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Being Catholic

The core beliefs of the Catholic faith are contained within the Nicene Creed, which is proclaimed by the congregation at Mass every Sunday. The Creed is a statement of belief that was defined in the year 325 AD to clarify the beliefs that had been held since the beginning of the Church following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in 33 AD. The Creed reiterates the faith from the Scriptures that:

• God is one yet a trinity of three persons.
• The birth of Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary is God's great act of love with us and for us always.
• God's Spirit is active within us and the whole of creation.
• The Church is sent into the world to continue the mission of Son and Spirit in humanity until the end of time.

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The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, 
the Father almighty, 
maker of heaven and earth, 
of all things visible and invisible.


I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages. 
God from God, Light from Light, 
true God from true God, 
begotten, not made, 
consubstantial with the Father; 
through him all things were made. 
For us men and for our salvation 
he came down from heaven, 
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate 
of the Virgin Mary 
and became man. 
 
For our sake he was crucified under 
Pontius Pilate, 
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day 
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven 
and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 
He will come again in glory 
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.


I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, 
who proceeds from the Father and the Son, 
who with the Father and Son is adored 
and glorified, 
who has spoken through the prophets.


I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. 
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins 
and I look forward to the resurrection 
of the dead and the life of the world to come.


Amen.

Useful links

The following websites contain useful information for someone considering joining the Catholic Church, please use them in your discernment.
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Archdiocese of Brisbane, Australia
Contains a number of useful sections such as "Who is Jesus?", "Catholics & the Bible" and "Prayer" as well as an FAQ section.

Catholic Online
Contains a section on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process to let you know what to expect.

RCIA Network
The website from the RCIA network of England & Wales provides more guidance on the process and the stories of people who have begun.

For a detailed commentary on the Creed, look here in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. 

The Compendium of the CCC is a detailed document that discusses all the beliefs and traditions of the Church in a question and answer form. It is available in its entirety online via the Vatican website.