QUICK SUMMARY
What does it truly mean to live out your Catholic faith in everyday life? In this compelling conversation, Peter Andrastek, Senior Consultant at The Evangelical Catholic, challenges the common misconception that holiness means becoming more like a priest, nun, or monk. Instead, he reveals how ordinary Catholics are called to extraordinary holiness right where they are—in their workplaces, families, and communities.
Discover why most parishes aren't equipped to form laypeople for their unique vocation, how the distinction between "ministry" and "apostolate" changes everything, and what practical steps you can take today to become salt, light, and leaven in your corner of the world. This bonus episode offers a refreshing vision of Catholic life that goes far beyond Sunday Mass attendance.
IN THIS BONUS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE:
Understanding Ministry vs. Apostolate (02:40)
- Why most Catholics misunderstand their true vocation
- How ministry flows from holy orders to build up the church
- Why apostolate is the specific calling of the laity to sanctify the world
- The difference between "ad intra" (within the church) and "ad extra" (to the world)
What Sanctifying the World Actually Looks Like (09:00)
- A CEO who makes breakfast for colleagues every Friday morning
- Why holiness is "extraordinary love lived in the ordinary"
- How personal transformation radiates mysteriously to others
- The "apologetics of meaning" that makes people ask, "What's different about your life?"
The Skills vs. Holiness Debate (16:00)
- Why evangelization training without personal holiness is manipulation
- The role of human formation: "Don't be weird"
- How character and personality can facilitate or impede the gospel
- Why we can't "train people into zeal"
The Seminary Challenge (20:00)
- Young seminarians who want to be "weird" and countercultural
- The attraction to smells, bells, and traditional liturgy
- Why liturgical emphasis alone won't reach most people
- Navigating between authenticity and accessibility
Pastoral Principles That Work (24:00)
- "That which is received is received according to the disposition of the receiver"
- Working within your circle of influence vs. circle of concern
- Starting with a few well-disposed people rather than massive programs
- The mustard seed principle of parish renewal
A Practical Starting Point (28:30)
- Begin with 3-5 people you'd enjoy growing with
- Focus on three topics: Life, Growth, and Mission
- Keep 3-5 names on a prayer list and check in regularly
- Why most Catholics think holiness means spending more time at parish
The Real Models of Holiness (33:00)
- Fr. John's confession: "My heroes are people raising eight kids, not priests and monks"
- Why religious life is "institutionalized" and doesn't require the same daily sacrifice
- The sublimity of the lay vocation that's meant to "pass unnoticed"
- Why 5,000 people attend certain funerals
The Airline Pilot's Apostolate (43:00)
- A major airline pilot who made his cockpit his mission field
- Intentional conversations leading to broken marriages being healed
- "Define, Plan, Act" exercise for getting specific about your apostolate
- Why apostolate is "almost more about you than other people"
Something's Got to Give (37:00)
- Every pope since Vatican II has called for lay renewal
- Why we're living in an exciting, adventurous time
- The proble...
Chapters
- (00:02:40) - Understanding Ministry vs. Apostolate
- (00:09:00) - What Sanctifying the World Actually Looks Like
- (00:16:00) - The Skills vs. Holiness Debate
- (00:20:00) - The Seminary Challenge
- (00:24:00) - Pastoral Principles That Work
- (00:28:30) - A Practical Starting Point
- (00:33:00) - The Real Models of Holiness
- (00:37:00) - Something's Got to Give
- (00:43:00) - The Airline Pilot's Apostolate
