In gratitude to Bishop Sam Jacobs

Throughout my eight years with Legatus as both central regional director and executive director, I have had the pleasure of witnessing several individuals who have taken the Legatus mission to heart in an exceptional manner and have gone above and beyond in their help and service to the organization in some truly remarkable ways. Bishop Sam Jacobs, bishop emeritus of Houma-Thibodaux, is certainly one of those individuals and his numerous contributions to Legatus over the past two decades have had a profoundly positive impact on our organization.

Bishop Jacobs is most widely recognized throughout Legatus for his role as international chaplain, which he held for the past 11 years, from his appointment in 2009 until his recent retirement at the end of 2020. However, his involvement in Legatus reaches back to 2005 when he was a key driving force in the founding and chartering of the Houma-Thibodaux Chapter. Serving as the Chapter’s founding chaplain, Bishop Jacobs played a significant role in leading the fledgling group from its first meeting to chartering in only seven months. In November, 2005, Bishop Jacobs presided over the Chapter’s chartering ceremony where no less than 42 members were inducted.

Four years later, Bishop Jacobs was asked to serve as Legatus’ international chaplain. His devotion and passion for the organization, so clearly demonstrated in Houma-Thibodaux, were the perfect model for the other chapter chaplains to emulate. Our governors also began to benefit from Bishop Jacobs’ wisdom and experience when he assumed an ex-officio seat on Legatus’ International Board as part of his new role.

For the next decade, embracing his position wholeheartedly, Bishop Jacobs faithfully encouraged and assisted the chaplains in their own roles, which in turn strengthened the faith of the members throughout the organization. This is what the Legatus mission is all about, and why our chaplains are so important. As we look to doctors to tend to our physical health, we look to our priests for assistance with our spiritual health. And within Legatus, that means our chapter chaplains. We depend on them for their guidance, support, wisdom and, above all, the sacraments, which are the primary way that we grow in holiness and advance along the path to salvation. For this reason, it is impossible to overstate the importance of the Legatus chapter chaplains and, indeed, our international chaplain.

I would like to sincerely thank and honor Bishop Jacobs for his tireless service to our organization over these many years. I can say with certainty that the Legatus chaplains, governors, members, and staff have all been extremely blessed by his faithful witness and his generous support. 

STEPHEN M. HENLEY is Legatus’ executive director.