Forming the Soul of the Apostolate

<p>El Cajon, CA — Since Christopher Check became president of Catholic Answers in January 2015, he has put special emphasis on one key aspect of the apostolate: the prayer life of the staff.</p><p>“We tend to think that success is the measure of our efforts, but, thanks be to God, it is not,” Check said. “St. Paul said that the man with the most eloquent tongue or generous hand profits not from his actions if he does not do them out of love for Jesus Christ.”</p><p>Several staff members who belong to lay orders, prelatures, and prayer communities bring their particular charisms to bear at Catholic Answers.</p><p>“As a secular discalced Carmelite my vocation is to be a prophet, to witness to God’s presence in the world,” staff apologist Michelle Arnold said. “I do the best I can as an apologist, but I experience this charism most in being present for the people I help.”</p><p>“God created man for work, and through ordinary work we practice virtue,” said development officer Anh Nugyen, who is an Opus Dei cooperator. “Opus Dei has helped me find value in all of the tasks I do—to see how the little things can be made holy by my love and intention so that my work becomes a prayer.”</p><p>In 2007 Catholic Answers chaplain Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P., inaugurated the San Diego chapter of the Dominican Third Order with a handful of Catholic Answers staff members.</p><p>“We started out as a group of staff members praying the rosary with Father,” said internal activities director Kathy Stone. “Now five of us are chapter members. It’s interesting that the patron of apologetics is St. Thomas Aquinas—a Dominican.”</p><p>The Dominican charism of preaching is right at home at Catholic Answers.</p><p>“We’re the Order of Preachers, and Catholic Answers exists to preach the truth,” said Celina Skoby, executive assistant to the president and also third order Dominican. “Our staff, even those who aren’t members of the order, all share this charism.”</p><p>As good works proceed from faith, oftentimes action proceeds from contemplation. Some bosses wouldn’t be pleased to hear their employees are practicing contemplation on the clock, but not Check.</p><p>“I take a contemplative approach to my writing at work,” said development assistant Aline McMahon, who is a secular discalced Carmelite candidate.&nbsp; “I am also attentive to the prayer needs of donors and people I work with, because I am called to be concerned with the needs and good of others.”</p><p>The workday at the apostolate is scheduled around prayer and geared toward constant conversion. To this end, Fr. Serpa offers daily Mass, prays the noon Angelus with the staff over the loudspeaker system, and leaves his office door open throughout the day for confessions. The staff also practices weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prays the Divine Mercy chaplet daily at 3 p.m.</p><p>“Before anything, my number-one concern as chaplain is the spiritual well-being of the apostolate,” Fr. Serpa said.</p><p>— <em>Richaél Smith</em></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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