Saints LightWhat Is the Church?
The Church is God's family and the Body of Christ, where everyone has a part, led by the Pope and bishops who follow after Peter and the Apostles.
When you hear the word church, you might picture a building with a bell tower. But the Church is first of all people: everyone who belongs to Jesus. The word church means those who are called together (CCC 751-752).
God did not want to save people one by one, all alone. He wanted to gather us into one family, His own people (CCC 781). In the Church we have brothers and sisters all over the world, and in heaven too.
St Paul says the Church is the Body of Christ. Jesus is the head, and we are the parts of the body. A body needs hands, feet, eyes and ears, and every part matters. In the same way, every person in the Church has a job to do, including children (CCC 787, 789).
Jesus chose Peter to be the rock, the leader of the Apostles, and promised that His Church would never be destroyed (CCC 881). Today the Pope is Peter's successor, and the bishops are the successors of the Apostles. Your parish priest helps your bishop care for your parish.
Like the first Christians, the Church gathers to learn what the Apostles taught, to share life together, to break bread at Mass and to pray. When you come to class, go to Mass or help at a parish event, you are living as part of God's family.
Key points
- The Church is God's family, the people of Jesus.
- The Church is the Body of Christ, and every member matters.
- Jesus made Peter the rock; the Pope is his successor.
The Word of God
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Catechism paragraphs for this lesson
- CCC 751-752
- CCC 781
- CCC 787
- CCC 789
- CCC 881
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Live it this week
Find out the names of your parish priest, your bishop and the Pope, and pray for each of them by name this week. Ask your parish if there is a job children can help with.
Check yourself: three questions
1. What is the Church, first of all?
- Just a building
- A club for grown-ups
- A museum about Jesus
- God's family, all the people who belong to Jesus
Show the answer
God's family, all the people who belong to Jesus. The Church is first of all people: God's family gathered by Jesus.
2. If the Church is the Body of Christ, who is the head?
- The oldest person
- Jesus
- The choir leader
- The biggest parish
Show the answer
Jesus. Jesus is the head, and we are the members of His Body.
3. Who is Peter's successor today?
- The mayor
- Every priest equally
- The Pope
- Nobody
Show the answer
The Pope. Jesus made Peter the rock of His Church, and the Pope carries on his job today.
For catechists: a one hour class plan
Goal. The children will know that the Church is God's family and the Body of Christ, led by the Pope and bishops, and will see that they have a real place in it.
Opener. Ask: "What is a church?" Write answers on a board. Most will say a building. Then ask: "If the building burned down, would the Church still exist?" Let them think it through.
Discussion questions
- Why did God want a family and not just individuals? [We are made for love and belong together.]
- What would happen if your hand said, I don't need the rest of the body? [It could not work. We need each other.]
- What job can a child do in the Church? [Pray, sing, serve, welcome, help with food drives, be kind at Mass.]
- Who leads the Church today? [Jesus, through the Pope, the bishops and priests.]
Activity. Body of Christ puzzle: cut a large paper outline of a person into puzzle pieces, one for each child. Each child writes their name and one gift they bring to the Church (singing, helping, praying, smiling at newcomers) on their piece. Put the puzzle together on the wall and label the head "Jesus". Notice that the body is not complete if one piece is missing.
Closing prayer. Jesus, thank You for making us one family in Your Church. Bless our Pope, our bishop, our priests and everyone in our parish. Show each of us our part to play. Amen.
Timing. Welcome and Sign of the Cross 5 min, what is a church opener 5 min, read the lesson aloud 10 min, discussion 10 min, Body of Christ puzzle 15 min, memory verse 5 min, quiz together 5 min, closing prayer 5 min.
Related lessons
- the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints (The Creed, free)
- The Church: Why Did Jesus Found One? (Start Here, free)
- Where Is the Pope in the Bible? (Hard Questions)
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