Legatus Magazine March 2022

MARCH 2022 JOURNEY TO HEAVEN EDITION ANUEETDHEEDNTTIOC SMTEENP ‘INTO THE BREACH’ FROM ATHLETICS TO THE ALTAR OF GOD A LEGATE RECALLS HIS COMING ‘HOME’ SUMMIT EAST 2022: A ROUSING ROUNDUP COVID-19 AND CONSCIENCE Paul Kengor LET GOD SURPRISE YOU Fr. Gerald Murray A FINAL INDULGENCE Marie T. Hilliard

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03•22 INSIDE VOL 35 • NO 3 10 MARCHING ORDERS FOR AUTHENTICALLY MASCULINE MEN by Gerald Korson A Knights of Columbus video series echoes bishop’s call to enter ‘the breach’ 16 20 24 ADOBE STOCK ROSTER CHANGES: A LEGATE’S DYNAMIC SPEAKERS ATHLETICS TO LONG-DELAYED INFORM, INSPIRE APOSTOLIC WORK HOMECOMING SUMMIT ATTENDEES by Trent Beattie by Jim Graves by Gerald Korson These men hung up their cleats Seattle Chapter’s president Didn’t make it to Amelia Island? for vocations to priestly ministry Here’s a taste of what you missed 5Marerchca20l2ls2 ‘r|eversion’ to th|e Fleagaittuhs.org

MORE PAGE 08PRESIDENT’S DESK 39 SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO Stephen M. Henley: Optimistic signs for 2022 39FEEDING THE FOODIE Chef Neil Fusco’s 10-minute Baked 09GUEST VOICE Chef Neil Fusco: Baked Italian Eggs Italian Eggs provide a quick and easy Gerald Korson: A Summit to remember 48FIVE MINUTES meal for breakfast or any meal that 26ETHICS MATTERS Fred and Jane Topor: 2021 AMBY Award is sure to delight Paul Kengor: Covid-19 and conscience rights 50 MEET THE CHAPLAIN discriminating palates. 28CULTURE OF LIFE Fr. Marinello Saguin: South Bay L.A. Chapter COVER: SHUTTERSTOCK Marie T. Hilliard: The apostolic blessing 30BEST PRACTICES Laura Sacha: Get top speakers for 2023 32 FAITH MATTERS Fr. Gerald Murray: Growing closer to God 34ENGAGING THE FAITH Steven R. Hemler: Sustained through joblessness 37WHAT TO SEE St. Joseph: Our Spiritual Father 38 HEALTH MATTERS Karen Martin: Innovations in eye care BOARD OF GOVERNORS Berni Neal Randall W. Hammond Diana Parent President Thomas S. Monaghan Orange County Denver Fort Wayne Stephen M. Henley Ann Arbor Secretary Advent Capital Parke Group International Chaplain Legatus Troy L. King S. Craig Henry James P. Sarni Bishop Frank Caggiano Founder, Chairman & CEO Orlando Lafayette-Acadiana Pasadena Bishop of Diocese of Bridgeport Dentistry for Children Bradford Food Group Payden & Rygel Ecclesiastical Advisor Christopher S. McMahon Treasurer Jerry R. Jones Mark R. Scalise Archbishop José H. Gomez Pittsburgh Sean J. Bellew Indianapolis Jupiter-Palm Beach Archbishop of Los Angeles MFA Wealth, LLC Philadelphia Cannon IV Scalise Industries Corporation President, United States Conference Vice Chairman Bellew, LLC of Catholic Bishops LEGATUS MISSION STATEMENT: Editor Christine Valentine-Owsik Comments, queries and address changes: Legatus magazine is published 12 times per To study, live, and spread the Design  Shawna Kunz, Lime Design Legatus Magazine year by Legatus, a membership organization Catholic faith in our business, Editorial Consultant  Gerald Korson PO Box 444 of Catholic presidents and CEOs. professional, and personal lives. Contributing Writer  Judy Roberts Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0444 © 2022 Legatus Contributing Writer  Jim Graves [email protected] All rights reserved Contributing Writer Patti Armstrong Phone: 866-534-2887 Contributing Writer Trent Beattie Copy Editor  Nancy Carabio Belanger To advertise, contact: [email protected] Advertising Sales Representative Joe Giacalone

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PRESIDENT’S STEPHEN M. HENLEY ST. MATILDA DESK (892-968) After a powerful Summit, optimistic signs for 2022 FEAST DAY: MARCH 14 CANONIZED: BY ACCLAMATION PATRON OF MOTHERS WITH DISAPPOINTING CHILDREN 2022 HAS COME IN WITH A BANG.  is our President of the Year. For a full listing Saint Matilda was queen of A phenomenal Summit of awards recipients, see p. 25 of this issue Germany and wife of King featuring top-notch speakers, or Networks. Henry I. She lived a life of piety including keynotes from In addition to a powerful Summit, Legatus hit and service to the poor, and she Gov. Ron DeSantis, the ground running with 45 new members in the helped build many churches Sen. Marco Rubio, and actor month of January. Legatus has not seen numbers and monasteries. Jonathan Roumie from this high since October 2018. Certainly, this is a The Chosen. Five hundred sign of Legatus pulling out of this pandemic as She grew up and forty members, exhibitors, well as of our members’ hunger for community. in Herford and staff gathered in In addition, Legatus continues to trend more Abbey and was Amelia Island, FL, for than 10 percent higher in renewals than ever raised by her what was the second-largest before. As I write this column, Legatus is at grandmother, Summit in Legatus history. the cusp of surpassing 88 percent renewed. who was the With liturgies that showcased In 2021, Legatus reached 85 percent, which was abbess. our faith’s beauty along with monumental given how much we were impacted At the abbey, the camaraderie of family being an organization based on the “in person” she learned a on top of riveting talks, the experience. I am grateful for our new members love for prayer Summit fulfilled its purpose as well as to those who have stuck with Legatus COMMUNION OF and spiritual of uplifting our members and through such hard and unprecedented times. SAINTS reading as recharging our batteries that A few goals for Legatus in 2022 are: 90 percent or have been worn down so much higher renewals, 400 or more new members, and well as for over these past two years. five or more new chapters.  embroidery. At age 17, she left On the opening day, the You may have noticed a name appearing more the convent for an arranged Jacksonville Chapter hosted often in our magazine: Gerald Korson. Gerald, an marriage to Henry the Fowler a group of us at the Shrine of editorial consultant and staff writer, is temporarily of Saxony, who became Our Lady of la Leche, which serving as acting editor of Legatus magazine while King Henry I of Germany in was recently consecrated as an editor Christine Valentine-Owsik continues to 919. Henry was 17 years her official shrine of the Catholic recover from a severe case of pneumonia. Please senior and quite wealthy; his Church. Many thanks are due keep Chris and her family in your prayers. Chris previous marriage had been to the Jacksonville Chapter for plans to return to her witty columns sometime in annulled. He and Matilda bore their hospitality. the spring. two daughters and three sons. Legatus presented several 2021 Once again, I extend a heartful thanks to One son, Otto, despite a rivalry awards to truly inspirational everyone who attended or was involved with the over the throne with brother and impressive people. We Summit. It is uplifting to witness the talks and Henry, went on to become king presented the Cardinal John connections made at the Summit, but also to of Germany and Holy Roman J. O’Connor Defender of the move forward from a pandemic with optimistic Emperor after his father’s Faith Award to Gov. DeSantis, determination. L death. The third son, Bruno, and the Ambassador of the became archbishop of Cologne. Year award to Fred and Jane STEPHEN M. HENLEY Topor of the Jupiter-Palm Beach is Legatus’ president. When Henry I died in 936, the Chapter. Father Richard Vigoa widowed Matilda resolved to of the Miami Chapter is our give up the things of the world. Chaplain of the Year, and Mike Although she lived another Huhn of the Cincinnati Chapter 32 years, she never remarried. Giving up her inheritance to her sons, she entered Quedlinburg Abbey, which she had built. When she died, she was buried next to Henry I. L — Jim Graves 8March 2022 | | legatus.org

MARK YOUR GUEST GERALD KORSON CALENDARS VOICE SOLEDLAPCORAILUM25ITN-MOAYP3I,L2G02R2IM| SAPGAIEN Couldn’t make the Summit? You should have been there MEXICO FAMILY PILGRIMAGE JUNE 10-13, 2022 MEXICO CITY, MEXICO COOPER CLINIC SUMMIT EAST 2022 WAS MY provide mere intellectual titillation, although there first. I pray it will not be my last. was plenty of that to go around; rather, there was EXECUTIVE PHYSICAL I was invited to attend at the the ever-present element of a call to action: Here is AUGUST 3-5, 2022 | DALLAS, TX eleventh hour to fill in for what we believe, and here is what we see happening Christine Valentine-Owsik, in our church, our families, our communities, our who has taken health leave. nation, our world. How ought we respond? Occasionally I had to explain OBERAMMERGAU my role and her absence The presentation topics varied, but their themes PILGRIMAGE to Legates at the Summit. were beautifully interlaced. Evangelization. I was reminded of what The common good. Care for the needy. AUGUST 22-30, 2022 Thomas Jefferson, after he Forgiveness. Healing. Mercy. Innovation. BAVARIA & AUSTRIA was appointed U.S. foreign Transforming the culture. Restoring the family. minister to France in 1785, Leading souls to Christ. SOSEPLTDEMBOOERBU2E7TR-OPACITMLOGMBREERIMR5,GA2A0G2UE2 would say when asked if he was the replacement to the And the call went out to the assembled Legatus BAVARIA beloved former diplomat members. Will you put your particular gifts to Benjamin Franklin: “No one use in supporting these endeavors? With your SOLD MEN’S ENCLAVE can replace him, Sir; I am only entrepreneurial skills, can you help arrive at his successor.” Please rest bold, innovative strategies for reaching out to OUTOCTOBER 25-28, 2022 assured I am neither Christine’s fallen-away Catholics, for creating newer and CLOUD CAMP successor nor her replacement; more effective models of Catholic education COLORADO SPRINGS, CO I am merely holding the fort and parish ministries, for strengthening and until she returns. rebuilding the two-parent family and the WOMEN’S ENCLAVE I met several other first-timers domestic church? Will you support good values- who were actual Legates. affirming causes, provide care for the poor NOVEMBER 7-9, 2022 They were as pumped about among us, stand up for truth and the common THE BROADMOOR the Summit as I was. good in the public square, and serve as agents I found myself describing of Christ’s healing and mercy in the world? COLORADO SPRINGS, CO my experience as akin to a professional and spiritual NORTHEAST GALA retreat. The commonality This is a call to greatness. among attendees in our fervent DECEMBER 9, 2022 commitment to Catholic faith Legatus is not an enclave for the remnant; UNION LEAGUE CLUB and values was palpable. there was no bunker mentality at the Summit. NEW YORK CITY, NY We were allies in our Rather it was a muster for the battlefield, an urgent convictions and in our summons to engage in spiritual and temporal 2023 SUMMIT perspectives on family and warfare against the forces of darkness and culture. Our souls and spirits confusion. It was also a reminder to live proactively FEBRUARY 9-11, 2023 were nourished through as ambassadors of Christ’s love and peace to others. FOUR SEASONS RESORT ORLANDO the daily offering of Mass, Confessions, the rosary, and ORLANDO, FL eucharistic adoration. BURGUNDY: This is the work of Legates. This is Legatus. DECANTING THE FAITH If you missed the 2022 Summit, make plans now APRIL 18-25, 2023 for the 2023 Summit next February. I’ll hope to BURGUNDY REGION OF FRANCE FOR MORE INFORMATION: meet you there. L [email protected] Without exception, the keynote GERALD KORSON is an editorial consultant OR CALL 866-534-2887 and general session speakers and staff writer for Legatus magazine. were stimulating, informative, and inspiring. They did not He is serving temporarily as acting editor. 9March 2022 | | legatus.org

