Religious Education 3

Module No. 1: The Various Names and Images of the Church

Learning Activities/Assignments:

1. Reflection
 Give your reflection regarding the Sunday Gospel. Describe the people
present in the church

Upon listening to the Gospel accompanied by the homily given by the beloved priest that
celebrated the Eucharist that Sunday, I have learned multiple lessons that I didn’t expect to
have impact as to how I would plan to live my life in the millions of tomorrows that are
coming my way. Sounds a little over stretched, right? Believe me or not I have realized and
garnered such relevant information from that short Gospel.

Basically what I have observed is that the thought that the Gospel was trying to
insinuate was Test of Faith. Out of all the disciples that have been asked who they think the
Son of the Living God is, Simon Peter, had generated such unexpected and shocking answer.
Why? Mainly because he believed that Jesus was the Messiah which in fact, in all forms, he
was far from being wrong. With that I have come to think that if you do exercise your faith,

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as a Christian, and if you encounter such instance like Peter did, you will definitely come

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out with not just correct answer but also the answer that you really and truly believe that is
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true. Moreover, as to what Simon Peter has manifested, I have been encouraged to rightfully
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and morally exercise my faith in God, spread His word and most importantly live up to the
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ways his Son did here on Earth.

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Personally, I am guilty that my faith is very comparable to a fluctuating material or

element. Why? Primarily because during tough and hard to endure instances, I become
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weak and so as my faith. I tend to forget that I have a savior and a teacher that I can freely
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ask for help, just right around me. My motivation to talk to Him through prayer is also being
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affected. I act up as if I am alone and all I can think of is how I can be able to get rid of that
certain excruciating and faith testing instance that I am into. Not knowing that He is always
there, ready and willing to help me take away my burdens. However, as to being blocked by
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that awful situation, I become angry and stubborn, even to the extent of blaming Him with
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what I was facing on that specific time. But as to all of that, I have come to a conclusion that
I was wrong all along.
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I acknowledge that mistake and with that, comes a change and a betterment to my Faith
in him. I have now and will always bear in mind that when I am faced with such storm I
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should not be able to forget that I have a powerful God that is far from what a storm can do
to me because he shall save and help me overcome all and different kinds of circumstances
in life. As to that, he is the most powerful for me. I am proud to say that I am somehow
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capable of rightfully exercising my faith. However, I also and will always make sure to never
forget that I am infallible, a creature that is capable of committing mistakes. I shall
acknowledge that for it will help me distinguish what is morally right from all these evil
situations that surround me.

I also believe that as a Christian I have a task to fulfill which is to encourage all my
fellow believers in Christ to pass and share their learnings to each other so that we can all
be able to reflect from each other’s experiences of handling and exercising one’s faith.
Hence, from what I have written I hope that with everyone who was able to read this, may
you all never fail not just to attend Sunday masses or Eucharist Celebrations but most
importantly to listen and reflect from the Gospel that we are so blessed as to how God has
given it to us. May we also live up our Christian Values and conform to what our faith, it may
be changing, is and will be telling us for it will lead us closer to God. Finally, may we all

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 never get tired of talking to Him through prayers for He is always there to listen and guide
us with everything that we do.

2. Make a rough sketch of the façade of the church in your town in the box below.
Answer the following question under the box.
a. What is the distinguishing mark of your parish church?

I believe that the distinguishing mark of my Parish Church is its architectural design
and structure. Why? Because although we live in a small town, I can’t be more impressed of
how church leaders managed to gradually improve its design from just being a normal to an
extraordinary one and all I can say is that perhaps our Parish Church can somehow
compete (even though there is no competition between churches that exists) with other
prominent and well known churches in the country.

b. How is your parish different from other churches that you see?

Just to add to what I have mentioned as the distinguishing mark of our Parish
Church, it is also painted with such lovely and quirky pastel colors like purple, light blue
and pink which I think made the design uniquely majestic compared to what a normal
church painting looks like. So yes, it is somehow different from other ordinary built
churches because it has a hint of uniqueness done by the colorful painting on its own.

