The General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ continues its journey in an atmosphere marked by prayer, discernment, and fraternal communion. During this week, the priests delved into the thematic axes guiding their work, both in plenary sessions and in working groups, analyses, and reflections. Following the synodal model, emphasis was placed on attentive listening, respectful dialogue, and the shared search for God’s will for the Congregation in the present moment of the Church.
On Monday, February 16, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez, L.C., and Bishop Brian Farrell, L.C., paid a special visit to the General Directorate and spent time with the community. The day was marked by a spirit of closeness, which included the celebration of Fr. John Connor, L.C.’s, birthday in a fraternal atmosphere.
Beginning of a Time of Conversion
Ash Wednesday lent the Chapter a tone of recollection. From the early hours of the morning, the chapter members participated in a retreat with a spirit of reparation and inner renewal. In the Chapter Hall, Fr. Robert Presutti, the newly appointed general councilor, preached a meditation focused on how God works in every moment, in each one of us. “The Chapter has been a blessed time, where each of us is a story of grace, a story that God loves,” he said, emphasizing that God “is constantly at work, weaving the necessary threads of love and hope.”
The day continued with the exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, in an atmosphere of recollection that also marked Sixth Hour. Finally, the celebration of the Eucharist and the imposition of ashes at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe marked the beginning of Lent, reminding us that this is a time of grace, conversion, and inner transformation.
“May this Chapter open you to a time of hope”
On the morning of Thursday, February 19, Pope Leo XIV received the Chapter Fathers in audience at the Apostolic Palace. It was a moment of encounter and profound communion with the Holy Father, a visible sign of unity with the Church that accompanies and guides us with maternal love.
In his message, the Pope emphasized, among other things, his joy at this meeting in the final phase of the General Chapter. “As in the life of every religious institute, this is a time of grace, since it constitutes a privileged moment of communal discernment and listening to the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide its history and sustain the mission entrusted to its congregation, in fidelity to the charism received as a gift from God for the whole Church.”
The Holy Father also referred to three essential aspects: authority, consecrated life, and mission. He indicated that “consecrated life, called to be expert in communion, creates spaces where the Gospel is translated into concrete fraternity. During these days, you have undoubtedly experienced a concrete communion among brothers and sisters from diverse cultures and backgrounds, from different generations, and between those who hold positions of leadership and those who serve daily in communities and missions.”
Read | “May this Chapter open you to a time of hope”: Pope to the General Chapter
The entire gallery is available here. Photo credits: Fr. Antonio León, L.C. / Fr. Jorge Mújica, L.C.
The week ended with the continuation of work sessions, aimed at clearly defining the roadmap that will guide the Legion over the next six years.
With responsibility and hope, the capitulars begin the final stretch and continue moving forward, confident in God’s grace and in full communion with the Church.
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