September, lay apostolate month in Karachi archdiocese
Karachi (AsiaNews) The Archdiocese of Karachi has declared September 'Lay Apostolate Month'. The goal is to further enhance with the community the importance of "bearing witness to our faith outside the strict confines of our parishes in the secular world". The archbishop of Karachi himself, Mgr Evarist Pinto, will lecture on the theme.
"We are really fortunate to have His Grace coming for this programme," Fr Arthur Charles, director of the Catechetical Centre, told AsiaNews. "This theme is very close to his heart. He has already developed a scheme which does full justice to the topic.
For the clergyman, the prelate's "expertise in this field coupled with his experience and vision for the Archdiocese will give enough to the participants to think and take concrete measures to actively participate in the affairs of the Church and the world".Father Charles said that the activities are designed "to instil in the hearts of the faithful" that "the apostolate of the laity [. . .] is the vocation of each baptized person."
The New Testament clearly shows that this was true at the very beginning of the Church, something that the Church can never do without it.The lay apostolate is much more than lay people participating in parish-based activities of various kinds. A key part of their mission is what happens in the secular environment, not in church. The Second Vatican Council refers to it as a "special vocation" that makes faith "present and fruitful" in those places where only the laity can go.
The programme will stress two broad types of activities that are specific to the lay apostolate, one that is centred on the group and the other, on the individual. For example, the first type can involve counselling people in difficulty or organising Sunday schools. The second calls for each person to lead one's ordinary, everyday life as a spouse, a parent, a worker, a student, a friend in the light of one's Christian faith, while bearing witness to it when circumstances permit.
Parishes, convents and training centres associated with the archdiocese have already received the programme's outline and schedule. Classes will be held twice a week [Tuesdays and Wednesdays] from 5 to 7 pm.
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