An urgent call to enter ‘the breach’ It’s time for Catholic men to step up the practice of their faith and assume their proper leadership roles in their families, in the Church, and in society by gerald korson ADOBE STOCK 10 March 2022 | | legatus.org

What does it mean to be “masculine,” to be a “real man”? In popular culture, masculinity is often confused with mere machismo, expressed variously in brute strength, aggression, alcohol intake, even coarse language or behaviors. Authentic masculinity, however, is something different. Men are called to be strong, but from a Christian perspective this strength must be rooted in virtue, a commitment to pursue goodness and justice in sacrificial service to others — which is a naturally masculine inclination. 11March 2022 | | legatus.org

“We want to be heroes,” said Matt We see the effects in statistics Curtis Martin challenge of living their Birk, a former All-Pro NFL center on divorce, fatherlessness, and attack; in TV shows and vocation “to do the work of who won a Super Bowl with the rudderless youths who stray from movies, and by militant Christ’s soldiers in the world Baltimore Ravens. “We want to the Faith for lack of a solid male feminism. The answer is not today.” fight for someone, for a cause.” role model. In today’s confused to destroy masculinity; it is For men, that work involves Yet many men, even Catholic culture, challenges to authentic to evangelize.” being a provider, a protector, men, fail to fulfill their masculinity are more formidable By God’s grace and building and a spiritual leader in leadership potential. They don’t than ever — and hence the need virtue, said Martin, “men can the family, the Church, in take seriously their baptismal for real men of faith to step up. take their rightful place as society, and in the business call to holiness and the growth “Our modern culture has us servant leaders in the home, community. Those roles in virtue that entails. As a at war with our very selves,” in business, and in the Church.” necessarily involve self-denial result, they relinquish their said Curtis Martin, founder Birk and Martin were among and self-sacrifice — servant natural leadership roles and and CEO of Fellowship of Catholic leaders interviewed leadership. allow lukewarmness and Catholic University Students for Into the Breach, a 10-episode niggling vices to rule them. (FOCUS) and a Legate of the video series produced by the MASCULINITY AND They neglect their God-given Denver Chapter. “For nearly Knights of Columbus. BROTHERHOOD responsibilities, especially as a generation, authentic The series keys off a 2015 husbands and fathers. masculinity has been under pastoral letter by Bishop True masculinity also requires Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix men to support one another Matt Birk PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS in which he challenges all like a “band of brothers”: men Catholic men to rise to the 12March 2022 | | legatus.org

need other men of faith to PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Sompaul Vorapanich Husbands and fathers must help them become better men Yet men “have lost the sense protect their families against through mutual accountability. That’s the kind of mutual of mission when it comes to these evils. Proverbs states this well: “Iron support and accountability family,” and “that passivity “The battle that we’re facing is sharpens iron, and one man every Catholic man needs in robs men of what their role is really a battle for the very soul sharpens another” (27:17). Men his life, he said. supposed to be,” said Tim Gray, of the family,” said Catholic of similar ideals will challenge “A great Catholic friend is president of the Denver-based author and speaker Jason one another to greater heights someone who is not afraid to Augustine Institute. Evert. “The way that we need to and support one another tell you when you’re wrong, Saint Paul compares the engage that as men is through through difficult times. when you’re doing something relationship between husband our presence, through rejecting Sompaul Vorapanich, who that’s not aligned with your and wife to that of Christ’s that temptation to retreat served in U.S. Army Special faith, or when you’re doing sacrificial love for his Church. from the battlefield altogether.” Forces in Afghanistan, something that’s unethical,” he Strong families are such a The Catholic father’s role “is knows firsthand the kind of said. “They’re the ones that are necessary good in our world decisive, it’s indispensable, camaraderie and trust that a going to pick you up when you that the forces of evil are it’s irreplaceable,” said Scott platoon of soldiers must share fall… They’re the ones that are busy trying to destroy them. Hahn, theology professor in order to complete a mission going to push you to move past at Franciscan University of successfully. your limits when you need [it].” Steubenville. Men of God “From my military experience, must “rise up and accept the standing ‘in the breach’ is the FATHERHOOD AND FAMILY grace and the challenge to be most dangerous part of any faithful husbands, to be loving mission,” said Vorapanich. fathers, to be sacrificial servant “There have been multiple leaders.” times that I was in a firefight, knowing that the person to my Scott Hahn ‘twelve’ and the person to my ‘six’ was a brother that I could rely on.” “Greater love has no man than PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” Jesus said (John 15:13). Perhaps nowhere is that love called for more urgently than in marriage and family. PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 13March 2022 | | legatus.org

SERVANT LEADERSHIP to prepare them to become mature and responsible Jesus, of course, is our model Catholic adults. He must do this of servant leadership and with his words, but above all humility. He demonstrated this by his lived example of prayer, servant leadership throughout virtue, and service. intensity matters His life, but most remarkably at the Last Supper when He A servant leader gives his life Clarence Gilyard is an actor perhaps best known for his washed His apostles’ feet. for others, willing even to die television role in Walker, Texas Ranger. His stardom came at a It was an “example,” Jesus told for them. Every man must “die price, however, as he slipped into patterns of marital infidelity them, of how they must serve to himself” daily by sacrificing and addiction. His life had fame and fortune, but no real one another. his own wants for his family. meaning. When a friend invited him to Mass, he was so inspired by When we model the ‘‘Jesus, of course, is the liturgy that he soon entered the catechumenate process. service and humility our model of servant Baptized in 1995, he now speaks openly of his Catholic faith. of Christ, we inspire leadership and humility During the peak of his career, “I was working seven days a others to follow us and, week,” Gilyard said. “You have to put that kind of intensity into hopefully, to draw closer striving to be the spiritual leader of your family.” to Christ. PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Clarence Gilyard “Service is strong in So, a masculine man must its meekness and zeal do spiritual warfare, both to combined together, that you strengthen his personal virtue serve a cause that’s higher as well as to defend and protect than yourself,” said Cameron those under their care. If Satan Thompson of the Virtuous can lure men into infidelity, Leadership Institute. “We are addiction, irresponsibility, or all called to be leaders, to really complacency, odds are better achieve greatness in whatever that his wife or children could sphere that you’re called to.” tumble like dominoes. A man must teach and direct his children to form them in faith, in character, and 14March 2022 | | legatus.org

Scripture speaks of the fight popes and saints have called Jesus, our model against sin using military a “weapon” against sin. for masculinity language. “Put on the armor of Legatus CEO Tom Monaghan’s God so that you may be able to recommended practice of Tres Every man, particularly today, must come to a mature stand firm against the tactics Magna — daily Mass, daily acceptance and understanding of what it means to be a of the devil,” writes St. Paul rosary, monthly Confession — man. This may seem obvious, but in our world, there are (Eph 6:11). Popes and saints is a commendable aim in this many distorted images and much evidence of confusion have echoed this imagery, effort. regarding what true masculinity is. We can say that for the urging us to use God’s grace first time in history, people have become either so confused and prayer as our “weapons” THE RIGHT KIND or so arrogant as to attempt to dictate their masculinity or in this battle. OF SERVANTHOOD “Not only does God have a plan femininity according to their own definitions… for your life, but so does Satan,” In every role, men must put Nowhere else can we find the fullness of masculinity as we said Bishop Olmsted in Into the on the mantle of servant Breach. “And I see a real need leadership and wear it well, do in the Son of God. Only in Jesus Christ can we find the to make people aware of this modeled after Jesus. highest display of masculine virtue and strength that we battle that we’re engaged in, “We who follow Him, we need in our personal lives and in society itself. What was that it’s a real battle.” have to be both,” said Fr. Paul visible in Christ’s earthly life leads to the invisible mystery of Sullivan, vocations director for His divine Sonship and redemptive mission. The Father sent FAITH, PRAYER, the Phoenix diocese. “If we are His Son to reveal what it means to be a man, and the fullness AND SACRAMENTS just ‘leader,’ we’re susceptible of this revelation becomes evident on the Cross. He tells us to pride. If we’re just ‘servant,’ that it was for this reason that He came into the world, that it Don O’Mara, featured in an we also can be susceptible to Into the Breach video, knows mediocrity. I must hold them is His earnest desire to give Himself totally to us. the battle well. He experienced both.” Herein lies the fullness of masculinity; years of sin and addiction. Thompson said men must After helping a girlfriend avoid the kind of “false each Catholic man must be prepared to give himself obtain an abortion, he realized humility” that leads to being completely, to charge into the breach, to engage in spiritual the gravity of his actions and a “pushover,” to abdicating the turned his life around. Prayer true strength and authority combat, to defend women, children, and others against and the sacraments became they need to lead effectively. the wickedness and snares of the devil! his treasured allies. — Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, from Into the Breach: Confession, he said, is “the “Leadership today is a service An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men, greatest weapon against the because leadership itself is devil,” while the Eucharist humility and magnanimity my Spiritual Sons in the Diocese of Phoenix (2015) “strengthens your armor as a in action,” he said. “That is to man.” A sacramental marriage say, pursuing and achieving and daily prayer provide greatness by bringing out the strength so that “we can fight greatness in those I lead.” any battle.” O’Mara advised: “Don’t give an Great leadership, he inch to the enemy. Stay strong.” emphasized, begins with self- Birk, the ex-NFL star, said it’s mastery and virtue — and that not just a matter of playing requires action. defense, either. “We have to attack Satan,” he said. “We don’t “We may like the idea of sit back and just try to ward virtuous leadership. We may him off, but we go forward with be inspired by the idea of going our faith. We put on the armor ‘into the breach,’” Thompson of God and every single day try said. “But so long as we remain to slay that dragon.” sitting in our chairs and not Catholic men therefore should jumping in, we remain just participate in Mass and spectators. We’re not engaging eucharistic adoration as much in the fight.”  L as possible, read Scripture, and PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS pray the rosary — something GERALD KORSON, editorial consultant for Legatus magazine, is based in Indiana. March 2022 | Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted 15 | legatus.org

