Are you Visibly Catholic outside of the Catholic world?
I attend a lot of business functions, and I also attend a lot of church functions. Often, these two worlds are separate. I live in two different bubbles, each with its own set of friends. I am amazed when I see someone from my business world bubble, who I had no idea was Catholic, at church event. Why should I be surprised? I’m not the only one groping my way toward God. It just seems that way sometimes in my business world bubble. Do you feel like your faith life and your business life exist in separate bubbles? When considering your answer, consider whether on your LinkedIN profile you chose to list your various church activities in the "Interests" section. If you are active in your faith and did not list those types of activities as an "Interest," why not?
Posted 2 months ago | Expiring in 13 days | Delete job
Linda Weaver
Attorney at CNA Insurance Company and Corporate Counsel, Weaver Boos Consultants, Inc.
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Comments (29)
1. David Spellman
General Counsel at IEERB
I looked at my profile again and saw that I had not responded whatsoever to the "interests" prompt. But I have my membership in 8 Faith-related Groups visible, including this one, (plus many Faith-related books that I have read listed)...don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that I just might be Catholic! I keep a small Crucifix on my desk along with a small icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel and also prayer cards with The Memorare and The Angelus. I know that when I wear a white or light-colored shirt that my brown, cloth Scapular shows. Yet, you are correct...I have a professional "bubble". I see that bubble burst when someone is suffering: personal conversations at times of loss such as the death of a parent, or the stress of a seriously ill child. Some times the person comes to me with some version of "I couldn't help but notice" (that's why I'm out there) and often enough I will just be proactive and try to be especially available and empathic. Your separate "bubble" analysis is very helpful. As always, thanks for a great question Linda.
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2.
Linda Weaver
Attorney at CNA Insurance Company and Corporate Counsel, Weaver Boos Consultants, Inc.
Okay, everyone gets points for having a Catholic group icon on their profile. (You get lots of points!) But I have three Purdue Alumni Group icons on my profile and I haven't done one thing with any of those groups. On the other hand, I have one Notre Dame alumni group icon on my profile and I am vastly involved with that group. Some people have so many icons on their profile, there's no way they could be involved meaningfully in all of those groups and hold down a job.... To me, a group icon merely means someone is at least peripherally interested in the subject and perhaps only for the purpose of finding a job or a business opportunity. The "Interests" section seems to provide the opportunity to more accurately reflect my "involvement" with each each of my alumni groups. If one lists backpacking, traveling, gardening, ballroom dancing, etc. in the "Interests" section, why not also list your church activities? If one is truly involved in living his or her faith on a daily basis in more than one bubble, wouldn't adding those types of activities (Eucharistic Minister, lector, or even parish) be a good way to say to the whole world, "I'm Catholic and that means something to me?" If one is hesitant to list those things, why?
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3.
Dave Greco
Senior Electrical Engineer at MacAulay Brown
I am job hunting right now and do not make my Catholic groups publically visible for fear of discrimination however slight; I'm not proud of that. As it happens, the guy that offered me a job last week was at least raised Catholic :) While I do not make my Catholicism visible to everyone all the time, most of even my most casual friends know that I am Catholic and I know that they are Christian. When the slightest opportunity arises, I will venture into a discussion about faith. Once that door has opened, then I am even more forthcoming. For example, as I was walking past a group of people I barely know at work the other day, I overheard something like "...I dunno, something like no meat on Fridays and fasting sometimes...." I only just cocked my head and smiled just enough to prompt one of them to ask me "Are you Catholic?" I said, "Yes" and gave them a thumbnail sketch of lenten practice.
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4.
Gustavo A. Bujanda
Public Relations Vice President
Dave, I hope all here appreciate your openness and honesty. It seems that you have encapsulated with your statement the reason why we have a Catholic Professionals Group. I am proud to have met you here.
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5.
Chris Nelms
Managing Supervisor Supply Chain Process & Systems at Ameren Corporation
Its a good question, I quickly reviewed my profile and my Caotholicity is there for all to see. Incidentally, for any KofC members posting/reading here, I manage a group called 'Knights of Columbus (KofC) Networking' here on Linked In. Please feel free to join it if you wish. We can save each other some time if you send me a note credentializing yourself as KofC, i.e. Council name and number, degree received, offices held, etc.. Chris Nelms
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6.
Mike Koelzer, R.Ph.
Speaker with ProLifePharmacy.com & President of Kay Pharmacy
My Catholic faith intersected quite strongly with being the third generation owner in my family pharmacy. In the mid-90s I became aware of the abortifacient nature of birth control pills I was dispensing in my pharmacy (along with cooperating in the intrinsic evil of contraception). Results of a 7 year struggle saw me discontinuing all contraceptives in the pharmacy. It was difficult but so incredibly rewarding and even more so as time goes by.
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7.
Alex Loehrer
Vice President, Client Services at Hafenbrack Marketing
At the start of the year, some associates and I launched an apostolate with the blessing of our Archdiocese. The First Friday Society for Catholic Professionals ( www.firstfridaysociety.org ) helps Catholic businessmen and women carve time out of their work schedules for Christ by encouraging them to attend First Friday Mass and then helping them get there--wherever their business travels might take them. We want to keep a focus on faith in the context of work, and to help business professionals and those around them make it to Heaven. I eat lunch with a lot of people in the course of business. A few years ago, I decided to get over my concerns about faith-based professional rejection and begin each meal with a silent prayer, which was made recognizable by the sign of the cross. The outcome has been great. People generally make a comment or ask a question when I'm done. "Oh, you're Catholic. Me too." Or, "Yeah, I used to be." Either way, it's a way of telling them "This is who I am," in an unobtrusive fashion. In one instance, as I started to make the sign of the cross, the person across the table asked if I was Catholic. I said, yes. She then told me she was too and asked if we could pray together. She went on to connect me with a number of other Catholic professionals in our downtown. She was instrumental in creating momentum for our apostolate.
