Legatus grows in Baton Rouge

The Louisiana chapter focuses on teaching and fellowship and sees results

Chaplain Fr. Miles Walsh installs two new couples on June 24

At first glance, it wasn’t clear whether the Baton Rouge Chapter’s summer social was a cheering section for the LSU baseball team or a gathering of Catholic business executives.

As Legates began to arrive for their monthly chapter event, the Louisiana State University Tigers were preparing to go head-to-head with the Texas Longhorns in the College World Series. Members’ conversations alternated between faith and politics, but eventually turned to the evening’s hottest topic … college baseball.

But when the evening’s hosts — Brent and Rhonda Honoré — and the chapter’s chaplain, Fr. Miles Walsh, called members to order, the room went silent as Legatus members quickly focused on the evening’s main event — the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Stunning growth

Since its chartering in 2004, the Baton Rouge Chapter has become one of Legatus’ fastest-growing chapters and a model for chapters across the country. Membership chair Joseph Melançon has his eye on it becoming the largest chapter in the Legatus family by providing a quality experience for members and guests.

Legatus founder Tom Monaghan speaks to the Baton Rouge Chapter at its June 24 summer social

“The most immediate aspect of recruitment and retention is that you have to deliver a quality product month in and month out,” he said. “As a local board, we have worked hard on seeking out new members to make sure that they feel like they’re part of the group. The old cliché is true: enthusiasm is contagious. Our members’ enthusiasm is contagious, and consequently it has spilled over to everyone.”

Chapter president Charlie Schutte agrees.

“We make an effort to make our guests feel welcome,” he explained. “Prospective members have been very impressed with the quality of the meetings and the substance of the speakers. Our members have worked hard to identify potential members and let them know about Legatus.”

That kind of concerted effort has been effective. At a time when some chapters are losing members due to the difficult economy, Baton Rouge is bucking the trend. In a city of 227,000 people, the chapter boasts 106 members, with 22 of them joining this year.

Ronnie LaBorde, who served as the chapter’s first president, says the key to sustaining growth in troubled times is staying true to Legatus’ mission.

“As a CEO, you have the opportunity to be involved in a lot of things,” he explained, “but from my first Legatus meeting, it was different in two ways — the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and your spouse was always part of the evening. So Legatus isn’t just another group. It’s the Mass, people with the similar interests, the spiritual nourishment, and quality speakers that you don’t ordinarily have access to.”

Spiritual nourishment

Fr. Miles Walsh

Founding chaplain Fr. Miles Walsh was instrumental in developing a chapter in Baton Rouge. He gathered prospective members together with a few existing members at his parish in 2003. The excitement for Legatus was immediate, he said, and continues to grow — especially around the sacraments.

“There’s a real sense of fraternity at Communion,” he said. “We’re pretty faithful to the rosary and confession before Mass.”

Legatus pilgrimages and annual summits have also been key to Legatus’ growth in Baton Rouge.

“Once you begin to attend summits, you begin to see the spirit behind Legatus and its potential,” Fr. Walsh said, “And you also get a deeper understanding of what Legatus is really about.”

Melançon shares that sentiment.

“I thought that I was a good Catholic,” he said. “Then [my wife] Paula and I went to a summit, then a pilgrimage. After rubbing elbows with other members, I realized how much I really had to learn. This has been a fabulous learning experience for me. I get so much out of Legatus every month that I want other people to be a part of it.”

Patrick Novecosky is the editor of Legatus Magazine. To learn more about Legatus in Baton Rouge, visit the chapter’s website: www.legatusbr.org