Religion

RELIGION 1

042

RELIGION 2

032 The Religion Department works collaboratively with the Department of Campus Ministry to prepare students to face the multiple challenges of their growth into young adulthood in an increasingly secular culture and to develop the necessary skills to answer or address the real questions that they face in life and in their Catholic faith. The program goals for student learning include faith development, personal and social responsibility and interpersonal skills. These goals are accomplished through a combination of academic coursework, retreat opportunities, and quarterly spiritual conferences, Liturgical celebrations and Christian service. The four-year, eight semester sequential course of catechetical instruction is grounded in the USCCB’s “Framework for High School Religion” and reflects a systematic approach to catechesis in which each course builds on a foundation laid by those that precede it. The curriculum addresses themes that are central to a life of faith, namely: Faith & Catholic Identity, Old and New Testament, Sacraments, Morality and Catholic Social Teaching, Prayer and Worship. Additionally, student graduation requirements include completion of 25 hours per academic year of approved community service.

Semester One: The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture The purpose of this course is to give students a general knowledge and appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures. They will learn about the Bible, authored by God through inspiration, and its value to people throughout the world. They will also learn how to read the Bible and become familiar with the major sections and the books included in each.

Semester Two: Who Is Jesus Christ? Special emphasis will be placed upon the New Testament, especially the Gospels where students may grow to know and love Jesus Christ more personally. Additionally, this course will introduce students to the mystery of Jesus Christ, the living Word of God and the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity and the ultimate Revelation to us from God.

Semester One: The Mission of Jesus Christ The purpose of this course is to help students understand all that God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Students will learn that for all eternity, God has planned for us to share eternal happiness with him, which is accomplished through the redemption Christ won for us. Students will learn that they share in this redemption only in and through Jesus Christ. They will also be introduced to what it means to be a disciple of Christ and what life as a disciple entails. Semester Two: Jesus Christ’s Mission Continues in the Church The purpose of this course is to help the students understand that in and through the Church they encounter the living Jesus Christ. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by him through the Holy Spirit. The students will come to know that the Church is the living Body of Christ having has both divine and human elements. In this course, students will learn not so much about events in the life of the Church but about the sacred nature of the Church.

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RELIGION 4

011 Semester One: Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ The purpose of this course is to help students understand that they can encounter Christ today in a full and real way in and through the sacraments, and especially through the Eucharist. Students will examine each of the sacraments in detail so as to learn how they may encounter Christ throughout life. Semester Two: Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Society The purpose of this course is to help students understand that it is only through Christ that they can fully live out God’s plans for their lives. Students are to learn the moral concepts and precepts that govern the lives of Christ’s disciples.

Semester One: Vocations & the Universal Call to Holiness During the first semester students will learn that through the sacrament of Baptism, God calls each of us to holiness on earth and to eternal life with Him in Heaven. Students will examine the universal call to holiness and its importance in Christian life. Students will engage in an in-depth study of the various vocations of life, namely Marriage, Holy Orders, the consecrated life, and the committed single life. Students will be invited to discern prayerfully the will of God in their own lives. Semester Two: The Gospel of Life During the second semester students will examine the meaning of human life as a gift of God, the fruit and sign of His love. Through the study of Sacred Scripture and major Church documents, students will explore the foundational principles and major themes of Catholic Social Doctrine in order to identify the ways they can respond to life issues in a manner consistent with the teachings of the Church.