Boise chapter of Legatus provides business executives opportunity to form Catholic community

Author and business woman Jenny Hubbard was the guest speaker at the August 2025 Legatus meeting in Boise. (ICR Photo/Philip A. Janquart)

By Philip A. Janquart

ICR Editor

When Joe Burke moved to Boise from Orange, California, one of the things he missed was his participation in a peer group known as Legatus.

“We were members in Orange County, and when we moved here, there wasn’t a chapter in Boise,” the married father of three told the Idaho Catholic Register at a recent Legatus meeting held at SpurWing Country Club in Meridian. “We loved our chapter in California, so it was a blessing to see one established and chartered here about a year and a half ago.”

Legatus — Latin for “ambassador” — is an international Catholic organization for business leaders. What started with 11 members has grown to 5,000 across about 90 chapters in North America.

Founded in 1987 by Tom Monaghan — best known as the founder of Domino’s Pizza and former owner of the Detroit Tigers — the international network of Catholic executives is dedicated to living out the faith among other CEOs, presidents, managing partners and business owners.

“As corporate executives, most of us know what we have to do, and economic conditions may leave us no choice,” Monaghan said, describing in part why he launched Legatus. “The question then becomes how to do it in the best way, and the moral guidance Legatus offers helps make the tough calls.”

He also said that “success is getting to heaven and taking as many people with you as possible,” which fits with the organization’s overall goal to help business leaders “become better Catholics.”

Monaghan retired after selling Domino’s to Bain Capital in 1998 for about $1 billion. Following the sale, he redirected his time and energy toward philanthropic endeavors, founding Ave Maria College, a Catholic liberal arts school, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the same year he sold Domino’s. The college ultimately relocated to Naples, Florida, and was renamed Ave Maria University in 2007.

Participants of the August Legatus meeting gather for a quick group photo. (Courtesy photo) 

Burke, who played a role in founding the Legatus Boise chapter, understands the premise of integrating faith into professional and personal life.

“It's about ... business leaders that have taken on significant responsibilities in business and how they can share and join in fellowship about their journey as Catholics in business,” said Burke, inventor of the Ollyball, a lightweight, colorable play ball that garnered 2019 Toy of the Year, awarded by the U.S.-based national nonprofit trade organization The Toy Association.

“Legatus is a great place of trust and safety,” he said. “We deal with things in our company that I’m not willing to seek advice from just anybody about, especially as a Catholic business owner. There are different challenges that can test your faith, so it’s a great opportunity to join these people and talk about a greater meaning.”

Legatus holds monthly meetings, which begin with a rosary and confession followed by Mass, a reception and then dinner. A guest speaker caps off the evening.

Author and businesswoman Jenny Hubbard was the speaker during the Boise chapter’s Aug. 21 meeting at SpurWing Country Club in Meridian. Her youngest child, 6-year-old Catherine Violet, was a victim in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, on Dec. 14, 2012.

Hubbard has since become a public voice for healing and hope, speaking about grief, resilience and faith in the aftermath of tragedy.

Hubbard and her family also founded the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, based on Catherine’s love of animals. Jenny, a Legatus member, is the sanctuary’s chair and president.

She also spoke about her years in college and how she slowly began to veer away from her faith. She was recruited out of college by a Fortune 10 company in Manhattan, which became the main focal point in her life.

“I followed the flashing paycheck, which turned into a flashy career,” she said, adding that she eventually walked away from it all. “That flashy career took time and attention. I think that happens to a lot of us; sometimes we have a tendency to take our eyes off where we need to be.”

Hubbard said she listens to God now more than ever and uses her experiences to help others.

“God is saying, ‘I hear you; I see you,’ and ‘you are my beloved,’” she said during her talk. “And maybe this is a prayer right now, of me saying to God, ‘Let your words come through me and let your story be told to these people. You know, I think sometimes we should stop and ponder. I love Legatus because nights like this give you opportunities and moments to just ponder.”

Father John Mosier, pastor at St. Mark's Parish in Boise, says a prayer at the August Legatus meeting. (ICR Photo/Philip A. Janquart)