The JOYof Catholic Living Volume 3, Issue 1 A Publication of the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi A Vocation to Love 35 Legionaries Ordained in Rome On December 13, 2014, thirty-five Legionaries processed to the altar of the Basilica of St. John Lateran to pledge themselves to Jesus Christ. Fortified with the love of Christ and the shield of faith, these newly-ordained priests can take courage from the words of St. Paul: 35 Legionaries of Christ were ordained priests by Cardinal Velasio De Paolis at St. John Lateran He who did not withhold his own Son, but Basilica in Rome. gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? … we are more developed through the Regnum Christi a vocation to love, to the greatest love, the gift than conquerors through him who loved us. movement. Fr. Peter Mullen, from Maryland, of your own life. It is a vocation to friendship (Romans 8:32,37) spent five years in Conquest before entering with Jesus.” He also emphasized that, beyond Many of these priests learned about the novitiate. Just before his ordination, this personal intimacy, the priesthood “is the conquering power of Christ’s love as Fr. Peter expressed some thoughts about his a gift to others: for the Church, for the members of Conquest, a Catholic boys club new mission: salvation of the world.” Like any soldier about to embark on his first real The Cardinal was chosen to assist in the mission, I am full of mixed emotions. I have been renewal and rewriting of the Legion’s recently Moments of training for 17 years now … but what exactly approved constitutions. In his homily, he deep gratitude to is waiting for me? Only Christ knows. If there described this process as a “serious and Christ are part of is one thing I have learned from my training with rigorous examination … the source of the every Legionary’s experience on him, it is that I can rely on him for assured success new life which the Legionaries enjoy today.” the day of their and victory. ordination. Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, CS, the For more ordination photos, new priest main celebrant of the Ordination Mass, testimonials, Cardinal De Paolis’ homily, please encouraged the new priests saying, “Yours is visit: http://bit.do/ordinations Holy See Approves Legion’s New Constitutions – See Page 2! Feature Story | Ordinations Special Feature Story | Ordinations Special Ordinations 2014 (continued from front cover) The Legacy of Brian Bisgrove by Fr. Benjamin O’Loughlin, LC I was first introduced to the Regnum Christi movement anesthesia, for us. When the first doctor told Brian that he in 1995 when a young man named Brian Bisgrove returned didn’t understand, that he was about to experience more pain home after finishing high school at Immaculate Conception than he had ever experienced in his life, Brian answered, “No, Apostolic School, the Legion’s high school seminary in Center doctor, you’re the one who doesn’t understand. For a year I’ve Harbor, NH. He had discerned that religious life wasn’t for done everything for these boys. Now I can’t play with them, him,I but he was still an almost perfect example of the Regnum can’t help them, can’t teach them. Now all I can do is suffer Christi charism. Before starting college, he wanted to pass for them.” on the gifts and formation he had received at Immaculate We didn’t see much of Brian from then on. But he Conception, so he decided to kickstart Regnum Christi youth didn’t disappear from my life. He taught me how to be a true work in central New York. Christian man. He introduced me to the gift of the Regnum There were six boys in that group. Two of us – myself and Christi charism I live and love. When I joined the Legionaries Fr. John Bender - would go on to become Legionary priests. and later shipped out overseas, first to Germany for novitiate, It’s been 19 years since we first met, a fact we celebrated with and then on to youth work in Spain and Italy, Brian was still 1 2 a very unliturgical fist bump right before we processed across my mentor. Or rather, my memories of him were, because the threshold of our chapel for diaconate ordination this past Brian had passed away. July 29th in Rome. There are many difficult moments in a vocation. There Brian Bisgrove, still a teenager, was our friend, mentor, and are moments of deep joy, and crosses that weigh heavy on very much our role model. One year later he was diagnosed your shoulders. But I could never doubt. After all, God sent with cancer. A routine doctor’s visit to deal with what they me Brian, who showed me my path. That certainty has seen