OPENING PRAYER:

Spirit of God, who filled the Apostles and their successors

with zeal to proclaim Your Kingdom here on earth, fill us

also with zeal for the Kingdom. We ask this in Christ, our Lord.

Amen

THE FOUNDATION AND GROWTH

OF THE CHURCH

3 ELEMENTS

•FOUNDATION• IDENTITY•EXPANSION

TEARS OF THE SAINTS

Guide questions:

•What struck you most in the video?•What are the values emphasized in the video?• How are you challenged to continue His mission here on earth?

ELEMENT #1

FOUNDATION

Remember…• From the start of His

ministry, Jesus was already forming the foundation of the Church.

Sacred Scriptures: Matthew 16:13-19 and John

21:15-17

• Who were the twelve Apostles, who were personally chosen by Jesus to become His companions?

Simon PeterJames and John sons of Zebedee

Andrew

Bartholomew

Philip

Matthew

Judas Thaddeus & Judas Iscariot

Simon the Zealot

James son of Alphaeus,

Thomas [Mathias replaced Judas Iscariot.]

Why is it that Jesus chose only Twelve Apostles? Why not more?

What are the roles of the Twelve Apostles

They would be Jesus’ companions in His ministry, eye-and-ear witnesses to His words

and deeds, would continue His ministry of curing

the sick, preaching the Good News casting out demons when He would

return to the Father, and would later be the seed from

which the Church would grow.

What is the primary reason why Jesus handpicked Simon Peter to

be the leader of the Twelve?

Simon Peter’s confession of Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God” prompted Jesus to

declare, “You are Peter and upon this “Rock” I will build My Church

[Mt 16:18].

What is the significance of the change of name from “Simon” to “Peter,” which

means rock?

• It signifies the special role, mission, and power Jesus was entrusting him within the Church; • Peter would be the firm foundation on

which Jesus intended to build His Church.

• entrusted with the keys of the kingdom, • given the authority and the responsibility as

the leader or head of the Church. • He received the power to decide concerning

the membership in the Church and the great responsibility of supreme authority to govern, teach and sanctify the whole Church.

WHO IS PETER?

In John 21:15-1, why did Jesus ask Simon Peter three times if he loved Jesus? What is the significance of this

profession of faith and love?

• Jesus gave Simon Peter the opportunity to profess repeatedly

his dedication to Him as the Messiah sent by God and thrice

entrusted His flock to him.

• A three-step process of purifying love replaced Peter’s triple denial of Jesus.

After each affirmative answer, Jesus tells him to

take care of His flock: “feed My lambs…tend My sheep…

feed My sheep.”

What is the meaning of the phrases, “feed My lambs…tend My sheep…feed My sheep?”

Peter would …• teach them to follow Jesus,• ensure their following of the

Master by guidance, reminders, encouragements and correction, • and lead the flock entrusted to

him by example.

IDENTITY • The church that Christ had said he

would build (Matt. 16:18) was established in the days of the apostles not long after Jesus' resurrection from the dead. When Peter and the apostles preached about the death, burial and raising of Christ on Pentecost, A.D. 33, the great crowd gathered that day was deeply stirred (Act 2:1-37).

IDENTITY • So powerful and convincing

was the message that 3,000 men and women were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38-41) that same day. And, by this same process they were added to the church (Acts 2:41-47). Thus, the church had its beginning. Those who were baptized became members of the church which Jesus bought with His blood (Acts 20:28).

Church Teaching: Catechism for Filipino Catholics, 1410 & PCP II, 105

“The Church is a hierarchical community, whose unity in faith and communion is grounded on the successors of the apostles, and especially on Peter, the chosen “rock” upon which Christ would build His Church (cf. Mt 16:18; cf. LG 18).”

REMEMBER THIS!• Jesus Christ, after His

resurrection, commissioned Peter, together with the other Apostles, to shepherd, to extend, and to direct the Church with authority. • This Church, which Jesus

founded on His Apostles, is a hierarchical community.

Jesus appointed Peter as the Head, a leader who would become the visible sign and source of oneness in the Church to continue His mission on earth.

The commission is destined to last until the end of the world, the Apostles were careful to appoint successors in this hierarchically structured society, the Church.

This power, which is called apostolic succession, has been handed down directly from the Apostles to the Pope and bishops of the Church today.

(THE HEIRARCHY IN THE CHURCH see pp. 281-282)

Visit www.catholic-hierarchy.org

CONCLAVE-a private meeting or secret assembly; especially : a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals secluded continuously while choosing a pope Hierarchy• – church government by

ordainedministers in graded ranks; degree of office

THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH

SUPREME PONTIFF (POPE)- The Vicar of Christ and successor of Peter- has

full, supreme and universal power over

the Church(cf. CFC 1410)*

- infallible in terms of faith and morals

PRIESTS- tasked to help the bishops by administering thesacraments

in their assigned

parishes/missionareas

DEACONS- tasked to deliver the

good news by proclaiming the

gospel and assisting the other ordained

ministers* Although he is the head of the whole

Church, the pope is not the bishop of the whole world. Local

bishops have authority within their

respective

BISHOPS- Successor of the

apostles in their role as teachers and pastors

(succession done through the continuous laying on of hands that roots from the twelve

apostles)- make up the Magisterium- Some are “cardinals” (“princes of

theChurch”)(cf. CFC 1410)

PICK A QUESTION!

What is the reason why Christ commissioned Peter to “feed His lambs, tend His sheep, and feed His

sheep.”

Peter would teach Jesus’ disciples to follow Jesus and ensure their following of the Master by guidance, reminders, encouragements and correction. Peter would lead the flock entrusted to him by example.

What would you answer if Jesus would ask you the same question He asked Peter, “Do

you love Me?” today?

• When and how did Jesus found the Church? • Whom did He choose for a special mission?

• At Peters' confession in Caesarea Philippi.• Before preaching the Kingdom of God,

Jesus had personally chosen the Twelve Apostles to be His companions, to preach, heal and cast out evil spirits. They were to be the eye-and-ear witnesses of His words and deeds and would later be the seed from which the Church would grow.

• What is meant by a "apostolic succession”? • Why is there a need for “apostolic succession”?

• Apostolic succession –refers to the order of succession carefully appointed by the Apostles in order that the mission entrusted to them might be continued after their death.

• There is a need for apostolic succession because someone had to shepherd, to extend, and to direct the Church with authority, and to ensure that the ministry of Christ would be continued till the end of time.

Who is the Pope? What is his special mission in the Church?

• The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, • the successor of St. Peter, • the Head of the Catholic Church. • he has full, supreme and universal authority over

the Church. • He does not possess temporal power;• his leadership is a ministry of service. • (He is addressed now as “His holiness,” but signs

himself as “Servant of the servants of God.”)

UP NEXT…

Expansion of the Church

VOCABULARY

• VICAR- a Church acting as a deputy of a Bishop; a person who acts in place of another, just as the Pope is regarded as earthly representative of Christ.

Assignment

Using the Venn diagram identify the different roles of Pope, bishop, priest and deacon

Reminders:1. Review for your quiz next meeting.

Thank you!