In January 2020, the Legionaries of Christ, the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, and the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi each convened to begin their General Chapters and Assemblies in Rome, Italy. These General Chapters and Assemblies are called an “Ordinary” General Chapter as it occurs every six years, at the end of a general director’s term.
On Thursday, February 6, the General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ elected Fr. John Connor, LC, an American, as the new general director of the Congregation. Fr. John becomes the 1st general director in Legionaries history that is not of Hispanic background.
This recent election also concludes the term of Fr. Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC. Next, the Chapter will elect the six members of the government that comprise the General Council, according to the Constitutions approved by the Holy See in 2014. These Constitutions are a result of the renewal process the Legionaries underwent with the Church’s guidance. The chapter will also elect the general administrator.
As Fr. John embarks on this new position, Fr. Shawn Aaron, LC will immediately begin serving as the “acting” territorial director for the North American Territory along with his other duties as territorial vicar. Many in the Atlanta area remember or continue to have relationships with Fr. Shawn from his previous time spent in our section. After a consultation with the newly elected general councilors, Fr. John will appoint a new territorial director for North America.
Fr. John Connor, LC was born in Baltimore, MD and grew up near Annapolis, one of eight children, the last two of which are Legionary priests. He is 51 years old, and since 2001, he has served in the United States, mainly in New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Fr. John holds a degree in finance from Loyola University. He has also lived in Germany, Italy, and Spain. Fr. John has studied philosophy and theology in Rome, where he was ordained to the priesthood on January 2, 2001. From 2014 until his recent election as general director, he was the territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ in the North American Territory and a member of the Territorial Directive College of Regnum Christi.
Fr. John has been located in the Cumming, GA area for the last several years and has participated in several RC Atlanta events, most recently the “SAILS UP!” Family Convention held in Atlanta in March of 2019. You can listen to his homily from the convention’s closing Mass here:
After spending the first 2 weeks of focused on sexual abuse, attention to victims, and clarifying next actions, the General Chapter will dedicate their next days to finishing the election of the members of the General Council and the election of the general administrator. They will also address topics such as the apostolic mission of the Congregation and its relation with the other vocations in Regnum Christi, the formation of seminarians, living of poverty in the Congregation, community life, vocation promotion, and religious discipline in general.
You can stay up to date on news from the General Chapter at their official Spanish website or get English updates here.
