St. Mark Church

Breathing life, love & faith

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do Catholics Believe?
2. Are Catholics Christians?
3. Do you worship idols?
4. Do I have to worship Mary?
5. I am a Christian but not Catholic-- can I worship with a Catholic? In a Catholic Church?
6. I am not a Christian but interested what do I do first?
7. I was raised Catholic but haven’t been in the Church in a long time—can I come back? If so, what do I do?
8. Do Catholics read the bible?
9. What do you teach about Communion?
10. What do you believe and/or teach about Jesus?
11. I am or know some one who is need of the Sacraments—What do I do?

1. What do Catholics Believe?
We believe in God. We believe in the Most Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) —one God/three persons. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God the Son, the second person of the most Holy Trinity. We believe in the real presence of Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist/Blessed Sacrament/Holy Communion. A true statement of our beliefs is the Nicene Creed. We say it every Sunday during the Liturgy. If you’d like to know more click here.

2. Are Catholics Christians?
If you mean—do we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross, rose on the third day, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right of the hand of the Father and that we believe in Holy Baptism as removal of original sin and is also a sacrament of initiation into the Body of Christ and that Jesus is the Messiah, Incarnate Word of the Triune God, then yes we are Christians.

3. Do you worship idols?
No! It is strictly forbidden by God (see The First Commandment i.e. Ex. 20:4) What about those statues I see a lot in Hollywood movies and in some Catholic churches? Don’t you guys worship those? Actually to be more precise there is only one Catholic Church and the buildings you see/saw are called parishes and technically we don’t worship them. It’s a long story suffice it to say back in the day before cameras were invented people painted and sculpted and these paintings and sculptures acted as reminders of the Saints who came before us who led holy lives. And like them we to can lead them through God’s grace and a little effort.

4. Do I have to worship Mary?
No. Mary is the Mother of God (Theotokos). She is the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, the Logos and therefore not to be worshipped but honored for saying yes to God’s will (see Luke 1:38) among other things.

5. I am a Christian but not Catholic-- can I worship with a Catholic? In a Catholic Church?
Of course we welcome all to our celebration. Just find a local parish (including ours) and come on in. The songs are pretty cool too!

6. I am not a Christian but interested what do I do first?
Come celebrate with us! Come talk with us, come fellowship with us! Then you begin Inquiry Class which leads to RCIA. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, these classes form you as well as inform you.

7. I was raised Catholic but haven’t been in the Church in a long time—can I come back? If so, what do I do?
Just come on back! We’ll talk about it after you’ve fellowshipped and such. Don’t worry about it. Just come!

8. Do Catholics read the bible?
Every single Sunday in every single Catholic parish - both old testament and new.

9. What do you teach about Communion?
That Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. And that we receive it every Sunday during the Liturgy (i.e. Mass) and we ask that people who are not Catholic not receive. Why? Because to receive is to believe in what the Church teaches and if you don’t believe why would you partake of something that you do not believe in?

10. What do you believe and/or teach about Jesus?
See question 1 and 2.

11. I am or know some one who is need of the Sacraments—What do I do?
If you are or a person you know is in the area of St. Mark please contact me here. If not please contact your local Catholic parish or your home parish and speak with Director of Religious Education or Director of Faith Formation or the parish’s Pastor/Priest.