For the first time ever, the first face-to-face meeting of the General Plenary of the Regnum Christi Federation. It has been in Rome, from 7 to 10 of March. The 2021 session had to be held virtually because of the pandemic. The 2022 Plenary addressed various topics on the life and mission of Regnum Christi, preparation for the 2024 General Convention, personal charisms and the pastoral care of healing or synodality, with Msgr. Luis Marin, O.S.A., undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, as special guest.
Luis Marin, spoke about the synodal process and synodality, and a sharing session was held with him to evaluate and strengthen the living of the synodal spirit at the various levels of Regnum Christi. «As we emerge from the pandemic, which caused isolation and silos in the world and the Church, we can learn to live synodality as a form of communion in mission,» he said. Kerrie Rivard, a lay member of Regnum Christi in the Plenary.
The Plenary made a particular analysis of the process of preparation for the General Convention of the Regnum Christi Federation, which will take place in 2024: the preliminary steps, as well as the process of reflection and listening that the Federation is seeking to promote at the local level. The members of the Plenary were able to exchange ideas and enrich the proposal presented by the General Board of Directors.
There was also an informative presentation on the International Network of Regnum Christi Universities, its formative and evangelizing project. There was also a time to exchange experiences and recommendations.
Also addressed was the reality of personal charisms and the pastoral care of healing that has emerged especially in some localities and sections of Regnum Christi, for the study of which the General Direction College created a working commission last June. Fr. Jaime Rodriguez and consecrated Betty Rivera presented the results of the work of reflection, interviews and in-depth analysis carried out.
The P. Jesus Villagrasa presented a report on some of the projects being promoted by the General Government that have a particular impact on the evangelizing dimension of the educational work of Regnum Christi.
Finally, among the various topics discussed during the week was the Encounter with Christ, its identity, structure and perspectives so that this activity can be better lived.
The General Plenary is composed of the General Board of Directors, formed by the general directors of the federated institutions, the respective councils of each federated institution and six faithful associates, who participate with consultative vote (cf. EFRC 89). The current composition and profile of each member may see here.
The General Plenary assists the Directing General College, offering its consent or opinion, when requested, on documents destined for the whole Federation, evangelization guidelines and plans for the common fulfillment of the mission. In this way, it assists the General Directing College in the exercise of its authority. Through its support, the Plenary expresses the spirit of communion that characterizes Regnum Christi (cf. EFRC 90).
Fr. Jesús Villagrasa, counselor of the Legionaries of Christ and member of the Plenary said: «I see that the General Plenary, because of its composition, is a space in which we can promote a harmonious vision of the various expressions of Regnum Christi: the Federation, the common works, the federated institutions. And the different ways of organizing ourselves and of journeying: synodality, collegiality, personal authority».