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c. How many people can be accommodated in your parish church? What is the

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basis for your estimate?
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I do believe that our Parish Church can accommodate hundreds of people for it has a
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wide and large area with 3 huge and long sitting compartments where people can sit
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comfortably and a huge alter which mainly the center of the building.

3. Watch a movie showing different kinds of oldest churches structure all over
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the Philippines.
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Give each brief history and its purpose.

San Agustin Church (1607) Parish Church of San Agustin of Intramuros, Intramuros,
Manila
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- is considered the oldest church in the Philippines that's made of stone. Before its
stone structure was erected in 1607, its first incarnations, the earliest in 1571, were
constructed using bamboo and nipa leaves. Built in the southern wall of Intramuros, these
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were eventually destroyed because of typhoon and strong winds.

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Designed by architect Juan Macias, the structure built along the intersection of Calle
Real and St. Lucia Street, later became a monastery. Construction started in 1587 and was
completed in 1607, under the supervision of Augustinian Fathers Francisco de Bustos,
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Ildefonso Perez, Diego de Avila, and Brother Alonso de Perea. It has withstood many
earthquakes and man-made disasters from 1645 up to the present. This includes the British
occupation in Manila in 1762, when the church and its graves were profaned. The church
was also spared during the Spanish–American War in 1898, the Japanese invasion in 1942,
and the bloody Battle of Manila.

Quipayo Church (1616), Parish Church of Immaculate Concepcion of Quipayo,

Calabanga, Camarines Sur

-Established as a town in 1578 by Franciscan missionaries, Fr. Pablo de Jesus and Fr.
Bartolome Ruiz, not only is Quipayo one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, it's one of
the earliest structures built during the Spanish Regime in the region. Until now, the church
stands as an enduring symbol of Catholicism in Bicol.

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 This church services the parishes of Ligmanan (Libmanan), Baigon (Siruma),
Calabangan (Calabanga), and Bombon. The patroness of Quipayo is Our Lady of the
Immaculate Concepcion. There were also some artifacts excavated at the site of the church,
which are now displayed in a museum behind the church altar.

Majayjay Church (1649), Parish Church of San Gregorio Magno of Majayjay, Majayjay,
Laguna

-This structure was originally made with plywood, which didn't last long. The
version of the Romanesque church of Majayjay we see today is 200 feet long, 56 feet wide,
and 54 feet meters high. One of the most noticeable things about it is the façade—not only
does it have three levels, but each level is scaled proportionally. Atop the highest level is a
triangular pediment with a circular window. As one of the oldest churches in the
Philippines, it contains antique images of saints, reliquaries, and century-old liturgical
objects.

Pililla Church (1673), Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene of Pililla, Pililla, Rizal

-The first missionary priests arrived in Pililla in 1572. Franciscan priests ordered
that a church be made, and the natives managed to build one made from bamboo and cogon
in 1583. Another structure of palm trees was used from 1670 to 1673, before the current

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stone structure was erected in its place. Pililla Church is the fourth oldest church in the

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Philippines. The church was built to pay tribute to St. Mary Magdelene with a small retablo
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housing the image of the saint inside the baptistery.
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Baras Church (1686), Parish Church of Saint Joseph of Baras, Baras, Rizal
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-The Franciscans originally built the church in 1595. After Aetas burned down the
town as an act of rebellion, the town was transferred to Ibayo in 1636; it returned to its
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present site in 1682. The Jesuits administered the parish from 1616 to 1679, and the
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present church was completed in 1686. Baras Church is designed in the Baroque style,
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evidenced by its dark and simple layout. Even the facade is quite bare, save for the stream
of balustrade, trimming its triangular pediment, and the checkerboard pattern of brick and
stone on the pediment’s upper portion.
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Evaluation:
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1. Written test
 Answer the following questions briefly.
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1. What is Church?
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Church, in Christian doctrine, the Christian religious community as a whole, or a

body or organization of Christian believers. The Greek word ekklēsia, which came to mean
church, was originally applied in the Classical period to an official assembly of citizens. In
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the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Old Testament (3rd–2nd century BCE), the term
ekklēsia is used for the general assembly of the Jewish people, especially when gathered for
a religious purpose such as hearing the Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 9:10, 18:16). In the New
Testament it is used of the entire body of believing Christians throughout the world (e.g.,
Matthew 16:18), of the believers in a particular area (e.g., Acts 5:11), and also of the
congregation meeting in a particular house—the “house-church” (e.g., Romans 16:5).

