Members of Regnum Christi’s international network of schools recently met at Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid, Spain to share ideas and chart a path for how schools can evangelize. 

Vero Fernández, who oversees ​​Regnum Christi Schools globally, explained the theme: ”“Reflecting and sharing how to live the Catholic identity and the evangelizing mission in Regnum Christi schools.” 

Representatives of campus ministry from all territories attended the meeting. The goal was, as Vero explained, “to clarify what we understand as evangelizing according to the Magisterium and what our school ideology is.” In addition, different territories shared best practices regarding students, teachers and the curriculum. 

Among the participants were Jorge López, Delegate of the General Director of Regnum Christi for Education, those responsible for campus ministry in each territory, delegates from several schools, and the director of Mano Amiga schools which provide education for underpriviledged children. 

It was the first time that those responsible for campus ministry met in this way. Now, they foresee an international meeting every two years. 

Jorge López, general director of the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi , gave a presentation titled: “Campus Ministry and evangelization in an RC school.” He presented the RC Education methodology and some magisterial documents that were used as sources. 

For her part, Vero Fernández gave a presentation analyzing who campus ministry is aimed at. In this session, she presented some reflections on evangelization as fruit of the recent Synod of Bishops and other ecclesial documents. Her objective was not so much to explain what campus ministry is, but rather how “our children, adolescents, teachers and families” are the main recipients of evangelization in Regnum Christi schools. 

During the second day, various best practices were presented, including Fr. Juan Antonio Granados‘ presentation on his work in evangelizing as director of the Stella Maris school in Madrid. 

Announce Christ and make him present as someone who is alive 

Among those present was Ignacio Hüe, Director of the School Development Center, in the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Family, of the Finis Terrae University in Chile. Ignacio answered some questions to show us the perception they have in their country about evangelization in Regnum Christi schools. 

What did you get out of the Regnum Christi schoola meeting held last week? 

Ignacio: In my case, the meeting was very meaningful in order to learn about the pastoral and formative lines of some of the Network’s territories and schools, along with meeting with several people linked to each of these experiences. Besides that, I was able to understand the project more deeply, and the challenges that we have as Regnum Christi schools in the world we live in and evangelize in. 

In your opinion, what should characterize evangelization in an RC school? Who benefits from campus ministry and evangelization in our schools? 

Ignacio: I think what should characterize evangelization in an RC school is the announcement of Christ and making him present, not as an idea or a theory, but as someone alive, who knows me and loves me intimately, is interested in me and saves me despite my imperfections. In this sense, I believe that evangelization should be a meeting between people who have in common a search and an encounter with Christ. Therefore, I think that the people who benefit from campus ministry and evangelization are all members of the educational community, without exception. 

In Chile, and knowing the experiences that exist in other places, what characterizes evangelization and campus ministry in the schools? 

Ignacio: I think that what characterizes evangelization and campus ministry in RC schools of the territory [of Chile] is the good relationship that exists between the schools’ campus ministry, Regnum Christi sections, and ECYD. I also see a desire to rethink current forms of evangelization in order to be up to the challenges imposed by the change of culture we are experiencing. I think working with alumni is also very positive. Maybe it is too early to comment on this, but perhaps work can be improved around the pastoral plans of the schools. 

You can read the original on the Regnum Christi site in Spanish. 

Most average readers likely would have little difficulty meeting the requirements for a high-school diploma in the state of Nebraska. 

Nebraska requires students to complete a minimum of 200 high school credit hours before qualifying for graduation. A minimum of 80 percent of these hours must be completed in core curriculum subjects. According to The Education Commission of the States, www.ecs.org, the requirements for high school graduation are as follows, but check with your local district for a more detailed list: 

• Four credits English/language arts 
• Two credits mathematics 
• Three credits social studies 
• Two credits science 
• Health Education (determined locally) 
• Physical Education (determined locally) 
• Fine Arts (determined locally) 
• Foreign language (determined locally) 
• Approved Electives (determined locally) 

 Of course, families may add their own “requirements” for their offspring: 

• Learn a musical instrument 
• Participate in a sport 
• Hold down a part-time job 
• Volunteer in a local service organization 
• Attend Mass every Sunday 
• Save money for college 

And…if you grew up in the family of Regnum Christi members Donna and Jeff Garrett of Omaha, Nebraska, you had to go on at least one extreme mission trip to a foreign country. To be clear, the foreign location won’t be Paris or Barcelona; it will be off the beaten track, a place that lacks Starbucks and Walmart – and probably always will. 

Mission is in the blood and soul of the Garretts – and probably always will be. 

Cradle Catholics who had always been involved with their local Church, they become involved with Regnum Christi in 1999. Donna joined first, after participating in a parish renewal program that convinced her that God was asking her for a deeper commitment. Jeff joined six months after Donna. Their lives – and the lives of their four children (Katie, Chris, Aly, and Zach, now grown adults) – would never be the same. 

