Friends in the Field - Zoë Rowmanowsky

They Help God Do His Work
Three dynamic apostolates shine the light of Christ in a darkened world.

Opus Dei

Blessed Josemaria Escrivá (1902-1975), beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1992, was once told by a Vatican official that his work of God, Opus Dei (Latin for "the work of God"), had come "a century too soon." Founded in 1928 by the 26-year-old Spanish-born priest, Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church dedicated to helping lay people seek holiness in their everyday lives.

Nearly 80,000 people from around the world belong to the Prelature, sometimes called "The Work," whose international headquarters is in Rome. As the only personal Prelature of the Church, Opus Dei is a jurisdictional entity within the Church's hierarchical structure, presided over by its own prelate (bishop), answerable to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops, and to which laity and clergy can belong. Established by the Holy See for specific pastoral and organizational purposes, it is governed by statutes from the Holy See. The word "personal" means that it is defined by persons instead of geographical areas.

"People think of us as a group," says Bill Schmidt, communications director for Opus Dei in the United States. "But we are more like an international diocese. We are under a bishop, who has his clergy and lay faithful." But lay people committed to Opus Dei have the same relationship and commitment to their parish priests and bishops as anyone else. "Opus Dei relates only to areas like spiritual development and apostolic work, in which the faithful are free to follow whatever path they choose," says Schmidt.

The call to Opus Dei is particular. "Our charism resides in our understanding of the word 'secular,' " explains Schmidt. "Opus Dei members live their family and social lives like everyone else, but the spirituality helps them to make daily tasks worthy of offering to God, and to better serve family and society."

To achieve this, members are encouraged to frequent the sacraments, give some time each day to prayer, read Scripture and spiritual works and undertake other acts of devotion such as the rosary. There are also days of recollection for members, which include Mass and formation talks by Opus Dei priests.

The majority of Opus Dei members are married. Some members are single and of these, a small fraction are priests. There are different names among the members to distinguish their activities within the Prelature. Married members are known as supernumeraries, and single members are either numeraries or associates. "The only real differentiating fact among members is availability," Schmidt explains. "Celibate members are more available for formation and the expansion of the apostolate."

Corporate works of apostolate are promoted by Opus Dei members and bear the moral guarantee of the Prelature. These initiatives are established in each country in accord with the proper requirements, and Opus Dei is only responsible for their Christian orientation. Among the corporate works are: the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, which has 20 academic departments; Midtown Center in Chicago, for inner city boys and girls; and Toshi, an educational institute for rural women near Mexico City. Opus Dei also has a hand in schools, hospitals, vocational training centers, medical clinics and other social projects.

Although Opus Dei has been criticized for being secretive and "elitist," Schmidt believes those views are based on misunderstandings. The Prelature is open to anyone and everyone, independent of talents, abilities, social standing, race or nationality. Secrecy is expressly forbidden by the statutes governing Opus Dei. "There's a difference between secrecy and privacy," says Schmidt. "A lay person's approach to holiness is something personal. Opus Dei is a means to an end, and that end is holiness."

If you'd like more details on the history of Opus Dei and the life of its founder, Blessed Josemaria Escrivá, one good resource is the book Opus Dei, by Peter Berglar, available from your local Catholic bookseller or from Scepter Press at 800-322-8773.



You can reach Opus Dei at Prelature of Opus Dei, Office of Communications, 524 North Ave., Suite 200, New Rochelle, NY 10801, 914-235-1201, e-mail: newyork@opusdei.org. Web site: www.opusdei.org.



One More Soul

Kids are terrific. They help marriages stay together, make parents better people, benefit the economy and are also highly entertaining. Since the beginning of time, they have been considered a great blessing from God. One More Soul (OMS), an apostolate based in Dayton, Ohio, spreads this pro-child attitude.

Founded in 1993 by pro-life veterans Steve Koob and Mary Ann Walsh, OMS distributes educational resources on the blessings of children and the ills of contraception. "To effectively build a culture of life, we need to deal with the problem of contraception, which we believe is the root cause for abortion," says retired air force officer Koob, father of 14, and director of the apostolate.

Since the creation of a human soul is "more awesome than the creation of the universe," the staff of OMS believe their efforts will help spread the important message that children are a blessing from God, and that contraception is harmful to women, marriage and society. "Our name, 'One More Soul,' sprang from our hope that more souls will be created for the glory of God," says Koob.