thought was a just sinus infection turned up a golf-ball sized me through hard times, and accompanied during my years of tumor right behind his nose. They removed it, but the cancer formation and youth work. And it’s with me now as I receive had already gone into metastasis. That was a bombshell for the gift of the priesthood, and settle into my new mission all of us. And it was the beginning of a year and a half long as formation director of Everest Academy’s International struggle that Brian waged for his life. And in a very special way, Program for Boys in Clarkston, MI. Brian is gone, but the he struggled for us as well. Regnum Christi charism that I first saw in him is one of my They cut a grapefruit-sized tumor out of his neck three greatest treasures. I just hope that someday someone will say 3 4 5 times… and Brian went through every operation without any the same of me. 6 1. Fr. Simon Cleary, LC, kneels alongside his Legionary brothers in preparation for the moment he becomes Christ’s priest . 2. Fr. Eduardo Robles Gil, LC, General Director of the Legion of Christ, vests Fr. Bálint Szabó-Molnár, LC. 3. Fr. Andrew LaBudde, LC, celebrates the momentous day with his joyful family. 4. All 35 From left to right: 1. Brian R. Bisgrove (1976-1998) Patron and Co-founder of Conquest boys’ Legionaries lie in prostration during the ceremony. 5. A joyful Fr. Rodolfo Agudelo, LC, embraces family on the happiest day of his life. 6. Cardinal Velasio De clubs, a K-12 youth ministry program to instill virtue, develop character, and encourage spiritual Paolis, the main celebrant of the ordination ceremony, receives the gifts from the parents of newly-ordained Fr. Mauricio Ruiz, LC. growth all in a fun atmosphere of service. After graduating from the Legion’s apostolic high school, Scan the above QR Code on your Smartphone to view a short three-minute video of the ordination. Brian spend the last three years of his life co-founding conquest and encouraging young men to follow Christ. Read more about Brian’s life at www.conquestclubs.com/why; 2. Brian on top of Bald Mountain – Adirondacks; 3. Fr. Benjamin O’Loughlin and Fr. John Bender being ordained transitional deacons last June. Constitutions Approved Fr. Eduardo Robles-Gil, general director of the Legion of Christ, announced that the CONSTITUTIONSHoly See has approved the new Constitutions of the congregation. This approval fulfills one of the principal objectives of the renewal process that Pope Benedict XVI began in 2010, and was continued by Pope Francis. The text is the result of a | • three-year period of consultation and reflection by all Legionaries. Volume 3 Issue 1 2015 JOY 3 Feature Story | Nine New Legionary Priests from the U.S. Nourishing the Soul | Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC Holiness, wholly achievable Think of sports, and planning activities that “will focus on sharing experiences I remember the great athletes come to of prayer, service and community life with those living a moment I decided to mind: Babe Ruth, Michael consecrated life.” become a priest. How Jordan, Tom Brady, The notion of “sharing experiences” with consecrated could I possibly forget it? Wayne Gretzky. Think souls doesn’t have to be limited to formal activities. Rather, In my first semester of T of actors, and top-billed the sharing to which all of us is called is the vocation of Catholic high school, I names flash up: Laurence holiness. All of us are called to be saints, without exception. heard our Lord calling me to become his priest Olivier, Humphrey Bogart, Pope Francis, in an interview published in the Italian Jesuit and I found myself Katharine Hepburn, Meryl journal La Civiltà Cattolica, drove home this idea when he responding sincerely, Streep. The same goes with said, “Evangelical radicalness is not only for religious: it is “Let it be done.” Earlier politics: Abraham Lincoln, demanded of all.” If demanded of all, holiness is achievable that day a Legionary Mahatma Gandhi, Winston by all. Its ingredients are: a steady life of prayer, frequent Churchill -- and science recourse to the sacraments, almsgiving, works of charity and, priest had visited our religion class and showed us a video of and technology: Thomas last but not least, God’s grace. his ordination. Edison, Albert Einstein, The steps to holiness are doable, practical. Turn off the As I looked up to the crucifix that hung on the front of Steve Jobs. People with rare TV, put down the smart phone. And take up the rosary and our classroom wall, I heard in the intimate silence of my heart talents capture our imagination.