Apostolate

"Apostolate is the flower of true love of God and of souls.  It is the fruit of an intense interior life.  It requires a burning heart which is unable to contain or suppress its interior fire.  The apostolate makes us God's loudspeakers."

                                                                                                                           Blessed Fr. James Alberione

Apostolate is essential for members of the Institute.

Living out their Pauline prayer life and faithfulness to the Evangelical Counsels the members create a greater effectiveness in their pastoral ministry.  Responsible in obedience to their Bishop, the priest commits himself not only to serve the "small" fold, but the whole of humanity.

This is where the member makes use of the human and spiritual gifts offered to them through the Pauline Family.  The member thus collaborates in the spread of God's Kingdom through the apostolate of social communication.

The institute is open to use the fastest and most effective means available to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This calls for new and daring efforts although always in the spirit of the Church and according to her norms and in any case keeping particularly in mind the use of technical methods for the apostolate.

Because by a particular gift of God the institute members are associated to The Society of St. Paul, members must never forget that their apostolate is true preaching, that is, "a saving action because it produces faith."

Members must also realize the apostolate of their "witness."  Members live a life according to the Gospel.  Their lives are transformed into living in the spirit of St. Paul, "I live now not I, but Christ lives in me."(Gal 2:20)  Their lives must be a "silent sermon" to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then there is the apostolate of Prayer.  Prayer so the Gospel and the love of Jesus may spread throughout the entire world so it will bring about the salvation of souls.  Prayer is the 'soul' of our apostolate of social communication.

The Pauline Family apostolate is vast and the institute members may help in the spread of the Gospel through the means of social communication.  So, here are just some of the works and ministries that the members may take part in:

Apostolate can be carried out in the member's parish however possible. It could be to set up distribution centers for media materials such as books, cd's and DVD's of music and films, and other media information matierials to help spread the Gospel.

The members may be called to be involved in the writing of books, and also, radio, television and internet activities.

Members can also bring to notice to others those radio, television, films and internet programs which help people spiritually, and also the ones which should be avoided.

Members should also celebrate the annual World Day of Social Communications, by inviting people to pray for the good use of Social Communications for the spread of the Gospel.

In every possible way the members should promote the distribution of Sacred Scripture, "the mirror in which the pilgrim Church on earth contemplates God."

Members should promote, participation at Mass, study of the Catechism, and reciting the Rosary.

The Pauline Family who was, 'Born of the Host'  has devotion to Eucharistic Adoration which is, "the heart of life and of apostolate, the Sacrament of love, the sign of unity and the bond of charity."  So members are to promote Eucharistic Adoration.

Members are also to pray and work for vocations. "Giving vocations to the Church means that we really love her."

So, while members carry out the apostolate they must carefully keep in mind the directives, spirit and methods of the Pauline Family whose purpose is, "the salvation of souls."

It makes me happy to be suffering for you now, and in my own body to make up all the hardships that still have to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church, of which I was made a servant with the responsibility towards you that God gave to me, that of completing God's message, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his holy people.

                                                                                                                                                            Saint Paul in his Letter to the Colossians 1:24-26