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apostolate

apostolate

2 9.9
A group or activity that spreads Christian beliefs and helps people
  • noun
  • /ˈæpəˌstɑlɪt/
  • Jargon
translation icon : apostolado
  • The members of the church dedicated their time to a new apostolate aimed at helping the homeless in their community.
  • lay apostolate
  • laity in the apostolate

Examples

  • The community, which has about 250 members from several midstate counties, is considered an apostolate of the diocese.

    Blog text (8)
  • One cannot fail to stress the evangelizing action of the family in the evangelizing apostolate of the laity.

    Blog text (11)
  • But nothing should get in the way of the lay apostolate of taking personal responsibility for responding to the call of the gospel.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Can you tell us about your apostolate in the Vicariate?

    Blog text (18)
  • "The apostolate of charity is the apostolate to save life and soul." -- E. V. Encina

    Blog text (24)
  • By the time Dorothy Day's movement was a generation old, her vision of the lay apostolate had received significant vindication from both church and society.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The emergence of a new form of Christian apostolate is a foregone conclusion.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Our work was described as "the participation of the laity in the apostolate of the hierarchy."

    Academic text (2014)
  • But the Workers' larger vision of a lay apostolate committed to social reconstruction remained salient for an increasingly broad array of American Catholics.

    Academic text (2007)
  • To further this apostolate, Mother Welder has helped in paying hospital bills and buying layettes for innumerable mothers.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

mission
vsapostolate
245 3.4

A place where people work to spread a religion or help others

is specifically Christian and focused on spreading teachings rather than any general project
missionary work
vsapostolate
8 3.9

Planned activities by religious people to share their faith and help communities

includes broader groups or ongoing outreach rather than only organized actions

How Organized

organization
  • US
2.7
apostolate
  • Jargon
2 9.9
mission
245 3.4
to group
38 1.2
initiative
458 3.5
activity
1.0

Surface Forms

apostolate singular
apostolates plural

Morphology

apostolate = apostle (semi-transparent) = apostle + ate

Derived from 'apostle' + '-ate' indicating an office or mission; the organizational/religious sense is specialized and may not be fully predictable for a general B1 learner.

Etymology

Apostolate comes from the same root as apostle, which means 'one sent out' to give a message. So an apostolate is the mission, group, or work of people who are 'sent out' to share religious teaching or help others.