RELIGIOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Recommended Sequence of Religion Courses
Grade 9Grade 10Grade 11Grade 12
Scripture/
The Trinity (S)		 Paschal Mystery/
The Church (S)		 Catholic Morality/
Sacraments (S)		 Religion IV Seminar (A)
Social Justice (S)/
Contemporary Spirituality (S)
(S = Scholastic, A = Accelerated)

Religion I: Scripture/The Trinity (S) Grade 9
Scripture (Required one-semester course: 2 credits): This course shows how Scripture is the inspired Word of God and how natural revelation and reason complement Divine Revelation. The course is designed to teach what Catholics believe about God, why they believe it, and why such belief is reasonable.
The Trinity (Required one-semester course: 2 credits): This course explores the mystery of the Blessed Trinity – one God in three Persons – as revealed in Scripture and Tradition. It presents details about the Person of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Revelation, the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life, and how we can know the Father through the Son.

Religion II: Paschal Mystery/The Church (S) Grade 10
Paschal Mystery (Required one-semester course: 2 credits): This course explains the need for Redemption after the Fall of Adam and Eve, and shows the various ways God promised Redemption throughout the Scriptures. Finally, the course looks at the redeeming act of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection as the realization of those promises.
The Church (Required one-semester course: 2 credits): This course presents the Church – One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic – as the continuation of Christ’s Redemption. Examining the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ, it studies the foundation of the Church, her mission, and her attributes. It examines the communion of saints and the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Religion III: Catholic Morality/Sacraments (S) Grade 11
Catholic Morality (Required one-semester course: 2 credits): This course investigates the moral decision making process of a Catholic. Christian values, principles, and virtues are discussed respective to this process. Various moral issues are expanded upon and explored in light of Catholic tradition.
Sacraments: (Required one-semester course: 2 credits): The goal of this course is to explore the concept of a sacrament in general, which can only be understood in relation to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. With this foundation, the course then explores the seven official sacraments of the Catholic Church and their relationship to Christian living.

Religion IV Grade 12: Students are required to take Social Justice (one semester) and Contemporary Spirituality (one semester), or Religion IV Seminar (full year).

Religion IV Seminar (A) Grade 12      Full year course (4 credits)
This research-based course offers exceptional students a commitment to in-depth study of various topics such as world religions and their relation to the Catholic tradition, various controversial moral issues facing the contemporary Church, and major social justice issues. Students are expected to share the fruits of their research with the class through papers, presentations, and discussions. Prerequisite: Approval of current Religion teacher and Member of Administration

Social Justice (S) Grade 12      Required one-semester course (2 credits)
The goal of this course is to explore the major social justice issues of contemporary society in light of the seven themes of modern Catholic Social Teaching.

Contemporary Spirituality (S) Grade 12      Required one-semester course (2 credits)
The goal of this course is to help students develop an inner spiritual understanding of self in relationship to God and others. It will offer students experiences of various prayer forms. It will encourage students to develop their own pattern of prayer, and to grow in the spiritual life.