CHURCH
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Content description
• Communities provide for the needs of people
• The early Church gathered as a community
• Jesus chose the first leaders of the Church
• The Catholic Church has rules to guide people in
the community
• Members of God’s family are called to love in communities
Communities provide for the needs of people
Teacher Note
The human person needs to live in society. On coming into the world, man is not
equipped with everything he needs for developing his bodily and spiritual life.
He needs others. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1879, 1936)
People depend on relationships with others to provide for their needs. For example, many
needs of children are provided for by their families – particularly their parents, carers and other
family members.
The human relationships people have through communities are important ways through
which God seeks to provide for people’s needs.
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5.
Four common communities people belong to are:
1. The family
Families fulfil many of the needs of its members. There are times when people need the
special support of their family.
Families gather together at different times to provide support to one another, celebrate and
nurture relationships.
Teacher Note
‘… the family … correspond(s) more directly to the nature of man.’ ‘A man and a woman
united in marriage, together with their children, form a family.’ (Catechism of the
Catholic Church 1882, 2202)
2. The parish
The parish or Church community helps people fulfil the need to develop a relationship with
God and with each other. This was the purpose for which Jesus began his Church.
Parish communities gather because they believe in the promise of Jesus and that he is present
with them when they do so.
‘For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.’ [Matthew 18:20]
Teacher Note
A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis
within a particular church; the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its
own shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop. (Catechism of the Catholic
Church 2179)
3. The Catholic school
The Catholic Church provides schools to offer an education of the Catholic faith based on the
teachings of Jesus. Through relationships between staff and students, young people learn and
put into practice the love, compassion and justice of Jesus in the world.
Through education and relationships in Catholic schools, students are encouraged to promote
justice, particularly to those who are culturally, physically, intellectually, spiritually and
financially disadvantaged. Catholic schools have the important role of passing on the Catholic
faith and forming students to contribute to Australian society.
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4. Other communities Communities gather, have leaders, laws and rules
There are many communities that families and individuals can belong to, for example:
• sporting clubs
Gather
• dance clubs Every community needs to support and sustain its life. Communities gather to celebrate and
• music and drama groups share together.
• parish youth groups
• government and local councils. Leaders
Every community needs leaders. Without leaders, communities would not work because
everyone would want to ‘do their own thing’.
Teacher Note
Leaders of communities have two responsibilities. These are to:
Every human community needs an authority in order to endure and to develop. The
• keep the community or society functioning well to meet the needs of all members
foundation of such authority lies in human nature. (Catechism of the Catholic Church
• work and care for all members
1919, 1898)
Examples of leaders who keep everything functioning well are:
Human society can be neither well–ordered nor prosperous unless it has some people
• in the family; parents and those who take on the responsibilities of parents make sure
invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions and to devote themselves
family members have what they need
as far as is necessary to work and care for the good of all. (Catechism of the Catholic
• in the parish; the parish priest and other leaders make sure that people can gather to
Church 1897)
celebrate as a community with Jesus
• in Catholic schools; the principals and teachers make sure students have what they
need to learn
• in other communities; leaders make sure that members have what they need to participate
• in governments and local councils; leaders make sure they meet the needs of a wide range
of people

The role of community leaders is to be of service to their members.

