April 17, 2024
We spoke with Victoria Backstrom, a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi who is juggling her studies in theology and business administration. She told us that “when God calls, he calls us with all that we are and leaves no gift out.” She feels called to use her knowledge to help her fellow consecrated women—and the whole Church, if the opportunity arises—with these topics.
Victoria was born in Minnesota, USA, and this summer she will celebrate ten years as a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi. She is finishing her bachelor’s in theology at San Damaso Ecclesiastical University while she studies business administration at Francisco de Vitoria University, and she occasionally helps on camps, Caminos de Santiago, and missions, especially during the summers. She describes her university experience as “a source of joy and an impulse for living my vocation.” With her gaze fixed on the mission, she tells us with satisfaction, “My business administration studies are giving me the foundation for being able to launch many Consecrated Women into the mission of bringing God’s love to others.”
Victoria with classmates at Francisco de Vitoria University
When you became consecrated, did you ever think that you would study for a civil career?
When I discerned consecrated life, I very consciously offered up to God the possibility of studying a civil career. I never thought God would return this gift to me. I see very clearly that when God calls us, he calls us with all that we are and leaves no gift out.
“When God calls us, he calls us with all that we are and leaves no gift out.”
How did the possibility to study a civil career come about? Why did you select the degree of Business Administration?
After professing my final vows, we have time to finish our theology studies. I saw the possibility to extend this time to include studies in business administration. In each territory there is a consecrated woman who provides the service of economically managing the action and patrimony of the consecrated women, and I wanted to be available to provide this service. I saw the importance of being formed in order to provide a more efficient and solid service.
Victoria with the consecrated women in her community, the community of studiesWhat apostolic expectations do you seek with these studies, beyond collaborating in the management of the consecrated women’s patrimony?
My greatest desire is to help my fellow Consecrated Women in their economic needs, and thus to help them be able to complete their mission. But if the opportunity arises, I would also love to help the Church somehow in this field.
“I know that my studies in administration are giving me the foundation for being able to launch many Consecrated Women into the mission of bringing God’s love to others.”
How has your educative, humanistic, and theological formation influenced your apostolic life so far? What does your formation in administration contribute?
As consecrated women, we are the face of the Church for many people in some way. In my work with young people, I have seen their thirst for God and for knowledge of the truth. My theology studies have given me the foundation for this mission of making God known, whose desire is to reveal himself to us and to share his life with us. He often makes use of people so that this message of unconditional love reaches others.
I know that my studies in administration are giving me the foundation for being able to launch many consecrated women into the mission of bringing God’s love to others.
With young people on the Camino de Santiago
What is your presence as a consecrated woman at the university like?
For me, immersing myself in university life has also been a source of joy and an impulse for living my vocation. We are apostles at every moment, and though I don’t have a concrete apostolate, I feel like a testimony of Christ. In my classes, working with my classmates, sharing the joy I have inside, and walking alongside them in this stage of their lives… You can’t fragment the life of the apostle! I am an apostle, and I hope my whole life transmits it.
Translated from the original Spanish article.
