Should We Think of the Society as an Apostolate or a Ministry?
In Catholic Church circles, there has been a debate over the last 20 years about what to call church groups – “ministries” or “apostolates.” “Ministry” seems to be the favorite as it’s easy to say, but in recent years there has been more of a push to use the word “apostolates.” I want to argue the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is more of an apostolate and why it’s important.
In the book, Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. (from my area of Southwest Michigan), Fr. Hardon defines ministry as “authorized service of God in the service of others, according to specified norms revealed by Christ and determined by the Church.” This means:
- service of God, who is glorified by the loving service given to others
- authorization by the Church’s hierarchy … this authorization may require ordination …
- based on the teaching of Christ, who showed by word and example how to minister to people’s spiritual and temporal needs;
- under the guidance of the Church in accordance with her directives and decrees.
Based on the above, I think the easiest way to think about a “ministry” is that it’s concerned with the Sacramental mission to bring people to Christ through the Sacraments. All four of Hardon’s definitions directly connect to the Sacraments. While it is a great cause of the Church to connect people to the Sacraments, it is not necessarily the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
We have a unique calling, and a unique ability, to witness our faith not just within the Church, but in the world. Frédéric explained that our Church and world lives are not split into two: we need to both determine the truth and to live it. This is why he was insistent that the Society remain “profoundly Catholic without ceasing to be lay.” In addition, the universal call of the laity to the apostolate, there are groups defined under Canon Law as lay apostolates, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Despite not being a “ministry,” we always remember that living an apostolate or charism includes, definitionally, serving the good of the church.
What is an apostolate?
The word “apostolate” comes from the word “apostolic,” meaning that the Church, through the succession of and following in the example of the apostles, is SENT out into the world to spread the Gospel. So, an apostolate is an organization that is sent out to spread the Kingdom of God.
“Indeed, we call an apostolate ‘every activity of the Mystical Body; that aims to spread the Kingdom of God over all the earth.’” – (CCC, 863)
I was working at a parish in Chicago when after Mass, an usher SENT me to see a man who was asking for help. His name was Joseph. He was in an old military jacket and kind of intimidating. He told me he needed help, so I sat down and talked to him. Mostly, I just sensed he wanted a friend, so I became his friend. I invited him to the church brunch which was happening at the same time right then. People looked at him and me kind of oddly, but we sat and had a meal together. Afterwards, I invited him to come to join me next week at daily Mass. In those days, I looked after my 3-month-old daughter while I worked, so sometimes I was a little late making it to Mass, and I was late the day he came. The daily Mass people were a little taken aback when Joseph came to Mass, but when he mentioned my name, they eased up a little. Afterwards, I invited him to come and sit with my daughter and I in my office. This made my priest boss a little upset that I would invite “a man like that” to be so close to my daughter and “I had to think about protecting my family.” But then I explained that I was trained as a Vincentian at another parish and Father Bob was quickly on board. “Oh, I didn’t know you were a Vincentian!”
Joseph and I would often sit during daily Mass and afterwards he would come to my office and talk with me and play with Naomi. I visited him quite a few times in his little dorm room he called a one-room apartment, which was above a bar. As time went on, he was getting more involved in the parish and offered to help grill during our parish picnic. People were starting to get to know him. Then suddenly, I got the call that Joseph died.
Father Bob asked me to lector at Joseph’s funeral. I came up to the ambo, 9-month child in my arms, and proclaimed the Word of God being very clear that I was connecting Joseph to a holy person in my gestures and silence. Afterwards, Joseph’s father came up to me, as Joseph had been estranged from the family. He asked, “You knew my Joey?” I told him how we would sit in daily Mass together. He was so touched that Joseph came back into the Church, and the Church welcomed him.
The Holy Spirit SENT me to that moment. From the time I was a 10-year-old in the DRE’s office to now where I am a DRE, I don’t know exactly what the Holy Spirit is. I don’t know the Holy Spirit’s plan or exactly what He wants me to do. But tell me any story, and I can point him out. I love that Guy! He helps empower people to SEND people where we need to go.
Based on the Holy Spirit, the Society SENDS out Vincentians to encounter our neighbors in need. We do not just sit idly by; we are active in our apostolate.
The Vincentians see they cannot do this work alone. Vincentians SEND requests to pastors and parishes to get funding, food and more volunteers to help alleviate suffering of our neighbors in need.
Pastors SEND their parishioners to help or join the Vincentians in their mission.
Parishioners SEND their donations to the parish, which Vincentians are more than happy to organize, for our neighbors in need.
Vincentians see the need for greater organization and elect Conference and Council presidents and SEND them to our national assembly for their input and training to continue to grow our Conferences and Councils.
Conferences SEND Vincentians to Ozanam Orientations so we can be trained and respond to those we serve. That Ozanam Orientation helped me respond to Joseph.
Vincentians see the overwhelming need and SEND Vincentians to do systemic change. Systemic change is transformation. It is to change the systems, structures, mindsets, policies, and root causes of poverty. Systemic change is not the symptoms; it is holistic; it is collective action; it is complex and strives for a lasting impact. By embracing the apostolate nature of being sent by God, we strive toward systemic change in all things of the Society.
Voice for the Poor SENDS Vincentians to our government officials to advocate for our neighbors in need. Sometimes we go in person. Sometimes we send messages via voter voice. You can join voter voice here: https://ssvpusa.org/take-action.
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam prayed for faith and consecrated his life to God’s service (Apostle in a Top Hat, pg. 28). When the early Vincentians were forming the Society, Blessed Rosalie Rendu trained them and SENT them to the poor. We are grateful to be sent out in Jesus’ name in the instruction of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and Blessed Rosalie Rendu. They too were SENT to help instruct us. Just as we strive to SEND ourselves to train others in our apostolate.
Below is a closing prayer and reflection. It is said that “the law of prayer is the law of belief” and so I thank the national spirituality committee for the recent update of the closing prayer, which you can purchase here: https://ssvpusa.org/product-category/spirituality/
This prayer, which includes the word “apostolate,” is part of the inspiration for this column. As spiritual advisor in my Conference, I use it as part of the closing prayer. Please note, I’ve adapted the prayer slightly to include the word “encounter” which our National President John Berry, has encouraged us to think about.
Father, grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist may realize the depths of our needs, respond more spontaneously to the suffering of others, and come to love You more deeply by service to our neighbor.
Grant us also the wisdom and strength to persevere when disappointed or distressed. May we never claim that the fruitfulness of our apostolate springs from ourselves alone.
United in prayer and action, may we become a visible sign of Christ, and may we give witness to his boundless love which reaches out to all and draws them to love one another in Him.
We thank You, Lord, for the many blessings which we receive from those whom we encounter. Help us to love and respect them, to understand their deeper needs to share their burdens and joys as true friends in Christ.
Amen.
Blessings,
Bobby Kinkela
