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Apostolic Activities |
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Apostolate
What does Apostolate mean? Christ chose and sent out the first apostles to do "good deeds"... |
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WHY do Ancora members do apostolate?
The third commitment of an Ancora member is “to answer Christ’s call to be an apostle through my example and action.” Now, you may be wondering WHY Ancora members do apostolate? Isn’t praying and sacrificing for vocations enough? Here’s another question: when you have found something that makes you happy, but really, really happy, don’t you want to tell EVERYONE about it? Jesus told us to “go out to all the world and tell the Good News” and as Ancora members, we respond through our apostolic action. We have the treasure of our faith, love for the Pope and understanding the importance of following Jesus in a vocation. This is the treasure that we value so much, we can’t help but share it with everyone we meet. As John Paul II said, “Your faith grows when you share it.”
Ancora members do apostolate as a response to the express command of Christ, “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” They have the treasure of faith, love for the Pope and understanding the value and importance of following Jesus in a vocation. This is the treasure that they cherish so much they can’t help but share it with everyone they meet. |
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Indiana Ancora Day
On March 7, over 30 young women, ages 11-18, came together to support the Holy Father and to pray for vocations at a special Ancora Day held in Indianapolis, IN. The girls and teenagers came from various cities in Indiana and gathered at the St. Augustine Home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. They had opportunities for prayer during the day, such as Eucharistic adoration, the rosary and the Mass. Along with prayer, the girls also had a lot of fun! These energetic teens learned about the life of Pope Benedict XVI and played a jeopardy-style game with the newly learned information.
During the day the girls had a chance to interact with a vocation question/answer panel with Sr. Marie Cecilia (Little Sister of the Poor), Saira Herboth (Consecrated member of Regnum Christi), and Kelsey Sternhagen, a high school teenager discerning a vocation to consecrated life. The panel gave the attendees an opportunity to listen to vocation stories and ask questions regarding God’s calls.
At the close of the Ancora Day, the girls presented Sr. Marie Cecilia with a beautiful, framed image of Christ to be used as an aid in the community of Little Sisters of the Poor to pray for all vocations. The image, called Alter Christus, is a project designed to support and aid vocations with prayer (www.alterchristusproject.org). What a fitting way to end the day!
Lisa Richart, one of the organizers for the day and a mother of two daughters in Ancora said, “I was impressed by the joyful attitude and enthusiasm of the four Ancora high school leaders who planned the activities, created the presentations, and led the girls in the various spirited events. It was a beautiful of witness their love for Christ in action. The laughter, cheers, smiles, and clapping throughout the day made it clear that the girls were having a good time. This day proved to me that Catholic teens, in addition to their desire for fun, treasure the need to pray for the Church and her leaders, especially the Holy Father. Given the chance to gather together for this opportunity, young people will surely make a difference for Christ, the Church, and the world.”
“I thought the day was really great because we had a chance to learn a lot about the Holy Father and his life, listen to vocation stories, and talk to Christ in adoration. On top of all that, we had a chance to meet new girls from across the state of Indiana. It is always a good thing to make new friends who share the same love for Christ as I do. On that day I chose to become an Ancora member who commits to praying for the Holy Father and vocations each day and in adoration for 15 minutes each week. Ancora Day was an awesome experience; I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to participate that day.”
~Anna Richart
“Ancora Day was one of the most wonderful days in my Catholic Life! I really enjoyed being with other teens that share the same longing to pray for the Pope and all vocations. One of my favorite parts was being able to have mass, pray the rosary, and Eucharitic benediction with the Little Sisters of the Poor. It also was really awesome to be able to spend the day with the consecrated women, Saira Herboth and Jill Swallow, and also with the two pre-candidates from Immaculate Conception. It was a really great experience for me!”
~Abby Richart |
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Activities to Support the Pope
Pope Corner
Have your parish know about the Pope: Keep your parish updated on the news and intentions of the Holy Father. Propose that your parish priest have a “Pope Corner” in your parish bulletin, complete with the trips he is taking, words he has given and hte Holy Father's intentions for the month. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, we have to help him carry it through our prayer and action!
