May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

I hope everyone had a great Father’s Day last Weekend. I enjoyed hanging out with my three daughters and having a nice conversation with my Dad. It got me to thinking about fatherhood. What a responsibility. What Pressure. But, for what purpose?

Jim McIntyre, President of Father Ryan High School, presented to the CBL last year. He spoke of their mission to create “good” kids. Our society and the livelihoods of those around us are only safe when we are producing kids, future adults, that are good. This applies to parenthood in perfect parallel.

Do we want our kids to just be happy? Rich? Famous? Does that give them peace and challenge them to affect their world. No, we are to teach them humility, service, sacrifice, selflessness. There’s no guaranteed happiness or big money here. But, it is how Christ taught us to be. If we just teach them as Christ teaches us then there can be no greater good created on earth.

In many of his talks Fr. Larry Richards tells parents: “Your number one job is to get your children and your spouse to Heaven. It is my job to get my flock to Heaven and it is your job, it is your vocation to get your family to Heaven.” More pressure; to be a spiritual leader?

One interesting practice came to me from Deacon John Krenson at the ‘The Highest Call” Men’s Conference a couple of years ago. He spoke of a friend growing up whose father would bless him every time he left the house. Many times it was annoying to his friend and embarrassing. But, when he went off to basic training, his friend ran back into the house to make sure his father blessed him before leaving. I have taken up that habit and bless my girls every night before bed. Now, they even remind me when I am distracted. What a bond and gift this has become for us.

This should be the same bond that we should have with our spiritual leaders in the church. The Priests, Deacons, Religious sisters, etc. that give their lives away serve those around them; to get every one else into Heaven! At the end of every Mass the Priest gives a blessing to the congregation. Accept this blessing with respect and appreciation of what it means. It means you are called to do in your “church” what he is doing in our Church.

It is appropriate that, just after Father’s Day, we are hosting Bishop Choby and many of the Seminarians from the Diocese of Nashville to the next CBL Prayer Breakfast. Please join us to meet and celebrate the men that will some day be serving the flocks in our diocese. The date is July 8^th. Please invite a friend that has not been before.

A couple of community announcements:

CBL members are invited to attend a breakfast to honor Fr. William Bevington on Thursday, July 29, 7:30 a.m., at Father Ryan High School, hosted by Visitation Hospital Foundation. Fr. Bevington has been a hue supporter of our work in Haiti over the past 8 years and we want to honor him for all he has done to support VHF's work to alleviate suffering by providing health care and health education. Contact Fran Rajotte at 615/673-3501 to RSVP or email at VisitationHF@aol.com

Visitation Hospital Foundation is looking for golfers to serve on a core team committee to plan a golf tournament fundraiser. We need 10 committed people who will promise to form two golf teams each. If interested, please call Fran Rajotte at 615/673-3501 or email her at VisitationHF@aol.com

Please remember to renew your membership in the Catholic Business League. It is by your support that we are able to come together as a community.

I am always,

Very truly yours, in Christ

Greg Mays

president@catholicbusinessleague.org