FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
How is Regnum Christi Governed?
How is Regnum Christi Governed?
Regnum Christi is not governed by one person as a general director with personal authority. Instead, it is governed collegially by the General Directors of the Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women, and Lay Consecrated Men, as well as two lay members. Together they make up the General Directive College of Regnum Christi.
According to the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation (n. 79), the college is responsible for implementing the directives and indications given by the General Convention; ensuring that everyone, especially the territorial directive colleges, fulfill their responsibilities according to proper law; furthering the consolidation, projection, and development of the apostolic activity of Regnum Christi, fostering international formation initiatives, especially for formators of lay members, and promoting pastoral work for vocations; supervising the administration of the Federation and promoting a healthy economy based on solidarity; and promoting appropriate institutional communication.
The General Directive College is comprised of the General Directors of the Legionaries of Christ, Fr. John Connor, LC, the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, Nancy Nohrden, the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, Felix Gomez Rueda, and two lay members of Regnum Christi, Francisco Gámez (Venezuela/Canada) and Alvaro Ábellán (Spain), who were selected by the lay members at the last Regnum Christi General Assembly.
From the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation:
1.The general directive college is responsible for ensuring that the Federation fulfills its purposes, as established in number 4 of these Statutes. (SRCF 78)
Go Deeper:
- Comuniqué from the 2018 Regnum Christi General Assembly: Regnum Christi chooses to govern itself collegially and to allow lay members to participate by right with a consultative voice and vote
- Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation Chapter 4
- The Regnum Christi Federation Renews its General Directive College
The General Plenary Council is a body that provides assistance to the General Directive College, offering its opinion or consent as appropriate on topics related to the governance of the Federation, particularly those related to the evangelizing strategy and plans for the fulfillment of the common mission.
The General Plenary Council is made up of the General Councils of the Legionaries of Christ, the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, and the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, the two lay members who sit on the General Directive College, and four additional lay members of Regnum Christi elected by and from among the delegates of the lay members in the general convention.
The General Plenary Council typically meets twice per year to address topics relevant to the identity and mission of Regnum Christi. The lay members of the Plenary Council meet periodically to identify and prepare topics for discussion related to the lay mission and identity. Any lay members wishing to contribute to this discussion are invited to contact any one of the lay representatives.
From the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation:
§1. The general plenary council is a body that assists the general directive college. Its collaboration expresses the spirit of communion that characterizes the Federation.
§2. It offers its consent or opinion whenever the general directive college requests it, in accordance with proper law, and so assists it in the exercise of authority.
§3. Its collaboration is necessary and particularly important when it offers its opinion on documents intended for the entire Federation, guidelines for evangelization and plans for the fulfillment of the common mission.
Go Deeper:
- Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation 89-90
- Regulations of the Regnum Christi Federation 18
- Lay Members Participating in the General Directive College and the General Plenary Council of the Regnum Christi Federation
- General Council of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi
- General Council of the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi
- General Council of the Legionaries of Christ
The Territorial Directive College is the governing body for the Regnum Christi Federation in the territory. According to the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation, the Territorial Directive College is responsible for implementing the directives and indications given by the General Directive College; ensuring that everyone, especially the Regnum Christi local directors, fulfill their responsibilities according to the statutes; furthering the consolidation, projection, and development of the apostolic activity of Regnum Christi, fostering territorial formation initiatives, especially for formators, promoting pastoral work for vocations, supervising the administration of the Federation, promoting a healthy economy based on solidarity; and fostering vertical and horizontal communication in the territory.
The Territorial Directive College is made up of the territorial directors of the federated institutions present in the territory, as well as two lay members of Regnum Christi. If one of the federated institutions does not have a significant presence in the territory, an alternative composition can be proposed to the General Directive College. This is the case in the North American Territory. The Territorial Directive College is made up of the territorial director and territorial vicar of the Legionaries of Christ, the territorial director and first councilor of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, as well two lay members of Regnum Christi.
The current members of the Territorial Directive College are
- Fr. Shawn Aaron, LC: territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ
- Fr. John Bartunek, LC: territorial vicar of the Legionaries of Christ
- Charlie Bradley: lay member
- Maria Gaviria: lay member
- Kathleen Murphy: territorial director of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi
- Helen Yalbir: counselor of the Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi
From the Regulations of the Regnum Christi Federation:
21. § 1. In each territory, the Federation is directed by a directive college, formed by the territorial directors of the federated institutions.
§ 3. The college is attended by two lay members, appointed as determined by its Regulations. They have a consultative vote in meetings. (RRCF 21)
Go Deeper:
- Communiqué from the 2018 Regnum Christi General Assembly: Regnum Christi chooses to govern itself collegially and to allow lay members to participate by right with a consultative voice and vote
- Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation Chapter 4
- Regulations of the Regnum Christi Federation 21-28
- Video: What is the Regnum Christi Federation?
The Territorial Plenary Council is a body that provides assistance to the Territorial Directive College. It offers its consent or opinion when requested by the college , and in this way assists the college in the exercise of its authority. Its collaboration is particularly necessary and important when offering its opinion on the evangelization strategy, guidelines and plans for the fulfillment of the common mission in the territory.
The Territorial Plenary Council is made up of the territorial councilors of the federated institutions, as well as the two lay members who are on the Territorial Directive College and two additional lay members.
The two additional lay members are summoned by the Territorial Directive College after a timely consultation with the local directors.
From the Statutes and Regulations of the Regnum Christi Federation:
§3. The general or territorial directive college is assisted by the general or territorial plenary council, which assists it in the exercise of authority, offering their consent or opinion, as determined by proper law. (SRCF 56)
34. § 1. The Territorial Plenary Council is a body that provides assistance to the directive college. Their collaboration expresses the spirit of communion that characterizes the Federation.
§ 2. It offers its consent or opinion when requested by the directive college, in accordance with proper law, and in this way assists the directive college in the exercise of its authority.
§ 3. Its collaboration is particularly necessary and important when offering its opinion on documents, evangelization guidelines, and plans for the fulfillment of the common mission in the territory. (RRCF 34)
Go Deeper:
- Video: What is the Regnum Christi Federation?
- Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation 56
- Regulations of the Regnum Christi Federation 33-34
- Territorial Council for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi
- Territorial Council for the Legionaries of Christ
- Assignments to the Regnum Christi Federation and Territorial Plenary Council
The Territorial Economic Affairs Committee is a committee appointed by the Territorial Directive College to provide it with advice related to economic issues of the Federation. The Territorial Economic Affairs Committee is formed by three or five members of the Territorial Plenary Council, appointed by the General Directive College.
The Economic Affairs Committee reviews the Federation’s annual budget and provides its opinion to the Territorial Directive College, ensuring alignment with the territorial strategy, evidence of fiscal responsibility, commitment of respecting donor’s intentions, and ownership and administration of any assets are intended for the overall good of the Federation. (cf. Regulations of the RCF #35)
Go Deeper: