What is a Lay Associate?

The word Vocation means “a call.” It is God’s invitation, His call, to each person to love and serve Him and His Church in a particular state or way of life. Each person’s vocation flows from the grace of Baptism and calls us to the vocations of priesthood, religious life, single life, or married life. But sometimes God calls us to live in an additional spirit or practice, calling us to enter into an Association.

A Holy Cross Associate is one who feels that call to live according to the ideals, spirit, and charisms of the Congregation of Holy Cross. This calling is one that is sent by the Holy Spirit to those in all different vocations! The associate’s call is to live the Mission of the Church to bring Christ to all people, through the lens that is Holy Cross. The Holy Cross Associate is called to embrace the heritage and charisms of Holy Cross and commits to live them out everyday, in their work, their ministry, and their daily life. They form relationships with each other and with our vowed religious colleagues through association and sharing in the spirituality, hospitality, mission and family spirit of Holy Cross.

However, though it is a calling, not everyone who receives it, recognizes it! Prayer and discernment are needed to understand and process this call. Sometimes it takes an invitation from another Associate to join their group for an informal gathering in order to discern that God is calling you to an Associate way of life.