RE103 – 1 Catechesis on Church and Sacraments

Marion John L. Uy Mr. Marco Discarga

BSBA – Financial Management II SLMCS – HED

Module 2: The Pilgrim Church

Activity 1: Perception

Direction: Write your perception of the Catholic Church base on your experiences

My perception of the Catholic Church base on my own experience is being Catholic entails
having entire faith in God and putting his divine favor into action. Having God's divine grace
implies obeying it and keeping it holy as it was created by God and given to his people. This is
the basis of the faith, and the people take it extremely seriously. Catholics believe that all persons
have a decent nature, but that when one sins, it harms not just that person, but also the people and
the Church. As part of the religion, one must attend mass every Sunday and holy day. The
Catholic Church regards human life and the human person as infinitely important. The Bible
reveals that God knows and loves every one of us individually. God bestows free will on every
human being. This implies that we have the freedom to accept or reject God's call to share God's
life and walk in the ways that Jesus has shown us. The God we experience in freedom is the one
who calls us to join the work of creation and salvation alongside the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Based on the creation tales of Genesis, a core concept in our Catholic Tradition is that each and
every individual is formed in God's image. Each of us is a unique human being, endowed with
diverse abilities by God. God knows each and every one of us by name. God loves every one of
us deeply and infinitely. God's love is continuous and ever-present, always encouraging us to
love back. Because each human being is 'of God' and infinitely loved by God, we are always
obligated to treat ourselves and others with decency and respect. By how we treat others, we are
supposed to express God's love to them. We demonstrate God's love to others by loving others.

Questions to Reflect: Kindly reflect by answering the following questions.

1. What is the essential part of the development of the Catholic Church?

The essential part of the development of the Catholic Church is to have a legitimate
act of worship and Eucharistic celebration. At one level, of course, the interpretation of
Roman Catholicism is closely related to the interpretation of Christianity and the faith of
Christian’s to God. According to the Catholic Church, the origins of the Catholic Church
lie with the origins of Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to
Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul and certain other individuals in the New Testament. The
Catholic Church developed through centuries of sophisticated theology and organization,
led by the papacy, the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world. At the
 beginning of the Middle Ages, at least two external factors contributed decisively to the
development of Roman Catholicism as a distinct form of Christianity.
2. In your own words, when can you see the Church working as mystery and a
sacrament?
In the Christian Faith there are divine truths that can never be fully revealed to us
by God and which may be difficult to understand because of the limitations of our
intelligence. The Church is a mystery we believe in and love like a friend or a loved one,
but not only something we observe and critically analyze. We can see that the Church
working as a mystery by the presence of God by the Blessed Trinity (The Father, Son and
Holy Spirit). The idea that the Church is sacramental may sound strange to many
Filipinos at first. We have been accustomed to thinking of the sacraments as the "seven
sacraments" (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony/Marriage, Holy Orders,
Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick). The Church makes its own unique
contribution to society through spreading the word of God, continuing Jesus' mission, and
serving others. As long as the Church shows Jesus' love to the world, the Church is a true
and authentic Sacrament of Christ. It is a sign of God and it enables us to become closer
to God through the things such as the seven sacraments. If any part of the Church does
something which is a sign of God, the Church is acting as a sacrament. God also uses the
church to bring people to salvation.
3. How can you describe the Kingdom of God?
The spiritual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on Earth of God’s
will. The Kingdom of God is the Good News preached to the poor, the gift of God, who
is sensitive to the needs and sufferings of every human being. The act of forgiveness is
the seed that is planted, offering pardon to sinners, and the act of communion around the
table. God's Kingdom is a place where He places His servants in order to see the world
as He does and serve in His Kingdom. His Kingdom, also known as “the House that God
built,” is a place that always has pressing needs and it is important for Christians to
understand their “calling” in God’s Kingdom.
4. How can you see the Church as the People of God and temple of the Holy Spirit?
The image of the Church is "the new People of God" who are chosen by God. This
new People of God is a Priestly, Prophetic and Kingly People. As a people who have
been strengthened by the rite of Baptism, have been nourished by the Eucharist, and have
offered worship for the glory of God and the benefit of humanity, we Christians offer
spiritual worship. The Church is the spiritual center of Christianity. Spirit is, as it were,
the soul of the Mystical Body, the source of its life, its unity in the diversity and richness
of its gifts and charisma. The universal Church is seen to be a unified community, which
is made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As the head of the church, Christ is
the soul of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, the work of the Spirit could be compared to
life in the human body.

5. The Church is both a Gift and a Task? Why?

 The Catholic Church is one, holy, and apostolic. These are really dynamic
endowments with which the Church is graced by the Holy Spirit, and cannot be seen by
the human eye. Besides being gifts, they constitute tasks that challenge the Church as part
of its mission. Moreover, advances in any one of these fields mean advances in the other
three. In traditional apologetic works, the marks were presented as significant qualities
of the Church from its history. Today, in the mainline Protestant churches, the concept of
Christ is related directly to unity and holiness, and is also related to the concept of the
church. Faith is a gift because we received it through God's sent messengers, at the same
time, it is a task because we must share and evangelize other people. Our faith is a gift
and a task. We are saved by faith in the Risen Lord. God’s gift of grace is our salvation.
Every gift is a task. This principle works in both directions. The task of cooperating with
God's grace is a privilege given to no other creatures in the world. We alone have
received the gift of participating in God's work of salvation.
6. How can you relate one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to the
Catholic Church as ONE?
The United Nations has 17 specific goals that are meant to make the world a better
place for people and the planet. Three of the Sustainable Development Goals are the
world's most important issues. These seem to be more engaging of the global
improvement and development of all God’s creations such as the environment (land and
water), the humanity and other concerns. In the United Nation’s mission for the
elimination of poverty (SDG 1), the UN and God’s mission for the poor are the same
because the UN’s assistance and the Church’s assistance help the poor in their daily
needs and supports. As well as the SDG #3: Promoting good health and well-being of
every individual of all ages by encouraging a healthy lifestyle, including physical and
spiritual practices. Finally, SDG 13: Climate Action Take immediate action and adapt to
a specific climate crisis in conserving the Earth's natural resources.