One More Soul came into being after Koob and Walsh (mother of 10, and vice chairman of OMS) attended a conference celebrating the 25th anniversary of Humanae Vitae in Omaha, Nebraska. There they heard University of Dallas professor Dr. Janet Smith speak on the Church's teaching about contraception, and were inspired to organize a statewide tour for her in Ohio. Eventually, Dr. Smith's talk became an audio (and video) tape titled "Contraception, Why Not?" which has become One More Soul's staple information piece. "We've searched long and hard for other materials on sex, marriage, fertility, natural family planning — anything we think will help educate and convince people of God's plan for family life," explains Koob.

OMS targets two audiences in particular: clergy and medical professionals. "It's baffling, but some physicians do not know that hormonal contraceptives can be abortifacients, or if they do know, they deny it," says Koob. "Our materials are helping physicians to change their minds." Recently, seven doctors were given Dr. Smith's tape and, at the invitation of a pro-life ob/gyn, attended a dinner to discuss it. Before the evening was over, two of them decided to no longer prescribe contraception, and within a few weeks, the others had decided the same.

Currently, there are 213 doctors listed in a directory that One More Soul has created for people seeking pro-life doctors. "There is a great need among women and couples to find medical professionals who practice in accord with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church," says Koob. To confidently refer physicians, OMS uses a survey to determine where a physician stands on contraception, sterilization, abortion and natural family planning. The apostolate has also developed its "Seminarians Project," sending materials and tapes to U.S. seminarians and their rectors. Over 3,000 free audio tapes have been sent to these future priests, and over 70,000 to the general public.



Contact One More Soul at 616 Five Oaks Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406, 937-279-5433, e-mail: omsoul@juno. com, Web site: www.omsoul.com.



LAMP: Lay Apostolic Ministries with the Poor

Drs. Tom and Lyn Scheuring knew they were being called to work with the poor. With three young children in tow, they volunteered in Mexico, then received a grant to serve in a financially needy parish in San Antonio, Texas.

Encouraged by a priest friend and lit with a deep love for Jesus Christ, the Scheurings started LAMP Ministries, a Catholic lay missionary organization dedicated to serving the materially poor with a focus on evangelization. Seventeen years later, their apostolate, based in metro New York, still shines bright.

LAMP is comprised of married and single people, as well as religious sisters and priests, who commit at least one year to serve inner city parishes or to work in other ways with homeless families. "There are a lot of poor parishes who can't afford to hire people," explains Tom. "LAMP ministers complement the local parish outreach by helping to support and strengthen the faith of the materially poor in the community." About 20 LAMP ministers are housed, fed and paid a stipend by local parishes in New York. Individuals who serve in welfare hotels or other outreaches are provided for by LAMP's resources, usually received in donations. LAMP ministers must be adults with previous experience in Church ministry, a great love for Christ, knowledge of the Catholic Faith and a desire to be with and serve the poor.

The Scheurings believe that bringing Christ into the inner city means spending time with the people they serve. "We make sure our work entails a minimum amount of administration. We don't want people behind a desk," says Lyn.

Being "Christ's presence among the poor" includes leading Scripture groups, connecting families with the local parish, giving baptismal instruction, praying with shut-ins, the elderly and the sick, teaching CCD and home visiting. Former LAMP minister Glenn Smith says that LAMP shines a light where there is none. "In the midst of the difficult lives of the poor, the Church is present via LAMP," he says.

While serving in a run-down welfare home, LAMP worker Sister Emmanuel Palus, A.S.C., was approached by a single father of six who desired religious instruction for his children. She took the family to a local parish and walked them through the process of coming back into the Catholic Church.

At their weekly training and prayer meetings, LAMP ministers share their experiences, tell stories and read letters from those they serve. In one letter, a woman wrote: "Thank you for faithfully visiting and praying with my mother before she died. This has led me back to the Church."

Another letter from a teenager read: "So far life has been very hard, but you have brought back my love and faith in God."

LAMP Ministries has an outreach in the city of Steubenville, Ohio, where adults and children living in poverty receive food and a Christian witness. LAMP also shines its light on children through LAMPLIGHTERS, a Christian club for young people. "Parents often want to shelter their children from this world, but we think it's important for kids to see the suffering of others and to have an opportunity to serve the poor," says Tom. LAMPLIGHTERS helps form children in Christian faith and values. They make crafts for the poor, put on skits and visit homeless shelters and nursing homes. With the help of associate directors Ed and Mary Beth Greene, the apostolate produces a monthly newsletter, thanking benefactors and asking for prayers and support.

Cardinal John O'Connor of New York praised LAMP Ministries, saying: "Of the many movements which have emerged in the Church since the Second Vatican Council, perhaps none is more aptly named than LAMP Ministries, for it is a shining beacon of hope in the midst of a world desperately in need of the gospel."

Contact LAMP at 2704 Schurz Ave., Bronx, NY 10465, 718-409-5062, fax: 718-904-0048.