A Virtuous Life of Evangelization

It was April 2005, and I was watching news coverage of the death of (now) Blessed Pope John Paul II.  Thousands of Catholics had journeyed to St. Peter’s Basilica to honor his life.  I remember my thoughts at the time as a non-denominational Protestant… “If these deceived Catholics knew their leader has been condemned by Christ as a heretic, they would run right out of the Vatican and join a Bible believing Church!”  At the time there was no way I would have believed that three years later, on Divine Mercy Sunday 2008, I would be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

My journey into the Church made me aware of two unfortunate realities.  First, most non-Catholics misunderstand what the Church teaches to be true.  The result is that many people reject Catholicism based on an incomplete and inaccurate version of our faith.  Second, many Catholics are not equipped to evangelize and explain their faith.  They lack a well-connected understanding of what we believe and do not live their lives with an evangelization mentality.  

I became very passionate about helping others develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.

As a result, I established Virtuous Life, an outreach ministry committed to supporting the Church’s vision of the New Evangelization.  Through parish missions, retreats, and educational resources, I hope to assist the work of the Holy Spirit in inspiring and equipping Catholics for a life of evangelization.

My studies at the Augustine Institute have been a tremendous help in my mission with Virtuous Life.  The deeper I go into Catholic theology, the more I realize I am closer to the surface than I thought!  My education continues to increase my effectiveness as an evangelist, strengthens my formation and deepens my love for Christ and the Catholic faith.

Chris Zajdzinski is a distance education student at the Augustine Institute.  For more information about the apostolate he founded, Virtuous Life, visit www.VirtuousLifeMinistries.org.  

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The Augustine Institute | A New Kind of Graduate School for the New Evangelization

In response to the call of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Augustine Institute is a Catholic Institute of Higher Education that forms disciples for leadership in the New Evangelization through intellectual, personal, and practical instruction so that they may renew the Church and transform the world for Christ. Learn more at www.AugustineInstitute.org.