Headquarters of the General Directorate Rome, Italy
General Chapter, 2026
On January 25, 2025, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, the director general of the Congregation, Father John Connor, L.C., formally announced to all Legionaries the celebration of the General Chapter in January 2026.<<We are therefore facing a year of spiritual, pastoral, and community preparation for this event, which is so significant in our life as a Congregation>>. Preparation underway
Of interest | Letter from the Director General on the General Chapter 2026
In his message, the Director General, Fr. John Connor, invited the Legionaries to live this time of preparation with openness to the Spirit and a “Marian and contemplative” heart, recalling the interior transformation of St. Paul after his encounter with Christ. “This journey must be traveled as an apostolic body, allowing ourselves to be molded by God’s inspirations,” he said.
A special commission responsible for preparing the Chapter has sent various study and reflection materials to communities in several countries throughout 2025. These resources seek to promote personal and community discernment on the most relevant topics that were addressed in the territorial assemblies prior to the Chapter: the context of today’s world, Legionary identity, religious life, vocational issues, and apostolic mission.
The active participation of all Legionaries is one of the central objectives of this stage, so that the General Chapter may be a true experience of renewal, unity, and missionary orientation for the future.
Thus, taking into account the Constitutions of the Congregation, as well as the approval of the norms of composition of the next Ordinary General Chapter by the 2020 General Chapter, the 2026 General Chapter will begin on January 20, 2026, at the headquarters of the General Directorate of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in Rome, Italy.
General Chapters are held every six (6) years and are opportunities for internal communion and communion with the Church through discernment in the Holy Spirit.
“The General Chapter, which holds supreme authority in the institute in accordance with the constitutions, must be constituted in such a way that, representing the entire institute, it is a true sign of its unity in charity. It is responsible above all for defending the patrimony of the institute and seeking its accommodation and renewal in accordance with it, electing the Superior General, dealing with the most important matters, and issuing norms that are binding on all” (Code of Canon Law, c. 631 § 1).
“The General Chapter, representing the entire Congregation, must be a sign and action of its unity in charity. It has supreme authority over the Congregation, in accordance with universal law and its own law” (CLC 124.1).
1. The General Chapter can be ordinary or extraordinary. An ordinary chapter is one that is convened, according to the established frequency, at the end of the term of office of the director general. An extraordinary chapter is one that is convened in other cases (CLC 129. 1°).
2. To convene an extraordinary non-elective General Chapter, the Director General must have the consent of his Council and have heard the opinion of the territorial directors (CLC 129. 2°).
1. To examine the situation of the Congregation and the most important issues that have been proposed by the territorial assemblies and, individually, by the members of the Congregation.
2. To elect the director general, the general councilors, and the general administrator, if the Chapter is elective.
3. To take the most appropriate measures to safeguard the spirit of the Congregation, promote its development and appropriate renewal, encourage the fulfillment of its mission, face challenges, and resolve the most important difficulties.
4. If necessary, make the necessary modifications to the Constitutions, which must be submitted to the Holy See for approval; modify or approve the secondary codes of its own law that fall within its competence; and issue guidelines through chapter decrees.
In order for the General Chapter to fulfill its role, several preliminary processes are organized:
Extraordinary Chapter of 1968-1969: first extraordinary chapter, after receiving the Decretum laudis and in the context of the Second Vatican Council.
Ordinary General Chapter (1980)
Ordinary General Chapter (1992)
Ordinary General Chapter (2005)
See the History of the General Chapters of the Legionaries of Christ.
Accompany the General Chapter and the Assemblies of Consecrated Women and Consecrated Lay People by offering an hour of Eucharistic adoration for the delegates and for the fruits that the Holy Spirit wishes to give us as a spiritual family.
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They are a key moment in the life of the Legion and in the preparation for the next General Chapter. You can see how they unfolded in each territory by clicking on the following links. We also share this link with a general summary of the Territorial Assemblies.
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