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Fides Entrepreneurship: Mother Teresa And Examples of Courage in Catholic Leadership
Luca Zocche
September 18, 2025
Yesterday, as I was scrolling on Instagram, my younger sister sent me a video.
In Oslo, Norway she thanked the crowd for the honor which has been received by less then 1000 people.
She then used that moment though not to celebrate herself, but to speak a hard truth.
“The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, the cry of the innocent unborn child. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left for you and for me but to kill each other? Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you, for I have carved you in the palm of my hand. But today, millions of unborn children are being killed, and we say nothing.”
This video has reached over 100,000 people in just three days.
Just imagine the courage it took on her part to bring that message to such an acclaimed audience.
She was neither embarrassed nor afraid because she knew what truly mattered.
That is courage which is at the very heart of our faith.
Saint John the Baptist was beheaded for condemning King Herod’s unlawful marriage, while already having 10 wives.
Saint. Maximilian Kolbe stood up to the Nazis and gave his life for a father with a family who’s descendants still live today.
Padre Pio fearlessly confronted those who came to confession with lies and who were impenitent.
Each of them reminds us that to follow Christ is to stand for truth, even when it is rejected by our environment.
Until Cristofer Pereyra launched the Tepeyac Leadership program with the support of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix, Arizona there were very few Catholic Civic Leadership Programs.
Other Catholic programs, such as the Catholic Leadership Institute (1991), and the Achieving Leadership’s Purpose (ALP) (1968), have focused primarily on strengthening ecclesial leadership for priests, bishops, and some lay leaders.
At the university level, a handful of Catholic institutions have also sought to form civic-minded leaders through centers and initiatives such as the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership & Sustainability (2013) Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns (founded in 1983), Santa Clara’s Ignatian Center, Fairfield’s Center for Faith and Public Life , and Georgetown’s Institute for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.
These programs have made important contributions in connecting faith, social teaching, and civic engagement, but they remain largely academic in scope and student-centered in focus.
What was missing until Tepeyac was a program designed to form Catholic lay professionals those already active in business, law, politics, and community life to lead in the public square alongside their peers.
While more than 550 secular civic leadership programs shape future leaders across the U.S., Catholics had no equivalent rooted in faith.
According to Pereyra, most politicians today “get their feet wet” in such programs.
Tepeyac answered that need. For the first time, Catholics had a program forming leaders with courage drawn from the Gospel leaders ready to serve on boards, lead schools, and shape society without compromise.
Now, Tepeyac Leadership has graduated hundreds and is expanding around the world.
Its mission is simple: to give Catholics the courage to live their faith in the public square.
You too can discover how you can bring courage into your vocation, whether as a teacher, a business founder, or a civic leader because only faith gives us the strength to stand for what is right.
Lets not forget this as the times ahead are uncertain as last week has shown us.
Even as we sail through rough waters, we are not alone! May Our Lady of Fatima keep us safe!
Location: Saint Anthony’s Church, 154 Sullivan Street
Date: Thursday, September 25th at 19:00
Join us on September 25th as we reflect on how to bring that same courage into our own lives and vocations Signing Up Here!
Upcoming events
Tuesday October 21st, 2025 at 19:00
Our October speaker is James Fishback Founder & CEO of Azoria, an Independent-thinking investment firm as well as Founder of Incubate Debate, a debate league.
James will share how he started his own investment firm in direct response to his own experience of being ridiculed at a previous hedge fund on Wall Street for praying before meals.
“We do daily mass for our staff. Some of our staff who aren't even catholic join us. Not only that but by donating 5% of my personal profits from the fund to support new Pro-life pregnancy centers shows how we put our faith first at Azoria"
This Dinner will take place in Lower Manhattan*.
Sign up here to confirm your attendance. *Location subject to change.
Thursday November 13th, 2025 at 19:00
Our November speaker is Anthony Viscogliosi, Founder & Principal of Viscogliosi Brothers, a single-family office with 21 companies focused on orthopedics and spine surgery innovation. He is also a parishioner and altar server as well at Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
Anthony’s story is one of resilience, faith, and mission as at just 14 years old, he survived a near-fatal accident that left him with severe orthopedic injuries a moment he calls the greatest gift God gave him. That suffering became the seed of his vocation: to dedicate his life to supporting doctors and inventors who relieve the suffering of others.
“The accident was the greatest gift that the Lord gave me. He gives us the greatest troubles so we can do the best work for him and for humanity.”
Anthony will share:
The turning points that shaped his faith and entrepreneurial vision
How one can start their own family office to do good
How God uses suffering as a gift that transforms us
This Wine Tasting^ will take place in Lower Manhattan*.
^Event Format Subject to change. *Location subject to change.
Thursday December 4th 2025 at 19:00
Our December Speaker is Rob Kaczmark, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Spirit Juice Studios, an Emmy Award-winning creative firm dedicated to spreading the Gospel through media.
Rob’s story is one of faith, creativity, and conviction. From his roots in youth ministry and BMX culture (punk rock, tattoos, ect) to building one of the most recognized Catholic media production company in the country, which has worked with Jonathan Roumie, Hallow, Bishop Baron and Mark Wahlberg.
During COVID, when churches were closed, Rob and his team livestreamed daily Masses from their in-office chapel, offering hope to thousands. His short films like The Veil Removed to launching a Catholic kids’ channel on YouTube continue to shape how Catholics experience and share their faith.
“A small little video, a livestream Mass or Divine Mercy hits the right person at the right time… Sometimes even just the appearance of someone on camera praying that looks a little different can bring someone in.”
Rob will share:
How his creative journey led to founding Spirit Juice Studios
Why incorporating a chapel into his office and offering mass there changed his company’s culture
How media can be used to plant seeds of faith in unexpected places
This Talk will take place at The Catholic Center at NYU in Lower Manhattan*.
We are deeply thankful to the support of Father Cassian and his team for making this possible!
Sign up here to confirm your attendance. *Location subject to change.
If you are an NYU Student or work for the university please reach out to us to get a free ticket, at [email protected] .
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