National Apostolate Leaders Unite to Explore Evangelization in a Shifting Professional Landscape
The idea for this gathering was sparked from a conversation between Peter Blute, Executive Director of YCP, and Fr. Nathaniel Haslam, LC, National Chaplain of Lumen Institute, in late 2025. Fr. Nathaniel shared: "This first gathering of apostolate leaders serving Catholic business professionals in the U.S. was a response to Pope Leo XIV’s call for unity and collaboration in building Christ’s Kingdom. It was a step toward fostering mutual understanding and discerning together how to better serve the Church and society.
This landscape of faith and work is complex: while the nature of professional life evolves amid the artificial intelligence wave, an economy marked by increased remote and gig work, and shifting generational behavioral trends, these modern complexities remain anchored in the same timeless realities of human nature and the perennial struggles between virtue and vice, faith and godlessness, and good and evil. The apostolates represented at the summit are uniquely positioned as vital guides and training grounds in these turbulent waters, offering community and formation—spanning Catholic social teaching, ethical business practices, entrepreneurship, and daily spiritual life—necessary for professionals to cultivate their skills, talents, and spirituality and bear abundant fruit in their lives.
By coming together, discussing their unique roles and programming, and deliberating on areas of mutual support and growth, the organizations left with renewed energy to build upon a strong shared foundation and help the Church reach countless more souls for Christ. “The apostolates representing the summit are lighting the narrow path where faith and work come together to provide opportunities for co-creation, formation, and evangelization. Our time together propelled me forward with great energy and hope for the future of Catholic professionals everywhere,” commented Jeff Schiefelbein. Following the summit, SENT Ventures CEO Nick Madden shared, "the Holy Spirit is definitely moving to make business the new frontline for evangelization. It’s inspiring to see so many apostolates excel within their areas of expertise while also working well together." Bob Udell of the Lumen Institute added, “bringing this group of apostolates together was an incredible experience in seeing the Holy Spirit at work. I’m thrilled it was an open sharing of how we can work together to increase our reach in bringing people to the Lord and more souls prepared for everlasting life.”
After the summit and as part of the YCP National Conference, the participating apostolates were invited to mingle with hundreds of conference attendees and share their work as part of a “Faith & Work Showcase,” marking a moment of shared commitment to advance the common causes of the apostolates and invite young professionals to go deeper at every stage of their career journey.
