This fall, the Diocese of Bridgeport is inviting Catholic business owners to see their companies in a new light: not just as a source of income, but as a mission field.
The diocese is launching its newest guild, created for business owners, in partnership with His Way At Work (HWAW), a national organization that helps leaders consecrate their companies to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The guild joins the diocese's five existing guilds and extends the work of The One Renewal into the business community, inviting owners to move from simply owning a company to stewarding it for Christ.
The invitation is open to every business owner, from solopreneurs and family businesses to companies with hundreds of employees. There is no cost to join. Because the diocese is funding the HWAW license, owners of any size company can take part.
The guild will unfold in two key moments this fall. On
Thursday, October 22, from 7 to 8 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Fairfield, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will lead the official launch event. Attendees will hear from His Way At Work, watch a short video introduction, and begin a nine-day novena in preparation for consecrating their businesses.
That novena will close on Sunday, November 1, All Saints Day, with a Consecration Mass at 10 am at St. Augustine Cathedral. Business owners who have completed the novena will formally consecrate their companies to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and receive a certificate marking the occasion. A reception will follow, giving owners a chance to connect with the bishop, with His Way At Work, and with the local chapter leaders who will guide monthly meetings going forward.
Organizers are encouraging owners to attend the October 22 launch rather than come straight to the Mass, since the novena is where the real shift in mindset happens. As one HWAW leader put it, the nine days of preparation are what help an owner understand what consecration actually means.
"Your company is more than a source of income. It is a mission field," organizers say of the guild's core message. Consecration, they explain, is not about adding religion to a business. It's about integrating faith into the way an owner leads, serves and grows.