Letters of Commendation
A greeting from Archbishop Charles C. Thompson:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Pope Francis reminds us that “it is not enough to say we are Christian. We must live the faith, not only with our words, but with our actions.” When we do so, we are bringing the Gospel to all those we meet.
The Catholic Business Exchange has been actively involved in carrying forth that directive from Pope Francis for many years. Since 2004 the Catholic Business Exchange has been gathering together Catholic men and women to share their faith and discuss how they can give witness to that faith in their professional lives not only with words but with actions. The group’s monthly meetings also provide members an opportunity to network with business professionals in the Indianapolis area.
The Catholic Business Exchange continues to be an important means of bringing the Gospel to the metropolitan business community. I ask for your support of their work, especially as they try and expand their efforts to communities outside of Indianapolis.
With assurances of my prayers and best wishes for you, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson
Archbishop of Indianapolis
View a scanned copy of the original document: Archbishop Thompson Letter
A greeting from Bishop Timothy Doherty, STL, PhD:
Dear Friends,
It may surprise some people to see all of the business-related topics enumerated in the print version index of Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2004). Since the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) addressed accelerations in economies, the Church’s teaching has kept pace with a world that has not stood still. These teachings offer an affirmation of the human dignity of individuals, families and communities.
Admittedly, the complexities of our lives often outrun our ability to fully capture in documents the values that we advocate. This is where the Catholic Business Exchange provides a forum to share prayers, news and insights that bring faith enrichment into our work. It offers human connections across a wide spectrum of industry and expertise.
If you are like me, I appreciate this organization for sticking to meeting agendas that come to a hard stop. This makes any invitation to join you that much more appealing.
Thank you for being leaders in connecting faith and work, and making a vocation in business in Central Indiana that much more vibrant.
In Christ’s peace,
Most Reverend Timothy Doherty, STL, PhD
Bishop of Lafayette-in-Indiana
View a scanned copy of the original document: Bishop Doherty Letter
A greeting from Archbishop Christophe Pierre:
Dear Mr. Liston:
Pleased to learn that the Catholic Business Exchange will be gathering to celebrate its 15th anniversary on September 19, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the Apostolic Nuncio, the representative of the Holy Father to the United States, I wish to express the spiritual closeness, paternal affection and heartfelt congratulations on this occasion in the life of your organization, assuring all gathered of the prayers of Pope Francis.
In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis said that the vocation of the businessperson is a “noble vocation, provided that those engaged in it see themselves challenged by a greater meaning in life; this will enable them truly to serve the common good by striving to increase the goods of this world and to make them more accessible to all.” (Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 24 November 2013, 203).
Indeed, the Holy Father is calling you, the members of the Catholic Business Exchange, to be missionaries of the social dimensions of the Gospel, not only by creating and sharing wealth and resources, but also by promoting authentic values that serve the human person and his dignity. Your efforts over these fifteen years have also demonstrated in action the virtues of faith, charity, and solidarity, offering hope to others through your support of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the Fatima Retreat House, the Women’s Care Center, and many others.
I encourage you to continue to live your vocation by God’s grace and according to God’s law, keeping the Gospel alive in your hearts and protecting the dignity of the human person. Commending you to Saint Joseph the Worker, the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy in Christ Jesus.
Offering my own heartfelt best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Archbishop Christophe Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio
View a scanned copy of the original document: Archbishop Pierre Letter