Rejuvenating Michigan's capital

Legatus founder Tom Monaghan helps the Lansing Chapter charter in style on Nov. 6 . . .

Tom Monaghan

After years of hard work, Legatus members in Michigan’s capital celebrated in style with a Nov. 6 chartering ceremony – almost exactly two years to the day that a small group of eager prospects met for the first time.

Legatus founder Tom Monaghan joined the chapter’s 43 charter members to celebrate the event at the Country Club of Lansing. He met with board members at a private reception prior to the chartering Mass, celebrated by chaplain Monsignor Steven J. Raica and assisted by Deacon David A. Drayton, a member of the chapter. Monaghan also delivered an address to members during the evening’s program.

The chartering marked the first new chapter in Michigan since the Ann Arbor Chapter chartered in 2005.

Faith formation

Legate Kellie Dean and his wife Marilyn were among the 12 couples who gathered at Bishop Earl Boyea’s residence on Nov. 8, 2011, for the first meeting of Legatus in Lansing.

Kellie Dean

Dean, president of the newly chartered chapter, said Legatus has given him a tremendous opportunity to learn and share his faith with others.

“I see the opportunity for us to lead by example, to live our faith, to share our faith and to live a Catholic Christian life that will inspire others to realize the importance of God in our everyday lives,” he said.

Dean, who is president and CEO of Dean Transportation, also lauded Legatus’ monthly meeting concept — a regular opportunity for Confession, rosary, Mass, fellowship, dinner and speaker.

“I have learned so much,” he said. “The speakers we’ve heard over the past year, the quality time I have spent in reflection, and being truly focused on this one-night-per-month of renewing my faith is really personally rewarding. This is a time-out for me because I can plan on Mass — and I don’t let anything get involved in my calendar.”

Paul A. Long, president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference, joined Legatus nine months ago. He concurs with Dean’s assessment of Legatus’ ability to form business leaders in the Catholic faith.

“It’s provided a great sense of camaraderie with others in the community and in helping each other grow in our faith,” he explained. “It’s provided a great sense of personal growth in the faith, even in the short time we’ve been members.”

Spiritual fuel

Deacon Drayton, who was also part of the chapter’s founding meeting in 2011, said Legatus chapter events have brought him spiritual rejuvenation.

Legatus’ newly chartered Lansing Chapter

“It’s a place where you can openly talk about your Catholic faith and Jesus Christ being your savior — and the fact that we are supposed to evangelize,” he explained. “It’s a place where we can feel comfortable about our faith and get reinforced by the Holy Spirit, by the camaraderie, by Mass, to go out tomorrow and put on the armor of the Holy Spirit and to carry that banner, which is what we’re supposed to do.”

Monsignor Raica concurred.

“The sense of enthusiasm Legatus members have is personally inspiring — to see that there’s something that clicks in their lives,” he said. “One person at the end said to me how refreshing it is for them to come to a place where they can talk about Christ, their faith, and the Church and feel right at home about doing it. If this is a place that’s going to nourish them and help them be excited about the faith, then let’s do it! This will spill over not just on Sundays, but in the day-to-day work they do.”

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