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Rules and laws
Communities depend on rules and laws to function properly. Rules define the behaviour that
must be followed in certain communities and situations. When people don’t follow rules there
usually is a consequence. For example, a child using a device and not doing as they are asked
may lose the privilege of the device for a certain amount of time.
Laws are created by governments and are publicly enforced by police and court systems. When
people break a law they can face a legal penalty such as a fine, community service or going to
jail.
Rules and laws are slightly different but they serve the same purpose of keeping people safe.
Rules and laws focus on the difference between right and wrong and keep communities in
order. People understand that the same principles apply to everyone and this makes things
fair. For example:
• rules of a sport or game
• washing hands before a meal
• traffic lights and traffic rules
• school rules to help children to respect boundaries and authority
Laws help people know what they should or should not do. Most communities and groups
have laws. Everyone in a community, state, or country must follow laws. People choose leaders
to make rules and laws. For example rules and laws help people:
• share resources
• get along
• stay healthy
• keep safe
Rules are needed to make sure that the different communities and societies function as they
should. For example, rules ensure that:
• family members contribute to the running of the home
• people show care for the environment
• team sports are played fairly
• people drive safely and respectfully on the road
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The early Church gathered as a community
Teacher Note
In the Church, God is “calling together” his people from all the ends of the earth.’ ‘The
gathering together of the People of God began at the moment when sin destroyed the
communion of men with God, and that of men among themselves.’ ‘The Church in this
world is the sacrament of salvation, the sign and the instrument of the communion of
God and men. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 751, 761, 780)
The word “Church” … means a convocation or an assembly … the Chosen People before
God … By calling itself “Church”, the first community of Christian believers recognised
itself as heir to that assembly. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 751)
Jesus began his Church as a community to help people relate to God and told his followers to
meet and pray together, be guided by the leaders and follow his teachings and laws. As they do
so, members of the Church draw closer to God.
The Acts of the Apostles teaches how Christians lived in the years after Jesus’ resurrection
and Ascension. People learn how the followers of Jesus celebrated the Eucharist together and
shared their belongings.
Life among the Believers
And everyone was filled with awe; the apostles worked many signs and miracles.
And all who shared the faith owned everything in common; they sold their goods
and possessions and distributed the proceeds among themselves according to
what each one needed.
Each day, with one heart, they regularly went to the Temple but met in their
houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously;
they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to
their community those destined to be saved. [Acts 2:43-47]
Background to the Scripture
The Acts of the Apostles is a book that continues the story of the salvation of God’s
people. It recounts how the early Christians sought to follow the teachings of Jesus
and establish his Church on earth. It explains mainly through stories of two important
missionaries, Peter and Paul, how Christianity spread under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Church went from a small group of disciples
in Jerusalem to spreading across the entire Roman Empire, even to Rome itself.
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The church community gathers to celebrate its faith Jesus chose the first leaders of the Church
To function, a community needs to gather. Jesus taught his Church that they must gather to The beginning of the Gospel of Matthew explains how Jesus is the one for whom the people
celebrate the seven sacraments, particularly to: were waiting. Jesus revealed that he would make a new covenant to fulfil the one that God had
• celebrate the Eucharist made with his Chosen People at Sinai.

Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to
them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ He
did the same with the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant
in my blood poured out for you.’ [Luke 22:19-20]
The Sinai Covenant had been restricted to the Chosen People of Israel. The covenant of Jesus
would be with everyone in the world who chose to follow him. This would be a new community
called the Church.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus proclaims that his Good News is for everyone. At the end of the
Gospel he says:

“Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father
• celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” [Matthew 28:19]

‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them
Jesus commanded the Apostles to preach the Gospel, through the community Jesus
and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if
established called the Church.
you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained. [John 20:21-23]

• pray together; Jesus not only taught his disciples how to pray, he encouraged them
to pray together.

‘In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it
will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my
name, I am there among them.’ [Matthew 18:19-20]

