By Bianca de Mattos
“Lord, give us the grace to identify ourselves fully with you so that, seeing the world with your eyes and loving it from your Heart, we may allow the seed of your Kingdom to grow in our own lives, in that of our brothers and sisters and in society.”
This request resounded like a refrain during the nine days preceding the Feast of Christ the King, a few months ago, and the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Regnum Christi’s presence in the Holy Land.
In fact, it could be said that this has been the request of all the Legionary and consecrated priests who have passed through here, because it expresses the desire and the tension to make the mystery of Christ and his Kingdom present in our personal lives, in the communities and in the whole environment of relationships that we have cultivated both through the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center and the Magdala Center.
Fortunately, we have the presence of two people who have been here for 20 years and who share with us some of their personal experience.
Fr. Juan Solana, L.C. expresses himself as follows: “Directing Notre Dame Center for 16 years has been a grace and an honor. Firstly, for serving the Holy See; then for the accompaniment of so many pilgrims on their journey to God; and also because of the challenges we encounter along the way. I thank from the bottom of my heart all the people who have made this mission possible.”
Alessandra Soldati, Consecrated of Regnum Christi, shares the following: “I had to arrive with the first group of consecrated women 20 years ago, in December 2004, with Graciela Magaña (+), Miriam Giacomán and Patrizia Revelli and since then we have experienced a great welcome from the people who have greeted us here and we also try to welcome all those who come, the pilgrims and the locals with the same affection”.
The celebration was simple: a very special and fervent mass, with the presence of the Nuncio of the Holy See, Monsignor Don Adolfo Tito; a moment with our friends in the lobby of Notre Dame with Alessandra Soldati’s words of thanks and a delicious commemorative cake to share with everyone. Great moments are usually simple, but they leave a deep mark on the soul.
This anniversary, moreover, expresses a renewed commitment as witnesses of Christ from the Holy Land to the whole world. As part of this significant celebration, our Community of Consecrated Women launched an Instagram profile through which we will be sharing our mission, our experiences, meetings and much more. Follow us here!