As Christians, we are adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus, who is the Son of God and Son of Mary. We belong to the family of faith established 2000 years ago by Jesus Christ himself. We believe this family includes: all the holy patriarchs and prophets of Israel, the holy apostles and martyrs of Christ, the souls who have left this life but still await eternal life, and those of us still living on earth who hope to live forever as a family with God.