What We Believe
"Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God's works."
— The Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 198
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 the 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.
Understanding the Creed
I believe in one God
We believe in one God. He is not distant or unknown, but has made Himself known in real history, to real people, over time.
God has shown us who He is through Jesus Christ. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not three gods, but one God in a perfect unity of love. This is the heart of the Christian faith.
We are made by Him, and we are made for Him. Our lives only truly make sense when they are centred on Him.
The Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth
God the Father is the source of everything. He made the world and everything in it, and He created each one of us out of love. We are not accidents.
He made us to know Him, love Him, and live in friendship with Him. But sin has broken that relationship.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became a man for us. He is not just a teacher or a good example, but the Saviour of the world.
Sin has entered the world and has broken our relationship with God. It is not just that we make mistakes, but that we turn away from Him. Because of this, we cannot save ourselves or put things right by our own effort.
Out of love, God sent His Son. Jesus lived among us, died on the Cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead. Through Him, our sins are forgiven and we are given new life. This is not something we earn. It is a free gift of God's grace, given to us in Jesus.
By being united to Him, we share in His victory over sin, suffering, and death. His resurrection is not just something that happened to Him, but something we are invited into.
He is the only one who can save us. He calls each of us to turn back to God, to trust in Him, and to follow Him.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is God at work in us today. The Spirit gives us faith, helps us to pray, and gives us the strength to live a new life. He leads us back to God and guides the Church.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church
We believe in the Church, which Jesus founded. It is not just a building or an organisation, but a living family made up of all those who follow Christ.
Every Christian is part of the Church. Each person has a place, and each has a part to play in living out the faith.
At the same time, Jesus has given the Church a clear structure and leadership. The Pope, the bishops, and the priests have a special responsibility to teach the faith, lead the Church, and care for God's people. This leadership has been handed on from the apostles down to the present day.
The Church is one, because we share the same faith. It is holy, because God is at work within it. It is catholic, meaning universal, for all people in every place. It is apostolic, because it remains faithful to the teaching of the apostles.
The Church exists to bring people to Jesus and to share His message with the world. This is her mission.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
God does not leave us to live this life on our own. He gives us His grace through the sacraments, which are the ways Jesus still meets us and helps us today.
Through Baptism we become part of God's family. Our sins are washed away and we begin a new life with God.
In Confirmation we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit, so that we can live our faith more fully and bear witness to Christ in our daily lives.
At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us the Eucharist. At every Mass, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is not just a symbol. It is really Him, given to us. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive Jesus Himself. He strengthens us, forgives us, and draws us closer to God. The Eucharist is at the centre of our life as Catholics, and it is how we remain united to Him.
When we fall into sin, God does not abandon us. He calls us back and offers us forgiveness through Confession, where our sins are forgiven and we are given a fresh start.
I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come
We believe that death is not the end. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we will rise too. Those who are united with Him will share fully in His victory, and God will bring His work to completion.