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Fr. Alan Benander Fr. Joseph Freedy Fr. Joe Fitzgerald These ‘apostolic athletes’ are fit for Heaven Organized sports, which St. Paul viewed as a means to train in virtue, have produced their share of priestly vocations By Trent Beattie 17March 2022 | | legatus.org

Despite the many problems associated with organized sports, they can serve as excellent training grounds for virtue. This is something many Catholic laymen have experienced—as well as many priests. Each of these athletes became “apostolic” when ordained by a bishop who could trace his ecclesiastical lineage back to one of the original pillars of the early Church. In fact, some bishops Through Marian prayer, Cunningham discovered his priestly Despite being paid to play a themselves are known for calling and was ordained in 2018. After spending three years at game he loved, Hilgenbrinck their athleticism. Bishop John the National Shrine of Saint Alphonsus Liguori in Baltimore, he sensed that he should be doing Barres of Rockville Centre, NY, was assigned to the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima in Pequannock something else with his life. played guard on the junior Township, NJ, the unofficial home of The Latin Mass magazine. Unwilling to simply enter the varsity basketball team at the Also counted among today’s “baseball priests” are Fr. Burke seminary to see what he might University of Princeton, while Masters and Fr. Alan Benander, O.Praem. Father Masters played do with his life, he made sure— Bishop Thomas Paprocki of at Mississippi State University and has been a priest in the as far as it was possible for him Springfield, IL, plays goalie on Diocese of Joliet, IL, since 2002. Among his duties has been to know—that he was indeed a hockey team to this day. serving as the Chicago Cubs’ Catholic chaplain. called to be a priest. Once that was settled in his mind, he IN THE BIG INNING Father Alan Benander played baseball at John Carroll University hung up the cleats, became and was ordained for the Order or Premonstratensians a seminarian, and was then Of all sports, baseball (commonly known as the Norbertines) of Saint Michael’s Abbey ordained for the Diocese of seems to have produced a in Silverado, CA, in 2013. He has offered Mass for MLB teams and Peoria, IL in 2014. preponderance of priestly has assisted at Mike Sweeney’s Catholic Baseball Camp, where Other men who have vocations. This could be due boys are taught virtue through sports. experienced the “net result” of in part to the large number of becoming priests after soccer young men who participate in CHASING A DREAM careers are Fr. Kevin Drew and “America’s pastime,” but also Fr. Jaime Zarse. Father Drew possibly because of baseball’s Father Chase Hilgenbrinck had a good Catholic girlfriend and played at Northern Illinois slower and quieter nature. a professional soccer career. He played at the sport’s top level University and was ordained It is much easier to think in Chile and returned to the U.S. to spend a short time playing for the Diocese of Kansas clearly and pray consistently Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids and New England City-Saint Joseph, MO in 2012, when the game has an Revolution. while Fr. Zarse played at the abundance of downtime and University of Marquette and silence compared to hockey, Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck, former the University of Missouri- basketball, or football. professional soccer player, now Kansas City and was then Father Michael Cunningham priest of the Diocese of Peoria, IL. ordained for the Diocese of found the time to pray his way Kanas City, KS, in 2014. into the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. After playing ‘FREEDY’ FROM SIN three years as a catcher at the University of South Father Joseph Freedy had Carolina-Aiken, he signed been the starting quarterback with the Florence Freedom, at the University of Buffalo. an independent league That distinction as a local team in Kentucky. His brief celebrity went to his head as playing stint was followed he participated in the school by a transition into coaching party scene. However, after and then into working for an reading The Lamb’s Supper by orthopedic surgeon. Scott Hahn, Freedy realized he was supposed to be a priest. He Then Cunningham’s friend RICK DANZL / THE NEWS-GAZETTE was ordained for the Diocese of invited him to a Traditional Pittsburgh in 2008 and served Latin Mass. Not only was he as the vocations director until impressed by what he saw 2017. and heard, but he also was Another college QB named humbled by it. Because he Joe who became his diocese’s was unaware of the responses vocations director is Father or postures in the liturgy, he Joe Fitzgerald. The Division- watched his friend’s children to III national championship- see what they did or said. Then winning quarterback at Ithaca he followed. 18March 2022 | | legatus.org

College subsequently became Do you not know that in a race an Olympic handball player for all the runners compete, but the United States and played only one receives the prize? at the 1996 games in Atlanta. So run that you may obtain it. After a transition from the life Every athlete exercises self- of an international athlete control in all things. They do it to a church youth leader to a to receive a perishable wreath, seminarian, Fitzgerald was but we an imperishable. Well, ordained for the Diocese of I do not run aimlessly; I do not Rockville Centre, NY, in 2007. box as one beating the air, but I Father Thomas Haan set high pummel my body and subdue school passing records for the it, lest after preaching to others state of Indiana before heading I myself should be disqualified. off to join Purdue University’s (1 Cor 9:26) football team. He then transferred to the University Along the same theme of of Notre Dame and boxed on competition, Paul encourages the club level there. He was Christians to “fight the good ordained for the Diocese of fight of the faith” and to “take Lafayette, IN in 2013. hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Tim 6:12). This is an exhortation the whole Church can benefit from, FIGHTING THE Father Joe Freedy leads Legates in prayer but most especially when it is GOOD FIGHT during a 2021 pilgrimage to Medjugorje. heeded by priests.  L These athletic priests—and Church living today will be added to the roster of sporting saints TRENT BEATTIE is the editor of others, including Fr. Antony that includes Pope St. John Paul II, St. Sebastian, St. Cletus (the Apostolic Athletes (Marian Press), which Sumich, F.S.S.P., former coach third pope, whose name is a homonym of “cleat-us” and so could contains the athletic vocation stories of of the Croatian National be invoked by a team when placing footgear on before a game), 11 priests and bishops. He is also the author of Rugby Team—loved playing and of course, St. Paul the apostle. Fit for Heaven (Dynamic Catholic), which sports. They see, despite some contains the stories of top Catholic athletes excesses in dedication or other In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul reveals how he learned to such as Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers and associated negatives, how turn inward for venting his aggression. The former persecutor of physical exercise, especially Christians recognized the irreplaceable importance of self-denial All-Star first-baseman Mike Sweeney. when carried out in a team to achieve God-acceptance: environment, can help boys and young men become “In living out their vocation, virtuous. After all, the word these apostolic athletes “virtue,” which denotes valor, draw countless other bravery, courage, and strength, souls into spiritual fitness comes from the Latin root vir, which means “man.” CATHOLICSPORTSCAMPS.WEBSITE.SPORTSSIGNUP.COM The discipline involved in humbly recognizing an objective standard toward which to tailor one’s behavior, the ability to rebound from adversity, and the many lessons of how to productively interact with teammates are among the top virtue- producing aspects of sports. Sports done properly can make one fit for heaven, and can lead a man who is called to priesthood specifically to be an apostolic athlete fit for heaven. In living out their vocation, these apostolic athletes draw countless other souls into spiritual fitness. Maybe many of these very members of the 19March 2022 | | legatus.org

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A prodigal son returns After drifting from his Catholic roots for many years, Hugh Blane was finally led home where he belonged By Jim Graves 21March 2022 | | legatus.org

Hugh Blane of Claris Birmingham, Alabama Catholic school and welcoming priests into their Consulting is president in 1969. He was enrolled home, the family was not observant. “I never of Legatus’ Seattle in Our Lady of Sorrows talked about the Faith or Jesus with my parents,” Chapter. He is a successful Catholic School, and he explained. “My idea of religion was one of business consultant who, vividly recalls beginning rules and expectations, and a God who wags with wife Alyson, is a longtime class at age nine, when His finger at you when you do not measure up. resident of the Seattle suburb of Alabama’s schools were It did not lead me to a personal relationship Normandy Park. He is author of integrated. with Jesus.” 7 Principles of Transformational By age 23, Hugh began dating a woman who was Leadership: Create a Mindset Hugh Blaine He recalled, “There I going through a divorce — a decision that went of Passion, Innovation and contrary to the advice of his local priest. He opted Growth, and has produced was in the Deep South, to leave the Church and make business success 425 videos and articles on watching a car pull up and four African- his focus. “I put money on the altar,” Hugh said. leadership. American girls get out.” Yet despite his secular worldview, in an effort to He is also a “revert” to the bring happiness into his life he began dabbling Catholic faith who has shared The memory would shape his personal and in Eastern mysticism, including Hinduism and the impressive story of his professional life, he explained, as both he and Buddhism. He also chose to leave Birmingham conversion with multiple the girls were outsiders entering an unfamiliar for Seattle, a part of the country which he Legatus chapters. environment. “It made me passionate about thought more promising for business success. Hugh was born in Scotland. making people feel welcomed, and showing Seeking economic opportunity, them how they can fit in,” he observed. A CROSSROADS MOMENT his family emigrated to the “When someone is coming into a new culture, United States when he was a an effective leader needs to make that person Decades later, however, he found himself facing boy. They settled in what he feel like a full participant.” “insurmountable financial pressures” at work. describes as the In conversations with his wife, he related, she “Bull Connor” A LAPSED UPBRINGING told him, “You’re miserable. What are you going South in to do about it?” Hugh’s father found work as a head of maintenance at a department store One morning, he found himself sitting chain. But despite attending a at home “dreading” going into work. He was channel surfing the television SHUTTERSTOCK as he drank his coffee. He came across Protestant evangelist Joyce Meyer, whose message was “if you’re at the end of your rope and don’t know where to turn, turn to God. Say, ‘I need help. Please help me,’” he recalled. “So, although it was out of character for me, I slid off the couch and did as she suggested.” At the time “it didn’t do a darn bit of good,” Hugh thought. Then 45 days later a business associate invited him to his Presbyterian church. He went, and it began an introspective process in which he asked himself: why did I stop going to church? “I’m a consultant, and consultants look for patterns,” he said. “I determined that my pattern in life wasn’t successful.” Hugh spent the next seven years as a Presbyterian. One of the early influences of his return to church, he said, was to change the focus of his worship. Although he was not ready to put Jesus on his altar of worship rather than money, he did make a shift to replace money with value. He reflected, March 2022 | 22 | legatus.org