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Bishops have the teaching authority of the Apostles
Jesus appointed Twelve Apostles to serve as the first leaders of his new Church.
When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called
them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the
Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor. [Luke 6:13-16]
Background to the Scripture
Many people followed Jesus. These followers were called disciples. There were many
disciples but Jesus chose twelve men to be his special followers. These men were called
Apostles. In the ministry of Jesus there were many disciples but twelve of them had a
particular role. These were sometimes referred to as “The 12 Apostles”.
Andrew and Simon were the first disciples called by Jesus. They were fishermen. The
disciples left their careers (fishermen, tax collector, etc) to travel with Jesus. It was not
their education or talent that made them special – it was their commitment to Jesus.
All followers of Jesus who try to be like him to this day are his disciples.
The names of the Apostles can be confusing. Some have the same name. There was
Simon Peter (Cephas) and also Simon the Zealot. A Zealot was a member of a Jewish
group that was trying to overthrow the Roman government that ruled Jerusalem at
that time and free the Jews.
There was James the son of Alphaeus (sometimes called “James the Less because he
was younger than the other James). James, the son of Zebedee, was the brother of the
Apostle John. They worked together in their father’s fishing business before following
Jesus. John was one of Jesus’ closest friends. Later, when Jesus was dying on the cross,
Jesus asked John to take care of Mary.
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Today, Bishops continue the work of the Apostles and are their successors. The Apostles
handed down their teaching authority to bishops. This process has continued over two
thousand years. Every bishop today is a successor to the Apostles and their teaching authority
is preserved under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The specific spiritual gifts passed on from the Apostles to Bishops include:
• preaching and protecting the accurate teaching of the Gospel
• maintaining authority within the Church
• baptising and making people new members of the Church through the Sacrament of
Baptism
• confirming baptised believers through the Sacrament of Confirmation
• celebrating the Eucharist
• forgiving sins through the Sacrament of Penance
• anointing the sick through the Sacrament of Anointing
• blessing marriages through the Sacrament of Matrimony
• consecrating men to continue the work of the Apostles through the Sacrament
of Holy Orders
Bishops today serve areas of the Church across the world called ‘dioceses’. Each diocese is
made up of a number of parishes. Western Australia is divided into four dioceses. The dioceses
of Broome, Geraldton, Perth and Bunbury.
Broome
Geraldton
Perth
Bunbury
Dioceses of Western Australia
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The Pope Deacons
Jesus appointed Peter as the leader of the Apostles. The Apostles found that they needed help to fulfil their role of service to the poor and needy.
The Apostles appointed a group to help them in their role and shared with them the gifts of
service that Jesus had given them. This group is called deacons. Deacons are called to serve the
Church by:
Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! … So I now say to you: You
• assisting a priest or bishop during mass
are Peter and on this rock I will build my community’. [Matthew 16:17-18]
• reading and preaching the Word of God during liturgies
• baptising members of the church community
• blessing marriages
• leading community prayer gatherings
• officiating at funeral and burial services
Background to the Scripture • carrying out duties of charity and social assistance

Andrew and Simon were the first disciples called by Jesus. Andrew heard about Jesus
first and then went to get his brother, Simon [John 1:40-41]. They were fishermen.
Simon was already known by the name “Peter” which was a Greek name. Jesus tells
him that he will be known as “Cephas” which is the Aramaic translation of Peter and
means “rock”. Peter was the rock on whom Jesus built his Church.

Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter to make it clear to his first followers that Peter’s role was
to be the rock on which his church would be founded. The word Peter comes from the Greek
word for rock, Petra. Peter went from Jerusalem to Rome where he took up his responsibilities
as head of the Church. St Peter died in Rome and is buried in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the
Vatican.

The successor of Peter today in the Church is called the ‘Pope’. He has all the authority that
Jesus first gave Peter. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome.

Priests
Over time, as members of the Church community grew and spread, the Apostles and early
bishops realised that they could not pass on the mission of Jesus to all his followers. They could
not celebrate Mass in all the growing communities on their own. Ministers were ordained as
leaders to serve the needs of the people in the new Christian communities.

These leaders became known as priests. The role of priest is to serve their communities by:
• preaching the Gospel
• baptising members of the church community
• celebrating the Eucharist
• forgiving sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• conferring Confirmation when a bishop cannot
• blessing marriages
• anointing the sick

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The Catholic Church has rules to guide people in the community Members of God’s family are called to love in communities
The first ‘rules’ of the Church are the Commandments. However, Jesus gave the Apostles the Followers of Jesus are called into relationship with God and one another. They are guided by
authority to make other rules where needed for the good of the Church community. He said: the example of Jesus to overcome selfishness and temptations as they try to live the Fourth
Commandment.