The Garretts admit to being a “mission” family and have been involved in the full range of Regnum Christi apostolates. All members of the family have been on foreign missions to either Mexico or Haiti. 

“In many ways, our involvement in various apostolates has followed the development stages of our children,” Donna says. As a result, when first involved with Regnum Christi, they became small-group leaders in Familia, helping other young couples learn the Church’s plan for their lives. 

Donna and Jeff and the kids were involved with Challenge, Conquest, and ECyD early on. Mom and dad both served as club presidents. That involvement lasted nearly a decade, but as the kids got older they transitioned to missions. And whenever possible, they did missions as a family. 

The Garretts also led summer leadership camps for young men and women for the better part of a decade. And they launched mission programs at a local high school and Benedictine College, taking students from those schools on missions to foreign communities in need. 

Jeff and Donna also have served as team leaders and section directors. It might be hard to recall all the ways of apostolic service they have embraced. 

Today, as empty-nesters, the Garretts work with young couples as professional and spiritual mentors; they provide the same counseling for priests and seminarians. And they share their experience and wisdom in various RC leadership courses, most recently for an international program for young men. 

In addition to all of this, Donna has spent the past five years as a member of the Regnum Christi Territory Committee. Under the new RC structure, that group will be phasing out and so will her assignment. However, she will retain her other volunteer job the North American Territory Delegate for Apostolate and will continue to serve on the territory’s Mission Support Team. 

For his part, Jeff provides business consulting for various RC localities and apostolates. And he is the driving force behind The Regular Catholic Guy, a weekly blog and podcast designed for, well, regular Catholic guys. 

Although they are deeply involved in Regnum Christi apostolates, the Garretts have served on their local bishop’s advisory board and the parish council. 

“It is vital for us to meet with local pastors about any apostolic work we are doing,” Jeff says. “We need to understand their needs and start by giving them the support they need.” 

“We consistently have served the parish, whether through a parish ministry or RC apostolate,” Donna says. 

That has led to the Garretts taking on various parish tasks over the years – from cleaning the church to gardening to babysitting. 

“You simply have to ask the pastor what he needs,” Jeff says. 

If you have read this far, you likely would expect that the Garretts are extremely proud of all they have done serve the Church and promote Regnum Christi. But they are quick to point out that what is most important for them, what they are most grateful for is 31 years of marriage, four children – and the recent addition of their first grandchild. 

They identify themselves as a mission family and believe that for Regnum Christi to succeed in the future it must attract the entire family. 

“If we want to grow Regnum Christi in today’s demographics, we have to attract the couple,” Donna says. “We need to minister to married couples by realizing that a married person’s primary vocation in life is marriage.” 

Their home is an open door to the Legionaries, the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christ, and other members of Regnum Christi who travel through Omaha. They are known for great steak, good wine, bourbon, and the man cave. 

Students from Everest Academy in Chile won two medals and helped Chile place seventh overall in women’s track and field. 

The International School Sport Federation held the World Schools Championship in Split, Croatia, May 13-19, 2019. Delegations from 33 countries participated. 

The Everest School of Santiago sent several students to represent Chile. Luz Ackermann won gold in long jump and Elisa Keitel won bronze in the 100-meter hurdles. Overall, they helped Chile place 7th out of 30 countries with young women’s delegations. 

Luz Ankermann triumphed in long jump with a leap of 5.78 meters (18.96 feet). Her record jump beat 28 competitors in her group and 57 in the whole competition. Luz exclaimed, “We are quite happy because we thought we could get into the top eight and, in fact, we did. We still want more, but we are very happy because almost all of us managed to make our personal bests and we surpassed what was expected. My personal best was waiting for me because all this semester I was very consistent and I had done well.” 

Luz added, “I knew I was at my best and that in a World Championship, with motivation and a bar like the one we had, I could make my best jump. I think this will help me a lot for the heptathlon, which is the competition that I want to continue to do throughout my life. This achievement motivated me quite a bit and I want to continue competing once I leave school, although I know it will be difficult.” 

Along with the two medalists, a few other students had top-ten finishes. Elisa Medel placed fifth in javelin (35.96 meters), Catalina Klempau placed sixth in long jump (5.56 meters), and Catalina also placed ninth in the 100-meter sprint (13.02 seconds). 

In all, 12 athletes from Regnum Christi schools represented Chile in the World Schools Championship. They had each qualified as top athletes in the Grand Prix of UC School Athletics in 2018. The Regnum Christi schools from Chile gained 695 points by the end of the competition and were only 73 points behind the champion Sportgymnasium Magdeburg from Germany. 

You can read the original on Regnum Christi Chile.