I first “encountered” Regnum Christi in 2006 in a Catholic school parking lot in Greenwich, CT. A mom, who was new to the area, asked me if I knew of a space where her son and his friends could meet for their Catholic youth group. A few weeks later, that same mom returned with an invitation for my daughters to join her girls and their friends in a “Challenge” group hosted in her home. She emphasized it was a faith-based gathering that would introduce the Catholic virtues in age-appropriate ways, with the older girls assisting the younger ones, and with fun and games and baking thrown in. Moms were welcome and it was going to be on Fridays, my day off. I was sold! Truth be told, I was desperately seeking companionship and sharing social activities with faith-filled women. A lack of opportunities and my vocation as a pediatrician, working four days a week and many weekends, made it difficult. As the saying goes, that was the start of a beautiful friendship, first between the Rooney family and this special family that had come to town, and eventually the Regnum Christi movement and its extended family.
Participating in Challenge, I began to experience and gradually understand the spiritual richness of the Regnum Christi movement. The tremendous value of its programs and events and personal accompaniment to our family’s efforts to live a life of Chris soon became apparent to my husband Bob and me. The desire to share those gifts of the movement soon took hold. When the Leadership Training Program (LTP) for Girls was introduced to the area, I gladly accepted the role of local coordinator of the program. Our two youngest daughters participated in the program for several years. This brought about the first awareness of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi who mentored and lead the girls and evangelized their families. I was witness to their deep commitment to the Faith and professed religious life, a gentleness and softness that I desired for myself, and their feminine genius. What endeared them to us the most was their fearless mad dash down from Rhode Island every Friday to be with us for LTP. We were all thrilled when that trip went away once the community moved into the house in Rye. These women cared for our girls at a most vulnerable age with love, grace, and wisdom. They opened our family’s world to Mission Youth, ECYD, RC Mission Corps and co-workers, as our girls participated and served in ECYD summer camps, summer Youth Missions, both at home and abroad, Holy Week youth missions, and World Youth Day with Regnum Christi. Enduring friendships and interest in the work and well-being of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi continue with our family today.
Over the next few years, I became aware of more and more friends and acquaintances who were Regnum Christi, through apostolates such as Walking with Purpose, Advent by Candlelight. Some were already members who had moved here from other states, but hearts were being converted in my area as priests of the Legionaries of Christ were appearing, to lead boys in youth ministry (Fr. Jason Smith), preach at local parishes, and guest-speak at Walking with Purpose and even the annual Greenwich (Women’s) Bible Study luncheon (Fr. John Connor). I was participating in all these activities, but it was a chance encounter with an ardent RC member, while sprucing up the Rye house for the return of a community of LC priests, that lead to my own “Ah, Hah!”. This woman possessed a Spirit-inspired, gentle fervor and deep
commitment to Regnum Christi, and she presented a clear and compelling reasoning and explanation for why I needed to be less busy “doing” for Regnum Christi and focus on “being” Regnum Christi. I incorporated in 2013. Once welcomed “officially” into the Regnum Christi family, it was impossible to not grab on and hold fast to this ever-forward, Christ-centered vessel. Seventeen years later, through the swells and calms, ebbs and flows of life, involvement in Regnum Christi emerged as a vocation. It is both anchor and lifeline for my other precious, life vocations of wife, mother, and physician. Every week I am charged by the “divine” energy and joy of my beautiful faith-filled RC sisters in our weekly early morning Encounter With Christ. There, I am fueled for the duties and lovingly supported with the crosses that come with my other vocations and life’s journey in general. When I attended Regnum Christi Masses, mornings of reflection and retreats, I fill up on hope, getting that extra burst of drive and momentum to serve Christ our King and others.
As Regnum Christi transitioned to the locale model, I began helping friends with the yearly fundraising gala. In 2015, assisted by a stellar NY Tri-State team, I co-chaired the fundraising celebration which started with a beautiful Mass at the Church of St. Peter and Denis in Yonkers, NY, with each member branch of Regnum Christi represented. I have remained involved in the planning of these annual events and fundraising in general ever since. In 2015 I joined the AFIRE team in the role of Economy and most recently Integration. I have co-coordinated the Christ the King Day celebration for NY Tri-State the past few years as well as hospitality for numerous other events. I love to play the guitar and sing at RC Masses. I “live” for Triduum every year. My husband Bob and I recently began attending gatherings of C4 (Catholic Couples, Cocktails and Christ). This has blessed us with new friends and the best reason for going out on a Friday night. Bob and I have been on Holy Week and Advent Street Missions, special events at Cheshire and pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land with the LC Fathers and Consecrated women. In 2013, Bob joined the Lumen Institute and continues to avail himself of all the benefits and blessings of this organization. The Lumen Wives also meet monthly, for encounter and formation, accompanied by Consecrated Women from the Washington DC community. Around Valentine’s Day we host a dinner in our home with a theme that highlights God’s creative ways of revealing his love for us.
One of the greatest gifts of Regnum Christi has been regular spiritual direction. It has contributed significantly to my growth in the Faith and commitment to our Church. Each of the priests I’ve worked with has given me sound advice for discernment and encouragement in support of my parish other Catholic activities. I currently serve as an extra-ordinary minister of the Eucharist at my Parish of St. Catherine of Siena in Riverside, CT. I am a co-coordinator of Parish Partners Ministry. In this role I help train and accompany fellow parishioners who go out to the sick, the dying, the home bound- anyone in our parish who can no longer be physically present at our Church. We let them know they still belong through visitation, accompaniment, prayer and bringing of the Eucharist. I am a co-worker for the Sisters of Life. I am back on the Academy Board of Greenwich Catholic School, as an alumni parent and current grandparent, in the position of Catholic Identity Chair.
In May of 2023, I retired after thirty-five years of practicing Pediatrics. I received my medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and did my pediatric residency and then a chief residency year at New York University and Bellevue Hospitals. I practiced for four years in Los Angeles and the rest of my career at The Pediatric Center in Stamford, CT. I practiced general pediatrics but developed a special interest in the social and emotional well-being and mental health of children. I served for nine years on the Board of The Child Guidance Center of lower Fairfield County. Stepping down from the practice of medicine was a most difficult but well-timed decision, made easier by much support and encouragement from my husband and our four children and two grandchildren, who are currently scattered over the US and the world, and are all hoping for more “mom /grandma time.”
My greatest desire is to bring people to Christ, especially through all that Regnum Christi has to offer. I am a seeker of opportunities for building bridges, connecting people in their love of Christ to each other, putting people who Christ wants to be together, who need to be together, in each other’s path.
The love of Christ compels us and the energy, diversity, depth, and breadth and even the challenges of our NY Tri-State locale propel us. To relax, I love to get in my car and drive, especially over beautiful bridges. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Regnum Christi NY/CT Women’s Section Director for the NY Tri-State locale starting in 2024.
