Congratulations to Irish Legates

John Hunt congratulates Legatus’ Dublin Chapter on their Oct. 11 chartering . . .

John J. Hunt

In the 11th chapter of Luke, Jesus said to his disciples, “Suppose one of you has a friend who goes out at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey, and I have nothing to offer him.’

“He said to his friend in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.”

This was the Gospel reading on Oct. 11, the day that marked the beginning of the Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of Second Vatican Council’s opening. But Oct. 11 was also a momentous day in Legatus’ 25-year history. After many years of apostolic cultivation — and surviving Ireland’s economic reversals of recent years — Legatus’ Dublin Chapter was chartered.

In addition to bringing Legatus and its mission to Europe, Dublin became the first chartered chapter beyond the shores of North America. The chapter’s chaplain Fr. Michael Mullan and Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to Ireland, celebrated the Mass and officiated the induction of the 20 founding CEO members and spouses with words that echoed the persistence inherent in Luke’s gospel.

Legatus pilgrims from the U.S. also shared the joy of the occasion. They came to the Emerald Isle to follow in the footsteps of St. Patrick and Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman — and to visit the sacred places of our Catholic faith.

It wasn’t lost on the members of this new Legatus chapter and their American guests that this great country — the land of Legatus chairman and founder Tom Monaghan’s heritage — is experiencing the same cultural challenges that we face in the U.S. Sadly, in a bold front page headline, The Irish Times announced on chartering day the imminent opening of the first-ever abortion clinic in Northern Ireland.

The Irish culture is under attack, the U.S. culture is under attack, and we members of Legatus — together with the rest of the Church militant — are the army in this battle for souls. May we be unified in faith and persistent in prayer and action.

John Hunt is Legatus’ executive director. He and his wife Kathie are charter members of Legatus’ Chicago Chapter. Watch for a full report on the Dublin Chapter’s chartering in the next issue of Legatus magazine.