Hello Untell,
The Church most certainly begins with Christ, her Head.
Now I don't want us talking past each other here, so by the Church 'catholic' I mean that ONE church, that ONE community, that Christ establishes on HIS apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is these apostles, in this one community, united both in Spirit and in Body (for they all share the ONE loaf) that the Gospel is spread, and that daily others are added to them.
These go forth and establish that ONE church in many places, thus you find the Church in Antioch, in Smyrna, in Ephesus, in Alexandria, in Rome.. and everywhere they ordain bishops and presbyters as elders in the churches....and all these 'local' communities are members of the ONE catholic (or universal if you prefer) Church. They all share the ONE Spirit, one Faith, one Baptism, and all partake of the ONE BREAD, that is Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It is this one community of which the apostle John speaks when he says: They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. (1John2:19)
St. Ignatius, the third bishop of Antioch, and a hearer of the apostle John is the first one with a recorded use of the word 'catholic' in reference to the whole Church. He says:
You must follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father. and the presbytery as you would the apostles. reverence the deacons as you would the command of God. Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop, or by one whom he appoints. Wherever the bishop appears' let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic Church. Nor is it permitted without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate the agape; but whatever he approve. this too is pleasing to God, so that whatever is done will be secure and valid (letter to the Smyrnaeans 8,1)
So then, when I refer to the Church catholic. This is what I mean. And that is what I meant when I said that all who belong to the Body of Christ are 'catholic' by definition.
Peace!
PJ