Fr. Álvaro Corcuera, LC, greeting children during the encounter.

Stuttgart (Germany), June 7, 2005.  Regnum Christi held its fourth Youth and Family Encounter in Germany this past May 27th-28th.  Its theme was: “I will be with you until the end of time.”  The event took place in a center belonging to the Schönstatt Movement, which kindly offered it for the occasion.

The families who participated lived these days as an intense encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.  They had two nights of Eucharistic Adoration, in which they prayed for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  The Adoration continued throughout the mornings, when it was offered for the success of the next World Youth Day, to be held in Cologne with Pope Benedict XVI.

During the encounter, a soccer tournament and other recreational and cultural activities were organized for the children, among who were the members of ECYD and CKNet in Germany.

On Friday, May 27th, Fr. Paul Habsburg, LC, gave a conference to the families entitled: “How I can encounter Christ,” after which the participants watched the video of “A Day in the Life of Nuestro Padre.”  The participants were grateful for this opportunity to get to know more about our Founder and his daily activities.

Fr. Klaus Einsle, LC, gave a talk on “How to increase my Eucharistic life.”  Afterwards, the participants had the opportunity to visit the 11 stands displaying the apostolates now active in the country.  Meanwhile, 90 young people spent the afternoon doing an evangelization mission in the city of Ergenzingen.

Later on, Bishop Thomas Maria Renz, auxiliary bishop of the diocese, presided over the Mass.  In his homily, he emphasized the importance of the Eucharist in our daily lives.  At the end of the Mass, Bishop Renz visited the apostolic stands, showing great interest in Regnum Christi’s work in Germany.

On Saturday the 28th, Fr. Álvaro Corcuera, LC, general director of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi, gave a conference entitled: “Charity, the charism of Regnum Christi.”  He emphasized how important the living of charity is in the Movement and highlighted the example that John Paul II and Nuestro Padre have given us of living this Christian virtue.

Around noon, Fr. Álvaro presided over the Celebration of the Eucharist, with ten other legionary priests also concelebrating.

The Legion of Christ arrived to Germany in 1989 with one priest and one religious.  Soon, the novitiate was founded in 1991.  In the past 5 years, more than 10 German-speaking Legionary priests have been ordained.  Due to God’s grace, Regnum Christi too is undergoing significant growth in this, the homeland of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.