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THE CHURCH IS AN INSTITUTION

THE CHURCH HAS A HIERARCHY, STRUCTURE, OFFICES, DOCTRINES, LAWS, AND RITUAL FORMS.

THE CHURCH IS A MYSTICAL COMMUNION

IT STRESSES, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNITY, AND FELLOWSHIP. THE CHURCH IN THIS VIEW IS SOMETHING OF A SPIRITUAL GROUP THAT AIDS PEOPLE IN THEIR QUEST TO LIVE HOLY LIVES.

THE CHURCH IS THE SACRAMENT OF SALVATION

THE CHURCH IS THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD. THE GRACE OF GOD (SALVATION) IS BEING GIVEN TO US.

THE CHURCH IS A HERALD

THE CHURCH PROCLAIMS AND SPREADS THE WORD OF GOD.

THE CHURCH IS A SERVANT

THE CHURCH DOES WHAT JESUS DID. THE NEED FOR THE CHURCH TO BE ENGAGED IN SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.

THE CHURCH LIVES UP TO HER NATURE AS COMMUNITY

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A PLACE TO BELONG AND BE ACCEPTED FOR ANYONE INTO ITS RANKS - A PLACE, GROUP, OR SET OF RELATIONSHIPS WHERE THEY ARE RECEIVED AND LISTENED TO AND WHERE THEY CAN GET THE SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS THEY NEED TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL AND FULLER LIFE.

SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS (SBNR)

FR. JAMES MARTIN’S “THE JESUIT GUIDE TO (ALMOST) EVERYTHING: A SPIRITUALITY FOR REAL LIFE. PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS OF BEING DISTANT FROM THE CHURCH.

BELONGING TO A GROUP IS PART OF OUR NATURAL NEED

IT IS IN OUR HUIMAN NATURE TO WANT TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY. THE CHURCH AS A PLACE OF SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CHRISTIANITY HAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THE LIVING STONE AND A CHOSEN PEOPLE (1 PETER 2:4-9)

DESCRIBES THE WORK OF THE CHURCH AS THAT OF BUILDING A PEOPLE BUILT ON THE VERY FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST. EACH MEMBER OF THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PART, TO BE INTERCONNECTED, IN ORDER TO FORM ONE BUILDING, ONE TEMPLE.

MATTHEW 16:16-19

A PROMISE MADE TO PETER THAT WHATEVER HE WILL BUILD WILL DEFINITELY STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

THE CHURCH IS ONE

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CLAIMS A UNITY VISIBLY EXPRESSED BY THE BONDS OF A COMMON FAITH, SACRAMENTS, ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNION, INCLUDING COMMUNION WITH THE SUPREME PONTIFF. THERE IS UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES ON A MISSION THAT IS MEANT TO MAKE JESUS PRESENT IN THIS WORLD.

THE CHURCH IS HOLY

IT SHOULD BE IN THE WAY WE PRAY, SERVE GOD’S PEOPLE, AND LIVE A DAY-TO-DAY DISCIPLE’S LIFE. WE ARE CALLED INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY TO ALLOW THE LIGHT OF CHRIST TO SHINE IN THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES.

THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC

UNIVERSAL; ITS FAITH IS MEANT FOR EVERYONE. WHAT THE CHURCH HAS TO OFFER IS MEANT TO BE RECEIVED BY ALL.

THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC

WE TRACE BACK WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER FROM THE APOSTLES WHO WERE SENT TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL THE NATIONS. FOUNDED ON THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, WITH CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF, AS THE CAPSTONE.

APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION

LIVING IN CONTINUITY WITH THE CHURCH OF APOSTLES AND IN FIDELITY TO THEIR TEACHING.