The ARK Way
The Apostolate, through the spiritual writings, offers a way in which contemporary Catholics can understand their relationship to Jesus, yes, but also to the Church and to the secular world and its activities, too.
We, apostles of the Returning King, advance into the being and action of the Church through our commitment to the Sacramental life. When we reference Sacramental life in this context, we reference our determination to allow the Sacramental life to transform us. We engage in a radical acceptance of our own shadow, which we acknowledge, even as we push off from it into greater and greater acquisition of the virtues.
Our presentation of our faith is virtue-based, rather than sin-based. We submit to learning about the goodness and love of Christ in Scripture and seek to recognize that same goodness in ourselves and others and strive to make that goodness grow and develop out into the family, parish, and diocese.
We acknowledge our Father as Creator of our home, the earth, and we take responsibility for our impact on the earth, which is for all of God’s children. We, as a Catholic movement, will seek to impact and support efforts which protect water, soil and air, the support for God’s people and creatures. We will not knowingly destroy what God has created and we will begin to examine our relationship with the resources without which man’s life will not be sustainable in certain areas of this planet.
We strive for balance in our own lives, recognizing it as a human and spiritual need. Our learning is curious and happy, with an open attitude toward health and the sciences. Our methodology always includes the three-pronged strategy, combining human, spiritual, and catechetical programs which develop people most fully and completely.
Our recognition that we are one ‘stream’ in the Church helps us to respect and hold hope for other legitimate movements which hydrate the Church on Earth. We celebrate this diversity and encourage it, knowing that the Body needs all parts.
While we accept that perfect unity can only occur in Heaven, we aim for unity as a goal in our faith communities, large and small. When disunity threatens, we ask ourselves where we must move to meet another in a unified place. This type of self-examination is part of our way, an ongoing methodology with which to remain open in love toward all of God’s children. We ‘trial identify’ with others, putting ourselves in their place as a contemplative exercise of understanding another’s life experience, view and position. Even when unity becomes seemingly impossible, this practice assists us in maintaining our peace. We hope always for union and reunion in Heaven.
Formation of the young is understood as deeply important to Our Lady, Queen of the Church and also her son, the Returning King. As such we make it our priority. Our balanced methodology ensures that any young people receiving formation from us will be receiving that which is age-appropriate, kind, and includes elements from all three parts of our methodology.
Ongoing formation for adults, by which we mean increasing the development of personal holiness, is viewed as the primary preparation for equipping people to work with youth.
Finally, our efforts internationally always strive to be harnessed to the needs of the families from which we come, the parishes in which we take part, and the dioceses in which we live. This protects us from any notion that our duty can be abandoned. If one is not obliged locally, one is then free to serve in other arenas. The goal is not to limit or restrict, but to preserve and protect the need for contribution and focus on family, parish, and local diocese as a means for renewing the Church