“Before I looked at my clients as had no interest in Catholic spirituality, Robert an ATM; if I did something for recalled. them, they’d give money to me. “I never would have expected Hugh to convert Now my focus shifted to value, to Catholicism, and I don’t think Hugh would which was an improvement. have expected it either,” said Robert, a Catholic It put the client first rather convert from Evangelical Christianity. “But he’d than me. And I discovered that ask me questions about why I believe what I do, when I add value to a client’s and we’d get into discussions.” business, the money follows.” It was a philosophy he’d take Hugh’s questions persisted, he said, because into his new business, Claris “When Hugh gets interested in something, he’s Consulting. like a bulldog that won’t let go.” COMING ‘HOME’ While it was Robert who introduced Hugh SHUTTERSTOCK to Father’s Watson’s book, it was Hugh who In 2012, he moved to suggested the pair go through the program Normandy Park, and the together. Robert said, “It was really hard, but Presbyterian church near his it resulted in a huge growth for the both of us.” home was not to his liking. He Robert reflected that while he had initially been opted to go to the other church Hugh’s spiritual mentor early on because of his in the area, a Catholic parish. background going to church, from that point He started attending Mass for “it quickly became a peer relationship.” the first time in 30 years. Robert continued, “If Hugh hadn’t insisted we “Going in and genuflecting, go through the Forty Weeks program together, kneeling down, and watching I wouldn’t have done it.” the Mass brought back many Today, Robert plans to enter permanent memories,” he said. “I had diaconate formation for the Archdiocese of an emotional experience at Seattle: “It never would have crossed my mind if Communion time, hearing a I hadn’t done the Forty Weeks program,” he said. voice say, ‘You are home.’” Over the past decade he has THE ‘TROJAN HORSE’ Tips for gone “headlong” into a study transformational faith of Catholic teaching. One of Since his conversion, Hugh has been an active his favorite discoveries was Catholic volunteer, including with Legatus. Here are a few of the points Hugh Blane is likely the Forty Weeks program in Mike McCartney is a member of Legatus’ Genesis to make while speaking to Catholic groups and Ignatian spirituality taught by Chapter and met Hugh at a coaching workshop. organizations about living the Catholic faith: Jesuit Father William Watson. In their conversations, Mike discovered both Hugh went through it twice, shared a love for the Catholic faith. • The Catechism calls us to holiness, but seeking then volunteered to lead the Mike continued, “Hugh brings a bold fervor to holiness often demands that we leave our program at his parish. the Church along with an appetite to learn more comfort zones. Robert Edgmon, Hugh’s about his Catholic faith … he has a true desire best man at his wedding, to serve people and help them to know God.” • What we are in love with affects everything first introduced Hugh to Citing Proverbs 27:17 (“Iron is sharpened by iron; about us. The abundant love of Christ, if we Father Watson and Ignatian one person sharpens another”), Mike believes accept it and receive it, takes away our fears. spirituality. In years past, their friendship has been of mutual benefit the pair ran with the bulls spiritually, and added, “I know he’s having a big • Memories can be powerful, for better or worse, together in Pamplona, Spain, influence on his Legatus chapter.” and sometimes must be reset. We can do that and participated in Ironman through gratitude. We ought to consider three competitions, but Hugh initially things we are grateful for from the past 24 hours, and then recall three memories from that same ''I had an emotional Hugh concluded by noting that his conversion time span while inviting God to be present to us, experience at has had a big influence on his approach to making us whole through His mercy. business. He explained, “I see myself as a Trojan Communion time, horse. Most of my clients are secular, and my • If we love the Catholic faith, we must share it with objective is for them to meet Christ through me. others. We should pray that the Holy Spirit will hearing a voice say, In everything I do, I try to have the face of Christ use us and draw us closer to God, for the closer ‘You are home.’ show up.” L we get to God, the closer we can get to others. JIM GRAVES is a Legatus magazine contributing writer. March 2022 | 23 | legatus.org

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ETHICS PAUL KENGOR MATTERS Covid-19 and religious conscience rights: vaccine objectors stand on firm ground I’M A REGULAR ON DREW Among its decisions, SHUTTERSTOCK Mariani’s afternoon show on the court declined to Relevant Radio. We talk about halt New York Gov. the Bill of Rights, insisted that an individual’s everything from the Church Kathy Hochul’s denial conscience was a possession “more sacred than to politics to culture. Recently, of religious appeals of his castle.” Just as one has the right to property, we talked about Covid-19 and state health care workers. one has the right to conscience. conscience—about honoring Justice Neil Gorsuch a Catholic’s appeal to religious tried to defend them, to This freedom has served America so admirably rights. The phones lit up. no avail. He denounced for centuries, from conscientious objectors in Among the callers was a the state of New World Wars I and II to the Vietnam War, from distraught New Jersey woman York’s intention to fire the appeals of citizens as diverse as the Quakers, whose husband, a doctor workers and strip their Mennonites, Sergeant Alvin York, Desmond Doss, employed by a hospital for unemployment benefits. Muhammad Ali, the Berrigan brothers, and over 20 years, had just been In a stinging dissent, Martin Luther King Jr. Today, it is appealed to by fired for declining forced Gorsuch judged the the likes of Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of vaccination. Her voice cracking, action “unconstitutional,” the Poor. she explained that in addition adding: “Today, we do not just fail the applicants. to religious objections to We fail ourselves.” Liberals aggressively support conscience when vaccination, her husband Among those failed, Gorsuch pointed to two it comes to, say, refusal to fight in a war, but has indisputable medical Catholic physicians: “These applicants are not spurn it for the Christian cake-baker who begs to objections because of auto- ‘anti-vaxxers’ who object to all vaccines. Instead, decline a same-sex “wedding,” or for Americans immune issues. The vaccines the applicants explain, they cannot receive a claiming conscience rights against forced could be hazardous. Covid-19 vaccine because their religion teaches vaxxing. He appealed not only to the U.S. them to oppose abortion in any form.” Constitution but the Vatican’s And yet, not only are religious rights not being Americans stand on firm ground whether they Congregation for the Doctrine respected, but they are being suspected. appeal to their religion or conscience. Catholics, of the Faith, which in December Increasingly, supporters of vax mandates insist given the backing of the Congregation for the 2020 formally affirmed: that those seeking religious exemptions aren’t Doctrine of the Faith, should stand on even “vaccination is not, as a rule, actually religious—they’re hiding behind phony firmer ground. a moral obligation.” It “must be faith claims. “What really is ‘religious?’” asks an voluntary.” This was officially incredulous New York Times. Your conscience must remain sacred. L affirmed by the American To be sure, one would hope that most people bishops. making religious appeals are genuinely PAUL KENGOR is a professor of political The hospital refused him, with religious. On its face, that seems a legitimate science at Grove City College in Grove City, PA. no explanation. He sought criticism. But dig deeper into the history of He is the author of more than a dozen books, legal assistance. “It was like American religious-conscientious objection. including A Pope and a President: John Paul II, throwing away money,” Note the crucial second word: conscientious. Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold his wife told Drew and me. From the start of the religious-appeal process “The lawyers said there was against Covid mandates, I’ve been concerned Story of the 20th Century. nothing they could do.” that these appeals are typically labeled “religious He’s far from alone. This exemptions.” More accurately, they are religious/ unethical assault on health conscientious exemptions. care workers continues Conscientious objection has a long and noble nationwide, with no relief from history in America. James Madison, father of the U.S. Supreme Court. March 2022 | 26 | legatus.org