Life Integration

Activity 2: The Journeying Church

Direction: In the following Church’s essential characteristics, cite concrete examples on

how it is manifested and explain it briefly.

1. The Church as One

The Church is one because its members believe in the same faith and teachings,
partake in the same Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, are governed by the Pope and
Bishops, and work together in charity. During the Roman Catholic Church's Holy Mass,
the faithful celebrate in a public service in which they witness different vocations and
different gifts.

2. The Church as Holy

 The Church is holy because it was founded by Jesus Christ, she is guided by the
Holy Spirit, and it leads her members to holiness. The one Christ is the one mediator and
the one way of salvation. He is present to us in His body which is the Church. Baptism
has the effect of removing original sin, filling us with grace, making us share in the
mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, and incorporating us into the Church. By
God's grace, we strive to be holy. The Church, through its teaching, prayer and worship,
and good work is a visible sign of holiness by reading the message of the Holy Gospel.
3. The Church as Catholic
The Church is universal because she teaches the whole message of Jesus to all
people in every culture and age. The Church is the Catholic Church because the Church
is universal and Christ commissions the Church to evangelize the world. Here is the idea
of the communion of saints, the union of the faithful in Heaven, in Purgatory, and on
earth, during the Eucharistic Celebration by sharing the Word of God to those who have
never heard of it.
4. The Church as Apostolic
The Catholic Church is an apostolic church because the Pope and the Bishops carry
on the mission of Jesus and the Apostles. Sacred scripture and sacred tradition were
preserved, taught, and handed on by the apostles. The duty of the Magisterium is to
preserve, teach, defend, and hand on the deposit of faith.

Our duty is to make these four marks visible in our lives.

Life Response

Activity 3: Church Preservation

Direction: Make a simple TIMELINE on how you can preserve these identities of the
Catholic Church.

Every month and THE CHURCH’S SENSE OF MYSTERY AND SACRAMENTALITY (depends)
year
In the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, Catholics may welcome all families to learn about the Epiphany
blessing of the house and a prayer, as well as guidance via online webinar such as on-going recitation
of the Holy Rosary, Novena, and Liturgical year (every). These are truly one of the most significant
religious activities for the Church's long-term condition.

2021 ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (anytime)

From last year to these coming years, some have been members of school communities, churches, and
civic organizations in addition to the Christian community. At the same time, collaboration or excellent
service of schools, churches, and service organizations are concrete evidence of a "social commitment"
of the entire Christian community.
 2022 EMBRACE FOR GOD’S WORD AND TRADITIONALITY (every day)

For this year, there is a solid foundation of Catholic education and conviction that must be maintained.
Catholics must begin to recognize the faith's values. Religious people believe that, since it is a
Heavenly Father feature of human life, the dignity of each individual, as well as his or her claim on
human care, beyond human reasoning. This idea underlies the ethical and moral evaluations as well as
interactions with one another. Belief systems must be linked to actions.

2023 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN THE CHURCH (as always)

To keep our mission alive, we need enthusiastic, daring, giving, and intelligent leaders. The Church of
the twenty-first century will be distinguished by increased engagement in ministry as clergy, laity, and
religious apply their various charisma and particular abilities to the work. If they are to shepherd our
ministry into the future, everybody, especially leaders, will need to commit to continual growth of their
religious convictions and value systems.

Being Catholic is very unique, and many in ministry are continually seeking to share what each and every one have
with people they serve. The mission is to communicate successfully with the people around, in ways that are
understandable to them.
Let Us Reflect: A new lesson has been discussed… a fresh knowledge has been learned…
and a vibrant call for passionate service is once again achieved. Now, it’s time for you to
share what you have learned… write what you have realized and inscribe what you have
resolved in and about yourself.

“My Journey to God”

A religious destination is a journey made to a place of holy or religious importance. Going

on Holy places offers several advantages. I believe that learning about my religion would be
beneficial in the future; thus, if I were to travel on a spiritual pilgrimage, I would visit the
Church, Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. It would, I believe, bring me closer to God. I'd learn
about the history and significance of the church to Christianity, and I'd be able to see the genuine
architectural design it provides. As a Christian, I grew up and was taught to adore God.
Throughout the journey, I would strive to adore God and Jesus. I would glorify Jesus because of
His humanity, and I would worship God to thank Him for His love, beg for forgiveness, and
attempt to grasp what God's path is for me. I believe I should include others as well as myself.
Embracing community, which is equally vital in my faith, is taking the trip alongside other
people. I feel it is necessary for people to relate with God as well, and if joining me and my
family on this journey is what they require, they will do so. The Lord's Prayer is most likely a
prayer I will say and meditate on while on my travels. This prayer would be recited since it refers
to the Lord, with whom I would desire to have the most relationship. This prayer means a lot to
me because it encourages me to live my life in a way God chose me to every day.
Prayer:

God of the universe, my Everlasting Father, I worship You with all my heart. I am eternally glad
that You created me in Your spirit and in truth, and that You always accept me in Your tender
care. Guide my heart, soul, and mind to love You with all my heart, soul, and mind. Please help
me to cherish all Your living things as much as I loved myself. My soul yearns to be connected
to You and to dwell in You always, Oh my Lord. Allow the Holy Spirit to touch my spirit thus
that I could love You as He and Your Loving Son, Jesus love You.

Amen.