Pope Day (April)
On April 16, we celebrate the 83rd birthday of the Pope and on the 19th his 5th anniversary of election as our Holy Father. Help your parish or friends realize that they have a father in the pope, Vicar of Christ on earth, and grow in their appreciation and love for him by organizing “Pope Day!” Hold a carnival in honor of Benedict XVI with games and activities for kids and a presentation for adults about his life and work. Be sure to serve traditional German foods! Make a card and have everyone sign it to send it to him! |
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Activities to Support the Church
Building up the Church, One Brick at a Time.
What is in the heart of the Church? U-R! And each member has to grow and build up the Mystical Body. Hold this parish-wide campaign through the CCD classes to raise the awareness of the mission each member has in the Church. Create a “skeleton” of a church that you have to build up through fulfilling different resolutions, such as frequenting the sacraments and attendance of Mass. Each time a resolution is fulfilled, the member gets to put a brick on the church. The pope is counting on you to build up the universal Church through your personal commitment!
Mission Connection (March)
Support missionaries while living Lent well! We have a mission to support them while being missionaries ourselves! Write to the different consecrated people (priests, religious and lay consecrated) and find out what they do. Then, hold a sacrifice campaign to support them spiritually and send it to the missionary you chose to adopt with your sacrifices. Get your friends, CCD classmates or your family to do this so all together, you can prepare for Easter and give them the assurance that what they are doing is valued by the people they serve!
Pray Day for Missionaries
Raise awareness of the importance of missionaries. They help build the Church by bringing the Word of God everywhere they go. Organize a day when, with your friends, you pray for all those who have dedicated their lives to serve Christ and others. Have a Holy Hour with the rosary and a testimony of someone who has had a missionary experience. Do not forget that you are a missionary, too! |
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Activities to Support Vocations
Adopt a Vocation
We have a mission to spiritually support those who are answering God’s call to serve him or are still discerning. Ask your parish priest for the names of those discerning a vocation or are in the seminary from the diocese and make a prayer card with their name and the prayer for vocations on the back. Pass them out to your friends, CCD class or even to the whole parish (if your parish priest allows you to) inviting them to support through prayer those whom God is calling from their diocese. They can also write to their seminarian telling him that they are praying for him and thanking him for following God’s call.
Come Let us adore Him! (December)
Support vocations and help your friends, family and parish prepare for Christmas bringing them close to the Eucharist! Organize evenings of reflection, such as 15 minutes of gospel reflection, and lighting a candle on the Advent wreath while singing some Christmas songs. You can also have a time to be together and enjoy Christmas candy. Have a manger scene in the back of the Church and explain to the participants that for every 15 minutes of adoration for vocations they can put in one piece of straw for Baby Jesus. Help the parishioners prepare for Baby Jesus and pray for vocations- What better Christmas gift can you give?!
Hooked on Coffee
Raise vocational awareness with a “brewed awakening!” Create your own “coffee house” at the parish and invite priests, nuns and consecrated souls to give their testimonies on stage. Create a whole environment of awareness of the beauty and necessity of vocations while enjoying a hot cup of cappuccino.
Mother of Vocations (May)
“Queen of confessors and virgins, pray for us!” May is the month of Mary, and Mary is the mother of all vocations. This month, organize a May Crowning and Pilgrimage to a shrine of Our Lady. There, pray the rosary all together placing in her hands the fidelity and perseverance of vocations. Once a soul is in Mary’s hands, nothing will get it out! Use this activity to get closer to our mother and bring many more to her!
Pray to the Lord of the Harvest
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Make copies of the Prayer for Vocations written by John Paul II and pass them out to the parishioners of your parish. Encourage everyone to make a special effort to pray this prayer everyday and tell them about the importance and power of prayer. “Ask and you shall receive!”
Rosary 4 Vocations (October)
Now that we are in the month of the rosary, take advantage of the graces Mary is sending to increase the number of her sons and daughters dedicated to her Son. Organize a rosary for vocations and invite the whole parish to come. In between each mystery sing a song and pray the prayer for vocations. At the end, ask your pastor to give benediction and pass out rosaries and cards with the prayer for vocations, inviting all those who attend to keep praying the rosary for laborers of Christ’s harvest.
Thank you, Father! (November)
During this month of gratitude, say thank you to someone who is spending his life for his flock. Plan a surprise potluck dinner of thanksgiving for your parish priest, creating a positive, grateful spirit toward him. Invite the whole parish and request some members to give words of appreciation and present Father with a spiritual bouquet from his flock. |
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