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CULTURE OF MARIE T. HILLIARD, M.S., M.A., J.C.L., PH.D., R.N., D.M. LIFE The apostolic blessing at death is an overlooked plenary indulgence THERE IS ONE THING FOR CERTAIN The Church is a generous besides taxes, and that is Mother, especially as death. The Covid-19 pandemic persons are completing enhances this reality. The their journey toward tragedy of the pandemic is that eternity. She offers the for many at death’s door, access gift of the “last rites.” We to the sacraments was denied. are used to hearing of Therefore, every person should deathbed Confessions, be prepared to meet our God. Anointing of the Sick, and Viaticum (Holy Eucharist Some readers have similar as food “for the journey”). experiences as I had with my But the most generous mother, who read the obituary gift, which sanctifies pages as religiously as she said the soul as it was at the her daily rosary. We call it the moment of one’s Baptism, “Irish sports page.” She then is the apostolic pardon. would call me or one of my LAWRENCE LEW, O.P. five brothers to suggest there The apostolic pardon is was a wake for us to attend. a plenary indulgence But as her vision (but not her offered when death is Jesus blesses the Apostolic College mind) was failing at 98 years imminent, meaning that it remits all temporal at the point of death, provided they have been in of age, my brother Joe’s gift to punishment for sins already forgiven under the habit of reciting some prayers during their her was to read the obituaries certain conditions defined by the Church. All lifetime; in such a case, the Church supplies for to her almost daily, doing so the baptized who are in communion with the the three conditions ordinarily required for a even the night before she died. Church and in the state of grace may receive plenary indulgence” (U.S. Conference of Catholic And her two clergy sons saw this indulgence. It usually is administered to Bishops, Manual of Indulgences, 12). to her Anointing and beautiful a conscious or unconscious person after the funeral Mass. Anointing of the Sick, which imparts absolution Thus, at the time of impending death and in from sin. To gain the absence of an available priest, the family The obituary pages the indulgence, or health care worker should help the patient tell remarkable “The Church is a the person must to both make a perfect Act of Contrition and to pray for a full pardon and remission of all stories. But one generous Mother, have at least the sins, even if it is unclear whether the person is thing increasingly especially as persons general intention conscious enough to do so. Our generous Church is obvious: persons of acquiring it and grants this plenary indulgence to persons who whose life stories are completing their must fulfill three are properly disposed and who have been in would seem to journey toward eternity specific conditions: the habit of reciting some prayers during their dictate a Catholic sacramental lifetime as a substitute for the three usual funeral Mass Confession, conditions. only are provided eucharistic services at the Communion, and funeral parlor or graveside prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions. Herein Who, at the moment of death, would pass up this even before the complications rests the wisdom of including a request for the opportunity for themselves or for their loved one of the pandemic. It raises the sacraments of the Church and a funeral Mass in for this “Get out of Purgatory Free Card?” L question of whether these one’s advanced directives. loved ones were provided the MARIE T. HILLIARD, sacraments when they no Again, the Church is a generous Mother. The M.S., M.A., J.C.L., PH.D., R.N., D.M., longer were able to request Manual of Indulgences states: “If a priest is them (or was such access unavailable, Holy Mother Church benevolently is a senior fellow at the National Catholic denied due to the pandemic)? grants to the Christian faithful, who are duly Bioethics Center based in Philadelphia, PA (www.ncbcenter.org). disposed, a plenary indulgence to be acquired March 2022 | 28 | legatus.org

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BEST LAURA SACHA PRACTICES Now is the time to spring into action and line up program speakers for 2023 ALREADY? IT’S ONLY MARCH, and 2022 has barely started. At the risk of sounding cliché, it’s that time of year to begin planning for your chapter’s 2023 programs. The speaker lineup has proven, beyond a doubt, to be the most important single point of attraction for Legatus members. Thus, it should be managed with great care. While there are several approaches to such a task, below are some best practices when it comes to planning this vital component. • First, your chapter should have At the core of Legatus is the monthly chapter a program chair. Their main event where members are empowered responsibility is to lead the to assume the role of missionaries in effort to create a quality lineup building Christian ethics and values in their of speakers for the chapter’s businesses, parishes, and communities. monthly meeting so as to create a masterpiece event. of topics that lend themselves to the Catholic • F inally, produce a program brochure. business leader. What makes Legatus This tool is a great resource for members, • S econd, participate in our so special is that it is tailored to our members plus it is an invaluable marketing tool for annual Speaker Caucus. so they can leave each meeting with valuable prospective members. The best news is that Held on March 29, this is an and practical lessons to use in their personal, our national office stands ready to serve and opportunity for chapters to professional, and business lives. will design your brochure for you. All that needs share their top three speakers • Fourth, cost is top of mind for all chapters, to be done is to provide information and print. and to learn who were the and many chapters are limited by their budget top three speakers in other when it comes to who they bring in. Contact If you have a best practice that you would like chapters during the previous nearby chapters, if there are any, to see if there to share, please contact [email protected] year. Recommendations is an opportunity to share a speaker. Perhaps a or join the Speaker Caucus on March 29. Check from other chapters are the speaker will provide a discount if there are Networks or your email for details.  L best validation of a speaker’s a group of chapters even if they occur at quality. As a result of the various times. Think outside the box on events. LAURA SACHA Caucus, a Speaker Caucus Priest panels and member testimonial panels is chief operating officer of Legatus. Guide is published that have been successful in many chapters. compiles all these speakers Contact your regional vice president for ideas. for your easy reference. • T hird, make sure your program touches on a variety of topics and speakers. While there may be a tendency to lean in on certain topics or types of speakers, it is imperative that the program represents a variety March 2022 | 30 | legatus.org

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FAITH FATHER GERALD E. MURRAY MATTERS Grow closer to God each day, and allow Him to surprise you DR. ALICE VON HILDEBRAND, rather to seek to be joined widow of the towering ever closer to him. The 20th-century philosopher circumstances of our life, Dietrich von Hildebrand and be they good or bad, easy, herself a renowned philosophy or difficult, are the place where professor and author of we are meant to seek that union numerous books and articles with God. Difficulties and promoting the Catholic Faith, limitations are not obstacles to went to the Lord on January 14 serving the Lord and being with of this year. She was 98 years Him if we understand them old. She was a delightful rightly. They are the means for presence on EWTN, where conquering self-love by trusting she discussed many current in God’s goodness when we issues in the life of the Church might tend to doubt it. with Mother Angelica and Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. It does matter what you think. She loved the Catholic faith A proper understanding of HILDEBRAND PROJECT and used her intelligence God’s plan for us will allow us to and charming wit to explain reconcile our disappointments and defend the Faith amid and sorrows with our faith in the swirling controversies that God’s goodness. We all tend to so often dominated the life judge how much we think God loves us against we too need to “wake up” to the goodness of God, of the Church for a good part the measurement of how many good things God which is revealed even, and especially, in moments of her life. gives us. But what are those good things? Are of trial and sadness. Our journey toward heaven they simply the list of everything we have ever is not without its share of difficulties, but they are She had a profound influence desired? If that is the case, then we are sure to be sent to us by God to help us correct our path when on the many disappointed, we wander away from searching for His will into a people who came as God does search for doing our own will, no matter what. to know her over “ Difficulties and limitations not grant us the course of her all our desires Looking back on our lives, we need to thank long and fruitful are not obstacles to serving for reasons our good God for everything He has given us, life. I was blessed the Lord and being with Him we may never especially those difficulties which made us to count her as if we understand them rightly know in this more humble and more dependent upon Him. a friend. She life. But God’s All circumstances do indeed draw us closer to was filled with providence God if we thank Him and ask Him to give us joy amid many grants us so the strength to bear everything with patience sorrows in her life. many things and gratitude, with a Christlike spirit. Life is that should not about succeeding on our own terms, but She said: “Whatever way be the occasion for a grateful appreciation of His rather making a Christian success of our life by God gives you – whatever love, a love that draws us near to Him if we only drawing ever closer to the God who draws us to circumstances you are given – accept what He has given us. Himself, if only we let Him. L the most important thing is to remember that our task in this Alice von Hildebrand once told a friend: “Every FATHER GERALD E.MURRAY life is to grow closer to God. day I wake up letting God surprise me. He keeps is pastor of Holy Family Church in New York. He All circumstances can lead to sending me new gifts all the time. Truly, I’m happy holds a doctorate in canon law from Pontifical that if understood rightly.” because I’m grateful. I’m grateful for my faith, I’m grateful for my parents, particularly my father. Gregorian University in Rome and appears as Growing closer to God is our I’m grateful for my husband, I’m grateful for my commentator on religious topics on TV and task. We are not meant to live friends, I’m grateful for my work…The list goes at arm’s length from God, but on and on!” This list of blessings reminds us that radio, including EWTN, Fox News, Fox Business, MSNBC, NY1, Radio Maria, Relevant Radio, Fox News Radio, and the Voice of America. He writes a monthly column for The Catholic Thing website. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve Chaplain Corps from 1994 to 2005. March 2022 | 32 | legatus.org

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ENGAGING THE STEVEN R. HEMLER FAITH Lessons from a ‘silent’ teacher after sudden loss of employment AFTER THE [GULF] WAR, PATTY SHUTTERSTOCK Believing in CATECHISM and I completed our degrees God, the only and started our family. I had This forced my family to live in a storm where One, and loving 101 made a career in the nonprofit our faith was shaken, and our very financial world and was ordained stability was questionable. … We asked, “Where him with all a priest serving the Anglican is justice?” and “How can God let this happen?” our being has Church in bi-vocational enormous consequences for our ministry. We had a little farm in whole life … It means trusting the Piney Woods of Texas and …I had never been fired in my life, and I certainly God in every circumstance, had wonderful Christian friends never thought it would happen for doing a good job. even in adversity … nearby. Things were going great: … How can people just throw my family away and our sons were maturing into inflict that kind of hurt and pain without a second Catechism of the fine men, the bills were paid, thought? It was a bitter pill and we suffered through Catholic Church, #222, 227 and we were beginning to think months of depression, sleepless nights, hurt, self- about retirement. doubt, and the general trials of unemployment. Trust in the [Then] my nonprofit secular Lord with employer fired me for … Months went by without a single job offer. … SCRIPTURE all your “no cause” after six and a half 101 heart, and years as its general manager. … on your own I asked, “What have I done Just as our savings were reaching the end and intelligence wrong?” I was told, “Nothing.” fear was beginning to creep back into our minds, do not rely … … I was confused – every an opportunity arose. … Another nonprofit financial and managerial reached out and offered me a better job than the Proverbs 3;5 metric of the company had one I had lost. We moved to a small midwestern improved under my watch. town in a state we had never even considered. This should not be happening! I wanted to argue with them, God took this horrible, faith-shaking event in our to demand an explanation, lives and transformed it into a moment of hope, … but in my mind, I heard, peace, and grace. A new ministry and a new “… like a sheep being led to a blessing await us here… slaughter …, he was silent.” Patty and I had a mortgage, We came through another great, dark valley with car payments, and two sons God’s help. It was [one] where we cried and faced in college. I had six years of hurt and depression. … It was a test and, employee evaluations marked as always, the teacher was silent. L “Exceeds Expectations.” This [could not] be happening. … Excerpt from Catholic Stories of Faith and Hope: How God Brings Good Out of Nothing was offered other than, Suffering, by Steven R. Hemler (TAN Books, 2021), pp. 116-121. “We think that it’s time to change directions.” Many employees STEVEN R. HEMLER is president of the came to my defense to no avail. … Catholic Apologetics Institute of North America. … I felt like I had let my family down. I felt like I had let my He is also author of The Reality of God: employees down. The Layman’s Guide to Scientific Evidence for the Creator, and Search No More: The Keys to Truth and Happiness (both published by St. Benedict Press and TAN Books). March 2022 | 34 | legatus.org

