By Stephanie Tracy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/20/02)
Charter members and their spouses began the evening with a Mass celebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Vienna. Dinner and a speaker followed at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Tysons Corner.
Bishop Loverde presided over the induction ceremony.
In his homily, the bishop expressed his "great joy" at being present for the chartering of the Arlington chapter of Legatus.
"I am encouraged by the presence of so many professionals who wish to live the message of Christ fully and in association with Legatus," Bishop Loverde said.
The bishop reminded the new members of Legatus of Scripture’s call to holiness, and quoted from Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter, "On the New Millenium."
"In the words of our Holy Father, ‘[T]his ideal of perfection must not be misunderstood as if it involved some kind of extraordinary existence, possible only for a few ‘uncommon heroes’ of holiness. The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual,’" the bishop said.
Later in the evening, Tom Monaghan, founder of Legatus, addressed the chapter at its first dinner meeting at the Ritz-Carlton.
After describing how Legatus was first formed, Monaghan compared it to other Catholic organizations and groups.
"So many groups are formed and they have to be for or about something; they have to be about vocations, or for pro-life," he said. "Legatus is about the individuals that make it up; it’s about the peer support the members receive from each other."
Bishop Loverde urged the group to go out to be light, salt and yeast in the world, and commended them to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in his closing remarks of the evening.
Father Robert J. Rippy, diocesan chancellor, who will serve as the chaplain to the Arlington chapter of Legatus, offered the benediction.
Legatus, which means "ambassador" in Latin, is the brainchild of Monaghan, former owner and CEO of Domino’s Pizza. Monaghan developed the idea for a group for Catholic businessmen after receiving inspiration from a meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1987. Legatus now includes over 1,400 businesses in 44 chapters across the United States and internationally.
"Legatus is designed to be a place where top-tier Catholic executives can get together in an environment free of solicitation," said Gregory Floyd, Northeast Regional director of Legatus. "It’s about giving them the opportunity to spend time with other Catholic couples who understand the challenges of running your own business."
Members benefit from open discussion of business issues and ethics in the marketplace, as well as the opportunity to make valuable networking contacts and fellowship with other Catholic businessmen.
"What I see most often in my experience of Legatus, is that acquaintances become relationships, and relationships become fond friendships," Floyd said.
Monthly meetings include Mass and a dinner speaker. Topics cover a range of issues relating to faith, family and business.
"We’d been looking at a chapter in this area, specifically Arlington, and the time was finally right," Floyd said. "And it’s a great diocese to be a part of."
Benefits to the community stem from the personal member benefits, Floyd said.
"Legatus provides a unique education for its members; by helping them become more articulate, more convinced, more courageous Catholics, we are helping the individuals, their families, their parishes," Floyd said. "It’s the philosophy that the more I know, the more I can give."
Chapters meet on a monthly basis. Membership in Legatus is divided into three levels: primary, secondary and intermediate. Primary membership includes chairmen; presidents; CEOs; owners; managing directors; managing partners; or publishers of businesses with 30 employees; or those with 10 employees and a $1 million annual payroll; all must have a volume of $3 million. Secondary membership includes all of the above with the additional eligibility of executive vice presidents. Intermediate membership applies to applicants who are under the age of 45.
The next meeting of the Arlington chapter of Legatus will take place on July 23. The scheduled speaker will be Robert Royal from the Faith and Reason Institute who will speak on 20th century Catholic martyrs. For more information contact Brian Rubino, Arlington chapter coordinator, at 703-669-4300.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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