2. Other than being a building, what does “Church” mean?

It is an Organization: People use the word church to identify the larger religious
group for which they belong. They talk about the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Baptist
Church, Vineyard Church, Methodist church, Non-Denominational Church or countless

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 other variations. The church is not limited to the larger religious organization you identify
with.

It is a Hierarchy of decision making: People use the word church to indicate the
government implemented by their particular brand Christianity.. Bringing something before
the “church” means bringing a particular issue before a congregation, elders, deacons,
pastors, priests, bishops or whatever other offices are instituted in your bylaws. Your
church is not your decision making structure.

3. How is the Church used by Christians?

For Chrstians, Church is a building used for Christian religious activities, particularly for
Christian worship services. The term is often used by Christians to refer to the physical
buildings where they worship, but it is sometimes used as an analogy to refer to buildings
of other religions. In traditional Christian architecture, a church interior is often structured
in the shape of a Christian cross. When viewed from plan view the vertical beam of the
cross is represented by the center aisle and seating while the horizontal beam and junction
of the cross is formed by the bema and altar.

4. Etymologically, what does the word “Church” mean?

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Etymologically speaking, the word church means “house of the Lord.” The modern

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word church is a direct descendant of the Old English word cirice or circe. The first

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recorded use of the Old English word is from the thirteenth century, and it could refer to
either a body of Christian believers or to the place where they gathered. The early Quakers,
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as a matter of principle, refused to call the buildings where they met “churches,” since the
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biblical word church referred to people, not a building. The Quakers instead called a
building designed for Christian worship a “steeplehouse.” That term is now archaic, as
many church buildings no longer have a steeple.
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Going further back than Old English, the word church ultimately traces its origin to a
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Greek term, kūrikón, which was related to kurios, “lord.” The phrase kūrikón oikía meant
“the Lord’s house.” In the Middle Ages, the Greek term for “house of worship” was
shortened to kūrkón. And that’s the word that was loaned to West Germanic as kirika and
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eventually to Old English as cirice. Old Norse borrowed the Old English word cirice to form
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kirkja, and that’s where the Scottish word kirk came from. During the Middle English
period, the word kirk was borrowed from the Scots, so now Modern English has both
church and kirk as synonyms.
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Many English words, especially those related to Christianity, came from Greek and
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passed through early German dialects. The word church is one of those words. Other
English ecclesiastical words that share a Greek origin include Christ, angel, evangelism,
baptize, episcopal, apostle, Presbyterian, and charismatic.
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5. Why is the church also described as “Spouse of Christ”?

In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul compares the union of husband and wife to that of Christ
and the church. The central theme of the whole Ephesians letter is reconciliation of the
alienated within the unity of the church. Ephesians 5 begins by calling on Christians to
imitate God and Christ, who gave himself up for them with love

The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of
believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus
Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has
sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27). Just as
there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were
separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during

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 the church age. Her responsibility during the betrothal period is to be faithful to Him (2
Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24). At the rapture, the church will be united with the
Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal
union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2). Christ loves the
church as He loves Himself (Ephesians 5:28-30). Likewise, a husband is to love his wife as
himself, considering their marriage as "one body."

Module No. 2: The Divine Origin of the Church

Learning Activities/Assignments:

1. Reflection
Give your reflection from the divinely inspired scripture according to (Is 4:2-3)

With the short sacred scripture that is given, I still managed to dig up to what it was
trying to convey and to reach out to us, His people. Mainly the thought targets the merit and
rewards of being faithful and loyal to the Father Almighty.

