Regnum Christi often begins in a new location as a ‘spark’ or compelling desire of some Regnum Christi members. These members begin by forming first a team and then a second team. Eventually, there are enough teams to require leadership and coordination, and a section is born. Often localities begin with a women’s section and then grow to include a men’s section, ECYD girls and boys and then young adult sections. At some point, typically when there are three or more sections, there is a need for more leadership and coordination, and a locality is born. Supporting this growth requires more coordinated communications, management of finances, and administration – all things associated with running a non-profit volunteer organization. This development is gradual (often bumpy) and takes time and commitment. A vision and good leadership are required throughout this process to ensure that Regnum Christi sections and localities are flourishing in their endeavor to serve and extend the mission.

The Locality Development and Thriving Tool helps guide local leaders toward the next natural step in a locality’s development, and the growth that makes that step possible. The tool helps localities project out where they want to go and take systematic steps to arrive there.

The tool considers six basic stages of development for sections and localities, noting that individual sections are often farther along than the locality as a whole.

Stage 1: Spark (RC present, no sections | no RCD)

Stage 2: Foundations (Team leader | RCD named)

Stage 3: Developing (Section director | Communications & Administration)

Stage 4: Structural Stability (Section leadership teams | Locality Evangelization Planning)

Stage 5: Maturing (Section leadership integrated into locality management | Collaboration across all RC entities)

Stage 6: Innovative and Leading (Apostolates with significant societal impact |Collaboration with the local church)

As a locality matures in its development, there are 12 elements to consider:

1. Locality Leadership (RC director and council / local college, leadership team, succession plan)
2. Locality Planning (Locality evangelization plan, annual plans, resource plan, accountability and reporting)
3. Adult Sections (Accompaniment, team life, apostolic engagement, spiritual life, formation, leadership team, communications, collaboration in locality and the local church, administrative stability)
4. Young Adult Sections (Accompaniment, team life, apostolic engagement, spiritual life, formation, leadership team, communications, collaboration in locality and the local church, administrative stability)
5. ECYD Sections (Accompaniment, team life, apostolic engagement, prayer and sacramental life, formation, leadership team, communications, collaboration in locality and the local church, administrative stability)
6. RC Mission Corps (Sending, receiving and supporting RC missionaries)
7. Communion & Collaboration with LC, CRC and LCRC Communities (Mission engagement, vocation cross-promotion, financial support)
8. Collaboration with RC Institutions (RC schools, LC parishes, RC retreat centers, RC camps, LC college chaplaincy, Lumen, etc.)
9. Collaboration with the Local Church (Diocesan relationships, diocesan ministries, etc.)
10. Communications (Member communications, diaspora communications, website, social media, etc.)
11. Financial Health (Fundraising, donations, banking, budgeting, financial accounting and reporting, etc.)
12. Administrative Stability (Safe environment, volunteer registration, event registration, member register, etc.)

An RC Director and their section directors can look at the tool to identify the current stage of development of the locality or section and what the next step in development looks like. This information is helpful when determining where best to focus in their work of caring for, developing and growing the sections and locality.

Each RCD has access to their locality’s Development and Thriving Tool.

To view the standalone Section Vibrancy Tools available to section directors, click here.