A Catholic is first of all, a Christian. A basic characteristic of a Catholic is his or her belief in one God in three persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. This is known as the doctrine of the Trinity, and is a fundamental belief for all Catholics. Some children present more characteristics of a good Catholic. Excerpts:
‘A Catholic is someone who worships God in the Catholic Church’
A common saying has it that, those who humble themselves to learn from the learned would themselves become good teachers. Today, I will be writing about the characteristics of a good Catholic. A Catholic is someone who worships God in the Catholic Church under the apostleship of Jesus Christ. The characteristics of a good Catholic are as follows:
• Firstly: Devotion to Church activities; good Catholics are expected to be devoted to God by joining a statutory organisation and pious society in the Church, know more about God and to serve Him through that organisation or society.
• Secondly: Prayer – Good Catholics must be prayerful at all times, and in any situation they find themselves. They must learn the different prayers of the Church: Apostles Creed, Holy Rosary, prayers before and after meals and even have a house altar.
• Thirdly: Following the footsteps of Jesus. Jesus was humble and teaches us to be humble. We must therefore, be humble and very faithful to follow the footstep of Jesus; we can do this by having faith in Him, obeying our Catholic doctrines and being devoted to the Church’s activities like Stations of the Cross, Pentecost Novena etc.
Though there are many more things one must do as a good Catholic, I pray that God will help us practice our faith well and remain true members of His Holy Church.

• Akuwudike Vincent Chisom, Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Shomolu, Yaba Deanery, Lagos Archdiocese.
‘A Catholic is a member of the original undivided Church that is the “Body of Christ”’
A Catholic is a Christian who believes that God, the creator of heaven and earth, is revealed to all people through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy spirit. A Catholic is a member of the original undivided Church that is the “Body of Christ,” visible presence of Christ in the world. The Church is: One: In doctrine, authority and worship. Holy: Truly believing in Christ’s teachings and serving others through the sacraments. Catholic: Embracing all peoples at all times, all places.

• Christopher Onyinyechi, Our Lady Help of Christian Catholic Church, Iba Deanery, Lagos Archdiocese.
‘A good Catholic is deeply devoted to God and the Catholic faith’
A good Catholic is deeply devoted to God and the Catholic faith. He or she participates in the Seven Sacraments of the Church, e.g Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, and so on and obeys the teaching of the Catholic Church. A good Catholic remembers that Jesus taught us to love and care for one another. Good Catholics try to be kind to their families, friends, and even to those they don’t know, by sharing what they have. A good Catholic venerates the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints e.g, St. Thomas of Aquinas, St. Joseph, St. Rita, St. Raphael the Archangel, e.t.c

• Nwangwu Jacinta, St. Joseph Marello Catholic Church llamoshe, Isolo Deanery, Lagos Archdiocese.
‘A good Catholic is an ardent devotee to the doctrine and practices of the Roman Catholic Church’
Virtue they say is golden and an attribute that makes a difference between the good and the bad. Today I will be writing about the characteristics of a good Catholic. First, a good Catholic is an ardent devotee to the doctrine and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The following are the characteristics of a good Catholic:
• Church doctrine: Every Catholic is meant to know more things about the Church by attending catechism classes where they learn to be early to the Holy Mass, go to confession, receive the Holy Communion in the state of grace and other things. Many Catholics don’t do these things, but I suggest to them to do so; Catholics should always obey the Church doctrines.
• Devotion to Church activities: Every Catholic is meant to belong to a devoted society in the Church like the Board of Lectors, Legion of Mary, Block Rosary and so on. Also, they should participate in Novenas, Retreat programmes such as Lent etc to know more about God and serve Him well.
• Helping the poor: A good Catholic should always help people in need and also those in desperate situations so as to make them happy. We can do this by alms giving, visiting the sick, sharing our food with the hungry and so on, because helping the poor brings blessings to us as Catholics. I therefore encourage us as Catholics to practice these qualities of a good Catholic so that we can be good friends and children of God.

• Akuwudike Victor Chidera, Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Shomolu, Yaba Deanery, Lagos Archdiocese.
‘Good Catholics love and respect Mary, the Mother of Jesus’
Good Catholics love and respect Mary, the Mother of Jesus. They visit the Chapel, pray the Rosary, and talk to God every day. They try to be like Jesus and the Saints, living a life of love and kindness. They follow the teachings of the Catholic Church and try to be good people. They care about others, and want to make the world a better place. Good Catholics are humble, kind, and helpful. They show God’s love to everyone around them.

• Stella Michael, St. Augustine Catholic Church, Ikorodu Deanery, Lagos Archdiocese.