Legatus welcomes its new international chaplain

Bishop Sam Jacobs, Houma-Thibodaux diocese, is no stranger to Legatus and its mission . . .

Bishop Sam Jacobs

International Chaplain

Bishop Sam Jacobs is no stranger to the Legatus family. As the founding chaplain of the Houma-Thibodaux Chapter, the bishop was instrumental in developing the South Louisiana chapter. Known for his warmth as well as his energetic preaching, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1964. As a young priest, he served as pastor of several parishes in the dioceses of Lafayette and Lake Charles before being appointed bishop of Alexandria in 1989. He was installed as the third bishop of Houma-Thibodaux in 2003.

Your chapter was chartered in 2005. How has Legatus been a blessing to your diocese?

It’s been a blessing for me to see our Legatus members having such an openness to developing their spiritual lives. When I first called a meeting of potential members, there was a lot of excitement. They’ve really taken the ball and run with it. Our members are growing in their relationship with God and that is impacting their own families and businesses in different ways. It’s exciting to see their faith growing and to see them being a witness of that to others.

What are some of your most memorable Legatus experiences?

We’ve had a number of great speakers. The ones that have hit the mark have touched a lot of people. They’ve helped members get a different perspective, helping them to grow in their faith.

One of the high points was having [Legatus founder] Tom Monaghan here in June. He had promised to come a year ago, but couldn’t come because of a hurricane. It was good to have him here, allowing the members to build their relationship with him as Legatus’ founder.

What do you hope to bring to Legatus as its new international chaplain?

I’ve already been consulted by John Hunt, Legatus’ executive director. So I expect that I’ll be called upon to share my insights in areas of spirituality and the spiritual formation of chapters or chaplains. We’ll see how things develop.

Our country is going through a difficult time economically and spiritually. What is the remedy?

We need conversion. We’re not going to see much change until people have a conversion experience, come to know what sin is, and recognize their need to give their lives over to the Lord. When a person has a conversion experience, God helps them see life differently. When it happens, they have something to root themselves in, something to build upon.

Until we know Jesus as our personal Lord and savior, we make decisions based upon “what’s in it for me?” But when my life is touched by Jesus, I base my life on “what does God want from me?” The focus is no longer me, but God. That’s what’s needed in this country. For many people, religion is irrelevant because they don’t have any experience of God. He is one of many things in their lives. Until God is not one among many, but becomes the center, something else is going to be their god.

How can Legatus be part of the solution?

We need to help people see the centrality of God — not only to know about God, but to know God in a personal way. Our members have done this. They’ve gone on retreats to experience God in a personal way. The more we can lead people into those moments, the more effective we’re going to be.

Tom Monaghan’s life was changed by a spiritual experience. If not for that spiritual experience, he wouldn’t be where he is today. We need to help our members and others come to a spiritual experience that becomes transforming in their lives.