John Carroll Society
Encyclopedia
The John Carroll Society was founded in Washington, D.C.
in 1951 as a spiritual and beneficent organization for Catholic professional
laypersons in the service of the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington
. The founders of the society were Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan
, Judge Matthew Francis McGuire
of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
, and attorney William E. Leahy.
Part of the John Carroll Society's mission is the financial and professional support of the Archdiocese Legal Network and Medical Network, which provides free legal and medical services to the indigent of the Greater Washington, DC area.
The current president is Paul G. Scolese (2011-2012), a policy advisor with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Jane Sullivan Roberts, wife of Chief Justice
John Roberts
, is a member of the Board of Directors. Magistrate Judge
John M. Facciola served as a President and is the Chair of the Social Action Committee which is active in assisting homeless and transitional families in the District of Columbia. Other prominent members include the current President of Georgetown University,and many partners of the private bar with most major large Washington, DC law firms. The chaplain of the Society is Msgr. Peter Vaghi.
The group was meant to mirror the Catholic Alumni Society of Boston. It is named for John Carroll
, the first bishop
then archbishop
in the United States
. The society sponsors the annual Red Mass
, which is a Mass of the Holy Spirit
to invoke a benediction
upon the nation’s judiciary and lawgivers. This is celebrated on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, prior to the opening of the Supreme Court’s
judicial year.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1951 as a spiritual and beneficent organization for Catholic professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
laypersons in the service of the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
. The founders of the society were Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan
John L. Sullivan (Navy)
John Lawrence Sullivan was Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1946-47 and the first Department of Defense Secretary of the Navy in the Truman Administration 1947-49. He was appointed to that position upon Secretary Forrestal's installation as the first Secretary of Defense. He resigned in protest...
, Judge Matthew Francis McGuire
Matthew Francis McGuire
Matthew Francis McGuire was a United States federal judge.Born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, McGuire received an A.B. from Holy Cross College in 1921 and an LL.B. from Boston University School of Law in 1926. He was in the United States Navy in 1918. He was in private practice in...
of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
, and attorney William E. Leahy.
Part of the John Carroll Society's mission is the financial and professional support of the Archdiocese Legal Network and Medical Network, which provides free legal and medical services to the indigent of the Greater Washington, DC area.
The current president is Paul G. Scolese (2011-2012), a policy advisor with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Jane Sullivan Roberts, wife of Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
John Roberts
John Roberts
John Glover Roberts, Jr. is the 17th and current Chief Justice of the United States. He has served since 2005, having been nominated by President George W. Bush after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist...
, is a member of the Board of Directors. Magistrate Judge
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
John M. Facciola served as a President and is the Chair of the Social Action Committee which is active in assisting homeless and transitional families in the District of Columbia. Other prominent members include the current President of Georgetown University,and many partners of the private bar with most major large Washington, DC law firms. The chaplain of the Society is Msgr. Peter Vaghi.
The group was meant to mirror the Catholic Alumni Society of Boston. It is named for John Carroll
John Carroll (bishop)
John Carroll, was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States — serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is also known as the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, and St...
, the first bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
then archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The society sponsors the annual Red Mass
Red Mass
A Red Mass is a Mass celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for judges, attorneys, law school professors, students, and government officials...
, which is a Mass of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
to invoke a benediction
Benediction
A benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service.-Judaism:...
upon the nation’s judiciary and lawgivers. This is celebrated on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, prior to the opening of the Supreme Court’s
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
judicial year.