratus and companions: serve the Lord first, and even if you do fall from grace with your boss, you will enjoy eternal grace with The Boss. Happily, your Uncle Eddy

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July 17, 2026 – Desire for Mercy

July 17, 2026 / Daily Meditations

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/rcdailymeditations/2978185/">July 17, 2026 – Desire for Mercy | RSS.com</a>

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be free from any anxiety, fear, or burden that inhibits me from receiving the gift of your unconditional mercy and love.

Encountering Christ:

Good Conflict: Throughout the Gospels, we can feel the rising tension and conflict escalating between Jesus and the religious authorities of the time. Jesus fearlessly provoked and probed them to unveil the vain obligation behind their religious practices regarding fasting, purity, observance of the Sabbath, etc. He didn’t use biblical arguments with his enemies to prove them wrong, but rather desired for them to experience him as love itself: the very objective of the Law. Jesus proclaimed himself greater than the temple, even Lord of the Sabbath itself. In our day, many conflicts arise regarding faith practices and moral obligations. Where there is healthy conflict there is the opportunity to understand and question our motive to love God above all else. Conflicts form part of our faith journey in our ongoing process of conversion.
A Relationship of Love: What happened in the hearts of the Pharisees can easily happen to us. We can become so attached to our efforts to pursue pious practices that we lose sight of why we are doing them in the first place. Worse still, we can then be quick to point out where others are falling short in fulfilling rules, obligations, and practices. From Christ’s perspective, religion is above all else a relationship of love with him. We express our love for him with the affections of faith through our devotion to him in all activities that shape our lives. Let us ask for the grace to see where we may have fallen into a hollow routine, false assumptions, or criticism of others to receive God’s mercy and start again with the right intention.
Mercy above All: For God, deeds of goodness, generosity, and kindness will be favored over the mere performance of dutiful obligations. In all things, he calls us to love in the way we see ourselves and others, and the way we relate with God and with all creation. The law has found its fullness in Jesus: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill it” (Mt 5:17). Jesus walks with us to instruct our hearts not solely to sacrifice, but to make evident God’s tender mercy. We are to pride ourselves on how we give ourselves in love, not just in what we accomplish or do.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, do not let me get stuck in complacency or in any habit of finding fault with others. Show me, Lord, where I am falling into a routine and taking the graces you give me for granted. Help me to listen, to turn to your Word calling me to live in the freedom to do everything out of love for you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will renew my covenant of love with you by respecting how I dedicate my time each Sunday to prepare for Mass and spend time in prayer and rest.

For Further Reflection: Delve deeper with any of the Retreat Guides on mercy at regnumchristi.com.

Lucy Honner is a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi and the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry at University Catholic, a community of students in the Nashville area who are serious about their faith. Since 1998, she has exercised her apostolate as a speaker, spiritual director, integrated health coach, and retreat director throughout North America.

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How Could God Love Us So Much?

July 17, 2026 / Ask a Priest

Q: How is it possible that a Father who is all loving and whose love endlessly abounds is able to enter into our human realm and love us despite our transgressions and imperfections? I have been searching for Christ’s love and forgiveness in the sacramental life, but this is holding me back. I am pursuing a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, but I cannot grasp how I can be loved. — Maddie

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

God’s immense love for us is something that has puzzled people over the ages.

Psalm 8:5 sums it up this way: “What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him?”

We are God’s beloved children, and since God is an infinitely loving Father, his love never gives up on us, even when we sin.

But what might be a more basic reason for his loving us?

One answer: We are made in his image, so when God the Father looks at us, he sees something of the Son and the Holy Spirit in us.

This is akin to a dad who loves his children in part because they remind him of his wife.

So be confident that you are lovable!

If you need more convincing, just look at a crucifix and remember that Jesus went on the cross for love of you. God the Father asked him to do that.

It could also help to look for a wise woman or mentor with whom you speak. Or look for a good weekend retreat; that would be a good opportunity to encounter God and his loving presence.

Books such as The Father, by Father Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, might be worth a look, too.

I hope that some of this helps. Count on my prayers.

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A Week of Prayer for All of Our Priests and Consecrated Members: July 19th – 25th

This Week We Pray for

Prayer for Priests and Consecrated Members in Regnum Christi

First Annual True Beauty Fashion Show a Success in Atlanta

St Speratus

July 17, 2026 – Desire for Mercy

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

How Could God Love Us So Much?

The Regnum Christi Identity

4 Vocations: 1 Spiritual Family

The Regnum Christi Mission

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July 17, 2026

A Week of Prayer for All of Our Priests and Consecrated Members: July 19th – 25th

This Week We Pray for

Prayer for Priests and Consecrated Members in Regnum Christi

First Annual True Beauty Fashion Show a Success in Atlanta

St Speratus

July 17, 2026 – Desire for Mercy

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

How Could God Love Us So Much?

Events

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