Chaplain moves from man’s law to God’s law

Father John McCartney

Long Island Chapter

After five years of practicing law in Manhattan, a young attorney surrendered to God’s call to the priesthood. The founding chaplain of Legatus’ Long Island Chapter, Fr. John McCartney says he heard God’s call while attending daily Mass. He also recounts that he gained a deep understanding and appreciation for Legatus after one of Legatus’ founding fathers, Bowie Kuhn, invited him to his home on Long Island for breakfast.

How did you become a Legatus chaplain?

In 2003, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center on Long Island asked if I’d heard about Legatus, which I had. He knew of Legatus from his time in Boston and was very interested in having a chapter here. He was surprised that a chapter had never been started. I believe this is a little different from the way Legatus chapters are usually founded. This one had the diocesan bishop as its impetus. So, he appointed me as the founding chaplain. We chartered in March 2004.

Why did Bishop Murphy choose you?

I came from the business world myself. I had five years’ practice as an attorney in the city before going into the seminary. I think that’s one of the reasons he chose me.

At the time, I was serving near Bowie Kuhn’s home. He invited me over, introduced me to his wife and then made me breakfast. He told me the story of Tom Monaghan’s idea for Legatus.

He wanted to convey to me that this was not your typical Catholic business organization. This was a program of spiritual development for Catholic business executives. This is not just an organization where people come together to socialize and have a lecture. This is designed to help them love their faith more deeply. And in loving their faith more, they will live their faith better — especially out there in the marketplace.

What do you try bring to the members every month?

I was an adult Catholic layman longer than I have been a priest. As a layman, my experience of the Church was going to Mass and trying to be a person who didn’t leave his Catholicism at the front door of the Church on Sunday. I always wanted to learn something from the homily, to be inspired and challenged by it. I wanted to take something from the homily back into the law firm and apply it. So, when I preach, I’m always aware of that lawyer out there in his mid to late 20s and what he needs.

You had a five-year career as an attorney. How did you discern your vocation?

I grew up in a devout Catholic family. The faith was part of our daily life in the home, but I never once considered being a priest. But when I worked as an attorney, I really began to like the experience of daily Mass. It became an essential part of my life. If the pressures of work prevented me from getting to Mass, it was very upsetting. It ruined my day.

It just came to me one day that maybe He’s asking me to be a priest. I was resistant to it, but the more I thought and prayed, the more I came to a deep inner conviction that God was asking me to be a priest. I said, “Lord if you want me to be a priest, I will say Yes.” Instantly, there was a deep sense that I had found my vocation. Everything clicked into place. From that point on, I have never doubted that this is what he wants me to do.