Legionaries of Christ
We are a religious congregation of priests and candidates to the priesthood founded in 1941. We are part of Regnum Christi and share spirituality, charism and mission with the other members: laity, consecrated women and men.
Apostles of Christ:
Religious, priests, members of Regnum Christi
Passionate about the mission of Christ in which they participate
Contemplative and evangelizing
Of communion and service
Passionately loving Jesus Christ
Christocentrism constitutes the fundamental and specific characteristic of the Legionary spirit. For this reason, aided by the grace
In the divine life, the Legionaries strive to make Jesus Christ the criterion, the center and the model of their entire religious, priestly and apostolic life. They seek to know, love and experience him intimately, especially in the Gospel, the Eucharist and the cross, and they try to imitate him in a special way in their dedication to their neighbor.
Passionately loving Jesus Christ
Christocentrism constitutes the fundamental and specific characteristic of the Legionary spirit. Therefore, aided by divine grace, Legionaries strive to make Jesus Christ the criterion, the center and the model of their entire religious, priestly and apostolic life. They seek to know, love and experience him intimately, especially in the Gospel, the Eucharist and the cross; and they seek to imitate him in a special way in their dedication to their neighbor.
In the world
We have novitiates in: Spain, Colombia, USA, Brazil and Mexico.
We live in communities in 22 countries.
We form apostles and accompany young people, adolescents and families through our priesthood.
We work together with the other members of Regnum Christi in our educational, social, apostolic and missionary work.
Two years together with other young men who, like you, are seeking to discover if God is calling them to the priesthood in the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.
Get to know the different proposals to share some time with us.
Two years together with other young men who, like you, are seeking to discover if God is calling them to the priesthood in the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.
Christ, our life
Our path to the priesthood
The Legionaries of Christ se are religious and live in community. We are part of Regnum Christi, and share spirituality, charism and mission with the other members: laity, consecrated women and men. We prepare ourselves for 10 to 12 years before being ordained priests. Our Ratio Institutionis is a very beautiful document, which not only covers the stages of formation, but also the identity and lifestyle of the Legionary of Christ priest.
Legionaries of Christ
in the world
By the end of 2023, we will have a stable presence in 22 countries. We are organized into nine territories and two delegations. We have ten seats of general or territorial government; 94 communities of apostolate; a philosophate, a theologate, a community of student priests in Rome, a priestly residence in Mexico, a humanities center in the United States, 5 novitiates and 9 vocation centers.
It also has an International Pontifical Seminary in Rome and an Interdiocesan Seminary and Theological Institute in São Paulo, Brazil.
A passionate vocation
P. Nathan Wayne, LC.
It is to protect and guard the Lord who is in me.
P. Rafael Pou, LC.
Discover Jesus Christ, friend, who needs you to change the world, a source that quenches your thirst.
P. Wagner Campopiano, LC.
God's action in you can be experienced by others, and they can discover God's love, which is alive.
Vocation to religious life
in the Legion of Christ
from start to finish
is a vocation to love,
that widens the heart,
detaches from selfishness
and leads to launch oneself into the apostolate,
trusting in God
and not in one's own securities.
(Ratio institutionis, 895)
General Government of the Legionaries of Christ
(2020- 2026)
On February 6, 2020, it is reported on the election of the new government and the six directors are incorporated.
P. John Lane Connor
Chief Executive Officer
Biography
Born February 15, 1968 in Severna Park, Maryland, USA. He graduated as a business administrator from Loyola University Maryland (1990). He entered the Legion of Christ Novitiate on September 15, 1991 in Roetgen, Germany. From 1994 to 1996 he worked as a formator at the Everest School Monteclaro in Madrid. He made his perpetual profession on May 1, 2000 and was ordained a priest on January 2, 2001 in Rome. From his ordination to the priesthood until 2004 he collaborated in the Fundraising office on the East Coast of the United States. From 2004 to 2010 he was the local apostolate coordinator for New York City and assisted in the founding and direction of the Lumen Institute apostolate. From 2009 to 2010 he was superior of the New York apostolate community. From 2010 to 2011 he was territorial director of Atlanta. Subsequently, from 2011 to 2014, he collaborated as assistant for the apostolate in the North American territory. Since 2014 he has been territorial director of the Legion of Christ and a member of the Regnum Christi North America Territorial Board of Directors. On February 6, 2020, he was elected director general of the Congregation of the Legion of Christ.
P. Hernán Jiménez
First Councilor and Vicar General
Biography
He was born on January 6, 1959 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (Mexico). He entered the Legion of Christ in 1976 and did his novitiate and humanities studies in Salamanca, Spain. In 1978 he moved to Rome to begin his bachelor's degree in philosophy at the Gregorian University. In 1982 he graduated as a licentiate in that faculty. In 1990 he completed his theology studies at the Angelicum and was ordained a priest on January 3, 1991. He has collaborated in youth ministry in Spain and in vocation ministry in Italy and Mexico. From 2011 to 2016 he was rector of the theology community of the Legionaries of Christ International College in Rome. In 2016 he moved to Mexico City to collaborate in vocation promotion and serve as rector of the Student Center and territorial councilor. He was elected as first councilor and vicar general by the General Chapter of the Congregation in February 2020.
P. Jesús Villagrasa
General Counsel
Biography
He was born in 1963 in Zaragoza, Spain. He entered the novitiate on September 15, 1981 and made his perpetual profession on October 8, 1989. He was ordained a priest on November 25, 1994.
