Interview with Ana Guzmán, Consecrated Member of Regnum Christi, about the invitation to participate in the council of the St. Alberto Hurtado Parish in Chile.
What a gift to be able to serve! This was the response of Anita Guzmán when she was invited by the priest Pedro Ríos to participate as of this year in the council of the San Alberto Hurtado Parish of Las Condes. This consecrated Chilean Regnum Christi will use this opportunity to collaborate with the community, enrich its view of the needs of the sector and, above all, rekindle the flame of faith. In the following interview, originally published on the website of the Regnum Christi in Chile, tells the details of this new service assignment.
How did this invitation to participate in the St. Albert Hurtado Parish Council come about?
Father Pedro wanted a consecrated woman to be part of the parish council, and when that possibility opened up, I felt a call to offer myself because as baptized Catholics, we all have a sense of mission, each one from our vocation, we are all children of our Church and faithful missionaries who extend the kingdom of Jesus' love. And also, being Chilean, I wanted to be more immersed in the reality of our community, our Church and our country. I wanted to be up to date in the areas in which we can serve.
What enriches you the most in this experience in the service of God?
It enriches me to go out to meet the neediest people in our community. Whether it is through a visit with the pastor to administer communion or anointing of the sick, bringing them merchandise or praying a rosary. In these experiences one sees all the good that our Church does in the liturgy, in the social and health pastoral, and in the care of people.
It enriches me to go out to meet the most needy people in our community.
What do you hope to contribute to the parish council?
I hope to collaborate in rekindling the flame of faith that has been diminished by so many ecclesial situations experienced in the past year. I also hope to help transmit all the good that the Church does. In the parish council there are two or three lay people who are also part of Regnum Christi. There are also diocesans, members of Opus Dei and the Jesuits, people close to the Carmelite nuns. There is a richness in which we can all complement each other in the service of Christ. It is very positive to be more aware of the globality of the Church.
How do you expect this experience to contribute to your challenges in Regnum Christi?
In the parish council meetings one learns about certain needs that exist in the community. We in the federation have many people who want to do good, who want to help in evangelization. We are attentive to new opportunities to be outgoing Christians. Regnum Christi can be a more active part of the local Church by going out to meet the people.
