What We Believe

The Nicene Creed, established by the First Council of Nicaea in 325, serves as the general compilation of the Church's faith and is proclaimed at every Sunday Mass. Within the Nicene Creed, we identify the "four marks of the Church". The Church is "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic".

The Church is One

The Church is One because her source is "One". In contemplation of the Unity of the Trinity, we come to understand that there is no division or separation in the Body of Christ, the Church. The "oneness" of the Church is prayed for by Christ in the final hours of His earthly ministry, before He was arrested. The "oneness" of the Church is proclaimed by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, when he urges them to live according to that which they have been given, recognizing that there is but "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism."

The Church's unity is also visible, most particularly in the Holy Eucharist, which unites all the faithful in the celebration of the Lord's Passion. The unity of the Church is also made visible in her earthly Shepherd, the Vicar of Christ, the Pope.

The Church is holy

The Church has been made Holy by her very birth: when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost in the Name of Jesus, the Church was born; inflaming the hearts of the Apostles gave the Church its lifeblood, and by that same Holy Spirit, the Church continues her salvific work to the ends of the Earth, even to this very day.

The holiness of the Church is guaranteed by the Church's constant and abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ, her Head and Founder. Though her members fall short of holiness, on account of sin, Jesus Christ remains ever faithful to His Church and continues to draw her members to deeper conversion of heart and mind.

The Church is Catholic

The word katholikos in Greek means "universal; according to the whole". The universal reach of the Church is more evident now that in ages past, as the Church throughout the centuries has responded generously, by the Holy Spirit, to the commission by Jesus at His Ascension which mandated the Gospel be proclaimed to all the nations.

At Pentecost, the many were gathered from many nations, and were told of the mighty works of God by the Apostles in their own languages, thus marking the beginning of the Gospel's spread. The Church continues her mission given her by Christ and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

The Church is Apostolic

From the very beginning, Jesus chose the Apostles to lead and guide His Holy Church, and the Early Church was never separated from it Apostolic Authority, given first to the Twelve and then to their successors. Indeed, references to the appointment of these successors is made in the New Testament, particularly by St. Paul (cf. 1 Tm., and Titus). By the third century, a clear understanding of the succession of the authority of the apostles to the Bishops and to worthy coworkers, the presbyters (priests), was well documented.

The Apostolic Authority of the Church rests in the bishop, who is the Vicar of Christ in his own diocese (cf. CCC 1560), united together by their office as the College of Bishops in union with the Bishop of Rome, who is the Successor of St. Peter and Vicar of Christ: the Pope.

Ordinary priests are worthy coworkers of the bishops, and exercise their own ministry at his pleasure and according to his guidance and authority. The threefold office of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, rests ultimately in the diocesan bishop and is shared with his priests, particularly the Pastors he has appointed as shepherds of individual parishes.

The entire Church is called to fidelity to the Church that Christ Himself founded and continues to love and sustain. By the sacraments which He established, the Church is drawn ever deeper in the mystery of His divine love.

The Sacraments of the Church have their crown in the Eucharist - the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Jesus is truly present at the celebration of every Mass. In worthily recieving the Eucharist, hearts are transformed and drawn into communion with the whole Church and with Christ Himself.

By the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, we are brought to new birth and hearts are set ablaze. By confession and the anointing of the sick, sins are forgiven and healing grace is called down upon us. By matrimony and holy orders, faithful disciples conform their hearts to that of Christ in service to the Church and to others, in the name of Christ Jesus.

At Visitation, we celebrate faithfully these sacraments, according to the law of the Church, by whose Apostolic Authority they have been guarded and sustained over the centuries.