The Ten Commandments guide people in making choices that help to live as God wants. The
… whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth first three commandments tell people how to love God; the other seven tell people how to love
will be loosed in heaven. [Matthew 16:19; 18:18] their neighbour.

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.

The Apostles handed this authority on to the Pope and the Bishops as Jesus intended as the 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
leaders of the Church.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Precepts of the Catholic Church guide people
4. Honour your father and your mother.
The Church has rules to guide people to lives committed to prayer and active participation in
the Mass and other sacraments in order to strengthen their relationship with God. These rules 5. You shall not kill.
are called the Precepts of the Catholic Church.
6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

Teacher Note
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished
by liturgical life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2041) 9. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.

The Precepts of the Catholic Church are:
• Catholics are to attend Mass every Sunday
• Catholics are to attend Mass on the Feast of Christmas, 25 December, and the
Feast of the Assumption, 15 August
• Catholics are to receive Holy Communion at least once a year (between Ash Wednesday
and Trinity Sunday)
• Catholics are to seek God’s forgiveness of serious sins at least once a year (between
Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday)
• Catholics are to fast from food, and to abstain from meat each year on Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday
• Catholics are to contribute to the financial needs of the Church, including providing
for people in need

The days of fasting and abstinence from meat are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The
Church also requires all members to contribute, as best they can, to the support of their
priests, parishes, schools. People are encouraged to support the Church's works of charity,
and to observe the laws of the Church about the Sacrament of Marriage.

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The Fourth Commandment: Honour your father and your mother The Church

God has revealed that this Commandment is not limited to children and parents. It includes God wants all members of the Church to love each other. This includes:
respect for all leaders and those in authority. • obeying the Pope and bishops when they use the authority given them by Jesus
• obeying the laws, teachings and Precepts of the Catholic Church
God created communities to provide for the needs of all who belong to them. They include:
• the family Other communities
• the Catholic school God wants all communities to work well so that they can provide as best they can for the needs
• the Church of those who belong to them. God wants members to:
• other communities • cooperate with legitimately appointed leaders
• obey rules and regulations

Teacher Note
The fourth commandment ... shows us the order of charity. God has willed that, after
him, we should honour our parents ... and respect all those whom God, for our good, has
vested with his authority. The fourth commandment is addressed expressly to children
in their relationship to their father and mother ... It likewise concerns the ties of kinship
between members of the extended family.
It requires honour, affection ... toward elders ... Finally it extends to the duties of pupils
to teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders, citizens to their country,
and to those who administer or govern it. ‘Respecting this commandment provides,
along with spiritual fruits, temporal fruits of peace and prosperity. Conversely, failure
to observe it brings great harm to communities and to individuals. (Catechism of the
Catholic Church 2197, 2199, 2200)
For these communities to function properly, members need to love each other. Showing this
love includes respect for community leaders and rules.
The family
Parents show love for their children in many ways. God calls children in turn to love and respect
their parents and other family members by:
• obeying and respecting their adult family members and carers
• living in harmony and cooperating with family members
• showing love and respect to all family members
• obeying rules in the home
God wants community leaders to work well for the sake of those they are meant to serve. God
wants people to obey, provided they do not go against God’s commandments and laws:
• police
• other legitimate authorities
• the laws of parliament and other authorities
Jesus showed through his own example the need to obey community leaders, rules and
laws. He began a special community, the Church, to help people draw on the help of God to
overcome selfishness and temptations and to always love and do good.
Today the Catholic Church community gathers to draw on God’s power to love and do good by
celebrating:
• the Eucharist
• special celebrations such as Easter, Christmas and other holy days
• funerals
• the Sacraments
• Liturgy of the Word
The need for people to live in communities was created by God. Communities help people to
grow in love by providing what they need in order to love and do good for all who belong to
them.

The Catholic school

God wants all in the Catholic school community to love each other. Children in particular are
called to:
• obey and respect the principal, the teachers and other school staff
• obey school rules
• treat other children in friendly and respectful ways

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