Founding An Apostolate

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Wm777

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I would like to hear from any of our brethren who have successfully founded an apostolate for and in the Catholic church.

For the past nine years I have been working as a tax accountant, and I have notified my boss I intend to resign after this tax season, so I can go at doing some form of apostolic work (as a lay person) with everything I have.

There’s a few reasons for this decision.

Tax season always conflicts with Lent. Lent used to be the most fulfilling and creative times for me, but they have not been as such since I started working at the firm. I learned a lot about how to run a not-for-profit, but that’s about it… This year I had a particularly good opportunity to attend the mission at our parish (almost by accident), and it was so spiritually fulfilling - like I haven’t had in years… I just dont want to waste any more time not doing what I love…

Another reason is, this Lent I focused very intensely on Christ’s interactions with the scribes and pharisees, particularly His admonishment to avoid the “leaven” of the pharisees… after about a month of close study, I came across a footnote in the NAB, where indicating Jesus was more interested in the work of the prophets of the Old Testament than anything you might find the scribes doing in the New Testament…

This was an important discernment… The scribes were essentially something like the accountants of Jesus’ time… The laws under which they worked were different, and they were probably being corrupted by Roman influences (like the pre-converted Zacchaeus) or Levi (Matthew) before he met Christ… but the fact that Jesus’ work was prophetic and not based upon a sort of record keeping was an astounding discovery that basically told me all the accounting work I’ve been so interested in over the past 20 years (even from a classical and religious sense) has basically amounted to rubbish…

Over the years I have been contemplating the formation of a lay apostolate, however, and I think I may have enough to make it happen… but, when you’re in the early stages, I figure it is best to learn from the failures and successes of others…

Can anyone with experience here please give me some help?

I’ve been told to find a Mentor and Partners and perhaps Sponsorships. So I guess that is where I should probably begin my (general) inquiries at this point.

Thank you and God Bless,

Wm
 
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I certainly hope you’ve some means of support. A lay Apostolate is just that – a ministry performed in the context of the lay life.

Almost sounds as if you were actually meaning to found a new congregation or secular institute. Even then, you’ll need some means of support.

A spiritual director would be necessary first. What need is the group to meet? Work with other groups who do something similar.

Mentors would come from the interaction with established groups. Partners and sponsorships would come later, although the Lord could send them all at once.

How do people join? More importantly, how do they leave? Have you a training curriculum? What will they wear? (Cannot have a habit for garb). What about spiritual exercises? All of these questions will be codified in a document called statutes. Please click the first link under my signature. The About Us page should have a link to the statutes.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
Speak with other apostolates, of course speak to your pastor.
 
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