If you are new to the Church and want to
understand more about the practicing faith
in the Thames Isis Pastoral Area, this
section of the website contains an overview
of the Roman Catholic faith and a number of
useful resources including a Catholic
Dictionary and liturgical calendar.
For parishioners looking for daily spiritual services and
resources, here is where you can access and view daily and
special prayers, request a mass or prayers to be said,
download the latest readings in up to13 languages and check
mass times.
The Faith of the Catholic Church.
At the heart of our faith is Jesus Christ. Born into
a Jewish family in the Roman province of Judaea some
2000 years ago, we believe that he is not only the
'Messiah',('Christ') awaited by the Jews as their
Deliverer, but that he is also 'Lord', 'Universal
King' and 'Son of God'. We believe this not only on
the basis of his teaching and miracles of healing,
but supremely because of his death and resurrection
from the dead. Eventually put to death by
crucifixion, three days later his demoralised
followers were astonished by reports that his tomb
was empty, and that he was alive. They later
encountered him, not restored to life within the
limitations of this world, yet fully himself, and
fully alive with a life beyond death; alive, in fact
with the life of God.
The Charter of the Catholic Church
After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus
instructed his followers to 'preach the Gospel to
all nations'. This is the basic charter of the
Catholic Church. 'Catholic' means 'universal'. The
'Gospel' ('Good News') which Jesus preached
concerned 'Kingdom of God'. God created the world
good, and intended the human race to live in harmony
with God and with each other. Humanity has clearly
failed to live in that harmonious relationship. We
believe that it is through the risen Jesus, who is
both truly God and truly human, that God has begun
the restoration of that original harmony. As such,
the risen Jesus is 'Universal King'. Those who
accept him as their Lord and King are invited to
become members of the Church through Baptism in the
name of the One God, 'Father, Son and the Holy
Spirit'. The Catholic Church, united to Jesus
Christ, (and described in Scripture as 'Body of
Christ') is intended to be a sign to the world of
God's purpose of unity for the whole human family.
The Structure of the Catholic Church
The unity of the Catholic Church throughout the
world is maintained through the communion of the
bishops who are the leaders of local churches
('dioceses') in every land. They are the successors
of the original apostles chosen by Jesus. In
communion with their leader, the Pope, the successor
of St Peter, they are responsible for governing the
Church and keeping it true to the faith of the
apostles. The present Pope is Francis I, and the
Bishop of our Diocese of Portsmouth is Bishop Philip
Egan.
