From February 10 to 12, the second youth gathering of Regnum Christi in Mexico and Central America took place. On this occasion, more than 800 young people gathered in Monterrey to socialize and reflect on their identity as members of Regnum Christi, on the mission of the youth of the Movement within the Church and society, and on the vocation to love that each one is called to fulfill.
During the inauguration ceremony, Father Gabriel Abascal, LC, director of the youth section in Monterrey, invited those present to take advantage of the gathering to «renew their love and total adhesion to Jesus Christ» and to «live the charism of charity and joy». «In Regnum Christi, we have received a gift that we are called to share with others,» he said.
The theme of the gathering was: «It’s my turn, it depends on me» and was discussed by Father Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC through a video message transmitted to those present: «What depends on each of us is the personal relationship with God. It depends on me, it depends on you that Mexico becomes more Christian and a civilization of love.»
Marcelo Michel, a member of the Movement for 18 years, commented to the youth: «My engine, my reason for breathing, is Jesus Christ, whom I have known since I was very young through the Movement. Regnum Christi will never be a club of the perfect; it is a Movement of men and women convinced of an ideal called Jesus Christ, who is alive, reigning, and is the complete and total light, and we must be willing to take it everywhere. Let’s make the light of Christ shine in the world through our works.»
During the gathering, workshops and conferences were held on topics such as prayer, formation of trainers, evangelization of the digital continent, gender ideology and sexuality, faith and reason in the face of death, the personal life project, and business ethics, among others. There was also a retreat for integration and a meeting of former collaborators. David Noel Ramírez, rector of Tecnológico de Monterrey, asked the young people during his talk to value all the gifts received and to put them at the service of those most in need.
During the event, the various sections of Regnum Christi presented an apostolic initiative. The winning apostolate was the Iuvenis Foundation, from the youth section in the western part of Mexico City, which received a financial aid to carry out its apostolate. Recently, the young people of the Iuvenis Foundation collected and delivered food supplies to people living in the Nezahualcóyotl dump in Mexico City, stood with them, and brought them a message of hope.
The gathering concluded with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Paul Lara, LC, territorial director of Monterrey, with the co-celebration of the priests of the Legionaries who participated in the event. During the homily, Father Gabriel Abascal, LC, said: «Dear young people, the vocation to the Movement is not an imposition from the Lord, nor is it a coincidence of life. The vocation to the Movement is an invitation that Christ makes to us, and it is your personal response.»
«Today, the world, and especially our Mexican society, needs daring young people, young people launched, brave young people who dare to ask Jesus Christ: What do you want me to do? How can I help you? How do I quench your thirst for souls? And upon hearing the Lord’s response and request, whatever it may be, they dare to say: Present, it’s my turn, it depends on me!».
