The document discusses the Church as a communion of believers united in fellowship with God and one another through Christ. It describes the Church as having a hierarchical structure with different offices that promote the good of the whole body and help all attain salvation. It then discusses different levels of communion within the Church, including basic ecclesial communities, parishes, dioceses, and the universal Church united under the authority of the Pope. The Church is called to have a special love and solidarity with the poor.
The document discusses the Church as a communion of believers united in fellowship with God and one another through Christ. It describes the Church as having a hierarchical structure with different offices that promote the good of the whole body and help all attain salvation. It then discusses different levels of communion within the Church, including basic ecclesial communities, parishes, dioceses, and the universal Church united under the authority of the Pope. The Church is called to have a special love and solidarity with the poor.
The document discusses the Church as a communion of believers united in fellowship with God and one another through Christ. It describes the Church as having a hierarchical structure with different offices that promote the good of the whole body and help all attain salvation. It then discusses different levels of communion within the Church, including basic ecclesial communities, parishes, dioceses, and the universal Church united under the authority of the Pope. The Church is called to have a special love and solidarity with the poor.
The document discusses the Church as a communion of believers united in fellowship with God and one another through Christ. It describes the Church as having a hierarchical structure with different offices that promote the good of the whole body and help all attain salvation. It then discusses different levels of communion within the Church, including basic ecclesial communities, parishes, dioceses, and the universal Church united under the authority of the Pope. The Church is called to have a special love and solidarity with the poor.
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CHURCH AS COMMUNION: CALLED TOGETHER AS PEOPLE OF GOD
THIS MODEL STRESSES PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL, THE FELLOWSHIP OF PERSONS
WITH GOD AND WITH ONE ANOTHER - A SOLIDARITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF LOVE WITH GOD AND NEIGHBOR THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. A WORSHIPING COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WHO BY THEIR FAITH BECOME A SIGN AND INSTRUMENT OF THE UNITY OF GOD AND MAN. In order to shepherd the People of God and to increase its numbers without cease, Christ the Lord set up in his Church a variety of offices which aim at the good of the whole body. The holders of office, who are invested with a sacred power, are, in fact, dedicated to promoting the interests of their brethren, so that all who belong to the People of God . . . may attain to salvation. (CCC, 874) Priestly, Kingly, Prophetic MEMBERSHIP a birth "of water and the Spirit," that is, by faith in Christ, and Baptism. STATUS Granted with Dignity and Freedom MISSION to be the salt of the earth and light of the world HEAD Jesus Christ (the anointed Messiah), thus we are the Messianic People DESTINY UNION WITH GOD perfected at the end of time Communion within the church ST. JOHN PAUL II, ECCLESIA IN ASIA “At the heart of the mystery of the Church is the bond of communion which unites Christ the Bridegroom to all the baptized.” “The Church's first purpose then is to be the sacrament of the inner union of the human person with God, and, because people's communion with one another is rooted in that union with God, the Church is also the sacrament of the unity of the human race.” (EA, 24)
THE FAMILIES (DOMESTIC CHURCH) AS COMMUNION OF PERSONS
ECCLESIA DOMESTICA The Christian family, like the Church as a whole, should be a place where the truth of the Gospel is the rule of life and the gift which the family members bring to the wider community. The family is not simply the object of the Church's pastoral care; it is also one of the Church's most effective agents of evangelization. (EA, 46) THE BASIC ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES (BECS) AS COMMUNION OF FAMILIES The value of basic ecclesial communities as an effective way of promoting communion and participation in parishes and Dioceses, and as a genuine force for evangelization should be underlined. These small groups help the faithful to live as believing, praying and loving communities like the early Christians (cf. Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-35). They aim to help their members to live the Gospel in a spirit of fraternal love and service. (EA, 25) THE BEC AS A MODEL OF A SERVANT CHURCH IN THE PHILIPPINES THE CHURCH OF THE POOR The Church is not only FOR the poor but also OF the poor. The unity of Christ is not simply a unity of disciples; it is also a unity, solidarity and fellowship with the oppressed, humiliated and the suffering. BECs embodies the Church of the Poor in the Philippines To be a Church who's servant to the World sets the Church in a subordinate role to the world, just as Jesus washed his disciple’s feet and commissioned them to do likewise (Jn. 13) As a community of believers, Christians are enjoined to serve the world and foster universal brotherhood “The Church must have a special love for the poor... It is not an exclusive or excluding love in such a way that there is no room in a Christian’s heart for those who are not poor. For always, the Christian must love all persons... (PCPII 126-127) It is one where the entire community of disciples … will have such a love of preference for the poor as to orient and tilt the center of gravity of the entire community in favor of the needy” (PCP II) “When the Church in the PH becomes truly this Church of the Poor, the poor will feel at home in her, and will participate actively, as equal to others, in her life and mission. The Church will then become truly a communion, a sign and instrument, for the unity of the whole Filipino nation” (JM Kroeger quoting PCP II) THE PARISH AS COMMUNION OF BECS AND OTHER ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES The parish remains the ordinary place where the faithful gather to grow in faith, to live the mystery of ecclesial communion and to take part in the Church's mission. Pastors to devise new and effective ways of shepherding the faithful, so that everyone, especially the poor, will feel truly a part of the parish and of God's People as a whole... to be well integrated into the life and mission of the parish and Diocese. (EA, 25) The role of Renewal Movements - provide opportunities for a more intimate experience of God through faith and the sacraments, and foster conversion of life. (EA, 25) THE DIOCESE AS COMMUNION OF COMMUNITIES The Diocese is a communion of communities gathered around the Shepherd, where clergy, consecrated persons and the laity are engaged in a "dialogue of life and heart" sustained by the grace of the Holy Spirit. This local Church should become a "participatory Church, "hence, there is a need to foster greater involvement of the laity and consecrated men and women in pastoral planning and decision-making. (EA, 25) UNIVERSAL AUTHORITY OF THE SUCCESSOR OF PETER The universal authority of the Successor of Peter shines forth more clearly, not primarily as juridical power over the local Churches, but as a pastoral primacy at the service of the unity of faith and life of the whole People of God. The Petrine office has a unique ministry in guaranteeing and promoting the unity of the universal Church (EA, 25)