Rene Pomarico: «Our mission is to go out and meet people where they are.»

The path of every ecclesial institution is marked by grace, but also by human frailty. For the consecrated women of Regnum Christi, the last few years have represented a profound journey of purification, following the painful wound left by the figure of their founder, Marcial Maciel. This crisis not only dealt a blow to their confidence, but also forced them to engage in a radical exercise of discernment: separating the foundational grace from the weakness of its promoter.

Far from being paralyzed by pain, this group of women has chosen creative fidelity and hope, undertaking a process of renewal that has refocused their lives on the essence of their charism: secular consecration for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. How does one rebuild a vocation from the rubble of a crisis? And how do these women manage to bring the light of their faith to the world while keeping their eyes fixed on the mission?

We spoke with Renee Pomarico, head of global communications for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, about the identity of their charism in the Church. Despite challenges and the need for institutional renewal, the vocation of the consecrated women shows remarkable stability: the group has grown from 540 members in 2005 to remain at around 500 in 2025. This fact underscores that the authenticity of their dedication is the central driving force of their mission in today's world.

When someone hears «consecrated,» they think of cloistered life. But the consecrated women of Regnum Christi are lay women who take private vows. How can you explain that?

—We are an Apostolic Life Society. We take private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, giving ourselves totally to Christ. But we are laywomen. This means that our mission is to be in the world, to go out and meet people where they are, in their concrete lives. We are not behind a wall, but on the street, in the office, in the parish... wherever we are needed!

Regnum Christi (RC) is a huge federation. How do you govern yourselves?

—The RC is governed collegially. The general directors of the Legionaries of Christ, the Consecrated Laity, ourselves, and two lay people chosen by the General Governing Board from among the lay people elected at a General Convention for plenary meetings sit at the table. It is a form of governance that is federated, lay, and consecrated at the same time.

Your mission seems to be precisely to stand at that crossroads between the secular and the sacred. What is the key to remaining faithful to your charism?

—The reason for our fidelity lies in its source: prayer. We have fundamental daily commitments: an hour of personal prayer, Mass, the Rosary, community prayers. This «embraces» us and ensures that all our apostolic action—working in catechesis, evangelization, universities—springs from that intimacy with Christ. In other words, we are contemplative in order to be evangelizers.

And what exactly do they do? Only religious matters?

—Vocationaly, the charism of consecrated women leads us to work professionally in evangelization. Many are involved in pastoral work related to the RC (young people, adults, schools, retreats, spiritual direction). But others work in dioceses, parishes, or universities, always seeking to encourage each person's vocation.

Where are you seeing the most surprising results? Is there a particular place or project that is yielding results that surprise you?

—There are several «hot spots.» On the one hand, when missions are well organized, the fruits are immediate: conversions of heart, social awareness. It is a key apostolate.

On the other hand, programs such as Colaboradoras ECYD or RC, where teenagers can spend a summer and those over 18 can spend a year helping out at a mission, or the IFC (International Formators Course) are very fruitful. They help young people ask themselves: «Who am I and what is my mission in life?».

Also within the educational works are the Language Academies in some countries (Switzerland, Ireland, USA) that allow students to reside there for a year and provide comprehensive 24/7 training in faith, culture, and friendship, with very abundant results.

Let's talk about family. I know it's a key focus.

—That's right. We want the structure of the RC to better respond to the needs of marriage and the family, the basic nucleus. Apostolates such as “Sponsus,” a weekend formation seminar for married couples, are very fruitful because the world needs to see the greatness of faithful love. In addition, we seek to accompany the family at all stages: courtship, mourning, and even, with pain, separation.

To conclude, what is the specific contribution of consecrated women to the great RC Federation?

—We contribute our feminine identity and our gift of lay consecration. We are a sign of the Kingdom in the midst of temporal realities. Our RC Statutes make it clear: our mission is to promote and safeguard communion, to reach out to people, and to undertake actions that contribute most to the Kingdom of Christ. This is our hallmark for the enrichment of all.