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.

Understanding Ministry vs. Apostolate (02:40)

What Sanctifying the World Actually Looks Like (09:00)

The Skills vs. Holiness Debate (16:00)

The Seminary Challenge (20:00)

Pastoral Principles That Work (24:00)

A Practical Starting Point (28:30)

The Real Models of Holiness (33:00)

The Airline Pilot's Apostolate (43:00)

Something's Got to Give (37:00)

Peter Andrastek is the Senior Consultant at the Evangelical Catholic, a private nonprofit based in Madison, Wisconsin, that forms and equips Catholics to live out the Great Commission. Since joining EC, Peter has specialized in experimental initiatives, including seminary formation, workshops for priests, and developing curriculum for lay apostolate. He's been married for 20 years and has eight children ranging from a college sophomore to a four-year-old.

Connect with the Evangelical Catholic and learn more about their formation programs at

https://evangelicalcatholic.org

On the Lay Vocation:

"The life of an ordinary Christian is materially just the life of an ordinary person, but transformed from the inside by divine love... somehow mysteriously, without anything being different, somehow mysteriously everything is different." (09:30)

On Evangelization:

"If we reduce evangelization to something you can just train someone for, just a set of skills or a technique for saying something, we reduce evangelization to the manipulation of human techniques." (16:45)

On Starting Small:

"If you're distracted by all the things and all the people who are in your circle of concern, but not in your circle of influence, you are not going to be effective. Instead, you have to focus on a few, just like Jesus on a mustard seed." (25:30)

On Holiness and Apostolate:

"At the end of the day, holiness and apostolate are the same reality. You know, we distinguish them conceptually, but at the end of the day... when I am trying to be more cheerful at home as an act of love for my wife and kids, am I growing in holiness or am I being more apostolic with them? Why would there be a difference?" (47:00)

Fr. John's Perspective:

"My heroes are not priests, nuns, and monks. My models of holiness actually are the people who are raising the eight kids and who are juggling so many different responsibilities and living tremendous lives of sacrifice." (33:15)

Learn more about our work: Religion to Reality is an initiative of DeSales Media, dedicated to helping people bridge the gap between religious practice and lived spiritual reality