Chaplain with diverse talents is a mentor to many

Fr. Joseph Cocucci

Wilmington Chapter

A man of diverse talents and interests, Fr. Joseph Cocucci is a mentor to seminarians, young priests, Legatus members and novelist Anne Rice who has come back to the Catholic faith. He serves as vocation director for the Wilmington, Del., diocese and rector of The Cathedral of St. Peter. The founding chaplain of the chapter, Fr. Cocucci’s business background gives him unique insight, which the former Jesuit brings to Legates each month. In addition, he’s a musician and lyricist with a heart for Ignatian spirituality.

How did you first get involved with Legatus?

Some folks were trying to found a chapter in our area a few years ago, and [former Wilmington] Bishop Michael Saltarelli called me in and asked if I would serve as chaplain. I didn’t know anything about Legatus at the time, but I have a background in business. Between my Jesuit years and my diocesan years I worked for MBNA America; it was small company growing into a credit card giant. The bishop must have thought I would be a good match for Legatus.

What do you try to bring to the members every month?

I try to bring them something from the Gospel that pertains to their day-to-day lives with some thoughts on how we can live out the gospel in our professional lives. I try to tailor my homily toward professional folks rather than business folks. We have many members who are professionals, heads of their organizations, who aren’t, strictly speaking, in business. I realize that I am talking to people who have great influence and great resources.

How has your involvement with Legatus affected you?

Legatus just edifies me, knowing that there are people in finance and industry who really take their faith seriously. It builds me up to see people — who are responsible for the lives of so many other people — taking the practice of their faith and the moral teaching of the faith so seriously. It charges my batteries, in a sense, to be with them.

You’ve become a mentor to novelist Anne Rice. How did you meet her?

I met Anne in New Orleans when she was still living there, probably 10 years ago. She had just come back to the faith. We just hit it off. It was a very comfortable exchange, and when she started writing the novels on Christ, we started to communicate a lot more, usually by email. Over the course of the e-mails you wind up not just talking about the matter at hand but also personal things. We just developed a very close relationship and became good friends. She has been a blessing for me; she is a very sound solid, good lady and a loyal Catholic. She helps me gain a different perspective on things and vice-versa.

What are some of your other interests?

I’m not a musician technically. I never took lessons or anything, but I write music sometimes. I was lyricist on an album from a local rock performer who had a good little run with some albums a couple of years ago. But in terms of recreation, I love music. I love live music; I love classical music; I love rock and roll, popular music. I love jazz. I like to see live performers.

One of my real interests is Ignatian spirituality. I was a Jesuit for 10 years and not only does that always help me through my relationship with God, but also I try to tie that into my work. I am going to teach a course on Ignatian spirituality at the Institute of Clergy Formation this summer.