Archbishop and governor to speak at Catholic Business Exchange programs

By Mary Ann Wyand

Catholic Business Exchange programs keep getting better and better every month.

Participation in the faith-based business organization’s early morning meetings in Indianapolis continues to grow as more Catholic professionals discover the benefits of praying together and learning together from knowledgeable mentors who discuss informative and entertaining topics related to Christianity in the marketplace.

Meetings begin with Mass at 6:30 a.m. followed by breakfast and a short program at the St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Hall, 2100 E. 71st St., in Indianapolis. The $15 fee covers the cost of the meal.

Catholic Business Exchange founder Jim Liston believes putting God first is the secret to the organization’s success.

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, the featured speaker for the Oct. 18 meeting, will address the importance of bringing the Catholic faith and values into daily life.

The archbishop endorses the Catholic Business Exchange in a letter on the Web site and quotes Pope John Paul II’s statement that part of the Church’s new evangelization involves bringing Catholic faith and values into the marketplace.

“I think that hits home as to what we’ve done with our strategy of combining a faith-based organization with business,” Liston said. “Catholic men and women want to meet other people in business, learn from them, share their faith with them and do business with them.”

Gov. Mitch Daniels is scheduled to speak at the Nov. 16 meeting.

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, is the celebrant for Mass at the October and November meetings.

A member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in

Indianapolis and financial services professional with WestPoint Financial Group, Liston felt called to start a Catholic business networking group on the north side of the city four years ago.

He enjoyed Civitas Dei programs at Marian College on the west side and Lumen Dei meetings at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish on the south side with Catholic professionals, and decided to organize a similar group for business men and women who live in northern Marion County as well as Hamilton County.

In four years, participants representing more than 50 parishes in the archdiocese and the Diocese of Lafayette have heard 33 Catholic or Protestant speakers ranging from a hospital administrator to an editorial

cartoonist to sports executives.

“Each of them in their own way has incorporated their faith journey or how they feel about their faith along with their message of business,” Liston said. “When the governor speaks in November, it will be a combination of his faith base along with a business summary of what you would expect from the chief executive officer of the state.”

Liston expects sell-out crowds of more than 300 people for the archbishop’s speech in October and the governor’s talk in November. He recommends that people register early for those meetings.

Twice a year, participants meet for a “business after hours” social gathering.

Next year, Liston plans to change the group’s organizational structure from participation to membership and guest status. He also wants to help Catholic business professionals start groups in other cities.

St. Joan of Arc parishioner Barbara Jones of Indianapolis, the owner of Stellar Training Products, helps Liston with the meetings and schedules priests for Mass every month.

“Sometimes in today’s society you can feel that you’re the only person left who believes in honesty, fair-dealing and truth in business,” Jones said. “It’s nice to find that there are other people who share the same values that I cherish. … At the meetings, you meet such interesting professionals and make such good connections that are rewarding in both personal and professional ways.”

Jesuit Father Thomas Widner, former editor of both The Criterion and America magazine, is one of a number of priests who have celebrated Mass for the group.

“Many Catholics try to make aspects of their faith part of the way they live, the way they do business and the way they treat one another,” Father Widner explained. “I think anything that can help reinforce that [goal] is very positive. You see and hear so much about the negative side of the corporate world, … but you don’t always hear about groups like this and the way they support one another in their faith. It’s a good organization.”

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioner Gary Galvin of Carmel, Ind., president of Galvin Technologies, maintains the Catholic Business Exchange Web site.

Galvin started participating in meetings in February 2005 and enjoys the monthly opportunities to network with men and women employed in a variety of careers.

“It’s a very social group,” Galvin said. “I think we’ve been real fortunate to get a lot of high-level speakers who have drawn attendance. It’s also neat for us as business people to be able to look up to these speakers as mentors. It helps people share their faith

in the business environment and feel rejuvenated in their faith.”

(For more information about the Catholic Business Exchange or to register for programs, log on to the

Web site at www.catholicbusinessexchange.com.) †