The Holy Catholic Church: History and Mission of God's People leads students through a two-thousand-year journey of the Church's history and purpose. Beginning with the foundational question--why does the Church exist?--students will learn that, like Jesus, the Church exists to bring life and hope to the world. They will explore how the Church was born from Christ's love and how it continues to embody his presence on earth today.

Supporting Course IV of the USCCB Curriculum Framework, The Holy Catholic Church uniquely integrates both ecclesiology and historical context. Students won't just study Church teachings--they'll witness how those teachings were lived out by saints, martyrs, and everyday Catholics across different periods of history. From the early Apostles to contemporary believers, this text reveals both the human and divine dimensions of the Church, making her story and mission tangible and relevant.

Each chapter invites students to reflect on their own connection to the Church and to consider how deepening that relationship can strengthen their faith and relationship with Jesus.

Input from Catholic high school theology teachers, students, and educational experts shaped this text, ensuring a student-friendly design and a portable 6" x 9" format that's easy to carry and features:

Inspiring artwork--both classical and contemporary--opens each chapter, encouraging spiritual reflection and further study.
Focus questions engage students with the chapter's core theme, reinforced throughout the chapter in multiple ways to cater to diverse learners.
Bolded vocabulary terms with definitions in the margins and glossary enhance understanding.
End-of-section assessments include reading comprehension, vocabulary, and personal reflection questions check students' understanding.
"Pull-out" sections offer fresh perspectives on each chapter's objective.
Enrichment text referenced in footnotes provide opportunities for students who want to go deeper into the material or for an honors-level course.
Chapter summaries restate the focus question, provide a review, feature a faithful disciple profile, and conclude with a prayer connected to the content of the chapter.
Five creative student project options adapt to various learning styles (essays, art projects, oral presentations, and so on) and class formats, such as block scheduling and group assignments.
Online Resources: a wide variety of classroom resources including videos, PowerPoints, handouts, crossword puzzles, reading guides, and tests are available on the Ave Maria Press classroom resource website.