By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic
MIAMI | After moving down to South Florida about nine years ago and then getting married, Meghan Connolly was looking for a place to hone both her Catholic life and business reach.
Now a realtor, social marketing consultant and e-commerce coach, Connolly said she grew up in New York and recalls that she had an uncle in the Northeast who worked with Legatus, a network of CEOs, presidents, managing partners and business founders who, according to group’s mission statement, “aspire to be faithful ambassadors for Christ and lead as many other souls to heaven as possible.”
There are 90 chapters across North America, Canada and Mexico, along with at-large members overseas, and with an average chapter size of about 30 people. Legatus was established by Tom Monaghan, who is best known for founding Domino's Pizza and Ave Maria University, but who has said he is most proud of founding Legatus.
“In 2021 my husband Albert got a new job and was the highest ranking Catholic at his workplace: I did the research and the website tells you who the chaplains are and we reach out to the Southeast Regional Legatus chapter manager to confirm our qualifications and we joined in 2021,” said Connelly, 33, who is well on the younger side of the average Legatus member.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Father Richard Vigoa, pastor of St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center in Coral Gables and chaplain of the Legatus Miami Chapter, speaks to parishioners during a Mass celebrated at his parish in March 2022.
Connelly had discovered that Legatus had a newly reinvigorated local chapter in Miami under the pastoral care of Father Richard Vigoa, pastor of St. Augustine Church near the University of Miami in Coral Gables. And her youth, she said, has brought a welcome dynamic to the organization — she now serves on one of its national leadership boards.
The local chapter meets regularly for rosary, Mass, confession and a dinner normally featuring a guest speaker either on spiritual matters or business ethics and living the Catholic faith in the workplace.
“The entire group are just like family. Although we are on the younger end, it puts us in a unique position because the group treats us like peers but also mentors,” Connolly said.
“I really love that it is structured with rosary, confession, then Mass, and after that we have a cocktail social period moving into a member spotlight where a member interviews a couple so that the chapter can get to know each other better and we chat with the people at our table,” she said.
Connolly also created a social media presence for the Miami chapter and a LinkedIn group for members to network. This sparked Legatus International, the parent group, to take an interest, she added.
Father Vigoa, the chaplain, said a reconstitution of Legatus in Miami came after a period of slower activity and that Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski saw the potential of Legatus to inspire and form Catholic business leaders in their faith and made it a priority to revitalize and re-chapter the group.
The chapter emphasizes the importance of uniting faith and leadership, creating a community where members could grow spiritually, connect with one another and bring their faith into the workplace, according to Father Vigoa.
“The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the chapter quickly regained momentum. It has been a privilege to watch it flourish once again, thanks to the archbishop’s vision and the dedication of our members,” he said.
This networking has extended beyond the chapter meetings. Members have found ways to collaborate professionally and spiritually, supporting each other but also in their personal faith journeys. Legatus has strengthened ties between parishes and apostolates within the archdiocese, building a broader sense of Catholic identity and community, he added.
Many of the members are also members of St. Augustine Parish, including Jeffrey Gamboa, who is a division manager for Florida United/Vector Marketing, which markets Cutco Cutlery regionally.
In 2010, Gamboa moved to Florida for his work, and along with his wife, settled at St. Augustine community, where he was invited to a recruitment dinner for Legatus, which he estimates had been inactive since about 2015. They restarted the chapter with about 10 couples just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Ninety percent of those couples are still active and now we are one of the faster growing chapters, with about 40 couples,” Gamboa said.
“It is an opportunity for business leaders to dive into their faith once a month at chapter meetings” with speakers such as Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, local Catholic sports figures, media professionals and clergy.
“Outside of the chapter meetings, there are avenues to get involved with networks, wine group, business projects, forums on investing, and great opportunities for mission trips, travel to Rome and in women’s groups and men’s groups.”
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Legatus founder Tom Monaghan and his wife Marianne Monaghan speak with two religious women from Mexico Feb. 8, during the 2025 Legatus International Summit held at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida.
“In a world with a lot of chaos, temptation and secularism causing roadblocks for faith-forward leaders and businesses, Legatus is an avenue to be around other CEOs and leaders and presidents of company leaders who are trying to live their faith in the workplace — and is one of many ways to grow the Church locally and nationally,” Gamboa added.
Father Vigoa said the fruits of the Legatus membership have been both personal and communal as he watches members grow in their faith, become more committed to prayer, the sacraments and living out Catholic values.
“Many have become more engaged in their parishes, taking on leadership roles and supporting important initiatives. We are talking about business leaders who thought they had minimal time for parish life and are now actively involved and inviting others to join,” the priest said.
On a community level, some members have also become mentors to younger professionals, passing on business expertise as well as their faith and values.
Stephen Henley, Legatus president, notes that the average age of members is around 60. This is a sweet spot where a Catholic businessman or woman has been successful in business. At this age, “you reach a half time when you move from success to significance — getting more involved with family and faith and take my faith more seriously.”
The Southeast is a growing area of membership, similar to the overall Catholic population trend. The Great Lakes, Midwest, Louisiana and Texas are also strongholds for Legatus.
For her part, Connelly loves South Florida's business-friendly environment and high energy, especially in winter. She found a thriving business as a real estate broker. She now has a parish and a Legatus chapter to match her business life. "It has helped us stay sane and humble. to see great people achieving great things but stay centered in God at the same time. The fellowship at Legatus is next to none; I have never seen anything like it in my life.”
