apostolate
/əˈpɒstəleɪt/noun
1- (chiefly in Roman Catholic contexts) the position or authority of an apostle or a religious leader（多用于罗马天主教） 使徒（或宗教领袖）的职位。
1.1
- a group of apostles or religious leaders一群使徒（或宗教领袖）。
1.2
- a form of religious or evangelistic activity or works宗教（或传道）活动（或著作）。
词源
late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostolatus, from apostulus （see APOSTLE）.