Faith, Business, and Purpose: An Introduction to Legatus
What would it look like if the most influential Catholic business leaders in your community gathered each month to pray together, hear world-class speakers, and hold each other accountable to a life of faith? That is the vision behind Legatus — and for more than 5,500 members across three countries, it is already a reality.
From a Papal Audience to a Movement
The story of Legatus begins in May 1987, when Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Inspired by that encounter, Monaghan returned home with an idea: gather the most proven Catholic CEOs, presidents, and business owners and create a space where faith and leadership could flourish together. The model was shaped after the Young Presidents’ Organization, but instead of focusing solely on business networking, Legatus would lead members deeper into their Catholic faith.
On June 2, 1987, just one month after that meeting, Legatus held its first gathering — 11 faithful Catholics in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The name chosen for this new organization was fitting: Legatus is Latin for “ambassador.” St. Paul’s words in his second letter to the Corinthians – “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors” — would become the organization’s north star.
Today, Legatus has grown to more than 90 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with more than 5,500 members. Pope St. John Paul II himself addressed the group in 1988, telling them: “The world needs genuine witnesses to Christian ethics in the field of business, and the Church asks you to fulfill this role publicly and with perseverance.” That charge continues to define Legatus nearly four decades later.
Mission and Membership
The Legatus mission is elegantly simple: to study, live, and spread the Catholic faith in our business, professional, and personal lives. Membership is limited to the highest tier of Catholic business leaders — CEOs, presidents, managing partners, and founders — along with their spouses, who hold full membership status and participate equally in all aspects of the organization. This dual membership model sets Legatus apart from most professional associations and reflects its conviction that faith, family, and business are not separate compartments but a unified vocation.
At the heart of the Legatus experience is the monthly chapter event, where members gather for the Rosary, the opportunity for Reconciliation, Mass, a cocktail reception, dinner, and a keynote address from a nationally recognized Catholic speaker or business leader. Beyond the monthly gathering, members are invited into small-group Forums — intimate, confidential groups of fellow executives who meet monthly to share personal, professional, and spiritual concerns in a trusted setting.
Legatus also offers several events, including an annual international Summit, pilgrimages to holy sites, national retreats, and specialty gatherings for men and women. Members who wish to go deeper in their personal practice are encouraged to follow the “Tres Magna” — or Big Three — a spiritual plan of daily Mass, daily Rosary, and monthly Confession, inspired by the late Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, who attributed his team’s perfect season to starting every day at Mass.
A Home for Catholic Women Leaders
One of the most distinctive aspects of Legatus is its full inclusion of women — both as spouses of member executives and as top-ranking executives in their own right. Female CEOs, presidents, managing partners, and founders who meet the membership criteria are welcome as full members. For Catholic women navigating the unique pressures of executive leadership in a culture that is often hostile to faith, Legatus provides something rare: a community that understands both worlds.
Women’s Forums within Legatus chapters offer a confidential space to share professional and personal challenges with peers who share a common foundation. National women’s gatherings bring together female members from across the country for deeper formation and fellowship.
Events specifically for women in 2026 include a Marriage Retreat, Mother-Daughter Hiking Trip, and a Women’s Enclave. Comments from women members demonstrate the value of the organization:
“For me, that’s one of the powerful benefits of being in Legatus — having friends and mentors who were successful in the for-profit world who I can call on and ask questions. It’s very powerful and important to have those relationships. One of the best things about Legatus is I can call any of my Legatus friends at any moment, and they’ll be there for you.”
— Kristan Hawkins, President, Students for Life of America
“Legatus provides a space for Catholic leaders to integrate their faith and their work in a meaningful way — something many struggle with. We don’t always know what will bring us joy and happiness, but the Lord does, and He will lead us if we let Him. I believe organizations like Legatus help create that space for discernment and trust in God’s plan.”
— Legatus Member
“This group is about Catholic people who serve God through their work. As business leaders who want to follow God, it helps us see how to integrate faith into the workplace. We want to be Catholics who happen to have a business career, not the other way around.”
— Nirma Piña, Legatus Founding Member, Miami Chapter
The Impact: Faith That Transforms Giving
The formation members receive through Legatus has a measurable effect on their lives, including how and where they give. Research on Legatus members reveals a striking pattern: many members doubled or tripled their religious giving after joining, with religious giving frequently exceeding $100,000 annually.
Before joining Legatus, members typically gave between $15,000 and $75,000 to religious causes, while secular giving often remained below $10,000. After membership, both figures rose substantially. For parishes and Catholic institutions that depend on the generosity of business leaders in their communities, the Legatus effect is significant.
Among religious giving destinations, members most frequently support:
• Parish or church (22%)
• Catholic schools (18%)
• Bishop’s appeal (18%)
On the secular side, top causes include education (27%), health and medical (17%), and humanitarian relief (16%). Members experience a depth of formation that appears to redirect not only their spiritual lives but also the financial influence they carry into the world.
Is There a Chapter Near You?
With more than 90 chapters across North America, there is a good chance a Legatus community already exists in your area. The first step is to visit legatus.org to explore the chapter finder and learn more about membership requirements and upcoming informational events.
If there is no chapter in your region, Legatus actively supports the formation of new ones. The organization’s chapter development team works with interested leaders to identify potential members, connect with a local bishop and chaplain, and guide the chartering process. New chapters have recently been established across the country, each launched with a chartering Mass and the formal commissioning of founding members as ambassadors for Christ in their local business community.
For Catholic executives who have felt the tension between professional life and their deepest values, Legatus offers something rare: a community of peers who understand that tension because they live it, and who are committed to resolving it not by softening their faith, but by living it more fully.
To explore membership or chapter development, visit legatus.org or contact the Legatus chapter development team directly.
Check out the Legatus Instagram profile for more information on some of the women of Legatus, like board member Judy Dunn, long-time member Kathy Genthe, and business leader, Lindsey Nix.
Nicole is a strategic marketing and design professional with over 10 years of experience helping businesses clarify their message and connect with the right audience. She empowers organizations with insight-driven tools, thoughtful design, and brand strategy that strengthen communication, deepen engagement, and drive growth. Passionate about blending creativity with purpose, Nicole helps brands communicate clearly, authentically, and effectively with the people they serve. She leads marketing efforts at Legatus and runs Design Lyon Co., serving clients nationwide. She was a full-time missionary for 9 years, leading youth programs in Rhode Island, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia.