Religious Education

List of 12 items.

• Kindergarten – Bible Characters & Traits

  Children learn about individual Bible characters, the character traits they possess, the life of Jesus, and other common Biblical topics, which provides a strong education in the Bible and Christian character. Catholic traditions, practices, and Saints are woven throughout the year into the curriculum as well. Children are introduced to spontaneous prayer as well traditional prayers, which include the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Grace before Meals, and Angel of God.

• 1st Grade – God Loves Us

  The first grade program will lay the foundation for the children’s spiritual growth and development by enhancing their knowledge of the Catholic faith. This level teaches important faith concepts, including salvation, love, Baptism, the Holy Trinity, and the importance of Scripture. Children practice fundamental prayers, including the Sign of the Cross, Glory Be, Our Father, Hail Mary, Angel of God, and The Way of the Cross.

• 2nd Grade – Jesus Shares God’s Life

  The structure and meaning of the Mass are emphasized throughout the year as students prepare for two sacraments, Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. The catechesis helps children respond joyfully to God’s call to give themselves in love to God and others. This level also introduces children to the Church as the body of Christ and to Mary as Mother of the Church. Prayers include Morning Offering; Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love (short forms); Act of Contrition; Meal Prayers; Come, Holy Spirit (short form).

• 3rd Grade – We Are the Church

  At this level, children learn the main truths that Catholics believe and express in the Apostles’ Creed. Children are called to the faith community and learn the ways Jesus is present to us during the Mass. The study and re-telling of Bible stories, especially those related to the mysteries of the rosary, continue. Children grow in their understanding of vocation, healing, and our response to God. Prayers include Morning Offering; Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love (short forms); Apostles’ Creed; Rosary; and Act of Contrition.

• 4th Grade – God’s Law Guides Us

  Children are introduced to the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as guides for living. Catechists teach children that, as followers of Jesus, we must know these teachings and live them. This level also focuses on kinds of prayer, parts of the Bible, reconciliation, and the communion of saints. Prayers include Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love; Angelus; Hail, Holy Queen; Come, Holy Spirit; and The Way of the Cross.

• 5th Grade – We Meet Jesus in the Sacraments

  Students deepen their understanding of celebration and worship through the Eucharistic liturgy. The Eucharist is presented as a gift from God through which to share divine life. Lessons include liturgical prayer and guide children to respond to God’s presence through prayer and loving service to others. The text focuses on the sacramental system and the paschal mystery. Prayers include Come, Holy Spirit; Queen of Heaven; prayers of the Mass; and Psalms.

• 6th Grade – We Are God’s People

  Students learn about God’s saving love as revealed in sacred Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament. This study of salvation history helps students gain a deeper appreciation of the person of Jesus Christ and his continued presence in the Church. Lessons also explore the book of Psalms, the concept of “sacred,” roots of the sacraments, symbols, and the perfection of God. New prayers include psalms and the Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• 7th Grade – Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life

  Students learn about the teachings and mission of Jesus. They gain deeper understanding of the paschal mystery and ways to live the message of the Gospels. Students will see Christ as our way to the Father and grow in understanding and love of Jesus. This level, which explores journaling, also discusses respect for justice and the RCIA program. Prayers include Prayer to St. Michael, Act of Contrition (Rite of Reconciliation), Acts of Faith, Hope and Love, Prayer of St. Francis, and the Nicene Creed.

• 8th Grade – The Church Then and Now

  Students study the history of the Church with an emphasis on the Images, Models and Marks of the Church, and grow in an awareness of the mystery of the Church and its mission. Students are invited to value their union with Christ in the Church and to live according to Christ’s teachings. Lessons focus on the Liturgy of the Hours, reflective prayer, respect for life, the life of the Church, and the presence and action of the Holy Spirit.

• 9th Grade

  Introduction to Catholicism & Sacred Scripture
  
  

  The goal of the Introduction to Catholicism & Sacred Scripture course is to help all students to grow in knowledge and appreciation of the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Biblical foundations for mankind’s knowledge of God. We will first equip students with the skills and tools that they need to study Theology effectively, including a foundation in objective truth and reasoning. From there, the course will move into the major teachings of Catholicism, beginning with the fundamental beliefs common to all Christians, before moving into material that is unique to, or understood differently, in Catholic Christianity, including the Sacraments and the Afterlife. In the Spring, we will examine Catholic Devotions to Mary, the Saints, & "Rules of Life" in Religious Orders before moving into our study of Sacred Scripture - including how to interpret effectively, as well as the foundations of Salvation History established through Abraham and Moses.

• 10th Grade

  Sacred Scripture and Church History
  
  

  Sacred Scripture & Church History will familiarize students with both the overall plan of Salvation History contained within the Bible and also the history of the Church in her efforts to effectively carry out that plan in history. The first semester will focus on the contents of Sacred Scripture, particularly how to read Scripture effectively, the Covenants, the Israelite people, the Prophets, and the Messiah Jesus Christ. The second semester will pick up with the remainder of Sacred Scripture, looking at the Book of the Acts of the Apostles and the life and letters of St. Paul. Following these historical foundations, the class will look at major eras in the Church's history, including its start in Jerusalem, political and spiritual influence in Europe and beyond, and finally, how she radically responded to a changing world at the Second Vatican Council leading to the present day.

• 11th/12th Grade

  Philosophy and Apologetics
  
  

  The goal of the Philosophy & Apologetics course is to equip students with the ability to defend Catholic teaching using reason. We will begin by exploring logic and the effective communication of reasonable arguments. Then we will explore some of the earliest and greatest philosophers - including Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates - whose works contribute to Catholic Theology and inspired some of our most knowledgeable saints, including Sts. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Then, building from this logical and philosophical foundation, we will explore apologetic explanations for the Church’s teachings on topics including human nature, the existence of God, the apparent contractions in Sacred Scripture, the person of Jesus, & the purpose of the Church. Finally, we will take a look at other faith traditions, both Christian and non-Christian, and both identify similarities and explore apologetic explanations for the Church’s position where they differ.
  
  

  Moral Theology
  
  

  The goal of the Moral Theology course is to examine Moral Law, which the Church teaches is built into the very nature of the created universe by God. In the first semester, we will largely examine morality from an individual’s perspective - the purpose of human life, the conscience and moral acts of individual beings, the contrast and overlap between civil and moral law, and the fundamental guidelines of a moral life as laid out in Christ’s ministry and by His Church. In the second semester, we will examine the social perspective of morality by examining the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching and associated concepts and practices of the Church, like the Works of Mercy and St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body."