When someone says ‘apostle’ to a Catholic, what comes to mind is a bishop, the successor to the original Apostles. 

Pope Pius XII would like a word:  

"We would love to have vast phalanxes of apostles rise up, like those that the Church knew at her origins. Let the priests rise up from the pulpit, on the streets, and in the squares, wherever there is a soul to be saved; and next to the priests, let the lay faithful speak, who have learned to penetrate the minds and hearts of their listeners with the word and love..."

In these words of his 1952 Easter homily, Pope Pius XII exhorted the Church to consider the need for apostles to respond to Jesus’ call to proclaim the Gospel to all people. The word apostle comes from the Ancient Greek apóstolos (ἀπόστολος), meaning ‘one who is sent.’ While bishops, by virtue of their office, are called to shepherd this outward mission, it requires a large group of apostles to truly penetrate civil society with the Gospel. And yes, those who are lay have a role to play!

The Lay Apostolate in a Missionary Age 

Pius XII read the signs of his times. In postwar-Europe, he saw that engagement in the life of the Church was declining. Secularism was on the rise. World War II left many traumatized and distrustful of the institutions they felt failed to keep them safe during the war years. In the view of many, that included the Church. His homily went on to describe the mission of the laity for such a time as his:

"Yes, bearers of life, penetrate, in every place—in factories, workshops, fields—wherever Christ has the right to enter. Offer yourselves, see yourselves among your own kind, in the diverse centers of work, in the same houses."

What Pius XII described would, in 1965, be set out in a Vatican II document, Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity. The Council Fathers would state that the lay apostolate is secular, directed outward, to be exercised in families, workplaces, and neighborhoods in the world (2). They would go on to say that, by virtue of their baptism, the laity are called, alongside the ordained and religious, to the apostolate by the Lord himself (3).  

Many have noted that the era of Christendom is dead. While a society focused on Christian morality, belief and practice may exist in a few areas, increasingly society is largely secular, indifferent or at times hostile to Christianity, Christians and Jesus. Sherry Weddell coined a phrase to capture the reality of where we are today: Missiondom. Much like St. Francis Xavier who found himself on the shores of Japan sent to a people with no knowledge of Jesus, we can find ourselves in areas where people have little knowledge of Jesus and the Bible.  

Formed as Missionary Disciples. Sent Out to Share the Gospel. 

A pastoral leader shared with me her own epiphany. She lived and worked in the Southern United States, one of the iconic buckles of the Bible Belt...or so she thought. One Christmas morning, she stood with her grandson at the creche after Mass. Next to her grandson was a young boy who came with his aunt. His eyes darted repeatedly from the infant Jesus in the scene to the cross. Finally, he said to his aunt, “Ma’am, I know there is some connection between this baby and that man on the cross...but I don’t know what it is!” The leader’s grandson spoke up and said, “Oh, I know, let me tell you!” and proceeded to tell the story in a child’s language, punctuating it with “and He is my friend and I pray to him every day!”

She was stunned that this young lad living in such a place, did not know the core message of the Gospel much less know Jesus himself. It took a six-year-old to share with him the story, and his testimony of what it means for him.  

Very often, the lay apostolate will look very much like this exchange: a disciple in a very personal and informal way addressing others’ immediate needs and current questions. Especially in a time where many are suspicious of Christianity and Christians, the starting point will be building trust by simply being present, personal and practical.  

George, who lived in a struggling neighborhood, gives us another example. A disciple of Jesus, he volunteered with a local apostolate dedicated to moving unhoused families into safe and stable housing. This ministry inspired him to look with new eyes at the needs of his neighborhood. He asked if he could give some of the excess used furniture the ministry had to people in need in his neighborhood. Delivering furniture to his neighbors became an opportunity for further conversation which turned to his relationship with Jesus. He then reached out to Deacon Mike, the ministry leader, for a case of Bibles. Soon George was passing out Bibles and leading informal studies in the neighborhood!

In Missiondom, a lay apostle will often be called as George was, to meet people as they are, where they are with a goal to not leave them there. Taking a personal interest in people, responding to their material and practical needs often builds a bridge of trust to a conversation about Jesus.  

God Has Already Given You What Your Parish Needs to Bear Fruit

Much like the young boy and George, to be sent by Jesus one must first follow Jesus as his disciple. Helping parishes make disciples and equip apostles is the mission of the Catherine of Siena Institute. Through our Generation of Saints Initiative, we bring together our formation offerings into a cohesive process that forms parish leadership cohorts to deepen their own discipleship, step into apostolic mission and raise up disciples and apostles in their communities. If you’d like to explore what that could look like in your parish, we’d be glad to start a conversation.

Contact our Generation of Saints Program Coordinator, Stephanie Marquez