From April 29 to May 5, the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi gathered at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Retreat Center near Memphis, Tennessee, for their North American territorial assembly—an important step in preparation for the upcoming general assembly to be held in Rome in January 2026.

With members coming from all 10 communities in the territory, the 19 delegates assembled to prayerfully reflect upon, discuss, and discern on a broad range of topics. As a consultative body, the conclusions and proposals will be gathered up with those of the other territories and serve as preparatory material for the general assembly.

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The weeklong event was pervaded by a prayerful atmosphere. In addition to the morning Eucharistic Celebration and an evening period of adoration, a day-long opening retreat led by Kathleen Murphy, the territorial director, prepared the participants’ hearts and minds for their journey of discernment ahead. Gathering so shortly after the death of Pope Francis, who had approved their new canonical structure and that of the entire Regnum Christi Federation, the women arrived with a sense of deep gratitude for the providential role he had played in their history and for his support of their mission within the Church. To remain in prayerful solidarity with the whole Church during this historically significant moment, they began a daily novena of intercession for the Church, the Cardinals participating in the conclave, and the future Holy Father.

On the first working day, Kathleen presented an in-depth report on the progress that the territory had made since 2020 in meeting the Society’s strategic vision and goals. After giving thanks for the many graces received and the growth that had been achieved, the delegates turned their attention to the first discernment topic, identifying those elements of their life and mission that God might be wanting them to prioritize in the coming six years.

 

Thursday, the assembly engaged in deep discussion on the vow of poverty, discussing the way it is lived in community and in solidarity with and support for the poor. This day concluded with a Holy Hour led by Megan Houbeck, who offered reflections centered on the Easter narrative of Christ appearing to the women at the tomb that deeply resonated with the delegates’ desires to offer this same joyful proclamation of the Gospel to the world.

Friday began with Ally Wheeler, the territorial finance officer, presenting a proposed six-year sustainability plan that will address the needs of saving for the future care of aging members and for long-term financial stewardship. While challenges remain, the delegates discussed practical pathways forward, especially in fundraising, and expressed confidence in the current direction and efforts of the development office. Amelia Hoover shared her experience, “regarding the topic of sustainability, I received a new insight. It was new for me to ask how we can best steward the gift of the charism God has entrusted to us. It is a gift that is meant to be shared, it is a living charism that reflects an aspect of the mystery of Christ, and it is a gift that belongs to the Church while entrusted to us to share now and in the future. Sustainability is not about how a structure will survive but how the charism can flourish and extend to the future.”

The final days of the assembly were dedicated to voting on the updates to proper law proposed by the general government, reaching final consensus on the elements they would submit to the general government as strategic priorities for the collective vision of the Society looking ahead to 2032, and any additional topics or questions that had arisen in the course of the week.  The assembly ended with a beautiful time of singing and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament before the closing celebratory dinner.

Multiple delegates have noted that there was a prevailing spirit of gratitude throughout the week—especially for the guidance of the Church during the years of renewal and for the eventual canonical approval. A strong emphasis on the value of building a spirit of communion and collaboration was expressed throughout, both with the Regnum Christi family and the broader Church, as well as within their own communities. It was expressed that in the current polarized and often fragmented cultural landscape, there is a continual invitation to renew the commitment to live according to Gospel values, centering their lives and preaching on Jesus—how He lived, acted, and loved. The following litany, woven together by Laura Matthews as a final offering of praise composed of scriptural references that arose during the week and that echo scriptural encounters with Christ, beautifully sums up the spirit of the assembly, one of hope, encounter, and mission.

Jesus, our Hope and our Jubilee, thank you for all you have done in us these days. Our deepest desire has been to present our Society back to you.

And You have come and met us on the way…on this last day we approach, embrace Your feet, and do You homage (Matthew 28:9).

You came, we knew that you would come, you came for us, you came for me…

Jesus: You came that I might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10)

You came, setting your face toward me (Luke 12:48).

You came, loving me as the Father has loved you (John 15:9).

You came, and you beckon me to come to the fields for the vines are in bloom (Song of Songs 7:12)

You came, as I was walking alone, you came right up beside me (Luke 24:13-35).

You came, even though the doors were locked, to give me your peace (John 20:19-29).

You came because I am the Father’s gift to you (John 17:24).

You came to take me with you so that where you are, I may also be (John 14:3)

You came saying, “This is my body given up for you.” (Luke 22:19).

You came, and you longed and eagerly desired to celebrate with me (Luke 22:16).

You came, calling my name to come forth (John 11:43-44)

You came as Bridegroom, meeting me at the well, saying, “if you knew the gift of God” (John 4:10).

You came to set my heart on fire, and wishing it were already blazing! (Luke 12:49)

You came, with the greatest love of a friend to lay down your life for me (John 15:3)

You came with a love that burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame (Song of Songs 8:7)

You came, and in your gentle love, you stand at the door knock, longing to enter (Revelation 3:20)

You came to tell me, “Arise, my beloved, let us leave this place” (Ancient Homily of Holy Saturday).

You came, you come, and you will always come. And we long to run to You, together with our whole SVA, our hearts burning to please You.

On this Sacred Ground we cry: “Here I am, Lord, here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8, Exodus 3:4, 1 Samuel 3, Psalm 40, Genesis 22:1, Luke 1:38).Amen. Alleluia.