Dear TLI family,
This past week in Mexico City, at THL2025, we were witnesses to something truly grace-filled. Gathering in fellowship, prayer, and formation with so many of you reminded me why the vocation of the lay Catholic leader is one of the most thrilling missions God could entrust to us, the renewal of the temporal order and the sanctification of the world from within.
As I witnessed the courage, passion, and love for the Church of each THL2025 attendee, I can’t help but contrast what I saw in our group of pilgrims with what I see out in the dominant culture. But why? There was a time when our Catholic faith compelled us to lead boldly in civil society. A glance at the history of Catholicism in the United States offers countless examples. Catholics knew it fell on their shoulders to build the institutions and support systems our communities needed. Catholic schools and universities, the Catholic Worker movement, and even the financial instruments of the Knights of Columbus, these were born from hearts daring to dream God’s dreams.
Have we forgotten to be audacious? Do we no longer believe that, as children of God, we are called to dream the dreams of God? I believe with passion that we can, and we must. The vocation of the laity is not passive, it is a vocation to build, to serve, and to transform society through our witness, competence, and love.
THL2025 in Mexico City was a vivid reminder of this calling. Being together, united in purpose and spirit, strengthened our resolve. We shared moments of prayer before Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated the Eucharist, and engaged in formation that challenged us to grow as leaders who dare to think and act magnanimously. These days were not just a retreat from the world, they were a training ground for it, they were an invitation to carry back to our homes, workplaces, and communities a renewed vision of what lay Catholic leadership can accomplish.
If there is one virtue above all that should define a Catholic leader, it is magnanimity. It calls us to rise above mediocrity, to think boldly, to act generously, and to dream God-sized dreams for the good of others. And like every virtue, it grows with practice, through prayer, through the sacraments, through deliberate acts of courage and charity.
As we return from THL2025, let us take the inspiration from our intimate time with Our Lady and Juan Diego, the friendships, and the wisdom we gained and put it into practice. Let us be leaders who build not for recognition, but for the flourishing of humanity. Let us be magnanimous in thought, word, and deed, and let us, through our witness, work to build a Christian civilization for the twenty-first century, one that reflects God’s love, justice, and beauty in every corner of society.
Thank you for being part of this journey, thank you for daring to dream and to lead. The world needs you to be magnanimous now more than ever.
With gratitude, yours in Christ and Our Lady of Guadalupe,
P.S. The date has been set for the 2nd Tepeyac Leadership Gala. Click below to register and mark your calendar to join us!
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