He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum, a Licentiate in Theology from the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum and a Licentiate in Bioethics from the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum (2002-2003).
Since 1999 he has been a professor of Metaphysics in the Faculty of Philosophy at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has been director of the Quality Office and of the Evaluation Nucleus (2009-2013). On January 31, 2012 the Pontifical Delegate appointed him General Councilor and he follows up the Network of Colleges and Universities of Regnum Christi. Since August 2013, he has served as rector of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.
He was elected general councilor of the Legionaries of Christ at the 2014 General Chapter and re-elected to that position at the 2020 General Chapter.
P. Gerardo Flores
General Counsel
Biography
He was born on February 21, 1972 in Puebla, Mexico. In 1990 he entered the Legion of Christ Novitiate in Cheshire, United States, where he also completed his humanistic studies from 1992 to 1993. He studied ecclesiastical studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy, where he also obtained a degree in philosophy. From 1995 to 2000 he collaborated in the formation of minor seminarians in Monterrey, Mexico. He made his perpetual profession on August 15, 1998 and was ordained to the priesthood on December 24, 2003. After his priestly ordination he returned to Mexico where he continued to collaborate in the formation of minor seminarians in the vocational centers of La Joya (Mexico City), Leon, Monterrey and Guadalajara. Since 2015 he has been in charge of following up on the renewal process of the vocational centers of the Legionaries of Christ and was general coordinator of Safe Environments for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults from 2017 to 2022, since 2022 he has served as director of the area of initial formation of the general directorate. He was elected as general councilor by the General Chapter of the Congregation in February 2020.
P. Rafael Ducci
Counselor
Biography
Born in Santiago (Chile) on September 12, 1970. He entered the Legion of Christ on March 25, 1989, after completing his high school studies. He made his perpetual profession in June 1997 and was ordained a priest on December 24, 2002. He holds a degree in philosophy and a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. For 10 years he collaborated in the offices of the General Secretariat. He has been the director of the section of the Ladies and Gentlemen of Regnum Christi in Santiago (Chile). Before being elected as General Councilor of the Legionaries of Christ by the Ordinary General Chapter of 2020, he served as territorial vicar and was responsible for the territorial apostolate team in the Territory of Chile. He was elected as General Councilor by the General Chapter of the Congregation in February 2020.
P. Pedro Barrajón
Counselor
Biography
Born December 4, 1957 in Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Spain. He entered the Legion of Christ on October 4, 1974. He made his perpetual profession on April 7, 1985. During his apostolic practices he was assistant of the ECYD and of the youth section of Regnum Christi in Monterrey (1979 to 1983). He was prefect of studies of the Consecrated Laity in Mexico (1985-1986). From 1987 to 2000 he collaborated as assistant to the General Secretariat.
He studied his bachelor's degree in theology at the Angelicum University in Rome and holds a degree in philosophy and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He was ordained a priest on December 24, 1988. After his ordination, he has dedicated himself mainly to academic ministry, first at the International College of the Legionaries of Christ, then affiliated with the Pontifical Gregorian University (1991-1992) and from 1993, at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, of which he was rector from 2007 to 2013.
From 2004 to 2014 he was director of the adult sections in Brussels, Belgium. He then served as director of the Sacerdos Institute from 2014 to 2016. He is currently rector of the European University of Rome.
He was elected as General Councilor by the General Chapter of the Congregation in February 2020.
P. Michael Brisson
Counselor
Biography
General Counsel
He, L.C., was born on February 22, 1977 in Hartford, USA. He entered the Legion of Christ in 1995 in Cheshire. He completed his novitiate in Monterrey, Mexico, and his humanities studies in Cheshire. During his apostolic practices he collaborated in the Fundraising office in the United States. He holds a degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, where he also completed his first year of ecclesiastical studies in theology from 2006 to 2007. In 2007 he was appointed territorial secretary of the New York territory and community manager of the territorial directorate headquarters while completing his studies. He was ordained a priest on December 12, 2009 in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Subsequently, he was appointed superior of the territorial directorate headquarters in New York and director of the ladies and gentlemen's sections in the same city. He later served for three years as local apostolate coordinator for New York and superior of the Thornwood apostolate community. Since 2013 he served as territorial secretary of North America, superior of a Legionary community in Atlanta and chaplain of the Regnum Christi Consecrated community of Atlanta. He was elected as general councilor by the General Chapter of the Congregation in February 2020.
Governing bodies at the global level
Supreme authority:
General Chapter
The General Chapter, representing the whole Congregation, is to be a sign and act of its unity in charity. It has supreme authority over the Congregation, according to universal law and proper law.
General government:
Chief Executive Officer and his Council
Assisted by his Council, he has authority over the entire Congregation, the territories, the houses and the members.
He is elected by the ordinary General Chapter for a term of six years.
In addition, the Constitutions also establish these charges:
- Attorney General
- General Manager
- General Secretary
- General Prefect of Studies
Territorial government:
Territorial Director and his Council
Assisted by his Council, he has authority over all the members, houses and works of the Congregation in the territory. He is appointed by the Director General. In addition, the Constitutions also establish these charges:
- Territorial Administrator
- Territorial Secretary
- Territorial prefect of studies
Local government: superiors of houses, and their councils
Each headquarters, house or center must have a rector or superior, assisted by a council. In addition, if necessary, it must have:
- Vice Chancellor or Vice-Superior Vice Chancellor
- Administrator
- Secretary
Four vocations, one body, one mission
Legionaries of Christ, consecrated women, consecrated men and women, consecrated men and women and lay people