Communal life is foundational to religious life, and a healthy community is a place of sanctification for its members, a source of inspiration, witness, and strength for the apostolate.
One in Christ: Communal Life Today
The CMSM is a national organization representing leaders of Catholic religious institutes for men, monasteries, and societies of apostolic life in the United States. Promoting the welfare, community life, ministry, and mission of priests and brothers, it is both a common voice for male religious and an advocate for their individual charisms.
Every year, the CMSM hosts a National Assembly, inviting superiors from across the United States to come together to address issues about the life of male religious and apostolic communities as they relate to the broader context of the Catholic Church and society. The National Assembly 2026 was held July 20–23 in Phoenix, Arizona, and delved into the theme “One in Christ: Communal Life Today,” inviting members to reflect deeply on the strength and witness of communal life in religious communities today. Through shared reflection and dialogue, participants reflected on the vitality of their own communal life, engaging with fellow leaders to explore meaningful ways communal life can be strengthened, renewed, and enlivened.
At the Heart of Religious Life
Communal life is at the heart of religious life, and a strong community is key to the members’ spiritual well-being. Despite the diversity across communities, from monastic orders to societies of apostolic life, the same themes emerge as important areas for reflection and discussion.
“There are a lot of challenges, normal challenges having to do with human nature, that are shared by all the different orders,” says Fr. Bartunek. “We’re all facing similar challenges.”
Some of these shared concerns center on open communication, the need for structures that support wellness, and the desire for a deep, life-giving communal spiritual life.
The apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, joined the National Assembly, bringing words of encouragement from the Holy Father:
“In reflecting on the theme for this year’s gathering, ‘One in Christ: Communal Life Today,’ I would encourage you to consider community life ‘as a place of sanctification and a source of inspiration, witness and strength in your apostolate.’ Indeed, it is precisely through sharing everything in common, including material goods, spiritual experiences, apostolic ideals and charitable service that the hidden presence of the risen Lord is made manifest among you.”
Community Strengthened by Renewal
The National Assembly offered abundant opportunity for the religious leaders to give input and exchange ideas on how to truly live vibrant community life as religious in the United States, in the world, and in the Church today.
In these exchanges, Fr. Bartunek found himself sharing with the other superiors about how the process that the Legionaries had to go through after the crisis of their founder broke—the scandal, the papal visitations, and then their own reform and renewal—has shaped his understanding of communal life, and has shaped the Legionary communities themselves.
“During this process, we had to dig into community life, discussing our shortcomings and our strengths and how we’re going to move forward. It hasn’t been easy, and we’re not perfect, but it seems to have really helped us create an environment in our communities where we’re used to being open about challenges and building those meaningful relationships.”
“The process of renewal, which involved everyone in those conversations, seems to have really helped us in this way,” says Fr. Bartunek. “We are well along the path of having a culture of exchange and deep fraternity, which is very encouraging.”
The Legionaries also continued their tradition of sponsoring an adoration chapel at the conference center, a symbol of their Eucharistic focus and Christ‑centered mission. Throughout the National Assembly, many participants shared with Fr. Bartunek the many meaningful encounters they had had with Regnum Christi members and Legionaries, reinforcing for him a deep spirit of fraternity and hope.
“There was a strong sense of brotherhood and optimism that God is at work.”
Fr. Bartunek took on the role of territorial director for the Legionaries of Christ in North America on July 1, 2026.
Before becoming a Legionary priest, Fr. John received his BA in history from Stanford University in 1990, and worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach, and even spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago. In 1993, however, he heard and followed the call to the priesthood, joining the Legionaries of Christ and subsequently being ordained a priest ten years later in 2003. From 1998 to 2001, he worked in vocations and youth ministry in New England. From 2009 to 2012, he was a professor at the Thornwood Center for Advanced Studies. He earned his doctorate in moral theology in 2010, and from 2015 to 2017, he taught at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.
Fr. John has taught at various ecclesiastical institutions and has served over the years in many apostolates, including the RC Spirituality Center and the Catholic Worldview Fellowship. In his prolific writing apostolate, Fr. John has written and published many online retreat guides, the Uncle Eddy Saint of the Day series, essays, and books including The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer.
For the last six years he has served on the territorial council of the Legionaries of Christ, first as a councilor, then as vicar. As vicar, Fr. John also served as a member of the Territorial Directive College (TDC) of Regnum Christi, the body made up of Legionaries, Consecrated Women, and lay members that collectively governs Regnum Christi in North America.