1. Characteristics
of the Church
Jeffrey M. Mayor
St. Paul University Quezon City
Quezon City, Philippines

2. The Church as ONE

3. The Church as One
• The is one from her very source, the
one living God in three Persons. “The
Church shines forth as ‘a people
made one with in the unity of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’”
(LG 4)
• Sacred Scripture: Eph. 4:4-6

4. • Church Unity as a task
• Ecumenism is concerned with
restoring unity of the Christian
Churches.
• Inter- religious dialogue
• Ecumenical unity transcends human
abilities grounded in the prayer of
Christ for the Church.

5. The Church as ONE

6. The Church as HOLY

7. The Church as HOLY
• Christ loved the Church as his bride
and gave himself up for her, to make
holy.
• The Holy Spirit graces her with the
fullness of the means of salvation
and holiness.
• The Church’s holiness is a process for
growing, a “Paschal Pilgrimage”.

8. • Sacred Scripture: Eph. 4: 22-24
• …justice and holiness are born in truth
• We all need God’s mercy continuously
and must daily pray: “Forgive us our
sins’” (LG 40)
• In 1 Thes. 4:3 All baptized are called to
live the full challenge of Christian
holiness.
• Charity and Love is the center of
holiness.

9. The Church as HOLY

10. The Church as CATHOLIC

11. The Church as CATHOLIC
• Catholic means universal, complete,
all-embracing.
• The Church is world-wide, sent to all
the peoples and by faith endowed
with the “fullness of the means for
salvation”.
• “Catholicity” external and internal

12. • The Church as Catholic is both gift
and task which involves mission and
inculturation.
• The Catholicity of the Church is more
fully realized when its able to
assimilate and use the riches of a
people’s culture for the glory of God.

13. The Church as CATHOLIC

14. The Church as APOSTOLIC

15. The Church as APOSTOLIC
• The Church is “Apostolic” based on the
Foundation of the Apostles (Eph. 2:20)
• APOSTOLATE, The work of all the
faithful who carry on the original
mission entrusted by Christ to his
Apostle.

16. The Church as APOSTOLIC

17. MISSION AND MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH
• Christ founded his Church to
continue his saving mission on earth
• Mark presents mission as
proclaiming the Gospel to lead
others to the faith.
• Matthew’s mission stresses the
teachings of the Christian
community- the Church

18. • Luke emphasizes the Gospel’s
transforming power to work
conversion to God’s merciful love
and liberation from the root of all
evil.
• In John’s Gospel sends forth his
disciples on mission, just as the
Father sent him.

19. • Mission is at the center of Church’s
being, the whole Church is
missionary.
• “…All are called to mission… -all
without exception… -are called to
evangelize” (PCP II 402)

20. MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH