What does apostolate mean?
An apostolate is the work or mission of spreading the Christian faith — originally the divinely commissioned task given to the apostles, and by extension any organized effort of evangelization, teaching, charity, or pastoral care carried out on the Church's behalf. The term belongs chiefly to formal religious language, especially within Catholicism, where it describes not only the ministry of clergy but also the 'lay apostolate': the participation of ordinary believers in the Church's mission. A person engaged in such work might run a school, serve the poor, or preach, and all of this activity constitutes their apostolate. Related terms include apostle (the person) and apostleship (the status or office). Because the word derives from the Greek 'apostolos', meaning one who is sent forth, it retains at its core the idea of being dispatched with a purpose. Outside theological circles it appears rarely, but it remains standard vocabulary in church documents, seminaries, and discussions of missionary work.
nounThe office, work, or mission of an apostle; by extension, the activity of spreading a religious faith, especially the evangelizing or pastoral work carried out by the Church or its members.
- The office or mission of an apostle — the divinely commissioned task of spreading the Christian gospel.
- By extension, any organized work of evangelization, education, charity, or pastoral care undertaken by the Church or its members, including laypeople.
"Her apostolate among the urban poor combined practical charity with quiet, persistent preaching."
"After retiring from teaching, he devoted himself to a prison apostolate, visiting inmates every week."
"The Second Vatican Council's decree 'Apostolicam Actuositatem' set out the Church's vision for the lay apostolate."
The plural is rare but legitimate when referring to multiple distinct works or ministries, e.g. those of different individuals or organizations.
"The order oversees several apostolates, from hospital chaplaincies to campus ministries."
Every pope since Vatican II has written about it — yet 'apostolate' simply means the job description of the original twelve: spreading the faith.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apostolate
Apostolate comes from the Latin 'apostolatus', derived from 'apostolus' (apostle), which itself was borrowed from Greek 'apostolos' meaning 'one sent forth' — from 'apostellein', to send away or dispatch. The word entered English via ecclesiastical Latin, appearing in religious contexts from the medieval period onward. Its cognates include apostle, apostolic, and epistle, all tracing back to the same Greek root concerned with sending and messages.
How apostolate is actually used
Formal and primarily ecclesiastical in register; found almost exclusively in religious, theological, and Catholic contexts. In Catholic usage it carries particular weight, referring both to the apostles' original mission and to its continuation through clergy and laity. Rare in everyday secular speech.
Easily confused with apostolate
An apostle is a person sent out to spread a faith, while an apostolate is the work, office, or mission such a person carries out.
Apostleship refers to the status or rank of being an apostle, whereas apostolate refers to the active work or ministry itself.