St.

Louis College of Bulanao

Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800

Catholic Foundation of Mission: Context, Nature, & Exposition

I. INTRODUCTION

The Catholic Foundation of Mission has to be understood in three different parts. The
Catholic means “universal.” It is universal in the sense that it is biblically found in Mt.
28: 16-19, “Go to the ends of the world”. Jesus commanded his disciples to proclaim
the Goodnews throughout the world. It is Jesus, the founder of the Church
commanding all baptized Christians to continue his mission. The mission therefore
must be rooted in Christ as the founder and must be exercised by the Church, and it
must spread all over the world. So the Church is catholic in nature since the mission
is universal and for all.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

A. Explain the nature of the Church, its relevance for the Filipino Catholic,
and its context in our communities.

B. Understanding the true meaning of the Church and its Filipino concepts.
C. Engaging in mission of the Church.
III. COURSE CONTENT
Topic: Catholic Foundation of Mission: Context, Nature, & Exposition
Materials: Printed modules/Online module
Reference: Catechism for the Filipino Catholic/ Catechism of the Catholic
Church. Chapter 23
IV. LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Jesus replied: “I for my part declare to you: you are ‘Rock’ [Peter], and
on this rock I will build my Church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail
against it.” (Mt 16:18) You are fellow citizens of the saints and members of
the household of God. You form a building which rises on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. . . . In
him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God
in the Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)

CCC #1349. The first great “living” work of the Holy Spirit, the “Giver of
Life,” is the Church. The word “Church” means “that which pertains to the
Lord.” Therefore, the best way to introduce the Church’s nature and mission is
to focus on Christ. “Christ is the light of all nations, and it is by proclaiming his
Gospel to every creature that the light of Christ, which shines out visibly from
the Church, may be brought to all men” (LG 1). For the Church is none other
than that community of men and women “who, united in Christ, and guided by
the Holy Spirit, press onwards towards the Kingdom of the Father and are
bearers of a message of salvation intended for all men” (GS 1).
CCC #1350. This chapter first takes up the Nature of the Church __
“what the Church is” __ as mystery and as sacrament. This is developed
through scriptural images, particularly the “Kingdom of God,” “People of God,”
and “Body of Christ.” The second section describes the Characteristics of the
life of the Church. These are what distinguishes the Church, its “marks” its
being one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. What the Church is for and how it
operates, its Mission and Ministry, are explained in the third part. Finally, the
chapter concludes with a brief section on the supporting themes of
“Communion of Saints” and “Mary, Mother of the Church.”
CONTEXT

CCC #1351. For most Filipinos, the Church is very familiar, perhaps in a
sense “too familiar.” For some, “Church” simply means the building where
people go to pray. For many, “Church” spontaneously evokes the image of
bishops, priests and religious, or particular Church organizations. Moreover,
whereas in earlier times Church meant the “Catholic Church,” in today’s
Philippine society it can refer to many different Christian churches and sects,
too numerous to count.
CCC#1352. Yet, the building where people worship is obviously a
“church.” The problem, then, is not in relating “Church” to the building, but in
restricting the total meaning of “Catholic church” to a particular material
building. Likewise, since we commonly identify organizations and groups by
their leaders, we make a mistake only when we limit the meaning of “Catholic
Church” to bishops, priests and religious, or particular organizations.
CCC#1353. More important, then, is the common origin of these
inadequate views of the Church. They stem from a “common sense” view of the
Church as just one “human association” among many. This temptation to see
the Church only as a human social organization may be fostered in part by the
Filipinos’ deep cultural value of “belongingness.” We have an intense desire “to
belong.” So, for us, the Church is a natural “home” wherein we can feel
accepted and loved. Now surely the Church should be such a “home.” But its
total meaning and mission cannot be reduced to relieving our insecurities by
social “togetherness.” Christ indicates this with his response to the first
temptation. “Not on bread alone is man to live, but on every utterance that
comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4).

CCC#1354. Our Second Plenary Council has called for a renewed

catechesis that can lead our people to a better understanding of the Church.
This means recognizing that the Church is much more than a building, or a
group of Church men and women, or a social grouping. Seeking this “more”
leads us directly to Christ our Lord and his Holy Spirit, both sent to us by our
heavenly Father who “wants all men to be saved and to come to know the truth”
(1 Tim 2:4). We now turn to these basic truths that ground our personal
Christian LOVE for the Church.
NATURE OF THE CHURCH

CCC#1355. Ekklesia. This “more” of the Church can be shown first of all
from its long history. Our Catholic Church traces its origin back to the Old
Testament qahal and the New Testament ekklesia (CCC 751f). Both terms mean
“the people of God called together,” or an “assembly convoked by God.” Thus,
they stress the action of God in calling the people together. The Church thus
claims to be a faith-assembly whose root cause is God’s free call to all to share
His divine goodness and love in Christ. The Church therefore is not just a social
grouping of people drawn together by cultural values and attitudes. This faith-
conviction that God is the ever-present source and ground for the Church is the
reason for explaining the Church as “mystery” and “sacrament.”

Key Themes
CCC#1444. What is the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church is the community of men and women, united in Christ and
guided by the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of the successor of Peter and the
Bishops in communion with him. As such, “they press onward towards the Kingdom of
the Father as bearers of the message of salvation intended for all” (GS 1).

CCC#1445. How should we understand the Church?

The Church is not merely a human social organization, but “the People of God called
together.” It consists of all who are drawn to personal communion with Christ and
with one another, and as “united to the Son, in the Spirit’s bond of love, [are thus]
united to the Father” (CL 18). The Church, then, is “mystery” __ a God-cantered reality
in its origin, ongoing life and final goal.
CCC#1446. How is the Church related to the Trinity?

The Church: • originates according to the Father’s eternal plan, from the side of the
Crucified Christ, and is animated and united by the coming of the Holy Spirit; •
structured as a community of love modelled on the Trinity’s loving union of Father,
Son and Spirit; • missioned (sent) by the Father following the joint Mission of Son and
Spirit; • destined as a pilgrim people to journey toward perfect communion with the
Trinity in heaven.

V. REFERENCES

1. Catechism for Filipino Catholic (CFC)

2. Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

For more information please contact me through my fb account:Reejane U. Tumbali