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8. David Spellman
General Counsel at IEERB
Wow, good work Alex! Thank you and bless you Mike.
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9.
Dave Greco
Senior Electrical Engineer at MacAulay Brown
Thx Gustavo, right back atcha.
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10.
Linda Weaver
Attorney at CNA Insurance Company and Corporate Counsel, Weaver Boos Consultants, Inc.
It's wonderful that people are willing to share their stories of both fear and courage. I have felt both over the course of my life. I love this thread and hope people keep posting. I can barely tear myself away but have to go to a wine tasting in about 10 minutes..... : )
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11.
Dave Greco
Senior Electrical Engineer at MacAulay Brown
How awful for you Linda, what is it, almost noon now? lol. Enjoy.
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12.
Linda Weaver
Attorney at CNA Insurance Company and Corporate Counsel, Weaver Boos Consultants, Inc.
My husband is into wine. Going to these things with him is one of the many many sacrifices I make to keep him happy... : )
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13.
Kevin Rockholt
Endpoint Virtualization Specialist at Innovative Medical Systems
I am probably too vocal, even my boss (who is Catholic) seems to think that I am, I told him that it was our duty and he said many hypocrates speak of their faith and it is better too live it. I agree with the living it part, although I feel called to speak of it as I am excited about the good news! Who wouldn't want to share it. Interstingly enough, it is typically protestant Christians that I typically find the most common ground with in the workplace. It seems so many Catholics are luke warm or even have left the faith these days, or even just don't know their faith. I actually have Knights of COlumbus on my resume. My very best friend from high school recently got married (later in life) and he was not practicing anything and he now is Assembly of God, because she is. I am pleased that he is going and at least hearing some truth, but I know that she is anti-Catholic (not to mention a majorily selfish person in the marriage). He is one who I continually pray for conversion for, as this marriage is very troubled. This friend is one who although not Catholic, excepts my faith. I believe he probably sees Catholicism as tough, he likes the path of least resistance. Being born again or saved appeals to him, no serious work after that. I must say though, he is a great husband and father. I just would like the truth to be revealed to him so that he too could know our faith and receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
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14.
Linda Weaver
Attorney at CNA Insurance Company and Corporate Counsel, Weaver Boos Consultants, Inc.
I used to be hesitant about being open about my church activities in a general business setting, until I decided to be a little braver a few years ago. I was at a business speaker series at the Metropolitan Club in Chicago. Some big business consultant who had written several books was speaking. It was a small group, and we went around the room introducing ourselves at the beginning and saying a few things about what we did. I said, "I'm in-house counsel for CNA Insurance company and corporate counsel for my husband's environmental engineering company and I'm very involved with my church activities particularly with evangelization in the Archdiocese of Chicago." After the talk, we were saying our "goodbyes" and I went to shake the speaker's hand. He said, point blank, "You wear your religion on your sleeve." Now honestly, what I wrote above is the only mention of religion I made that morning. I let it pass and just gave an amicable thank you and goodbye. At first, I was shocked at the reaction to my simple statement. Later, however, I thought to myself how glad I was to have said something. Why would I want to do business with him if that's what he would think about the real me? At that point, I decided that I had no interest in pursuing any business connection with him. Several months later I received an invitation to connect from this speaker here on LinkedIN. Before accepting, I asked him if he remembered the comment he made to me and suggested he might not want to be connected to such an active Catholic. He assured me I had misunderstood.... Then I accepted. After that, I decided that, for me, life is just too short to play games. As Chair of Networking for Notre Dame in Chicago, for many years, many ND alums looking to make a career change would contact me. Sometimes I hear how a person hates the environment they are in because their employer is not Christian and the office environment and practices do not reflect that type of atmosphere. Perhaps if on our resumes and profiles we put some of our church activities, we might actually get hired by the type of people who would appreciate us. The only reason I accepted an offer from my current boss at CNA is because I knew he was a good Christian, although not Catholic. Now I understand that some people are more worried about feeding their family (and potential discrimination) and may not feel they have that luxury, but it is something to think about. If you are in Chicago, you might not be as worried if you realize that 40% of Chicagoans are Catholic. Becoming more visible is easy. You can do it in stages. I gave a talk on Practical Evangelization in Anchorage Alaska a couple years ago. I was giving examples of how one can be open but not obnoxious. I said one of the easiest ways (particularly for women) is to wear a crucifix. After the talk, a woman came up to me in tears. She said she always wears a crucifix but always makes sure it is tucked under her blouse where no one would see. From now on, she was going to wear it on the outside. Here's a little article about wearing a crucifix: http://www.spiritnetworking.com/files/Cross.pdf Here's one about how I try to go about being open but not obnoxious in the workplace. I'm posting the Word version since the PDF is hard to read. http://www.spiritnetworking.com/files/Open_but_not_ObnoxiousU.doc I only offer these in case they give someone else who may be hesitant some ideas on some first steps they might take to be more visible, not as evidence that I have all the answers... (which I don't - another reason I am enjoying the postings of others here.)