NATIONAL CATHOLIC PROFESSIONAL &
BUSINESS CONFERENCE
UNITES FAITH AND WORK
Left to right: Frank Borges, CEO, Ray Flynn, former Ambassador to the Vatican, Archbishop Niederauer of San Francisco Diocese, Cathlyne Scharety, President of San Francisco Club, Bill Applegate, President of CPBC National Clubs.
By Karen Walker
SAN FRANCISCO—Archbishop George H. Niederauer welcomed Catholics from a wide variety of businesses on April 20, at the start of the sixth annual conference of the National Catholic Professional & Business Clubs (www.cpbclubs.org). This year’s conference, themed Leadership and Living the Faith, drew most attendees from among the leadership and membership of the 13 Catholic Professional & Business Club and Catholics at Work chapters within the national umbrella organization.
“[We must] take the Good News of Gospel everywhere we go,” Archbishop Niederauer told attendees, noting what an utter betrayal of the Gospel it is whenever we take the values of the world and try to bring them into the Faith. Instead, he underscored that we must: “Make our own the values of the Kingdom. Live them! Then take them to all we meet.”
World-class, Catholic business leaders dominated the speaker line-up and included: Ambassador Ray Flynn, former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican (1993-97), three-term elected mayor of Boston, frequent media commentator and best-selling author of a book on John Paul II; Mark Brumley, president and CEO of Ignatius Press, the main English language publisher of Pope Benedict XVI; Patrick Lencioni, founder and president of The Table Group, Inc., a specialized management-consulting firm focused on executive team development and organizational health, and best-selling author of six business books.
Other speakers included: Noel Irwin Hentschel, chairman, CEO and co-founder of American Tours International (ATI) which annually serves nearly one million visitors from more than 70 countries and is the largest in-bound tour operation in the nation, generating nearly $3 billion into the U.S. economy yearly; and Gaelyn Felix, a springboard and platform diving champion, and, now, an Olympic distance triathlon and adventure racer spoke on behalf of Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC). Bishop Stephen Blaire, spiritual director for the organization, said the closing Mass and gave the blessing, exhorting attendees to bring the good news of the Gospel into the workplace.
“Living our faith in today’s world is a huge and daunting challenge,” explained national president William G. Applegate III. “The hope and aim of our annual conference is to help us meet that challenge with a greater sense of awareness, innovation and renewed enthusiasm when we return to our places of work and our communities.”
Amid colorful anecdotes, the biggest vote-getter in the history of Boston, Ambassador Flynn, was direct and clear in his challenge to “make a difference for the Church!”
Highlighting the difference between soldiers and spectators, Ambassador Flynn underscored the powerful social teachings contained in Rerum Novarum, an encyclical written by John Paul II.
“One person can make a difference!” Ambassador Flynn challenged. “We are called to act! …Our moral influence is so important. ... What stands in the way of the breakdown of moral order in this country? It’s the Catholic Church!
“Don’t blame someone else for not doing what you need to do yourself!” Ambassador Flynn challenged. “We must have the courage to speak out on what we believe in….As Catholics we have the best message: It is rooted in tradition. It does not change. It is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Don’t be afraid to say what you believe, your values!”
Later, during two Saturday sessions, Pat Lencioni held attendees in rapt attention and enjoined lively participation as he delivered powerful and practical tools to build a strong corporate or nonprofit leadership team.
“The devil is in the management,” explained Mr. Lencioni, who demonstrated how critical it is to realize that behaviors always precede results. “If you are not getting results, something is wrong with the team, and you have to be anxious about that… Good intentions and good theology fail if there is bad management! …Leadership matters!”
Speaker Mark Brumley outlined a blueprint for faith in action, based on Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical. Mr. Brumley underscored that the Catholic church was founded as a hierarchy; a hierarchy of service and humility, not one of power. Drawing from the Holy Father’s encyclical, he said that Caritas is “a love that wills the good of the other,” and reminded attendees that “God loves us so much that he won’t leave us as we are!”
“The function of the clergy,” Mr. Brumley continued, “is to act in persona Christi….The mission of the clergy is sacramental and rooted in a spousal relationship with God. The mission of the laity is to be in communion with the Church (sacramental) and to be in union, to bring others in.” This is, he explained, rooted in a faith commitment.
Ms. Felix, Catholic Athlete for Christ, spoke of her own Faith conversion, of Eucharistic Love and the reassuring promise of Philippians 4:13, which reads “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” She encouraged attendees to see the movie Facing the Giants.
“Don’t leave home without it!” said Mrs. Irwin Hentschel about the Rosary, a prayer she is recites daily. She recounted some highlights of her life-changing experience with Mother Teresa, whose Sisters of Charity she continues to help through The Noel Foundation. Mrs Hentshel’s insights regarding tourism, China and spirituality provided an uncommon perspective on the integration of faith and work, especially faith abroad.
Attendees included the CEO of medical device company, entrepreneurs, lawyers, salesmen, CPAs, senior executives, nonprofit founders and corporate regional managers.
“The quality of all the speakers exceeded my expectations!” summed up William May, chairman of Catholics for the Common Good (www.cftcg.org)” “I picked up some good things that I can apply in running my organization, which is a nonprofit. It was of great value for anyone in business!”
Next year’s national conference date has yet to be determined. For more information about the Catholic Professional & Business Clubs, visit www.cpbclubs.org.
About the National Catholic Professional & Business Clubs: The National Catholic Professional & Business Clubs, Inc., is a national non-profit organization which serves as the support entity to regional and diocesan chapters throughout the U.S. The first chapter club was founded in 1990 in Santa Rosa, California. Chapter clubs host monthly networking breakfast and/or luncheon meetings with a speaker who shares an inspirational message about living faith in the workplace. The national organization was incorporated in 2003, and supports the chapters by providing an annual national conference, formation advice, speaker resources and various other support services. There are currently 13 clubs throughout northern and southern California, Nevada and Illinois. For more information go to www.cpbclubs.org.
Karen Walker is a published writer, and president of Walker & Associates Strategic Communications in San Juan Capistrano, CA.