Deep Catholic roots

Members of Legatus’ newest chapter say they’re ready to be witnesses to Christ in the marketplace — and the members of their growing, newly chartered chapter will help them do just that.

Bishop Glen John Provost speaks to Legates

“It’s exciting to know that there are so many people willing to get together to talk about their faith,” said Bruce Bordlee, a founding member of the Lake Charles Chapter in Louisiana.

Changing the culture

As Legatus’ sixth chapter in the Bayou State, Lake Charles chartered with 23 member-couples on Jan. 19, just three months after its first chapter event.

The budding chapter grew quickly with extensive support from the neighboring Lafayette-Acadiana Chapter and Bishop Glen John Provost of the Lake Charles diocese. The chapter began organizational meetings in the summer, leading up to its first event on Oct. 13.

The chapter is organized differently than others: It has a smaller board including a chairman, treasurer and program director. The chapter coordinator position includes a more robust list of duties.

The chartering event began with Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles, a city with an urban population of 132,000 people located halfway between Houston and Baton Rouge.

Bishop Provost celebrated the Mass. Concelebrating priests included Legatus’ international chaplain Bishop Sam Jacobs, chaplain Fr. Jeffrey Starkovich (see March Chaplain article), and Fr. Ruben Buller.

“We cannot underestimate the difference that a Catholic presence can make in the professional and business world,” Bishop Provost told members during a question-and-answer session after dinner at The Pioneer Club.

“I’ve seen it with done in a very effective way to bring Catholic values to an increasingly secular world, which reminds people that there are values more important than the material. That’s where Legatus has great value.”

Legatus is a very natural fit in an area with deep Catholic roots, said Bishop Provost, whose family was among the area’s first settlers 300 years ago.

Spreading the faith

Growth in numbers and in individual members’ faith lives is essential to Legatus, Lafayette Chapter founding president Craig Henry told Legates during the after-dinner portion of the program.

“Our faith must become a way of life,” he said. “People will see that and they will feed on it. Use what Legatus offers you. Legatus offers so much more than just a date night once a month.”

Michael Nodier

Michael Nodier, Lake Charles’ founding chairman, echoed those sentiments.

“There are times when people ask me about Catholicism or religion,” he explained. “I always want to be prepared with an answer. An organization like Legatus will allow me to be better prepared to do that in the future.”

Jon Yokubaitis, who joined right after the chapter’s initial meeting, said Legatus is a dynamic organization in step with the New Evangelization.

“Legatus brings together people from throughout the community and helps them not to be afraid to live their faith in the business world,” he said. “It’s faith formation that they might not otherwise get.”

PATRICK NOVECOSKY is Legatus magazine’s editor-in-chief.