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WHAT TO READ The Persecuted: presenting accounts of grave took half a millennium he was True Stories of Courageous injustices, threats, tortures, and several ecumenical hailed as a Christians Living Their Faith and executions of Christians, councils to grapple with pioneer and in Muslim Lands particularly at the hands the details of His identity. hero. But Casey Chalk of Islamic extremists. It’s a In this fine work, Fr. David when this Sophia Institute Press, 190 pages grim reminder of the cost of Meconi notes that Christians devoutly Christian discipleship and always understood Christ as Catholic “If they a tribute to the courage and present in the Eucharist but doctor persecuted martyrdom of our brothers also in the Church itself as stood in me, they and sisters in faith. a spiritual extension of His opposition to the growing will body, or what would later practice of aborting unborn persecute Christ Unfurled: The First be called His mystical body. children who were found you,” Jesus 500 Years of Jesus’ Life This is a wonderful lesson to bear such chromosomal told His Fr. David Meconi in the development of our defect, he was largely disciples TAN Books, 185 pages Christology. shunned and attacked by (John 15:20). many who had previously We might speak of persecution Jesus posed Jérôme Lejeune: A Man of supported him. This book for our Christian faith in the a question to Science and Conscience provides an excellent and relative comforts of the U.S. His apostles: Aude Dugast definitive biography of a man and Canada, but Christians “But who do Ignatius Press, 310 pages who suffered professional throughout the world often you say that persecution for standing suffer far greater than we do I am?” (Matt When French pediatrician up for the innate dignity in the form of intimidation, 16:15). Peter and geneticist Dr. Jérôme of human life and its legal oppression, violence, even answered Lejeune discovered protection — a portrait of a imprisonment and death. correctly chromosomal abnormalities pioneer and hero indeed.  L This book details the harsh that He was the Christ and the that cause Down syndrome truth of Christ’s words by Son of God, but the Church and other genetic conditions, March 2022 | 36 | legatus.org

WHAT TO SEE Why we ‘go to Joseph’ as our spiritual father SAINT JOSEPH IS NOT QUOTED St. Joseph: Our Spiritual Father, Saint Teresa of in the Gospels, yet he is present produced by the Knights of Avila, the 16th- and makes difficult decisions Columbus, aptly explains century Carmelite during critical moments in Joseph’s significance and why mystic, found the lives of Mary and Jesus. he remains such a powerful Joseph to be such He often is described as the model and intercessor for a wonderful archetypal “strong, silent type.” us today. The hourlong intercessor that Yet anyone who heard Elizabeth documentary aired on ABC she advised the Lev’s excellent presentation at affiliates last fall and is now faithful to Summit East 2022 in Florida available free on YouTube and “Go to Joseph!” That in January learned that the the Knights’ website (kofc.org). urging is echoed history of Christian art reveals “The Church has always in the voices St. Joseph: Our Spiritual Father how the faithful didn’t always recognized Mary as our spiritual of individuals Fr. Donald Calloway, Matt Birk, Mother Mary Donovan, know what to make of Joseph. mother, [but] the Church hasn’t and families He didn’t appear in Christian always understood that same whose lives Patrick Kelly, Mike Aquilina • 59 minutes • Not Rated art until the fourth century, significance for St. Joseph, that and then often was depicted he’s our spiritual father,” were transformed when they name at His circumcision.” as a background character in Fr. Donald Calloway, M.I.C., discovered devotion to Joseph. biblical scenes. Only centuries says in the film. He is the author It makes sense: the strong, later did he emerge as a strong of Consecration to St. Joseph, a Although Joseph has no “lines” silent Joseph, model disciple figure, a protector of Mary, theme that appears in several in Scripture, Mother Agnes and spiritual father, always foster father to Jesus, a man of touching personal stories from Mary Donovan, S.V., notes in points us to Jesus.  L exemplary virtue worthy of a around the globe that pepper the film that “we know he said feast day. the riveting program. one word, and that word was GERALD KORSON ‘Jesus,’ because he would have is a Legatus magazine editorial consultant had to have given Jesus His and staff writer. March 2022 | 37 | legatus.org

HEALTH KAREN MARTIN MATTERS Keeping an eye on 40 years of innovation in treatment of macular degeneration EACH YEAR, HEALTHNETWORK in the care of common retinal diseases. Foundation honors a select First came laser therapy for wet macular group of our partner physicians degeneration and related disorders, which with Service Excellence wasn’t perfect but “was rewarding because Awards to thank them for their we went from nothing to at least having superb service and recognize something.” Next came photodynamic them for their groundbreaking therapy, which Dr. Bressler was directly contributions to medicine. involved in developing. Then, in the early Dr. Susan Bressler is a board- 2000s, came drugs that are injected into certified ophthalmologist, the people’s eyes with remarkable outcomes. Julia G. Levy, Ph.D., Professor SHUTTERSTOCK of Ophthalmology at the Dr. Bressler served on the data and safety Wilmer Eye Institute, and one monitoring committee for the first FDA- of Healthnetwork Foundation’s approved biologic drug, and this class of The effects of macular degeneration Service Excellence Awardees agents is still the mainstay for treatment today. doctors, many who come from overseas, so they for 2021. “We can stop vision loss in 90 percent of people can take 6-to-24-month fellowships and learn and recover lost vision in 30-40 percent of people how to run clinical trials.” In 1981 Susan Bressler had suffering from wet (neovascular) AMD,” she says. a year left of medical school One of the fellows Dr. Bressler is currently and needed to choose her The innovation isn’t over. Dr. Bressler says drugs supervising is helping with the development of specialty area. Ophthalmology, are on the horizon that will last longer in the eye an app that is intended to reduce the burden on it seemed, was brimming with so that instead of going into an office for monthly patients from going physically to a doctor’s office potential. At the time there was injections, patients will only have to go two to by enabling them to collect vision information no treatment for the number- four times a year. in the comfort of their home. The app is one cause of being developed by one of the world’s largest blindness in adults Now, Dr. Bressler’s pharmaceutical corporations. The research age 50 and older “Dr. Bressler has been attention is fellow is involved in identifying suitable throughout the shifting to the candidates for the study, helping coordinate developed world: privileged to be part of future of eye care all aspects of the study, and assisting in data by continuing to analysis and reporting. age-related macular one innovation after degeneration (AMD). another in the care of help train future generations of “It’s been a very exciting discipline, with a ton “This disease was common retinal diseases ophthalmologists. of innovation and enormous impact on patients wide open for Most studies in throughout the developed world,” she says. treatment, which ophthalmology “That innovation is going to continue, because would have a huge are sponsored by fortunately the private world has realized it can be impact in the quality private companies very profitable to have treatments to improve or of life for millions around the with interests in developing medications and save vision. For new doctors entering this field, it world,” she says. “That was very devices. But when it comes to the people side of will still be dynamic for a long time. My focus now inviting.” things, philanthropy saves the day. is to ensure this legacy and help train others to carry the torch. And philanthropy She chose well. In the four “People who are early in their careers can benefit is critical for that.” L decades since then, Dr. Bressler from mentoring by more senior folks like me has been privileged to be part who have been part of the prior revolutions in KAREN MARTIN is a writer of one innovation after another care,” she says. “Philanthropy sponsors new for Healthnetwork. HEALTHNETWORK is a Legatus membership benefit, a health care “concierge service” that provides members and their families access to some of the most respected hospitals in the world. One Call Starts It All: (866) 968-2467 or (440) 893-0830. Email: [email protected] HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION is a nonprofit whose mission is to improve medicine for all by connecting CEOs with leading hospitals and their doctors to provide the best access to world-class care and increase philanthropic funding for medical research. March 2022 | 38 | legatus.org

FEEDING THE CHEF NEIL FUSCO FOODIE Teaching and giving love is the key to achieving heaven, our eternal goal IN PART, THE CATECHISM OF One of the greatest modern-day daily. For one, we must the Catholic Church teaches, examples is St. Teresa of Calcutta. believe and have faith. “Heaven is the ultimate end Her life was totally immersed in The Catechism sums up and fulfillment of the deepest charity. She gave her all in the the Church’s teaching on human longings, the state of name of love and made a total gift this truth: “By his death supreme, definitive happiness” of herself to others. She devoted and Resurrection Jesus (1024). Picture yourself at the herself unconditionally — materially, Christ ‘opened’ heaven to happiest moment in your life physically, and spiritually. Through us” (1026). We must not where time was nonexistent. It is the virtue of charity, she was brought only believe in this truth precisely in these moments that even closer to God, who is love, and but live it. Living it means we encounter the type of joy and this allowed her to love her neighbor putting our faith to work on happiness where one becomes with the same love. Her intimate, a daily basis. We do this by unconscious of time – capturing sacrificial, and earthly relationship teaching our children and all the joys in one full moment. with God and man paved the way sharing with others who are When we are lost in the eternity for her to gain heavenly communion ignorant about our faith. of this joyful moment, we get an with the Blessed Trinity, all the unconscious glimpse into what angels, and the saints. As a prerequisite to heaven must be like. Knowing sharing Christ’s work, that these are earthly moments, Mother Teresa was an extraordinary human we must gain familiarity with the teachings of we must have a conscious being who performed daily, ordinary tasks to the Catholic Church on the sacraments and heavenly plan if we want to show her love for God and neighbor. Although Ten Commandments. Regarding knowledge, achieve eternal happiness. we are not all called to the same vocation, we we must remember that we cannot give what can surely show little acts of charity toward we don’t have. That is why we must show Getting to heaven should be our families and neighbors. Mother Teresa our children how to love others and give of our first and supreme goal in summed it up beautifully, “Not all of us can do themselves. An example of this would be taking life, both for ourselves great things. But your children to feed the homeless. Another and for our children. we can do small would be sharing with them ways you support The constant practice “Getting to heaven things with great causes and charities like the pro-life movement, of the theological and should be our first and love.” or even attending a pro-life march with them. cardinal virtues is supreme goal in life, A heavenly plan Teach love and give love, because love is the key indispensable if we to heaven. L are going to make a that will assure successful journey to both for ourselves and us one day to CHEF NEIL FUSCO is founder of Cucina Antica Foods, Corp., heaven. This perpetual for our children have a personal a specialty Italian food-products company. Raised on a farm in practice of virtues face-to-face is what the saints in relationship with San Marzano in southern Italy, he learned his family’s farm production heaven did while living God in heaven and cooking. His 2017 cookbook, May Love Be the Main Ingredient at Your an earthly life. must be exercised Table, presents amusing and heartfelt stories about faith, family, and recipes from his Old World childhood. BAKED ITALIAN EGGS • SERVES 2 Ingredients: Directions: 2 cups Cucina Antica Tomato Basil sauce Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 3 tbsp milk Pour Tomato Basil sauce into a medium oven- 4 eggs safe skillet or greased ramekin. Top with milk, 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, grated eggs, cheeses, salt, and pepper. 2 tbsp Pecorino Romano cheese, grated Bake in oven for 10 minutes, or until egg whites Salt and pepper, to taste are completely cooked. Remove from oven, Basil, to garnish garnish with basil, and enjoy! March 2022 | 39 | legatus.org

