Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society. Opus Dei complements the work of local churches by offering classes, talks, retreats and pastoral care that help people develop their personal spiritual life and apostolate.

In the Opus Dei there are women and men living their Christian vocation, according to the different circumstances of each one: married or single, healthy or sick, etc… The majority of the faithful of the Prelature of Opus Dei are married men or women, for whom the sanctification of their family duties is the most important part of their Christian life. The rest of the faithful of the Prelature are men and women who commit themselves to celibacy, for apostolic reasons. There are priests in the Prelature and their main pastoral ministry is to serve the faithful of the Prelature and the apostolic activities promoted by them.

The Prelature is made up of more than 87,000 people, of whom about 1,900 are priests. The numbers of men and women are roughly equal. The geographical distribution is approximately as follows: Africa: 2,000, Asia and the Pacific: 5,000, The Americas: 30,000, Europe 50,000.

“Opus Dei’s main activity consists in offering its members, and other people, the spiritual means they need to live as good Christians in the midst of the world”, explained its founder.

The faithful of the Prelature attend weekly classes, dealing with doctrinal and ascetical topics, and a monthly day of recollection, a time for personal prayer and reflection on topics to do with Christian life. In addition, they attend an annual retreat lasting three to five days. Similar activities are also offered to the cooperators, to young people, and to anyone else who wishes to attend.

This formation is given in the centers of the Prelature and in other appropriate places. Personal testimony is always the most important apostolate in Opus Dei. It is an apostolate of witness, of specific and effective help given to others, at work and in the other circumstances of daily life.

The faithful of the Prelature, with the assistance of the cooperators of Opus Dei and many others, sometimes undertake charitable or educational initiatives that entrust their spiritual and doctrinal orientation to the Prelature. Among these corporate apostolic works are secondary schools, universities, women’s centers, medical clinics in underdeveloped areas, schools for farm workers, institutes for professional education, student residences and cultural centers. The Prelature does not involve itself in any profit-making, commercial or political ventures.

People wanting to know more can see the Opus Dei website.