Other forms: apostolates
An apostolate is a group of people dedicated to spreading the doctrine of a particular religion, especially Catholicism. The word apostolate also refers to their evangelistic mission.
In modern times, the word apostolate is mainly used for a Catholic or Anglican lay ministry — those people who are elected or selected by the church to perform certain duties, but who are not ordained ministers of the church. The word apostolate is derived from the word apostle, which comes from a Greek root meaning "send forth." The 12 Biblical apostles, who spread the messages of Jesus, formed the original apostolate.