U.S. BRIEFS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DONATES The march up Constitution court decision that sided with the 1500TH ULTRASOUND MACHINE Avenue to the court took place in school district. The decision said METUCHEN, NJ — The Knights subfreezing temperatures and Kennedy had acted as a public of Columbus reached a major lasted little more than two hours. official in the voluntary prayer charitable milestone in mid-January Despite the weather and the gatherings in view of other students with the fraternal organization’s Covid-19 pandemic, the crowd and parents. 1500th donation of an ultrasound numbered nearly 100,000. “Every Kennedy first appealed his case machine to a pro-life pregnancy year is unique,” said March for Life to the Supreme Court in 2019. The center. president Jeanne Mancini, “but justices then chose not to consider The donation to First Choice Women’s the energy and enthusiasm of the it due to “unresolved factual Resource Center in New Brunswick, marchers is palpable.” questions” but didn’t rule it out NJ, was made possible through completely. fundraising and contributions from PRAYING ON A HIGH SCHOOL local Knights of Columbus councils FOOTBALL FIELD? SUPREME COURT SSM HEALTH CATHOLIC HOSPITAL along with matching funds from the TAKES UP CONTROVERSIAL CASE CHAIN ENDS PRIORITY COVID-19 Supreme Council. The gift is part of a WASHINGTON — The Supreme TREATMENT BASED ON RACE Knights’ initiative that has provided Court announced in January that it WASHINGTON — SSM Health, ultrasound machines in all 50 states. would hear an appeal from a former a Catholic hospital chain operating high school football coach who was 23 hospitals across the Midwest, Ultrasound machines provide fired in 2015 for praying on the field has terminated the practice of using women with images of their unborn with players after games. race as the determining factor for children, which reportedly has Joseph Kennedy, former assistant prioritizing certain individuals for encouraged many women to choose coach at Bremerton High School in Covid-19 treatment, it announced in life rather than abortion. Bremerton, WA, says his free speech January. YOUNG PEOPLE LEAD ANNUAL and religion rights were violated MARCH FOR LIFE WITH ‘PALPABLE’ with the termination. He is asking The announcement came after ENTHUSIASM, SAYS OFFICIAL the court to reverse a 2017 lower attorneys for the Wisconsin WASHINGTON — As occurs at every Institute for Law and Liberty sent National March for Life, there is SSM Health a letter pointing out loud cheering when the lead group, that it is unlawful to distribute which carries the banner, arrives at monoclonal antibody products on the Supreme Court. This January 21, the basis of race. that group was led by participants from Christendom College in Front Nonwhite patients had been given Royal, VA, and Immanuel Lutheran a seven-point head start on their risk School in Alexandria, VA, joined scores, making them more likely by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of than white patients to receive critical Arlington. medical treatments, the report noted. The attorneys called the calculation “profoundly unethical,” “immoral,” and “illegal.”  L SOURCES: Catholic News Agency, Catholic News Service, Catholic Vote, Washington Examiner March 2022 | 40 | legatus.org

WORLD BRIEFS PRIEST CHARGED WITH ALLEGED direction,” adding that “a regional such a great teacher increasingly HATE SPEECH FOR CRITICIZING council or a provincial synod encourage the journey of all GOV’T AND HINDU LEADERS does not necessarily have to be the Lord’s disciples toward full KUZHITHURAI, India — Father an expression of the faith of the communion.” George Ponnaiah, a priest of Church.” Irenaeus, who was known for his the Diocese of Kuzhithurai in The German synodal path is a defense of orthodoxy amid the southern India, will face trial for process set to run through 2023 rise of gnostic sects was born in allegations of hate speech during in which bishops and lay people Smyrna, Asia Minor—modern-day an interreligious meeting last participate in order to address Turkey—in A.D. 130. He brings year amid rising anti-Christian various issues. Last October, its the total number of doctors of the persecution in the nation. plenary session ended abruptly church to 37. During a July 2021 meeting against after voters approved a text coronavirus restrictions on worship endorsing same-sex blessings POPE DECRIES HOW, FOR MANY and the construction of new and a discussion of whether the COUPLES, HOUSEHOLD PETS TAKE churches, Fr. Ponnaiah allegedly priesthood is necessary. Some PLACE OF CHILDREN made comments against the local observers have expressed concern VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis said government and leaders of India’s of a possible schism. in a January general audience that ruling, pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata it is a civilizational loss when dogs Party. He was arrested several days ST. IRENAEUS OF LYON, SECOND- and cats replace children in society, later and released on bail, but the CENTURY DEFENDER OF encouraging couples to “take the Madras High Court ruled he should ORTHODOXY, NAMED DOCTOR risk” to become parents. face trial. OF THE CHURCH “The other day, I was talking about VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a January the demographic winter that we The priest has denied the charges decree, Pope Francis officially has have today … many couples do not and apologized, and has said videos declared St. Irenaeus of Lyon a have children because they do not of his comments at the meeting doctor of the church, giving him the want to, or they have just one — but were deceptively edited. title of “Doctor of Unity.” they have two dogs, two cats,” the GERMANY’S ‘SYNODAL WAY’ Saint Irenaeus’ life and teachings pope said. “Yes, dogs and cats take POSES DANGER TO THE CHURCH, served as “a spiritual and the place of children.” SAYS SPANISH THEOLOGIAN theological bridge between Eastern ALCALÁ DE HENARES, Spain — and Western Christians,” the This “denial of fatherhood and Spanish theologian Fr. José Antonio pope said. “May the doctrine of motherhood diminishes us, takes Fortea has warned of what he calls away humanity,” he added. the serious danger to the Catholic Church posed by the synodal path He asked St. Joseph “to awaken in Germany. consciences and think about this: In a blog post, the priest said about having children. Fatherhood that “a synod, a council, any and motherhood are the fullness of ecclesiastical meeting, can go off a person’s life.”  L in an excessive and illegitimate SOURCES: Catholic News Agency, Catholic News Service 41March 2022 | | legatus.org

CHAPTER NEWS PHOENIX. Pictured at the Chapter’s January gathering are John Ford, Miki Ford, PHOENIX PORTLAND guest speaker Dr. John Bergsma, and Fr. Don Kline, who celebrated the Mass. Legates of the Phoenix Auxiliary Bishop Peter L. Smith Chapter met in January of Portland celebrated Mass for the for Confession, the Chapter on February 1 and shared rosary, and Mass at dinner with Legates afterward Our Lady of Perpetual at the Portland Golf Club. Guest Help Parish followed speaker was Travis Lulay, an by a dinner at The Oregon native who played collegiate Henry restaurant football at Montana State University in Phoenix. Guest and went on to a 10-year career speaker at the dinner in the Canadian Football League, was Dr. John Bergsma, where he led the British Columbia theology professor at Lions to the Grey Cup in 2011. Franciscan University He was also the CFL’s Most Valuable of Steubenville, whose Player that season and still holds engaging topic was the Lions’ third-highest career “Spiritual Warfare passing yards mark. His address and the Sacrament covered his reflections on faith, of Confession.” family, and football. PORTLAND. Pictured at the Portland Chapter’s monthly gathering are Darin Stegemoller, ST. LOUIS Geneva Stegemoller, guest speaker Travis Lulay, and Auxiliary Bishop Peter L. Smith of Portland. Dr. Marianne Mason was the featured speaker as the St. Louis Chapter kicked off the new year at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary with its January evening meeting. Following Confession, rosary, and evening prayer with the seminarians in St. Joseph Chapel, seminary president- rector Fr. James Mason and Monsignor Henry Breier, Chapter chaplain, concelebrated Mass for the assembled Legates. Dr. Mason, Fr. Mason’s sister and a former OB- GYN who has studied sacred iconography since 2003, spoke at the dinner regarding her passion and expertise in designing and “writing” religious icons. She explained how iconography is an ancient way of depicting the spiritual and heavenly world in which we exist as a way of inspiring the faithful in worship and prayer. ST. LOUIS. Dr. Marianne Mason speaks on sacred iconography during the Chapter’s January meeting at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. March 2022 | 42 | legatus.org

