The coworker program begins with a preparatory course combining classes, activities, and apostolate.

September 11, 2009. Oxford, MI. Every year, the Regnum Christi Coworker Program gathers hundreds of young men and young women to give a year of service to the Church through Regnum Christi.

This year, 26 young women from the States and Canada, based in the Queen of the Family Retreat Center in Oxford, Michigan, are finishing up their summer course in preparation for their year.

Another 94 young women have already started their volunteering assignments in Mexico, along with an additional 20 in Europe. South America’s program begins during our winter, and has a total of 43 coworkers already midway through their year.

Spiritual and apostolic preparation

For the young women gathered in Oxford, MI, the summer program is a chance to get mentally and spiritually prepared for what will certainly be a challenging year outside of their comfort zone.

As part of their preparation, they receive a 3-day retreat and several weeks of courses on spirituality and prayer, morality and current events, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, public speaking, and workshops on how to lead group activities.

“The classes are very interesting and I’m learning many things about the Church that I did not know before,” said Jamie Atallah, from Northville, Michigan. “All the information I take in during class and everything that all the girls contribute fascinates me.”

Part of their apostolic training included a weekend spent organizing and leading evangelization activities in Ann Arbor, Michigan—a college

	Two coworkers get ready for their day of missions in Ann Arbor.

town with over 40,000 students associated with the University of Michigan. They also spent a day caring for poor children alongside the Missionaries of Charity in downtown Detroit.

For Siobhán Cavanaugh from Syracuse, NY, the missions were the highlight.

“By far, some of the best parts of the whole summer program were the missions. The first missions trip we went on was at St. Thomas Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We went around to the parish suburbs to tell people just how much Christ loves them. While some people did not want to hear our message, there were many that did!”

And of course, the stronger focus on their spiritual life during the program results in a much deeper experience of Christ.

“Since being here at the coworker program, I’ve come to have a deeper sense of God’s love for me, and this is an understatement,” said Annelise Nevarez, a graduate of Pinecrest Academy.

Assignment locations

This year’s young women come from Atlanta, Chicago, Calgary, Philadelphia, and several cities in Michigan, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Quebec, and New York.

As volunteers, they may spend their year on assignment in any of the following cities:
• Dublin, Ireland
• San José, California
• Calgary, Alberta
• Houston, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Chicago, Illinois
• Oxford, Michigan
• New York City, New York
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Atlanta, Georgia
• St Louis, Missouri
• Covington, Louisiana
• Warwick, Rhode Island
• Washington, DC

Their assignments—a highly anticipated piece of news— are typically announced at the end of the summer program.

A mission that takes many forms

As coworkers, their essential mission is to bring Christ to others through the various activities they

	The coworker program is also an experience of friendship among those who give a year together.

organize.

The concrete details will vary: some will work in the OAK foreign language academies as deans of students, a job that is like a cross between a camp counselor, big sister, and resident advisor. Others will help lead youth groups in programs such as Challenge and Pure Fashion. Still others will work on college campuses with students, and others will accompany groups of high school and college-aged girls on mission trips with Mission Youth. Many will work with ECYD, helping put on retreats and conventions for girls ages 11 – 16.

Whatever they do, and wherever they are sent, the year is bound to be one of personal growth through self-giving, prayer, and service.

• For more information about the Regnum Christi Coworker Program, visit this link or click here to send an e-mail.
• To read testimonies about other young women and young men who have given one or several years of service as coworkers, click here.