Catholics are a community made up of many different people, united by a common bond of love. Because of the enduring strength of this bond, and the life-long commitment it implies, one of the best ways of describing the Catholic Church is that it is like a family.
What is different about this family-like bond is that it is based on a spiritual bond of faith. Catholics believe in one God who is love, who has created us out of love, and who envelops each moment of our existence.
We are Christians - we believe in Jesus Christ. Catholics are part of a much wider family of Christians. Together we make up the body of Christ.
There are many different faces to the Catholic community. This is because the message of Jesus is for all people, everywhere. In fact, the work 'catholic' means 'universal, all-embracing'.
What it Means to be Catholic
