The initiative to offer a university program in the Social Doctrine of the Church to Regnum Christi members and all those interested was born three years ago among the members of Regnum Christi. Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi. That idea has now crystallized into a distance learning master's degree organized by the Finis Terrae University, of Santiago de Chile, the Francisco de Vitoria University, of Madrid, on Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, of Rome, and the Society of Apostolic Life Consecrated Laity of Regnum Christi, with the cooperation of the Anahuac University Mexico and other entities.
As he explains Emilio Martinez in this interview granted to the communications office in Spain: “this master's degree is an apostolic formation program for exercising Christian leadership in society. A leadership that will help to put charity into action through family, professional and social relationships. The quality of the studies is guaranteed by the large international team of teachers who come from twelve universities, from ten nationalities and with extensive experience in the field. The master's degree is online, lasts two years and begins in March 2022. More information on this at its own website.
How was the idea of creating this master's degree on the Social Doctrine of the Church born?
The idea of this master's degree was born more than three years ago. Some consecrated lay people saw that, through the Internet, we could contribute to the formation of Regnum Christi members even where we are not physically present. At the same time, we saw the need for Catholics to live and witness our faith in all sectors of our lives in order to make a better world for all, in which God's love is concretized in transformations that awaken hope.
Who is it intended for?
It is intended for believers who aspire to be apostles in the midst of the world. It is addressed to members of Regnum Christi and to members of any Catholic movement or parish community, including believers of other faiths and people of good will. Also to parents, to professionals in business, politics, education, health and communication. To those who feel challenged by the poverty and exclusion of those who form the existential peripheries of society.
Of course to those who aspire to make a positive difference in their human relations environment. To those who feel the call to respond to today's anthropological, social and ecological challenges. Also to pastoral agents, catechists, priests and consecrated persons who want to teach and spread the Christian social doctrine.
What is your professional or pastoral focus?
The program's approach favors personal and group reflection on social problems and creative initiatives that concretize solution actions. The method of see, judge & act will be renewed, deepened and applied. We want to move from reflection to life. Social doctrine must be incarnated. We must overcome the isolation of faith and culture if we want to evangelize seriously.
This master's degree is an apostolic formation program to exercise Christian leadership in society. A leadership that, through service to others, transforms society for the good of all and the glory of God. It will help to put charity into action through family, professional and social relationships. In line with the renewal promoted by Pope Francis, it is above all about converting oneself and thus also converting our environment more towards Christ and evangelizing this world from within.
What is this master's degree looking for in its students?
We hope that those who complete this master's degree will be able to generate social good from their profession, their family life, their friendly relations, their performance of their civil duties and rights. Also be able to manage the public good with responsibility. Be able to favor the dignity of persons and promote the common good in the concrete and changing circumstances of life. Those who complete the master's degree will be able to evangelize through their private and public life.
This master's degree is the fruit of the work and reflection of several lay consecrated members of Regnum Christi. What is your role in it?
The Society of Apostolic Life Consecrated Laity of Regnum Christi is, together with the universities, the founding institution of the master's degree. The mission of the consecrated laity is “the evangelization of temporal realities, manifesting to others the meaning and value they have in God's plan” (Constitutions LCRC, 5). Consequently, this Society contributes, promotes and watches over the apostolic spirit of this program and, to this end, participates in its board of directors.
