Jim Gernetzke of Gahanna St. Matthew Church has been chosen to receive the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club’s 2026 Catholic Man of the Year award, which will be presented by Bishop Earl Fernandes at the club’s meeting on Friday, March 6 after the 11:45 a.m. Mass at Columbus St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave.
“Learning I’m going to be honored in this way was quite shocking,” said Gernetzke, 70, an independent business consultant. “I don’t think of myself as a man of the year. I’m too aware of all the things I’m trying to make incremental progress with.
“I’m surprised and humbled because I’m just trying to be a good witness for the faith. I often think of something Pope St. Paul VI said: ‘Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”’
Pope Paul first said this to members of an organization of the laity in 1974 and repeated it in 1976 in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi.
In his letter nominating Gernetzke for the award, fellow parishioner Tom Heaton said, “Jim is a man whose life reflects humility, faithfulness, and unwavering dedication to Christ and His Church, as well as his wife and family. While he has served in many ministries over the years, what distinguishes Jim most is not the number of roles he has held, but the spirit of servant leadership with which he approaches every aspect of his life.
“Jim is first and foremost a disciple of Jesus Christ. His evangelization is personal, authentic, and relational. Whether mentoring one man, forming youth, strengthening marriages or leading Catholic professionals, Jim consistently points others toward Christ through his words, actions and quiet example. His leadership is grounded in prayer, nourished by the sacraments, and expressed through genuine care for others.”
Heaton said Gernetzke embodied what Pope Francis called “the art of accompaniment” as he cared for his wife of 47 years, Susan, in the period after a stroke that led to her death this past December.
“During this painful time, Jim served faithfully as husband and health care advocate, working prayerfully with doctors, priests and family to make difficult decisions rooted in faith and dignity. He became an anchor of trust and hope for Susan, their four sons, their families, and their (nine) grandchildren. His steadfast presence, moral courage, and reliance on God during this trial stand as a powerful testimony to Christlike love,” Heaton wrote.
Similar remarks were made in letters from his pastor, Father Ted Sill, and St. Matthew parishioners Mark Huddy, who served for many years as diocesan director of Catholic charities and social concerns, and Frank Hartge, business manager of St. Patrick Church.
Gernetzke’s principal involvement in Catholic activities is with Journey to Excellence, a national organization that provides faith-focused, professional and ethical leadership development for Catholic businesses and is led by Father Robert Spitzer, host of a weekly program on ESPN television.
Eight years ago, Gernetzke founded a Catholic business leadership network known as Nos Lumine and was chair of the Columbus chapter of Attollo International, a group with a mission of linking the business world and the Catholic faith.
There were plans for Nos Lumine to be a national organization, but Gernetzke said those were upended by the COVID pandemic. It has remained a local group with about 40 members meeting in two face-to-face and two virtual groups.
“Father Spitzer, the founder of Attollo, and I got together and our discussions evolved into Journey to Excellence, a group designed to make positive changes in company culture by concentrating on business owners and how they can effect change,” Gernetzke said. “Nos Lumine is more broadly based and is designed for everyone in a business from the executive level down.”
Journey to Excellence is a 16-week online program designed for groups of six to eight people using videos by Father Spitzer as its basis for discussion.
Its website says its goals are “promoting open communication, collaboration and mutual support, creating a cohesive environment where team members feel united and committed to the organization’s mission, vision and long-term success.”
The videos are combined with live in-person conversation via Zoom.
“Because it’s a virtual program, it can take place anywhere at any time,” Gernetzke said. “The program is still in its formative stage and who knows what its results may be? The ultimate goal is to convince business owners who are Catholic and appreciate what we’re doing that we need more intentional, creative, healthy work cultures.”
More information is available at www.yourjourneytoexcellence.com.
Gernetzke was in the executive search field for 30 years, helping companies find talented people to hire and promote. He worked for Federated Department Stores, Kohl’s and The Limited for 10 years before deciding to form his own recruiting firm, which in 20 years grew to employ 23 people.
“That business blew up along with the economy in 2008 and 2009,” Gernetzke said. “So I decided to reinvent myself as a certified executive coach,” a decision that ultimately led to his mission of combining good faith and business practices.
He is or has been a board member of the Bethesda Healing Ministry; founder and leader of the “That Man Is You!” men’s group at his parish; treasurer of the men’s luncheon club; and facilitator for seventh-grade boys preparing for Confirmation.
He also has served his parish as a sacristan, altar server, Eucharistic Adoration adorer and coordinator, lector, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, minister to the homebound, handbell choir member and volunteer at parish festivals and bingo events.
He has served Catholic education and youth through his involvement with Cristo Rey Columbus High School and coaching youth sports at St. Matthew School. With his wife, he has been a marriage mentor and leader of a marriage enrichment group known as Choice Wine.
He was chosen from 12 nominees for the Catholic Man of the Year award by representatives from the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club, Young Catholic Professionals, the Catholic Men’s Ministry, the Knights of Columbus and the Serra Club.
Other nominees and their parishes were: Brian Novotny, Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Nicholas; Carl John Haaser, Plain City St. Joseph; David Breitmayer, Newark St. Francis De Sales; Donald M. Schlegel, Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona; James B. Silcott, Columbus Our Lady of Peace; Rob Wahl, Grove City Our Lady of Perpetual Help; John Paul Munhall, Columbus St. Patrick; Mark Arnold, Columbus St. Andrew; Matthew Oliver Ritzert, Dover St. Joseph; and Ted Schafer and Wayne Patterson, both Pickerington St. Elizabeth Seton.
The club established the Man of the Year honor in 1957, awarding it to John Igoe of Columbus St. Agatha Church, and presented it every year through 2020. No 2021 award was presented because of the COVID pandemic. The 2025 recipient was Newark Catholic High School theology teacher Chris Grieb.
The club’s next meeting on Friday, May 1 at St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave., after the 11:45 a.m. Mass, will feature a talk by Chuck Janes of the Kairos Prison Ministry on “Transforming Lives and Communities.” The meeting will be sponsored by Kairos. No reservations are necessary. There is a suggested donation of $12 to cover costs of the lunch and meeting.