Regnum Christi was established in the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand over two decades ago and has been growing and evangelizing ever since. Legionary of Christ communities were started in Manila and Korea in 2006, and the Consecrated Women started their community in Manila in 2007.
The seeds planted by the tireless work of many Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women, and lay Regnum Christi members are gradually bearing fruit. There are officially 127 lay members of Regnum Christi and over 160 ECYD members in Manila. The established communities of Legionaries of Christ and Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Manila each have nine members. Everest Academy Manila now has a student body of 570, Everest Nuvali has 175 students, and Mano Amiga Manila 200. There are also RC sections in Korea, New Zealand and Australia.
Because of this significant and sustained growth and development, and the potential for more in years to come, the North American Territorial Directive College of Regnum Christi (TDC) has appointed Fr. Luis Garza, LC, as the Delegate for Regnum Christi in Asia.
The TDC envisioned this new role to foster and spearhead the mission of forming Christian apostles to collaborate with the Church in the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
A primary goal of the Delegate for Regnum Christi in Asia will be to help Regnum Christi and ECYD to flourish in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, promoting a vocational culture where people can discern and live their God-given call in life.
RC Education has also delegated authority to the Regnum Christi Delegate in Asia to oversee the operations of the Regnum Christi schools in Asia, supporting them in their work to produce excellent formation, evangelization aligned with the Regnum Christi charism, academic results, and parent satisfaction.
The Delegate for Asia will be assisted by a council which will be approved by the TDC. A majority consent of the council will be required for appointments of lay personnel to directive positions in schools, apostolates or sections, approval of the RC strategic plan and budget for Asia for submission to the Territorial Directive College, and approval of RC school strategic plans and budgets.
To Fr. Luis, the decision is the fruit of the dedication to evangelization that has characterized Regnum Christi members in Asia over the last two decades. “The decisions of the Territorial Directive College and RC Education to delegate some authority to a role that is based in Asia is a testament to the maturity of our RC lay members, Legionaries, Consecrated Women, and our institutions. It is very consoling to see how our members have embraced our charism and have made it produce spiritual and apostolic fruits in this region. At the same time, it is an invitation to go higher (Semper Altius) and set the basis to better serve the Church and our brothers and sisters.”
Reflecting on his role in this opportunity for growth, Fr. Luis shared, “on my part, I am very humbled that I was invited to lead this effort, but I cannot deny that I am also a little fearful. I see this as a great responsibility because I understand the great potential. So many in the Church speak of ‘the Asian Millennium,’ and here we are, a small mustard seed, hoping to become a tree and through our charism bring Christ to this region of the world.
Fr. Luis Garza, LC, who has been in the Philippines since 2014, was born in 1958 in Monterrey, Mexico. He joined ECYD in 1971 and then Regnum Christi in 1974. In 1976, he entered the consecrated life as a Lay Consecrated Man of Regnum Christi. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, he discerned his call to the priesthood and entered the novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in 1978. Fr. Luis was ordained to the priesthood in 1985. He received his licentiates in Philosophy and Theology and his Doctorate in Canon Law from the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome.
Fr. Luis has served in diverse missions over the past 38 years of his priesthood, including those of Territorial Director for Mexico and South America (1988-1991), Italy and Asia (2008-2011), and North America (2011-2014). He also served as Vicar General of the Congregation (1992- 2011) and as a consultant for the Holy See’s Congregation for the Clergy (2003-2013). He was the Regnum Christi Local Director for the Manila locality (2014-2015). He served as the Executive Director of Everest International Academy (2015-2016), and later was appointed Director of Formation and Campus Ministry, and Development Director for the Regnum Christi network of schools in Mexico, including over 60 schools with 40,000 students (2019 to 2022).
Regnum Christi in Manila: A Timeline of Growth
