Theology Department

 

This course is designed to introduce the students to the Hebrew Scriptures emphasizing the central theme of salvation history. Students will be introduced to basic skills of biblical exegesis as a method to interpret and understand the message of the early leaders of Israel, the patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets. The students will understand the Israelites continuing covenant relationship with God, with an emphasis on community and social justice. Students will be introduced to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's promise as revealed in salvation history.

 

This course is designed to lead the students to a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ as the full revelation of God through study of the sacred scriptures. Students will come to know Jesus and his teachings in their study of the Gospels. The students will come to a deeper understanding of Christ and explore the foundations of the early Christian Church through study of Acts of the Apostles and the epistles of St. Paul and other key figures of the time. Investigation into the historical setting, literary forms, and theological content of the New Testament writings will enable the student to interpret the scripture from the tradition of the Catholic Church.

 

This course is a study of the Paschal Mystery of Christ using the Old Testament as the background for understanding the way the early Church came to interpret Jesus' death and Resurrection. Building on this foundation the identity of Christ and Christ's revelation of God and human beings will also be examined.

 

This course builds on the previous one by studying the identity and characteristics of being Church. As the early Church came to understand the identity of Christ Jesus they also came to understand that Church is the Body of Christ. Examining the Marks of the Church will give us further insights into how the Church grew to express the identity of Christ in worship and Church Councils. Emphasis will be placed on how we live as Church in our world today.

 

The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the incarnational nature of sacramental spirituality as encountering Christ in all of creation especially through the seven sacraments. The students will be encouraged to identify Christ’s participation in their life journey focusing on the invitation that each sacrament offers to participate fully in God’s covenantal relationship.

 

The purpose of this course is to help students understand Christian ethics as found in the teaching of the Beatitudes and God's commands. Students will understand that moral precepts govern one’s life through the use of reason and conscience, and that the exercise of free-will led by faith results in freedom and happiness.

 

The purpose of this course is to help students understand that it is through Christ that they can fully live out God’s plans for their lives. This course invites the students to discern their vocation, career and way of life. The students will explore the ways of expressing service to God’s people found either in single, married, religious or ordained life. The content of this course will include an analysis of a Catholic vocation, a study of self-understanding, relationships, and human sexuality. The focus of this class will be the responsibilities of one’s commitment to living in love as Christ’s disciples.

 

This course introduces students to the Church’s social teachings. Students learn how Christ’s concern for others, especially the poor and needy, is present today. Students will apply the skills needed to effectively minister to others in their peer group and beyond through lessons and experiences in the areas of Christian behavior, listening, prayer, liturgy, retreats, and liturgical events, all in the context of the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. This course is based on the principles of social justice where students will examine how justice is rooted in ministry to both school and the global community. This course will address current issues to better identify the local and global needs around them. This course requires an application process and fulfills the senior elective Theology course requirement.

 

This course takes a comparative approach to the study of the major world religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam. Viewed in the light of Nostra Aetate, various world religions will be examined and understood from the revelation of Jesus Christ. Students will have the opportunity to inquire about the aim of religion, its theological underpinnings, its history and influence on society. Areas of study include: beliefs in God or Ultimate Reality, salvation, systems of worship and sacred texts. Students will gain practical experience of world religion in a dialogical format with guest speakers from the representatives of other world faith traditions. A field trip excursion to a place of worship will offer students first-hand knowledge of religions of the world and the value associated with cultural and religious diversity in our community.

 

This course explores our human desire for truth and its impact on Christian thought. The focus of this course will be the questions we ask ourselves as human beings and as Christians. In a group discussion style, such questions will be discussed. Using reading selections from the contributions of major philosophical works and discussion, students will search for the truth to these questions.

 

This course is based on the principles of Justice as found in Jesus’s example and as taught by Catholic Social teachings. The call of justice embraces the interconnection of all people and all of creation as members of Christ’s Body. To answer the challenge of this call, students will examine how Justice is rooted in both the Bible and in Church History. Students will learn ways the Church has historically stood against injustice and worked toward peace. This course will address current issues and how we as Church can continue contributing to the ongoing work of Christ’s peace-building presence in the world today. 

 

This course introduces students to the Church’s social teachings. Students learn how Christ’s concern for others, especially the poor and needy, is present today. Students will apply the skills needed to effectively minister to others in their peer group and beyond through lessons and experiences in the areas of Christian behavior, listening, prayer, liturgy, retreats, and liturgical events, all in the context of the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. This course is based on the principles of social justice where students will examine how justice is rooted in ministry to both school and the global community. This course will address current issues to better identify the local and global needs around them. This course requires an application process and fulfills the senior elective Theology course requirement.