What is an apostolate?

[JLCecilia]

I repair rosaries for free for anyone who asks and I was trying to think, do I call this my apostolate? It’s one of my acts of stewardship, but I was trying to think of another way to describe that work. When I look up the definition it sounds like an apostolate is much more organized and authoritative than what I’m doing. Just curious. A fellow parishoner invited me to partner with her to start Rosary club for our school-aged kids, so I would consider this part of my apostolate as well.

 

[Joe_5859]

I think there are a few ways to use the term.

Yes, Canon Law has some guidelines on what constitutes an apostolate. To be a Catholic apostolate in the technical sense is to participate in the apostolic work of the bishop. And so he gives formal recognition for that sort of thing.

But, in the general sense, any work we do for Christ and the Church (such as repairing rosaries) is part of our contribution to the apostolate (as described in Vatican II’s document on the Apostolate of the Laity). The word “apostle”/“apostolate” comes from the word meaning “one who is sent”. We are all sent by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation to go out and build up the Kingdom.

I see no reason you cannot refer to your work as your apostolate in the general sense. However, you wouldn’t want to create a website for a rosary-repair business or take out ads in the parish bulletin and refer to it as your “Rosary Repair Catholic Apostolate”. You’d need to talk with the bishop before you did that.

 

[JLCecilia]

Thank you!