Consecrated women of Regnum Christi live as brides, sisters and mothers while sharing their faith with others

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

While discerning their vocation, there are many pathways which a young person (or any person) can consider. When we think of vocations, the priesthood and religious life come to mind first, then perhaps marriage and the single life. For Rachel Peach — a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi — she responded to a different call and became a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi

Regnum Chrisi is a “spiritual family,” according to Ms. Peach, with origins in the Legionaries of Christ religious order. The movement includes the order’s priests, as well as consecrated men and women and laity.

“It’s a shared spirituality of wanting to live your faith actively and share it with others,” said Ms. Peach. Regnum Christi is an international movement, aimed towards “boosting” spiritual faith “to be able to share it in a missionary way,” Ms. Peach explained.

Her calling to be a consecrated woman is threefold: seeing herself as a spouse, a sister and a mother.

“One thing especially about our type of consecrated women that I think is really unique,” she said, “is this real experience of being a spouse of Christ.”

Ms. Peach explained that being a part of Regnum Christi is not just full-time missionary work, but a relationship with Christ. “The core of my consecration is Jesus saying, ‘Will you be mine and I’ll be yours’,” she said.

Ms. Peach compares the life of a consecrated woman to those of consecrated virgins, where she lives with seven other consecrated women in her community located in Ohio’s Anderson Township — although the consecrated women minister on both sides of the river. Describing it as a type of sisterhood, the women engage in ministry together — “learning from each other and helping each other,” even while having different day to days.

She also said that she has “many spiritual children.”

“Everyone he (Jesus) brings into my life, I’m called to be a sister or mother to them in some way,” Ms. Peach said. “That’s very beautiful, and very fulfilling.”

“When you’re thinking about vocation, it’s very normal to feel nervous and even some spiritual pressure,” Ms. Peach said, reflecting on discernment. For those currently discerning their own vocations, she suggests to “just focus on your friendship with Jesus and see where that goes … try to get to know him and let him love you day by day, and you’ll find your next steps.”