I do believe that the phrase “branch of the Lord” refers to the people who believe in
Him. Hence, those who remained willingly loyal to God will live in His glory and grace and

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will prosper forever. As I relate this lesson in my life, I can compare to it to all the triumphs

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and successes that God has granted me to experience and celebrate. During that process of

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being able to attain the things I want, done through success, I knew God was always there
for me. Thus, I talked to Him, shared to Him my thoughts of how badly I want myself to
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experience such feeling of success. I held on to him. I believed that He will suffice my needs
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in order to get that. Expectedly, he never failed to provide and support me that is why I owe
Him every great and marvelous thing that I achieve for I know it will never be mine without
His presence.
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On the other hand, during tough and trying times wherein I find myself giving up and
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raising a white flag, I knew that He was that voice behind my back telling me to keep going
because it is part of the process. Sadly, sometimes, I become stubborn and selfish and I find
myself locked into my thoughts that are evilly telling me to get rid of that thing that is
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causing me to struggle. However, as time passes by, I become aware that all the
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circumstances and obstacles that I have dealt and will be dealing in the near future, giving
up would be the least thing I’d do. I have come to realize that it is actually beneficial for in
hard times, your faith will be tested and so as everything that makes you. It’s okay if you fail
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to do so because the only relevant thing that counts which basically changes the game is
how you will be able to bounce back, learn and reflect from your mistakes and live up to
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what you now think is morally right and just.

In conclusion, I am proud to say that I have already experienced the utmost feeling of
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how it is like to be showered with God’s grace. But to tell you honestly, it becomes really
magical in times that you least expect it. You can actually tell that you are just floating in
happiness and purity. All of that was because I believe and trust in God. I trust His plans for
me. I let him decide which path I shall take. Lastly, I believe that if we have a strong and firm
faith to the Almighty Father, we all shall flourish.

2. Imagine yourself creating a design or a plan on how your life will be lived. Be
guided by the following questions:

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 Finish
School then
get a Job

Travel with my Go abroad and

Work hard so
family and that I can buy
friends myself a house
and a car

Build a family Give back to the

Establish a poor and
(still
business especially to the
undecided) people who
helped me
What will be the important events in your life plan?

I think the most important event in my life plan is to finish school and get a job that

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is why I placed that in the top of the hierarchy. I believe that if I will be able to do so, then

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everything will follow. I consider that step as a crucial one because it is the foundation of
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how I want my Life to be.
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Who will be the best contributors in this life plan? Why?

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I believe that my family and my friends will be the best contributors in this life plan.
Why? Because as I build my empire and my brand of how I want my life to be, support is a
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relevant thing that I really consider to be of big help for me to be able to do so. In addition,
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how can I ever forget, it would be the Almighty Father whom I consider as the most
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important contributor out of all that I will mention. Lastly, I also give myself an important
role because this is My life and I should also be the main contributor of how I want it to be.
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How will you make your life worthwhile?

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I can make my life worthwhile by just basically conforming to the plan I made. But just
to add, this is only for now because the values I uphold and the plans I make for myself
change over time because it is what growth does to a person. Hence, for now, I can say that I
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will be able to do so by adhering to what I have written above and it shall suffice me with
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adequate happiness for me to thrive and continue living.

3. Watch a movie about Mother Teresa of Calcutta the Living Saint about her
passion and love in our church by serving the poor people. Give your reaction.
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Ever since, I already have a soft spot in my heart for the elderly. So as I watched the
film and on how Mother Teresa of Calcutta served those people, I can’t help but to shed
a tear to her unending passion in taking care of anyone she thinks that need her and her
help. I am so impressed of how a person can be that selfless to the point of prioritizing
others first instead of herself. I am also encouraged to somehow imitate her ways not
because I want everyone to know and acknowledge my kind acts but primarily because I
find charity and other forms of service to people very satisfying and it just melts my
heart to see how amazing Mother Teresa has done that.

