Jesus and the church

8:2 Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful either to baptize, or to hold a love-feast without the consent of the bishop; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that also is well pleasing unto God, to the end that whatever is done may be safe and sure.

The Epistle of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans

I was thinking about the above quote, especially the presence of Jesus and the Church – I am assuming that “Catholic” means universal and not the institution.

Can the statement be turned: Where the church (self-described) is, there is Jesus? Or, where people gather to do something religious, there is Jesus?

The institution is not Christ because the presence of Jesus is the establishing fact. The parish register is not the Book of Life.