Knights of Columbus insurance salesman Mark Pan has always offered his work to Christ. But as the world becomes more secular, he felt the need to take an extra step and formally consecrate his work to Christ at a recent, first-of-its-kind Business Consecration Mass at St. Clare of Assisi Church in Coquitlam.
“I literally say, ‘Oh Jesus, I surrender everything to you’—that has been my mantra as a field agent [for the Knights],” he told The B.C. Catholic. “When I sit down with a family, it’s not me; it’s Jesus.”
Still, he has sensed a change in the lives of his clients and brother Knights, especially since the end of the COVID pandemic.
“I wanted to consecrate my business because today we are completely detached from God when it comes to work—when it comes to life,” he said. “For many, God only exists in church. That is completely wrong. God should be the centre of our life. People should know that.”
He joined 15 business owners who gathered for morning Mass on Nov. 23. The group was diverse: physiotherapists, IT professionals, artists, writers, and real estate agents all came to receive special graces for their businesses and, significantly, to network with other like-minded business owners.
During his homily, Father Maciej Wos spoke about the importance of stewardship for Catholic business owners.
Pan networks with many of his brother Knights who own businesses. He said that while they are putting much effort into running their businesses in as Catholic a way as they can, they still need support.
“For me, my company backs me up. I don’t need to use pronouns; I am not afraid of talking about abortion at work. But a lot of these guys need to be careful,” he said. “As Catholics, we need to support each other; the world is not going to support us.”
Pan describes the forces they’re up against. “The sea of the secular world is so powerfully relentless,” said Pan. “It’s pushing us down at every turn we take.”
The business blessing was an opportunity to network with other Catholic businesses and help each other, he said.
Attendees joined the newly formed chapter of the Association of Consecrated Business Owners, which partnered with His Way at Work, an international organization that offers resources and support for Catholic business owners. The Vancouver chapter will be run by the man who organized the business blessing, Marco Penado.
Co-organizer Ethelyn David told The B.C. Catholic she hopes the attendees go out and live their faith loudly, making decisions that will benefit their employees and bring Christ to the world.
The event, “was a way to honour God, and to connect with like-minded Catholic business owners,” she said.
One business owner told David that the consecration gave her the courage to keep her faith front and centre, which is one of the fruits that David hopes members of the association take away from the consecration.
“Be proud of what your beliefs are, and stand up for them,” David said. “If you are faithful to Jesus, he is going to honour you. Don’t be afraid of your faith; don’t be afraid to say you are Catholic.”
David points out the many different gifts each member brings to the association. “Each person has their own gifts and talents.” By asking God to use her gifts and talents, “he works through me,” she said.
“God doesn’t make me draw or garden, but I have a talent for networking.”
David runs a non-profit company, Mediatrix Conferences, that organizes Marian conferences.
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