The film basically just shows her life as a child and the love she experienced as a
child, it leads us through her journey to become a nun, her life in her first convent as a

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 teacher, her calling from God to leave and care for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta,
the opposition she faced in starting her own order and the work of the evil one against
her through the delayed building of her City of Hope and financial scandals that people
tried to blame on her order. Through the whole film, we are encouraged and
strengthened in the way nothing seems to phase Mother Teresa and instead she handles
each struggle with faith in the Lord and a persistence to clear up the issue and most
importantly return to her work with the poorest of the poor.

Any film has things that the viewer would have preferred to be seen or dealt with in
a different manner. While the magnitude of this film is truly remarkable, I found myself
a little confused by the timeline of her life. There were a few flashbacks that any film
has and the time period is set apart enough that it is understandable. It was confusing,
though, when the next scene moved us forward in time but didn’t necessarily let us
know the time frame. A few scenes did have a year come up to let us know where we
were, but it seemed that those were so far and few between, that it made it more
confusing and the time jumps were so major, I wondered how the determined what
years to skip. Again, this is only a minor note in such a substantial film. I think this is a
great family film.

In an age when religious orders everywhere are dwindling, the Missionaries of

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Charity, with headquarters in Calcutta, India, are expanding their operations all over the

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world. Mother Teresa, their energetic leader, views herself as an instrument of God's
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love and mercy. On the screen, we see her caring for abandoned children, mentally ill
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and handicapped individuals, lepers, the indigent, the aged, and the dying. With
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gentleness and good cheer, she and her co-workers demonstrate how the spirit of Jesus
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burns brightly against the staggering dimensions of pain, poverty, and human misery in
the world.
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There were some scenes in this documentary that shook and stunned me and others
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brought tears to my eyes. Although Mother Teresa was a media celebrity in the 1980s,
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she continued to live austerely and to keep her priorities straight. Many Catholics
proclaimed her a living saint; after experiencing this film, you will probably concur with
that judgment.
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Evaluation:

1. Written Test
 Answer the following questions briefly.
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1. Why did the church survive the test of time

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Culture does not change what the Catholic Church stands for. Neither do opinions.
Opinions are not facts. Catholicism is truth. The beauty of the Catholic Church is due to the
fact that it has stood the test of time - amidst persecution, attacks, and blasphemies. The
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gates of hell can never and will never prevail against it.

Churches have wrestled with their declining attendance by trying to be innovative.

Churches have evaluated their music, should we be contemporary vs. traditional? They
have looked at trying to be more sensitive to the seeker through certain intentional actions
to make the non-churched comfortable. They have adopted popular business techniques to
promote “church growth.” They have built ministry silos for every age group and
demographic so that there would be “something for everyone.” They have catered to the
young, the cultured, the influential, and the powerful in effort to impact culture. On and on
the list could go.

Some of these things aren’t bad in and of themselves, but they overlook the fact that
Jesus provided the way for the church to stay relevant, engaged, and active in an ever-

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 changing world. Jesus wants his church to make and train disciples who make and train
disciples. And it is how the church survived the test of time

2. Why is the church regarded as the most respected institutions?

The church is regarded as the most respect institution primarily because it is the
largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of
2018. As the world's oldest and largest continuously functioning international institution, it
has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilization. The
church is headed by the bishop of Rome, known as the pope. Its central administration is
the Holy See.

In addition, a study carried by the Chilean research firm Latinobarometro revealed

that the Church continues to be the most trustworthy and respected institution for 75% of
Latin Americans, ahead of politicians, journalists, businessmen, policemen and judges.

3. Why is the church founded by Christ historical?

The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Over
the course of centuries it developed a highly sophisticated theology and an elaborate
organizational structure headed by the papacy, the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in

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the world. The number of Roman Catholics in the world (nearly 1.1 billion) is greater than

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that of nearly all other religious traditions. There are more Roman Catholics than all other

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Christians combined and more Roman Catholics than all Buddhists or Hindus. Although
there are more Muslims than Roman Catholics, the number of Roman Catholics is greater
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than that of the individual traditions of Shiʿi and Sunni Islam.

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