The consecrated women of Regnum Christi from the territories of the United States, Monterrey and Mexico met from December 29 to January 3 in Monterrey to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first consecrated women and the Society of Apostolic Life.
The purpose of the meeting was to remember the past with gratitude, to share and rejoice for the present and to project the future with hope. All this framed in an atmosphere of fraternal coexistence.
The meeting was inaugurated by Gloria Rodriguez, The Director General of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, who, basing herself on the motto of the meeting: “I will infuse my spirit and you will live” (Ez), invited the participants to make a reading of these 50 years, discovering the presence of God and witnessing more clearly who is the author of this salvific history; to remember those who are no longer here but who have suffered for and with the consecrated women, to seek reparation and ask for graces for them; to listen to the Word and trust in the promise of God: “I will infuse in you a spirit that will make you live”. «With his grace, this body, the Society of Apostolic Life, will be revitalized by the life of the spirit. And he will make us live as one body, according to the logic of the Kingdom,» Gloria said.
Archbishop Rogelio Cabrera López, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Monterrey and president of CEM, gave a keynote speech in which she invited the consecrated women present to take a historical look at the 50 years, thanking the past that has been purified by the crucible, entering into today's reality full of enthusiasm and joy and looking to the future, allowing themselves to be guided by God's surprises.
On the second day, two panels were held with the participation of consecrated women from different territories, of different ages and nationalities, who have carried out their mission of evangelization in different fields. The first panel was dedicated to the history of consecrated life from its origins, its evolution and the novelty of the present. The second panel was dedicated to the mission to deepen the way in which Regnum Christi Consecrated Women carry out their service of evangelization in the Church.
In the afternoon of the same day, several workshops on evangelization topics were held. The objective of the workshops was to share best practices, exchange experiences and concerns and create collaborative networks and learning communities among the consecrated women. The topics were: vocational culture, marriage and newlywed ministry, educational ministry, adult and divorced ministry, accompaniment of adolescents, gender ideology, my gift is your gift and teaching how to pray.
On the third day, a time of prayer was held in the morning. It was a time to recognize the passage of God in the history of each consecrated woman and of the Society of Apostolic Life and to give thanks, adore, make reparation and intercede. The day concluded with an “international rosary” where each mystery was prayed in a different language followed by a song in that language, sung by consecrated women of origin or who had worked in that country.
The fourth and fifth day of the meeting was a time of recreation and sharing, where the consecrated women were able to exchange experiences and experiences with people from different territories and live together in an atmosphere of fraternity.
On the last day, we had a mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Monterrey. It was attended by Legionaries of Christ, consecrated members of Regnum Christi, lay members of Regnum Christi, family and friends. Eduardo Robles-Gil, L.C., Superior General of the Legionaries of Christ. In his homily he reflected on the consecrated life and encouraged to live a passive consecration, understood as a gift from God, and an active consecration, that is, the personal surrender to the Lord. After the Mass there was a conviviality with the attendees. The day ended with a event The first consecrated women were thanked and each of the consecrated women who have given their lives in these 50 years of history were recognized. Finally, the gala dinner was enlivened with a Mexican folkloric dance group and mariachi.
These were days of encounter, thanksgiving, reconciliation and praise to God for the 50 years of history of the Consecrated Sisters of Regnum Christi.
Some consecrated women shared their experience of the inter-territorial meeting:
«What I take away from this meeting is the joy of returning to vibrate for the mission for Christ and that our fidelity is our happiness in consecrated life,» said Valerie McGovern, who has 40 years of consecrated life, is Irish and develops her mission in the territory of Mexico.
«To remember again the passion that unites us, to renew the beauty of our vocation, of the charism to which we have been called and above all to thank God very much for the perseverance, the fidelity, the grace that has sustained us, because these have been difficult years, And the gratitude I feel with many of them who have been part of my story, that we have been able to talk again, connect, be together, laugh, remember, and that, remembering is to live again, it is like bringing back to the heart and make alive what makes you what you are, and remembering precisely that. That what you have lived all these years makes you what you are», said Angela Restrepo, who has 17 years of consecrated life, is Colombian and carries out her apostolic mission in the territory of Mexico.
«What I take away from this meeting is gratitude, amazement and a great joy and happiness to see so many sisters, so many consecrated women gathered in one place trying to give glory to God. I think the most beautiful thing for me were the moments of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, seeing each one of us trying to do what we do every day of our lives, our daily dedication in the apostolate. Desiring that everything we do be for the glory of God. I think that for me this meeting has been a moment of renewal and deep gratitude to God for each one of us who are here, for the gift that is the call and vocation,» said Mariana Estevez, who is Mexican and exercises her mission in the territory of Monterrey.
«This week has been a time of great peace and hope for me, living in reality, seeing the need for a spirit of reparation, but also of great hope and fidelity to continue in the present and into the future. It gives me great pride to see so many consecrated sisters being faithful and dedicating their lives to Christ and souls,» said Jennifer Ristine, who has 22 years of consecrated life and is in the North American territory.
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