Religion

Realizing that our students live in a pluralistic society and are exposed to many different philosophies, we see the need to present Christ’s message and values as a viable option that will direct them to a fullness of life and to an openness to God’s spirit working in their lives.

The purpose of our religious education courses is to inform and form a young person’s faith to become living, conscious and active through instruction and example, as well as creating opportunities for communal worship and prayer.

A living, Christian faith by its nature leads to action. Religious education (ministry of word and worship) attempts to show the students how faith should flow from the intellectual to the practical: a ministry of service linked with efforts to achieve social justice among all people.

We seek to accompany our students on their faith journey:

• by leading students to a discovery of God as a vital, loving, and ever-present reality through scripture, liturgy, doctrine and life experiences
• by developing a culture of love which fosters a morality based on respect for all life
• by helping students enhance their view of the Church as a living faith community, characterized by loving relationships, liturgical worship, and compassionate service through planning and participating in liturgical celebrations, providing retreat experiences, offering a variety of ways of praying, and encouraging participation in service opportunities
• by inviting students to become more aware of their call to holiness, their special relationship with Christ, within the community of the Church
• by developing courses that respect both the rich tradition and the ongoing mission of the Church in the world today
• by encouraging critical thinking and active participation through problems solving, decisions making, and group dynamics as components of the learning experience
• by fostering respect for all religious beliefs
• by modeling what we learn and teach

Academic Notes