CHAPTER NEWS VENTURA-LA NORTH FORT WAYNE. Canadian-born Catholic recording artist Matt Maher (front row, in glasses) was a guest of the Fort Wayne Chapter Chapter members gathered in at a recent monthly meeting. Since his 2008 majo- label debut, Maher been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and has won three January at St. Jude Church in GMA Dove Awards as well as produced five No. 1 Christian radio singles including “Lord, I Need You” and “Because He Lives (Amen).” Westlake, CA for a rosary and Mass followed by a reception and dinner at the Westlake Yacht Club. Father Jim Stehly celebrated the Mass, while Jerry Weisbecker served as cantor and Mike Van Hecke as reader. Chapter vice president Tom Ellis was emcee for the evening, while Germaine Wensley introduced the guest speaker, Simone Rizkallah, director of program growth for Endow Groups, a Colorado-based Catholic organization dedicated to education on the nature and dignity of women. Rizkallah spoke inspiringly and answered questions on “Venerable Jan Tyranowski: How St. John Paul II’s Youth Minister Shaped His Carmelite Spirituality and Gave Us a Marian Pope.” VENTURA-LA NORTH. Together for the Chapter’s January Mass and dinner in Westlake, CA, are John Borchard, guest speaker Simone Rizkallah, Chapter vice president Tom Ellis, Germaine Wensley, Stan Carmichael, Jim Wensley, and Chapter administrator Robert Bagdazian. NAPLES. At the Chapter’s Induction Ceremony in January are (left to right) John Czarnetzky, dean of Ave Maria Law School; Sylvia Czarnetzky; Monsignor Frank McGrath, Chapter chaplain; Casey Askar, Chapter president; along with William Carzon, Dr. Leisa Marie Carzon, John Pluta, and Consuelo Pluta. March 2022 | 43 | legatus.org

CHAPTER Legates repaired to the Spinnaker “The City by the Bay,” who spoke NEWS Restaurant in Sausalito, CA, about “What Makes Catholic Health crossing the Golden Gate Bridge care Catholic?” Meehan is active in SAN FRANCISCO to the North Bay area. Dinner fighting the good pro-life fight in The San Francisco Chapter gathered speaker was Dolores Meehan, the politically and socially liberal in January at St. Mary Star of the a fourth-generation resident of Northern California region. Sea Church for a rosary before joining the regularly scheduled weekday Mass. Afterward the SAN FRANCISCO. Among those assembled for the Chapter’s January gathering are 2022 Chapter officers (left to right) Matt Bowman, Greg Dorn, Jim Castelaz, Fr. Andrew Spyrow, Maria Vickroy-Peralta, Laurie Murdock, Marcia Jervis, and Julianna Jervis. MIAMI. In mid-December, the Miami Chapter met at the home of Fr. Richard Vigoa, the 2021 National Chaplain of the Year, for an evening of food, fellowship, and music to celebrate the coming Christmas season. Legates pictured above (left to right) are David Nateman along with Johanne and Stuart Harries; at right are Alfred Bunge, Mary Sanchez, Amy Easton, and Pam Giganti-Bunge. March 2022 | 44 | legatus.org

CHAPTER NEWS KANSAS CITY The Kansas City Chapter held a formal reception and dinner on February 9 at Mission Hills Country Club to welcome six new members comprising three couples: Terry and Peggy Dunn, Ernie and Susan Straub, and Jay and Margie Dunlap. Monsignor Stuart Swetland, Chapter co-chaplain and president of Donnelly College, and Chapter president Nick Manning formally inducted the couples into the Chapter, which includes members from both the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO. The new Legates accepted their mission to be ambassadors for Christ, affirming their commitment in unison by stating, “I will, by the Grace of God.” TAMPA BAY KANSAS CITY. After an induction ceremony in February, Monsignor Stuart Swetland, Chapter co-chaplain (far left), Father Jason Barone regaled Legates and Chapter president Nick Manning (far right) welcome new members (left to right) Terry Dunn, Peggy Dunn, Susan Straub, of the Tampa Bay Chapter at a Ernie Straub, Margie Dunlap, and Jay Dunlap. recent meeting with a talk on the importance of the Latin language in our Catholic faith. A priest of the Diocese of Charlotte, he presently serves parishes in Sapphire and Highlands, NC, and is a co-founder of the Veterum Sapientia Institute, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping Catholic seminarians, priests, religious, and lay persons learn Latin and Greek according to the instructions in Veterum Sapientia, (“The Wisdom of the Ancients”), a 1962 apostolic constitution by Pope St. John XXIIII. BISMARCK At their February 3 event at the University of Mary, members of the Bismarck Chapter enjoyed an inspiring address by Fr. John Burns on “Man, Woman, and Life in Christ.” A priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Fr. Burns has worked extensively with the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta, and has provided retreats in Africa, Europe, and the United States. His popular book Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales was a winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association Award. L March 2022 | 45 | legatus.org

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5 MINUTES JIM GRAVES WITH Summit honoree went from telecommunications to communicating the Faith in second career FRED AND JANE TOPOR NAMED 2021 AMBASSADORS OF THE YEAR; HE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGATUS’ JUPITER-PALM BEACH CHAPTER FRED AND JANE TOPOR RECEIVED Tell me about your religious My studies led me to opportunities teaching the the 2021 Ambassadors of the upbringing. faith, of which I’ve loved every minute. I spent Year Award at the Legatus 35 years with AT&T, and now I’m in the 28th year Summit East 2022 recognizing I was blessed to have two strong Catholic parents of my second career teaching for the Church. the couple’s efforts on behalf who came from strong Catholic families. Their I look at my time with AT&T as preparation for of their chapter and the Church. parents came to the United States from Poland to this career. Fred, who is vice president of escape poverty. You expect the mom of a Catholic the Jupiter-Palm Beach Chapter family to be religious; I was blessed to have How large is your Legatus chapter, in Florida, spoke recently a solidly religious dad as well. He was a and which of its activities are your with Legatus magazine wonderful example of a deeply spiritual guy. favorite? about the honor. They were both daily communicants, and the Fred was born and rosary was a big part of their lives. We’re blessed to have 22 active couples, with raised in Palmer, another six to eight who are good prospects MA. His father What motivates you to join. Our goal is to get up to 30 couples. was an electrician to be active in your and worked for chapter and the I especially enjoy it when we bring in prominent an electric light Church? Catholic speakers and persuade them to come company. Fred early or stay late so they can address other earned bachelor’s When I retired, I was age Catholic groups in the area. In 2021, for example, and master’s 56, a still relatively young we invited Scott Hahn to give a presentation degrees in electrical guy. I had two objectives: to a 70-couple, multi-chapter event—including engineering and I wanted to stay active, the Legatus chapters in Miami and Fort spent his career and I wanted to learn Lauderdale—and he came a day early to give a working for AT&T. more about my Catholic talk at our cathedral parish. We opened it up to He retired in 1994, faith. About that time, other parishes in the area and filled the church and has since I had heard a priest who with a thousand people. We have two more of earned a master’s degree in had come to my parish to give talks on the these events planned for 2022, including one theology from St. Vincent synoptic Gospels. I thought, “If I could ever learn with Scott’s wife, Kimberly. de Paul Regional Seminary from this gentleman, that would fulfill my life.” and has volunteered as a It turned out he was on the faculty of our I’ve also especially enjoyed our Legatus Men’s religious education teacher seminary as well as its academic dean. It was Forum. It’s so successful, we’re starting a second as well as in a variety of other through the intervention of the Holy Spirit and one. We are 10 men who meet monthly for capacities at his parish, the my wife that I spent the next eight years at the prayer, to share about our lives, and to offer one Cathedral of St. Ignatius seminary, took all the courses they had, and another support. We’ve grown into a band of Loyola, and in his Diocese of earned a master’s degree in theology. I loved brothers, and we have really gotten to know one Palm Beach. studying the Faith. another personally. L Fred and Jane have three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. They joined Legatus in 2018. March 2022 | 48 | legatus.org

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MEET THE JIM GRAVES CHAPLAIN Many influences and role models led new South Bay L.A. chaplain to the priesthood FR. MARINELLO SAGUIN SAYS BIGGEST SHOCK WAS HEARING ‘HOW BROKEN AND WOUNDED’ PEOPLE ARE IN CONFESSION FATHER MARINELLO SAGUIN as Sr. Mary Christopher. In secondgrade, Has anything surprised you about is the new chaplain of the she prepared us for First Reconciliation and the priesthood? South Bay L.A. Legatus Chapter Communion. One day, she was showing us the in California. He joined the vessels used for Mass. I remember saying, The real shock was in the confessional. Nothing Discalced Carmelite Friars “One day, I’m going to be using those vessels.” in the seminary can prepare you to understand after high school how broken and wounded people are. They come but opted for the While I was in the fifthgrade, to the sacrament knowing they are fragile and priesthood with one of the Canons Regular, weak. We minister to them and allow them to the Archdiocese who is today Norbertine regain a sense of hope. of Los Angeles Fr. Hildebrand Garceau, was instead. Since his training us to be altar boys. What do you like most about ordination in 2015, He told us, “Being an altar boy the priesthood? he has served in is a school for the priesthood. several parishes While some of you will be It is a joy to come into people’s lives at their high and was named called to be fathers, some and low moments, accompanying them along pastor of Our Lady of you may be called to the the way. I have a wide range of experiences with of Grace Parish in priesthood. You will touch people throughout the day, then I bring it all back Encino last July. and live the mysteries at to the Lord for prayer and reflection. I also love which you are serving.” being able to celebrate the Eucharist and then to Tell me about your What he said really made an impression on me. bring the Eucharist to God’s people. Catholic upbringing Father Hildebrand would later vest me when and what led you to the I was ordained a priest. priesthood. My grandmother helped “It is a joy to come into What changes have I grew up in the heart of me develop my prayer life. people’s lives at their you made since Los Angeles. My parents I would pray with her as a emigrated from the Philippines boy. She was a Filipino lady coming to Our Lady of in the 1970s. I attended who said many novenas. high and low moments, Grace Parish? St. Francis of Assisi School, I would stare at her and see accompanying them staffed by the Sisters of Notre the intensity she had while Dame. Capuchin priests and praying. I thought, “I want the along the way I’ve tried to deepen our the Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception served fervor and relationship with parishioners’ spirituality the parish. They were happy, God my grandma has.” and increase their love for joyful people serving the Lord. the Eucharist. I’ve tried to I grew up thinking, “One day, She was too old to come from improve our liturgies, do I could be like them.” the Philippines for my ordination, but she did some catechesis, and have more times available live to learn that I was ordained. People asked for adoration and Confession. When I arrived, I had some wonderful religious her, “Aren’t you happy that your prayers were few were coming to Confession, and a priest who were role models, such answered and he is a priest?” She would respond, friend told me that this reflected a spiritual “I have to pray all the more that he never lose his poverty within the parish. I began to speak vocation.” She was a true testament to faith. on it in homilies and to add Confession times, and now many more come. L March 2022 | 50 | legatus.org