The Collaborators of Regnum Christi are an apostolic volunteer program for young people of the Regnum Christi Movement who wish to dedicate one or more years of their lives to God. On July 9th, the introductory course for female collaborators began in Mexico. Likewise, on July 14th, the same course for males started in the State of Mexico. Both courses last one month.

Zenit interviewed Perla González and José Mateos, the coordinators of the program and directors of the introductory courses. We reproduce the interview below.

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Could you explain what a collaborator of Regnum Christi is?

— José: A collaborator is a young person of Regnum Christi who seeks a profound experience of Christ’s love, responding to God by dedicating one or more years of their life to the service of the Church. They live the mission of helping others to come closer to God and collaborating in the transformation of humanity through the works, apostolates, and charism of Regnum Christi.

— Perla: These young people become collaborators after finishing high school or midway through or once they have completed their university studies, and they try to discover that mission of being an apostle in the life of collaborating within the Church.

This year, how many young people are preparing to begin this experience and where do they come from?

— Perla: This year, in the Mexico course, we had 52 young people preparing to have this experience of being collaborators. We have one Brazilian, six Salvadorans, including one Chilean because she is now living in El Salvador, and the rest are Mexican. There are also similar courses to this in Europe, Venezuela, and the United States where they prepare to be collaborators.

— José: In the Mexico course for males, we had 32 young people from Mexico, the United States, Germany, Colombia, Venezuela, and El Salvador. In our case, there is only one similar course, which is in the United States.

What motivates a young person to dedicate that period of their life to God?

— Perla: What motivates a young woman to give this year is the desire to return to God everything He has given her in her life, gratitude to God for all she has received, and a desire to give back because she has felt very loved, because everything she has received she does not deserve and wants to give it. Some have also experienced, during a summer as ECyD collaborators, the love that God has for them, the desire to give themselves to souls, and the desire to do something for others. All of this moves them to give the year. And there are also those who are motivated by personal growth, a stronger experience of God in their lives, and giving themselves to others.

— José: I have also seen that they are motivated by seeking a brave spiritual growth experience, a maturity in Regnum Christi, and personal growth through this program, which many have come to call: the university for life.

What does a collaborator do during the year?

— José: The main activity and foundation of their activity is spiritual life; therefore, these young people dedicate privileged time to prayer and spiritual growth. They dedicate themselves full-time to apostolate in schools, international academies, universities, and sections of Regnum Christi, mainly working on the formation of adolescents and young people through organizing activities such as missions, camps, retreats, social action, and apostolate, providing accompaniment for adolescents and young people for their comprehensive formation.

— Perla: Exactly, the main thing is a life of prayer, a life of encounter with God, with Jesus Christ, with His love, because one is aware that what she has received, what she sees and contemplates in prayer, is the way to give it to others. And, as José says, they participate and support the apostolates of the Regnum Christi Movement, specifically most work in ECyD, which is a formation club for girls and adolescents, and in the Kingdom sections, which are the youth groups we have. They also help in all the formation and Christian environment aspects in these places.

What is the biggest challenge for becoming collaborators?

— José: I believe that for collaborators, it is temporarily letting go of their plans, leaving friends, girlfriends, graduation trips, or family. Also, facing misunderstanding and lack of support from friends or society, which does not understand and sometimes opposes them taking that year of their life. It involves breaking away from a hedonistic culture to adopt a life of dedication, renunciation, and generosity.

— Perla: What collaborators find most difficult is leaving their family, not starting their career right after high school but waiting a year and delaying it, or sometimes leaving their studies halfway, leaving friends, and leaving an environment to take on another where there is a schedule, discipline, and that is difficult but at the same time something they value and like to do because they see a benefit behind it.

What is your role as the person in charge of the Program throughout the year?

— Perla: My role as the person in charge of the girls’ program throughout the year consists of supporting and following up, helping the collaborators who are already in their destinations, ensuring they have the comprehensive formation that the program offers at the spiritual, intellectual, and apostolic levels, and seeking that they have a good experience during their year. I also help each of the persons in charge of Collaborators in the various houses where the collaborators will be living so they know how the program works, and any doubts they have can be resolved. I also handle the process of admission for all young women who want to be collaborators, helping them receive their formation, training, and be admitted to the program. Additionally, I assist in welcoming all collaborators returning after their year to help them reintegrate into their homes and the world, so they can have a positive re-entry experience.

— José: My role is very similar to Perla’s, but for men. It involves helping collaborators have a deep experience of Christ’s love, to be formed as apostles, and to live their mission during this period; so that they are prepared to live their Christian vocation fully for their entire lives. For this, the Collaborators Network office offers, throughout the year, an introductory course of one month, follow-up visits to collaborators at their destinations, national reunions for renewal and formation, week-long spiritual exercises, accompaniment to help them with the main difficulties they may face during the year, and to help them assimilate and make the most of this experience. The locations for collaborators are also organized, and the trainers of the collaborators at their destinations are attended to.