Eileen Leyne, 28, of Montreal, Canada, is one of the community’s new vocations and the first fraterna from the English-speaking world. Leyne, who has been a fraterna for three years, first met the fraternas in 2003 and was attracted to the coherence between their faith and their everyday life.
“I was struck by the way they radically follow the Lord and the zeal they have for their apostolate,” she said. “They really want to bring Christ to the world, and they are willing to give their whole lives for that.”
Libby Archibald, 26, began going to Goñi for spiritual counseling in 2007. She slowly began to become more involved with the community, and she was struck by their devotion to Mary in all things.
“They make Mary the model of who they are as women and as Christians, and they really make her visible in the world through their lives,” she explained.
Archibald, who is currently discerning with the fraternas, said she was initially attracted by the spiritual motherhood exhibited by them. At the anniversary Mass, Archbishop Chaput spoke of this spiritual motherhood, reminding the fraternas that they are called by Christ to “go and bear fruit that will remain.”
Goñi speaks of this spiritual motherhood as a particularly rewarding experience carried out through the fraternas’ apostolate.
“We live this by being constantly available for others,” she said, “when they need to talk, to share, to trust; when they suffer physically or spiritually; when they don’t know what to do in difficult moments; or when they just need guidance or company.”
Looking to the future, Archbishop Chaput reminded the fraternas in his homily to always live out their calling from God.
“Mary is the mother of reconciliation,” he said. “You walk in her steps, participating in God’s plan to restore all things to himself.”
Printed with permission from the Denver Catholic Register.
Michelle La Rosa is deputy editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency. She has worked for CNA since 2011. She studied political philosophy and journalism at the University of Dallas.