Mission Statement
As a parish family guided by the Holy Spirit, the faith community of St. Joseph is committed to Jesus Christ and His Church. We are called to proclaim the Gospel through the celebration of Life, the Sacraments, and Liturgy. To glorify God and love one another we will strive to carry out this mission by sharing our talents and resources, serving all those in need, nurturing God’s gift of hope in our community and welcoming all to grow in the Catholic faith.
What We Believe: The Nicene Creed
Content is courtesy of CatholicWorldMission.org
I believe in one God, the Father almighty
In John 17:3, Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” As Catholics, we believe the Trinity is three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the one true God.
Throughout Scripture, Jesus often refers to God as the Father, helping us understand the God is an almighty but loving God who looks after His creations.
Maker of Heaven and Earth, of All Things Visible and Invisible
We believe that God formed all aspects of the visible world, including humans, animals and matter. Catholicism also teaches us that God created all invisible things, including angels. As Colossians 1:16 states, “For in Him were created all things in Heaven and on Earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through Him and for Him”.
I Believe in One Lord Jesus Christ/The Only Begotten Son of God/Born of the Father Before All Ages
Jesus is the Lord and master of all, and He is a kind, loving entity dedicated to helping all God’s creations. Jesus Christ has a unique relationship with God, as He is the only Son of God by nature but resides within the same Godhead.
Begotten refers to being born of God. The Son was born from the essence of God the Father. As humans share their humanity with their parents, the Son also shared the essential nature of God the Father. As God the Father is eternal, so is the Son of God.
God From God, Light From Light/True God From True God
The Son exists in relation to the Father. While the son is not the Father, they are both God. Though the Father and Son stem from the same source, they are distinct. The Scripture regularly uses all three persons, including the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
True God from true God states that God the Son and God the Father are both fully and completely God despite their different persons.t
Begotten, Not Made/Consubstantial With the Father
The Nicene Creed partially aimed to address the heresy of Arius, who incorrectly stated the God created Jesus. Jesus was begotten of God and not made.
The Father and Son are both God and equally divine with the same will and substance. While the Father and the Son share qualities, they do not have the same identity.
Through Him All Things Were Made/For Us Men and for Our Salvation, He Came Down from Heaven
Through God, all things were created, as Genesis 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning when God created the Heavens and the Earth – and the Earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters – then God said: “Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
Jesus came from Heaven for the salvation of all God’s creations.
And by the Holy Spirit, Was Incarnate of the Virgin Mary and Became Man
God the Son was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man in the person of Jesus Christ. As we know, Jesus was born from a virgin through the Holy Spirit to share God’s love throughout the world. Jesus Christ’s incarnation was the ultimate sign of love because God Himself became human instead of sending an angel to accomplish the redemption of creation.F
For Our Sake He Was Crucified Under Pontius Pilate; He Suffered Death and Was Buried
Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins and was laid to rest in a tomb. Christ dies for our sins, as Romans 5:8 explains, “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
And Rose Again on the Third Day in Accordance With the Scriptures
As we know, Jesus Christ was resurrected in body and rose on the third day after the crucifixion. The Scripture reminds us how Christ rose from the dead in Romans 6:9, “We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over Him.” The bodily rebirth of Jesus is one of the most foundational aspects of the Catholic faith.
It is critical to note that Jesus was not physically resuscitated, as Lazarus was in the Scripture. Instead, the Resurrection completely transformed Jesus’ body. Jesus Christ’s first rising was His divine birth, and He rose again after crucifixion, death and burial.
He Ascended Into Heaven and Isd Seated at the Right Hand of the Father
Jesus entered Heaven and took His rightful seat at the Father’s right hand, looking over all God’s creations.
He Will Come Agtain in Glory to Judge the Living and the Dead, and His Kingdom Will Have No End
God’s kingdom is eternal, and Jesus will return one day to judge the living and the dead. Hebrews 9:28 states, “So also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.”
I Believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life/Who Proceeds From the Father and the Son
The Holy Spirit is the Lord and sustains our lives as Catholics. The original Nicene Creed ended with, “We believe in the Holy Spirit.” In 381, the Council of Constantinople approved the later additions to thwart fourth-century heretics’ attempts to deny the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
White the Son is begotten, the Spirit proceeds from the Father. Both words describe the unique bond between the Son and the Father while still being divine. The Catholic Church understands and recognized that the Father is the Trinity’s sole source.
Who With the Father and the Son Is Adored and Glorified/Who Has Spoken Through the Prophets
Like the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is God and deserves the same level of respect and worship. The Spirit has inspired the prophets and the Catholic Church.
I Believe In One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
Reciting the Nicene Creed professes our belief in the Catholic Church and faith. The Catholic Church is holy because of Christ, not because its leaders or members are perfect beings. While we all strive to live a faithful life, the true holiness of the Church comes directly from God and His divinity.
I Confess One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
The Catholic Church believes that the waters of baptism help wash away our sins, allowing us to be born again and follow the path God has set before us. Acts of Apostles 22:16 explains the importance of baptism, “Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’”
And I Look Forward to the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Life of the World to Come. Amen.
As Catholics, we strive to follow the holy lifestyle of God and hope to live in a world where we can all fully accept and reconcile with God to live in true harmony and peace. The Nicene Creed confirms the resurrection of the dead when the soul meets the glorified body and the existence of souls in Heaven.