From May 1 to 5, the communication directors of Regnum Christi participated in the DirCom Week, where they analyzed the progress made in the territories

The participating territories in DirCom were: Northern Mexico, Mexico and Central America, North America, Colombia-Venezuela, Chile-Argentina, Spain, Western and Central Europe and Italy, as well as the international communication offices of Regnum Christi, of the Legionaries of Christ, of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, and of the Laity of Regnum Christi.

From May 2 to 4, they participated in the Congress “Relevance and Listening: Communicating the Christian Message in the Plurality of Contemporary Voices,” at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, in Rome. The congress, which brought together nearly 300 people from various dioceses, episcopal conferences, groups, and different ecclesial realities, focused on three essential aspects of all communication: identity, listening, and relevance. The importance of recognizing one’s own identity in the midst of an increasingly secularized world was analyzed, and whether today Christian culture can inspire a society that is becoming more tired.

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Regarding listening within the framework of synodality, there was a meeting with the responsible persons of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See. A topic of particular interest was the analysis of listening to victims of sexual and authority abuse.

On Wednesday, all congress participants gathered at St. Peter’s Square to participate in the General Audience with Pope Francis. Also present at the same audience were the newly ordained priests of the Legionaries of Christ along with their families.

On Monday, May 1, and Friday, May 5, they spent the day at the headquarters of the general leadership of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi in Castel di Guido (near Rome), and they had the presence of Catalina Gallego, the new international director of Safe Environments, where they reflected on the steps taken regarding abuse issues and the accompaniment of both victims and perpetrators. They concluded the day with a meal attended by Father John Connor, LC, general director of the Legionaries of Christ, and Félix Gómez Rueda, general director of the Laity of Regnum Christi.

Carina Whitman, from the European Communication Office and working in France, appreciated the fact that a committee of international communication directors has been created, composed of the international communication directors of Regnum Christi, Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women, and Laity of Regnum Christi, which aims to safeguard and transmit the common identity of Regnum Christi through communication, generating synergies and promoting communications at a general level. She added, “The congress we attended repeated some things we have already worked on but in a different context, exchanging reflections with other realities of the Church. It is very important to listen, to hear each other. There is a risk in thinking that we are communicating, but have we listened to the people we seek to reach before? It was an enriching experience.”

For her part, Soledad Errázuriz, director of communication for the territory of Chile-Argentina, commented: “These have been days of intense teamwork, sharing synergies and points of view about our work in the different territories. We have enriched ourselves professionally and also personally, because in my case, I was able to reaffirm my commitment to the charism and mission of Regnum Christi as one single spiritual family and apostolic body. I take away new ideas, challenges, and the peace of knowing I have great colleagues I can turn to for advice, help, and with whom we share the same vision of our work within Regnum Christi.”

Raúl Rodríguez, director of communication for Northern Mexico, emphasized that “this DirCom was the perfect opportunity to work, coexist, and meet colleagues and friends who share the same mission in the area of communication and charism that drives us to transmit the message of Christ.”

From this week of work, proposals will emerge for communication efforts in aspects such as strengthening identity, charism, and communication of the General Convention 2024.

With information from the International Communication Office of Regnum Christi