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RELIGION - CURRICULUM | FACULTY |
PASTORAL PROGRAMS
Recognizing the infinite, intrinsic, God-given value of each individual, students are invited to engage in an age-appropriate and challenging exploration of their faith, and to mature in an understanding of their relationship with self, others, and God. At the heart of the Religion Department’s curriculum is the Word of God as it is revealed not only in the person of Jesus, but also in the Scriptures, Sacraments, prayer, tradition, doctrine, morality, theology and wisdom of the Catholic Church. Students are encouraged to become knowledgable about their faith heritage, as well as articulate in their own expression of faith. They are urged to continue in the life-long development of a personal spirituality which finds its voice in community and liturgy, and through a committed, responsible lifestyle dedicated to justice and social action.
RELIGION 1 FRESHMAN FOUNDATIONS: Catholic Christian
Character Formation
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 9
Prerequisite: None
Catholic Formation
The first semester of Religion 1 is an introduction to the study
of Catholic theology. Students are introduced to a brief history
of the Church, and develop
a command of Catholic tenants of faith. Students leave the first semester
with a solid understanding of Catholic concepts including: sacrament,
prayer, the
commandments, corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It is also a formational
class in that the student is seen as a whole person; mind, body and spirit
and is given a thorough orientation to St. Francis High School
in the context of
the academic course. Students learn about the person of St. Francis and the
culture, expectations and mission of our school. Our mission is
cultivated within the
first few months of our religion class as we help students to develop a sense
of a personal Catholic spirituality, build relationships between the students,
and provide successful strategies for academic success.
Catholic Character
The second semester of Religion 1 builds upon the first semester.
The student is guided along the way to apply their Catholic theology
to the real world.
It is not enough that the students cognitively know what it means to be
Catholic. Students are encouraged to actually live their faith
in the contemporary
culture in which they find themselves. This course focuses on the essential
message
of
Christ’s moral teaching, the importance of love of God and love of neighbor.
A range of religious content is offered including lives of the saints and Mary,
moral decision making, a study of Catholic moral theology, and Lawrence Kohlberg’s
stages of moral development.
RELIGION II
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10
Prerequisite: None
HEBREW SCRIPTURE:
This semester begins an introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. The
approach is broad and survey-like, but uses specific examples to
relate generalizations
to
the lives of the students and focuses on their growth as a people of
faith, rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. Basic background information
on the growth
of the Hebrew
Scriptures historical context, methods of exegesis, and the like --
is touched on in a non-technical way. Students learn and practice
skills
that help them
understand the historical, cultural, and literary influences found
in the Hebrew testament. Analysis of scripture challenges students
to
apply this
knowledge
to contemporary life.
CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE:
Students learn and practice skills that help to understand the historical,
cultural, and literary influences found in the Christian testament.
Students gain an awareness
of the diverse forms of biblical literature found in the Gospels,
Book of Acts, letters and Revelation. Special attention is given
to the
major people,
places
and events which are relevant to living a Christian life today. Analysis
of the New Testament serves as a foundation for the personal morality
class to
follow.
RELIGION III
Credit: .5 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 11
Prerequisite: None
SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Students explore the long tradition of Church involvement in justice
issues, and the foundations of Catholic social teaching which
are rooted in prophetic
themes of social responsibility. Students apply the message of
Jesus and the Church to key issues in the contemporary struggle
for justice
and peace,
critically
examining their lives, their culture, and their world. The message
of justice is characterized by concern for every person’s basic needs, regard for
personal dignity, recognition of solidarity, and social analysis/action; each
student is invited to stretch his/her awareness, to deepen his/her consciousness,
to test personal views and those prevalent in society, to embrace others in compassion,
and to act conscientiously. Principal approaches to addressing justice concerns
designated in modern Catholic social teaching documents are presented. Through
this course, students come to understand their baptismal commitment to respond
counterculturally to issues of justice and peace, as well as the words of the
prophet Micah (6:8): “This is what God asks of you: only this, to act justly,
to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.” The
15-hour Service requirement will be an integral part of this course
and will be a required
component of completing this course successfully.
RELIGION IV Electives - Each Senior must
choose at least one elective (shown below) to complete the three credit
hour
Religion
requirement
for graduation.
Students may take more than one elective.
CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLES
Credit: .5 unit
Eligible Grade Levels: 12
Prerequisite: None
This course focuses on the student’s lifelong process of understanding
his/her personal identity and his/her role in society. It explores topics which
are facets of every student’s personal experience:
self-identity, character interpersonal relationships, responsibility,
goals and
values, decision-making
and problem solving. This course explores the larger issues
of life, suffering and death from a Catholic Christian perspective.
CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
Credit: .5 unit
Eligible Grade Levels: 11, 12
Prerequisite:
None
Spirituality is sensitivity to God’s invested movement in
our lives -- to experience the Divine in our material/physical
world. Prayer is the
connection
to that experience through word, song, dialogue and silence.
Using personal experiences and various literary works, this course is
designed to introduce
and foster our
experience of the Divine in our universe and our personhood.
Numerous
forms of prayer are introduced and practiced throughout
the semester.
HONORS WORLD RELIGION
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Levels: 12
Prerequisite:
Overall GPA of 3.5 by the end of semester 1 of junior
year, consent
of the instructor.
This course is for the serious religion student interested
in comparing their faith with that of the major world’s religions; Judaism,
Christianity Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This course provides
an indepth understanding
and respect
for these religions. The student comparatively studies understandings
of God, the after life, historical development, rituals, beliefs
and sacred
places, times
and texts. Students are expected to read a great deal more than
the other senior religion electives. Students are assigned readings
from their world
religion
text, a novel and supplemental readings. A research paper is assigned
for each major religion study for a total of five.
Top
Pastoral
Program - CURRICULUM | FACULTY | PASTORAL
PROGRAMS
The Pastoral Program works hand-in-hand with the Theology Department in fostering
the spiritual development of our students and staff. The Theology Department
is part of the Pastoral Team.
To see more about The Pastoral Program see Campus Ministry under Student Services