Faith Should Shape Everything: Three Lessons from Tom Monaghan
In a
recent conversation on
EWTN Live, Fr. Mitch sat down with Tom Monaghan, founder of Legatus, Ave Maria University, and Domino’s Pizza, to discuss faith, business, leadership, and the institutions Monaghan has built. Throughout the conversation, Monaghan reflected on his conviction that Catholic faith should influence every area of life, including the way we lead, invest, and use our influence. His reflections offer three lessons for Catholic executives seeking to live their faith fully in the workplace.
“I wanted to inspire each other to be better Catholics,” Monaghan said, describing his vision for bringing Catholic business leaders together.
Legatus was designed to help executives grow in their faith while learning from others who understood the unique challenges of leadership. The message is simple: being Catholic does not stop when we walk into the office. Our faith should shape how we lead, make decisions, treat others, and build our businesses.
“They get things done,” he said, pointing to the ability of executives to turn ideas into action.
That influence was one of the reasons he wanted Legatus to bring Catholic executives together. By surrounding themselves with other faithful leaders, members could encourage one another while using their influence to make a difference in the Church, their communities, and the culture.
As Monaghan reflected on Legatus, the goal was not simply networking. It was bringing together people who could “learn from each other” and make an impact.
For Catholic leaders, influence is not simply an advantage. It is a responsibility.
Speaking about Ave Maria University, he described his goal as creating “a beacon for other Catholic schools” and proving that fidelity to Catholic teaching and institutional success can go hand in hand.
That same philosophy extended to the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, which were created with a Catholic approach to investing. Despite excluding companies that conflicted with their pro-life principles, Monaghan noted that the funds continued to perform well.
For Catholic executives, the takeaway is clear: living according to Catholic principles does not mean choosing between faithfulness and excellence. Our faith can be the very foundation from which we build.
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Tom Monaghan’s story is ultimately a reminder that Catholic leadership begins with allowing faith to shape everything we do. Whether building a company, leading employees, investing, or strengthening the Church, Catholic executives have the opportunity to put their faith into action.
1. Faith Cannot Be Compartmentalized
For Monaghan, faith was never meant to exist separately from professional life. That conviction was at the heart of his decision to found Legatus after meeting Pope St. John Paul II.“I wanted to inspire each other to be better Catholics,” Monaghan said, describing his vision for bringing Catholic business leaders together.
Legatus was designed to help executives grow in their faith while learning from others who understood the unique challenges of leadership. The message is simple: being Catholic does not stop when we walk into the office. Our faith should shape how we lead, make decisions, treat others, and build our businesses.
2. Leaders Have the Ability to Make a Difference
Monaghan also emphasized the unique influence of business leaders.“They get things done,” he said, pointing to the ability of executives to turn ideas into action.
That influence was one of the reasons he wanted Legatus to bring Catholic executives together. By surrounding themselves with other faithful leaders, members could encourage one another while using their influence to make a difference in the Church, their communities, and the culture.
As Monaghan reflected on Legatus, the goal was not simply networking. It was bringing together people who could “learn from each other” and make an impact.
For Catholic leaders, influence is not simply an advantage. It is a responsibility.
3. Faithfulness and Success Can Go Together
Monaghan’s commitment to Catholic principles has also shaped the institutions he built.Speaking about Ave Maria University, he described his goal as creating “a beacon for other Catholic schools” and proving that fidelity to Catholic teaching and institutional success can go hand in hand.
That same philosophy extended to the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, which were created with a Catholic approach to investing. Despite excluding companies that conflicted with their pro-life principles, Monaghan noted that the funds continued to perform well.
For Catholic executives, the takeaway is clear: living according to Catholic principles does not mean choosing between faithfulness and excellence. Our faith can be the very foundation from which we build.
___________________________________________________________
Tom Monaghan’s story is ultimately a reminder that Catholic leadership begins with allowing faith to shape everything we do. Whether building a company, leading employees, investing, or strengthening the Church, Catholic executives have the opportunity to put their faith into action.
