From July 13 to 20, Father John Connor, L.C., the General Director of the Legionaries of Christ, traveled to Venezuela and Ecuador to visit and share with the Legionaries, members, and friends of Regnum Christi, as well as to accompany the apostolic and social work carried out in those countries from pastoral and educational perspectives.

In Caracas, he celebrated the Sunday Mass for the local members, during which 25 young people and adults joined Regnum Christi and 58 teenagers made their alliance with Christ in ECYD. He presided over the graduation Mass of the XXXII promotion of the Instituto Cumbres and had a meeting with the school’s management team. He shared with the community of Consecrated Women and the ECYD collaborators group from Venezuela, who were conducting their summer program there. He visited the Mano Amiga Mariches school, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. There, he had the opportunity to greet its director and all the staff, and to learn, through them, about the challenges, projects, and the positive impact that the school has had and continues to have on the entire community.

In Quito, Father John shared with the Legionaries of the community and the territorial council, with whom he had the opportunity to concelebrate a Eucharist at the Basilica of the National Vow, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He had a Mass and a meeting with the local members, who presented him with the work carried out through various apostolates present in the city. Finally, he visited the facilities of Colegio Highlands.

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Father John with some of the Legionaries from the Caracas community, who carry out pastoral and social work in various parts of Caracas such as schools and vulnerable areas.

During his stay, a family atmosphere was experienced due to Father John’s closeness, his kindness to everyone, and the guidance he provided to strengthen the Legionary mission, in communion with Regnum Christi, thus forming a great apostolic family. According to Father José Gutstein, L.C., superior of the community of Barquisimeto (Venezuela), “we have been able to see the closeness of the father and the advice he has given us for our mission, thus forming an apostolic family to achieve wonderful results.”

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Father John receives a retablo of Our Lady of Coromoto from Mrs. María García de Fleury, one of the first people of Regnum Christi in Venezuela and a great social promoter in that country. Accompanying him are Fathers Samuel Than, Javier Villaroig, and Carlos Ortiz (territorial director of Colombia – Venezuela), LL.CC.

 

In the various meetings, encounters, and conversations he had along the way, Father John emphasized Legionary identity and the desire to be faithful and seek holiness of life to always give testimony to everyone. According to Father Juan Carlos Quintero, L.C., superior of the community of Quito (Ecuador), “he helped us hear from him the importance of working within this religious and priestly identity in a personal way, deepening our path of union and dedication to God, an identity also cultivated in community centered on the Eucharist and sincere, true fraternal life, seeking to live as a family with a common vocation as priests.” Furthermore, he called for the care of this (Legionary) identity in view of the mission with the laity, “since they all recognize us as instruments of God, and together with them, we seek to extend the Kingdom of God through Regnum Christi and the works we have in this city.” Finally, he encouraged not to lose focus, which ultimately is the identification of Legionary identity with God.

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Father John with some Legionaries from the Caracas and Barquisimeto communities. He reminded all of them of the importance of apostolic work as part of the mission.

 

Both in Venezuela and Ecuador, Father John had the opportunity to visit social projects, schools, and the Mano Amiga institutions, where he observed the evangelizing, pastoral, and social work carried out by the Legion and Regnum Christi. “I saw much love for Christ and passion for the Mission, which is the most essential (…) there is much to thank God for what He has done for Regnum Christi, in the schools and the apostolates developed over the last thirty years. This brings a great responsibility to continue responding to the Holy Spirit with generosity, multiplying the fruits through Christ and His Church,” he stated.

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During his visits to the various schools promoted by Regnum Christi in both Venezuela and Ecuador, including Mano Amiga schools, which offer quality education to the most vulnerable sectors of the population, Father John recalled the great responsibility to continue responding to the Holy Spirit with generosity, multiplying the fruits through Christ and His Church.

 

Throughout his journey, the General Director was able to live with the communities, speak with collaborators of the apostolic works, share with students and their families, in an environment where the Holy Spirit, friendship, and love reigned, to establish in those beautiful lands the Kingdom of God.

< a href="https://www.regnumchristi.co/vi-mucho-amor-a-cristo-y-pasion-por-la-mision-visita-del-p-john-connor-lc-a-caracas-y-quito/" > Article | “I saw much love for Christ and passion for the mission”: visit of Father John Connor, L.C., to Caracas and Quito. < /a >