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Rel Ed 3 Module 1 Church Structure, History and Doctrine

This document serves as an educational module on the Church, defining it as the assembly of baptized believers in communion with the Pope, and detailing its structure which includes the hierarchy, lay faithful, and consecrated life. It outlines the origins of the Church, its foundation by Jesus Christ, and the roles of bishops, priests, and deacons within the Church's hierarchy. The module also includes learning activities and resources for further understanding of the Church's significance and structure.

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Michael Pelotos
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2 views6 pages

Rel Ed 3 Module 1 Church Structure, History and Doctrine

This document serves as an educational module on the Church, defining it as the assembly of baptized believers in communion with the Pope, and detailing its structure which includes the hierarchy, lay faithful, and consecrated life. It outlines the origins of the Church, its foundation by Jesus Christ, and the roles of bishops, priests, and deacons within the Church's hierarchy. The module also includes learning activities and resources for further understanding of the Church's significance and structure.

Uploaded by

Michael Pelotos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Church as the People of God

Rel Ed 3: Church: Structure,


History and Doctrine
S.Y. 2020-2021
Christ the King College
1

Module 1: Church and Structure of Christ’s Faithful


Introduction
What is a ​C​hurch? We often think of it as a building, physical structure or a place
where people gather to worship God. That is called ​ch ​ urch ( with small letter ​c). But the
C​hurch is the people of God who gathered together to worship God regardless of the place.
This module introduces the student on what Church is and the structure of Christ’s faithful
as baptized Christians.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module, the student is expected to:


1. Define and understand what a Church is
2. Understand the structure of Christ Faithful
3. Appreciate and express one’s belonging to his/her own Church

Learning Content

Lesson 1​ ​What is a Church?


1. What is the Church?
● The Church is the assembly of those who believe in
Jesus Christ, who are baptized and who are in
communion with the Pope.
● Church​ ​means Assembly: it comes from Greek
word “ekklesia” – meaning assembly or a
community of believers.

2. When is the Birth of the Church?


● The Church began in or around the year AD 30/33 in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
● Pentecost day was the coming down of the Holy Spirit
upon Mary and the Apostles.
● Acts 2: 1-4​ ------ “​ 1 ​When the day of Pentecost came, they
were all together in one place. 2​ ​And suddenly out of the
sky came a sound like a strong rushing wind and it filled
the whole house where they were sitting. There
appeared 3​ ​tongues as if of fire which parted and came to
rest upon each one of them. 4​ ​All were filled with Holy
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Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”

4. Who founded the Church?


● Jesus Christ founded the Church.

5. How did Christ founded the Church?


● ​Jesus began his preaching by announcing the arrival
of the ​Kingdom of God​.
● ​Jesus himself unfolds the Kingdom in his words,
deeds, and very presence.
● ​To embrace Jesus’ word is to embrace the Kingdom
of God.
● The humanity of Jesus makes present the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of God is
mysteriously present in the Church.

6. What are three distinct stages in the foundation of the Kingdom:


1)​ ​Christ’s public life when he began to preach the Kingdom
2)​ ​Christ sealed the New Covenant with his sacrifice on the cross
3)​ ​The public manifestation and mission of the Church (The era of the Church was inaugurated by
the visible coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Lesson 2 ​Structure of Christ’s Faithful

Structure of Christ’s Faithful


● All baptized persons (the faithful) are equally called to the fullness of sanctity/holiness.
● ​All are equal in dignity and diverse in functions. They share in the common priesthood
● ​Structure of Christ’s Faithful are:
1) The Hierarchy
2) The Lay Faithful
3) ​The Consecrated Life

The Hierarchy
​

● ​Christ endowed them with the power and mission to teach, sanctify and govern. There are three
degrees in the hierarchy: the bishops, priests and deacons.
A.​ ​Bishops
❏ The bishops are the successors of the Apostle.
❏ Among the bishops, there is the Pope who is the Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor. The
Pope is the source and foundation of unity
❏ Bishops constitute the episcopal College(college or body of bishops) with the Pope as its
head.​ ​College of Bishops has supreme and full authority over the universal Church.
❏ ​The individual bishops are the visible source and foundation of unity in their own particular
Churches. The particular Church is also called the Local Church or the Diocese.
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B. Priests
❏ The priests are the bishop’s closest collaborators.
❏ ​They preach the Gospel, nourish the faithful, celebrate the divine worship, reconcile people
with God through the Sacrament of Penance
C.​ ​Deacons​ help the priests
❏ ​The deacons have the tasks of charity and welfare.

The Lay Faithful


❏ The Laity or Lay faithful seek the Kingdom of God
by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them
according to God’s will.

Consecrated Life
❏ The Consecrated men and women profess chastity,
poverty and obedience for the sake of the Kingdom.
❏ They follow Christ more nearly, give themselves to
God who is loved above all.
❏ The religious brothers, priests and nuns belong to
this group of Christ’s faithful.

Learning Task
Activity 1 How I love my Church Assessment
Put a check mark ( ✓
​ ​ ) under the column that corresponds to your experience in each of
the following terms.

YES NO

1. I attend Holy Mass on Sunday or weekly worship services of our


Church.

2. I feel my belongingness to my Church.

3. I contribute/give something (or my time and talent) for the


improvement of my Church.

4. I love my co-worshippers in our Church.

5. I help the poor and the needy of our Church.


4

Activity 2 Test
Fill in the blanks. Write your answer on the space provided.
1. Assembly comes from the Greek word____________________________.
2. ____________________ is the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the apostles.
3. ______________ founded the Church.
4. The ________________ is the assembly of those who believe in Jesus Christ, who are
baptized and who are in communion with the Pope.
5. The Church began in or around the year AD 30 in ___________ (place) on the day of
Pentecost.
6. _______________ preached the Kingdom of God.
7. All baptized persons (the faithful) are equally called to the fullness of __________________.
8. All faithful are equal in dignity and diverse in _____________.
9. The ______________ are the successors of the Apostles.
10. The __________ is the bishop of Rome and the head of the College of Bishops.
11. The individual _______________ are the visible source and foundation of unity in their
own particular Churches.
12. The ___________________ has the supreme and full authority over the universal Church.
13. The_____________ are the bishop’s closest collaborators.
14. The __________ help the priests.
15. _____________ have the tasks of charity and welfare.
16. The ___________________________ seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs
and directing them according to God’s will.
17. The _________________ profess chastity, poverty and obedience for the sake of the
Kingdom.
18. The _________________ follow Christ more nearly, give themselves to God who is loved
above all.
19. Pope ____________ (name) is our current Pope in the Catholic Church.
20. ____________ (name) is the bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog.

Activity 3 Praying for my Church


God, help our church body to walk in a manner worthy of the calling You have given
us. Help us in all our interactions with one another to have humble and gentle
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hearts. Grant us patience for one another, bearing with one another in love. Grant
the Body of Christ unity. May we walk humbly with You, God, allowing You to show
us our wrongs as we also receive your forgiveness. Amen

Learning Resources
Christian Community Bible​. Quezon Cit, Metro Manila, Philippines: Claretian Publications,
1986.
Catechism of the Catholic Church​. Makati, Metro, Manila: ECCCE and Word and Life
Publications, 1994.
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/5-prayers-to-pray-for-your-church.html

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