Legatus charters three chapters

Lexington, Orange Canyons and South Bay of Los Angeles charter within two weeks . . . 

Legatus chartered three chapters in the span of two weeks, beginning with a record-setting event in Orange County, Calif., on Nov. 18. The fourth Legatus chapter in Orange County — the Orange Canyons Chapter — reached chartering status with a 41 member couples, besting the New Orleans Chapter’s 37 couples in August 2000.

The South Bay of Los Angeles Chapter chartered on Nov. 21 with 21 couples, followed by the Lexington Chapter on Dec. 1. The three new chapters expand Legatus to a total of 70 chartered active chapters with four others in development.

Orange Canyons Chapter

Orange Canyons

The Orange Canyons black tie chartering event on Nov. 18 began with Mass, celebrated by Bishop Tod Brown of the Orange Diocese, at the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club in Coto De Caza, Calif. Aside from having the largest number of members at its chartering, the chapter also boasts one of the quickest charterings in Legatus history. Members held their first organizational meeting in August, their first official meeting in November, and chartered a month later.

South Bay of Los Angeles Chapter

South Bay of Los Angeles

Members of the fledgling chapter met for the first time in 2007, growing gradually over the years. But after four years of sporadic growth, the South Bay Chapter held its chartering Mass on Nov. 21 at Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez presided over the chapter’s chartering Mass and ceremony. They were joined by Legatus founder Tom Monaghan and executive director John Hunt.

Lexington Chapter

Lexington

Legatus’ lone Kentucky chapter’s steady growth since 2006 led to its chartering on Dec. 1. Led by the chapter’s chaplain, Lexington Bishop Ronald Gainer, members held a joy-filled chartering event on Dec. 1 at St. Peter Claver Parish, continuing the celebration at The Carrick House Restaurant. Bishop Gainer initiated the chapter after a chance meeting with Monaghan in Rome in 2005. Despite the relatively small percentage of Catholics in the diocese (about 3%), Legates and their bishop persevered to draw 20 member couples for the historic event.

Return to this page later in the month for a more detailed report, which will be published in the February issue of Legatus Magazine.

Patrick Novecosky is Legatus Magazine’s editor.