Find out about the origins of the Catholic Church and what it means to be a member of 'the body of Christ'.

The purpose of the Church is to teach the Gospel that Jesus revealed to the Apostles, and to pass on the presence of the living Christ through the Sacraments. For this reason, the Church is deeply involved in the on-going faith education and formation of children and adults. The essence of the Church's approach is that education should embrace the whole human person, meeting the intellectual and social needs of the time, and developing the moral and spiritual characteristics that are the true foundation of life on earth and the guide to eternal life. The life of humanity is expressed in relationships, and the primary relationship is with God. Without this relationship, all else is impoverished.

A list of words commonly used in the Catholic Church and their meanings.

Many people have questions about the Catholic Church. Here, we try and answer some of the frequently asked questions about the world’s largest group of believers in Jesus Christ.