Our Church

The Catholic Church is unlike any other organization on earth. In fact, it is more accurate to call the Church an “organism” – a living body: Christ’s body.  To become Catholic is to become part of His body – a process that begins with Baptism and continues forever.   Being Catholic in today’s world provides great challenges and opportunities for personal growth and self awareness, and also a solid foundation for a life of community and relationship with God.

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The Church is marked by four signs which help to identify its true nature: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.  An understanding of these four signs will help form a definition of the Catholic Church.

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• The Church is One.  The unity of the Church is rooted in the unity of the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.  The Church has a common body of beliefs and is universal in doctrine.  All united under the Pope, Catholics profess one faith, creed, and set of moral teachings.

• The Church is Holy. God is the ultimate source of holiness in the Church and Jesus Christ is the model of holiness for the Church.  The Church is holy since it was instituted by Christ, who gave the Church the gift of the Holy Spirit to continue his mission and ministry on earth.  Through the Church, one is called to live a life which leads to the wholeness of personal development and true relationship with God, the source of life and eternal salvation.

• The Church is Catholic.  The word “Catholic” means “universal.”  The Church, from the time Jesus commissioned the Apostles until the present age, has always been centered on spreading the message of Jesus Christ.  The Church of yesterday, today, and tomorrow will always have Christ as our foundation.  Furthermore, the Church is for all people throughout the world.   The Mass and the other sacraments are celebrated throughout the world, bringing all Catholics together in a spirit of prayer and unity. 

• The Church is Apostolic.  The Bishops, who are the successors to the Apostles, in union with the Pope, continue to teach, sanctify, and guide the church until Christ comes again.  The doctrine and way of life of the Church is the same today as it was in the time of the Apostles.  The good news of Jesus Christ announced by the Apostles almost 2,000 years ago continues to be announced by the Church today.  Furthermore, the Church recognizes the apostolic mission – to reach out to people of all nations and preach the Good News of the Gospel.   

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Catholics belong to a Christ-centered faith community that views Jesus Christ as the foundation.  Catholics share Jesus’ vision and model their lives after Jesus’ example of love.  Catholics are called to care for one another and to use their unique gifts and talents for the good of the community and the world.

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As we recite our profession of faith at Mass, this clear expression of who we are and what we believe in motivates us here at St. Richard Parish to be a faith filled Community of Christ, bonded with the whole Church throughout the world, to put into practice what we proclaim. We are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prisons of life. We value life from conception through all stages of life, unto eternity. We are a people building on the past, living in the faith moment, and looking to the future promises of our Loving Savior, Jesus, the Lord.

 

A Blessed and Catholic Christian Life is our prayer for you.

 

Fr. Bruce Flannagan, Pastor, and all our staff at St. Richard

 

 

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