Sorry, but the laity was involved in the lay apostolate before Vatican Council II.  There was such a thing then called "Catholic Action" --- it was the laity carrying out the decrees of the Social Encyclicals of the popes.  In fact, as kids in grade school we were taught Christian Social Living [7th and 8th grades], which dealt with the laity carrying out the guidelines of these encyclicals.

And as a high schooler, I was a catechist for my parish.  I had four full years of training at a Catholic University---was I was certified to teach grade school.  This began my theological training---which carried over to undergraduate and graduate school.