1. Getting to Know the Family
normie
Getting to Know the Family
St. Leo the Great 2016 RCIA Class

2. Setting the Bar High: Goals
What is the Church
Structure of the Church
Role of the Church
Hierarchy and its Role
Q & A
We are not likely to get through this but we will see how far we can get.

3. What is the Church
It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, nourishes and sustains my faith. Everywhere, it is the Church that first confesses the Lord: "Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you", as we sing in the hymn "Te Deum"; with her and in her, we are won over and brought to confess: "I believe", "We believe". It is through the Church that we receive faith and new life in Christ by Baptism. In the Rituale Romanum, the minister of Baptism asks the catechumen: "What do you ask of God's Church?" And the answer is: "Faith." "What does faith offer you?" "Eternal life.“ CCC 168

4. What is the Church Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher)
The Church is first and foremost a family
Every family has its:
Story: Sacred Scripture and Tradition
Family rules: Canon Law
Specific rituals: Liturgies
Leaders: Clergy
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
(1 John 3:1)

5. Organization of the Church
Need to understand:
Universal
Western and Eastern Rites
Diocese
Parish
Home

6. Eastern Rites of the Church

7. Understanding How it Fits Together

8. The Western Church in the US

9. The US Church by the Numbers
In the US, there are 195 dioceses/ archdioceses, one apostolic exarchate, and one personal ordinariate:
145 Latin Catholic dioceses
33 Latin Catholic archdioceses
15 Eastern Catholic dioceses (eparchies)
2 Eastern Catholic archdioceses (archeparchies)
1 apostolic exarchate (for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church)
1 personal ordinariate (for former Anglicans who became Catholic)

10. Hierarchy of the Church (Latin Rite)

11. Church Ordained Leadership: Clergy
Holy Orders provides for 3 degrees:
Archbishop /Bishops
Archbishop: Heads Archdiocese or Province
Bishop: Heads a Diocese
Priests
Pastor: Heads a Parish and administers sacraments
Parochical Vicar: Administers sacraments under the leadership of the Pastor
Deacons (Transitional & Permanent)
Transitional: Deacon preparing for Priestly ordination (Sacrifice)
Permanent: Ordained for service

12. Church Ordained Leadership: Clergy
Honorific Titles
Cardinal (Usually Bishops)
Chosen by Pope usually from among Bishops
Primary duties:
Papal Electors for the Bishop of Rome
Additional duties as assigned by the Pope
Monsignor (Priest)
Honorific title for those priests who serve the Papal Household
Honorific title recommended by a Bishop to the Pope for particular services of distinction

13. Authority of the Supreme Pontiff
Titles for the Holy Father relates to those whom he serves:
Vicar of Christ
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church
Patriarch of the West (Renounced by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)
Primate of Italy
Archbishop & Metropolitan of the Roman Province
Sovereign of the Vatican City State
Bishop of Rome
Pastor of St. John Latern

14. US Church Leadership
There are 454 active and retired Catholic bishops in the United States:
270 active bishops:
5 Cardinal Archbishops
28 Archbishops
155 Diocesan Bishops
74 Auxiliary Bishops
7 Apostolic or Diocesan Administrators

15. US Church Leadership (cont.)
There are 454 active and retired Catholic bishops in the United States:
184 retired bishops:
11 retired Cardinal Archbishops
21 retired Archbishops
105 retired Diocesan Bishops
47 retired Auxiliary Bishops

16. Role of the Church As Teacher
She guides us infallibly through faith and morals:
Magisterium
Extraordinary
Ex Cathedra: Pope
Ecumenical Councils: Bishops in union with the Pope defining doctrine
Ordinary
Bishops proposing definitively, dispersed, but in unison, in union with Pope
Pope and Bishops in ordinary authoritative teaching

17. Role of the Church As Teacher
Distinction between Doctrine and Discipline
Doctrine
Authoritative teaching that requires the full assent of faith
Example: Trinity
Discipline
Those practices that are meant to protect doctrine or assist in developing virtue
May be added, changed or dismissed when deemed necessary or no longer relevant
Example: Meat on Fridays

18. Role of the Church As Teacher
Infallibility (CCC 891)
"The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals
The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium," above all in an Ecumenical Council.

19. Role of the Church As Teacher
Infallibility (CCC 2035)
The supreme degree of participation in the authority of Christ is ensured by the charism of infallibility.
This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed.

20. Role of the Church As Teacher
Infallibility (CCC 891)
"The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals
The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium," above all in an Ecumenical Council.

21. Role of the Church As Teacher
Infallibility (CCC 891) cont…
When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine "for belief as being divinely revealed," and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to with the obedience of faith." This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself.

22. Role of the Church As Teacher
Infallibility (CCC 2051)
The infallibility of the Magisterium of the Pastors extends to all the elements of doctrine, including moral doctrine, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, expounded, or observed.

23. Role of the Church As Teacher
Infallibility is NOT Impeccability:
Infallibility is concerned with the inerrancy of the Teaching Office of the Church
Impeccability is concerned with the ability to commit sin
The Pope is not sinless

24. Q & A

25. Getting to Know the Family
normie
Getting to Know the Family
St. Leo the Great 2016 RCIA Class