Keeping the Faith

What does it mean to be Catholic?

As members of the St. Therese community, we learn the Catholic faith from parents and caregivers, teachers, and Mass attendance. However, where else can we look in order to continue growing in faith?

As aspiring faith-filled Catholics and life-long learners, STA students can use these online resources to learn more about Catholicism.

These websites provide information about the faith from global, national, and community perspectives:

News from the Vatican - News about the Church - Vatican NewsVisit Vatican News for all the latest updates about the Pope, the Holy See and the Church in the World

The Holy SeeVisiting the official website of the Holy See one can browse: the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs; the fundamental texts of Catholicism in various languages (the Sacred Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Code of Canon Law); the documents of Dicasteries, Bodies and Institutions of the Roman Curia.

U.S. Catholic | Faith in Real LifePut faith in the context of everyday life with this courageous, forward-thinking forum for discussion among a broad range of voices.

HomepageThe Diocese of San Diego is committed to sharing the joy of the Gospel, promoting a culture of encounter, and caring for our common home.

These websites provide information about the Saints:

Saints & Angels - Catholic OnlineSearch over 7,000 Catholic saint bios. Including easy to search alphabetical (A-Z) list of saints, Female/Women saints, Patron saints, Popular saints, Feast Days by month, Saint of the Day, Angels and other heroes of the Catholic Church.

Roman Catholic SaintsRoman Catholic saints and heroes! The glory of the Catholic Church throughout the ages. The Blessed Virgin, titles of Mary, calendars of the saints

Dicastero delle Cause dei Santi

Dicastero delle Cause dei Santi translates to Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. This is the branch of the Vatican that deals with all matters of beatification and canonization (verification of sacred relics, miracles, application processes, etc).

So, if you want to learn about the saints and the process, this is a quality source. However, Important notes for researchers:

the database of saint biographies on this site only goes back to canonizations that have taken place since 1594.
This website is in Italian; Vatican City is nestled within Rome, Italy. In order to learn about the Saints, Blessed, and Venerable from the Vatican's website, "right-click" on the webpage and select "Translate to English".

These websites provide information about the California Missions:

California Mission Background and History - California Mission GuideFrom 1769 to 1823, Spanish soldiers and monks built a total of 21 Missions and 5 Presidios (or military forts), stretching North from Mexico through California.

California Missions Foundation

From San Diego to Sonoma, 21 missions create a unique trail of history across California. The red wax seals on this site's map bear the brands used by each of the California missions. To learn more about an individual mission and its history click on the name of the mission in the list of missions.

Quick Guide to California’s 21 Spanish MissionsStarting in 1769, Spain built a chain of 21 missions across the length of Alta California—from San Diego to Sonoma—as a way of gaining a foothold in the new frontier. California’s mission era ended in 1834, but you can still see the architectural legacy that endures in the state’s red tile roofs, whitewashed walls, arched colonnades, and bell towers.

The California Missions Trail

The 21 missions that comprise California's Historic Mission Trail are all located on or near Highway 101, which roughly traces El Camino Real (The Royal Road) named in honor of the Spanish monarchy which financed the expeditions into California in the quest for empire.

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