Academics: Theology
A Call to Knowledge, Compassion, and Service
Embodied in the mission statement of the Theology Department of St. Francis DeSales High School is the call to live out the Gospel message of service to others. As stated, the goal of the Theology teacher is to invite the students “to hear a personal call, and to respond in a free and conscious manner, somewhat as the first disciples responded to the summons of Jesus Christ.” The Theology teacher strives “to clearly link every topic to the person and message of Jesus, and encourage the kind of questioning that precedes a personal appropriation of faith. Our goal is more than the development of well-informed Christians. Our goal is to assist in the formation of young Christians who have enthusiasm and conviction: who are able to correlate the Gospel with the challenges of life.”
In 2008, the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) presented the “Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework” as a guideline for teaching Theology to high school students across the country. One of the Framework's goals is to build “ ... national uniformity in catechetical instruction on the high- school- age level (which) would be a benefit in the modern mobile society.”
The USCCB states: “The Christological centrality of the framework is designed to form the content of instruction as well as to be a vehicle for growth in one's relationship with the Lord so that each may come to know him and live according to the truth he has given to us.”
The Theology Department will continue to be guided by the Diocesan Religion Graded Course of Study, which is in conformity with the new Framework.
Freshmen Theology
• The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scriptures
The purpose of this course is to give students a general knowledge and appreciation of the Sacred
Scriptures. Through their study of the Bible they will come to encounter the living Word of God,
Jesus Christ. In the course they will learn about the Bible, authored by God through Inspiration, and
its value to people throughout the world. If they have not been taught this earlier, they will learn
how to read the Bible and will become familiar with the major sections of the Bible and the books
included in each section. The students will pay particular attention to the Gospels, where they may
grow to know and love Jesus Christ more personally.
• Who is Jesus Christ?
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the mystery of Jesus Christ, the living Word of
God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. In this course students will understand that Jesus
Christ is the ultimate Revelation to us from God. In learning about who He is, the students will also
learn who He calls them to be.
Sophomore Theology
• The Mission of Jesus Christ
The purpose of this course is to help students understand all that God has done for us through His
Son, Jesus Christ. Through this course of study, students will learn that for all eternity, God has
planned for us to share eternal happiness with Him, which is accomplished through the redemption
Christ won for us. Students will learn that they share in this redemption only in and through Jesus
Christ. They will also be introduced to what it means to be a disciple of Christ and what life as a
disciple entails.
• Jesus Christ's Mission Continuous in the Church
The purpose of this course is to help the students understand that in and through the Church they
encounter the living Jesus Christ. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded
by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by Him through the Holy Spirit. The students will
come to know that the Church is the living Body of Christ today. This Body has both divine and
human elements. In this course, students will learn not so much about events in the life of the
Church but about the sacred nature of the Church.
Junior Theology
• Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ
The purpose of this course is to help students understand that they can encounter Christ today in a
full and real way in and through the sacraments, and especially through the Eucharist. Students will
examine each of the sacraments in detail so as to learn how they may encounter Christ
throughout life.
• Life in Christ
The purpose of this course is to help students understand that it is only through Christ that they can
fully live out God’s plans for their lives. Students are to learn the moral concepts and precepts that
govern the lives of Christ’s disciples.
Senior Theology
• History of the Catholic Church
The purpose of this course is to supply the students with an overview of the Church’s history from apostolic times to the present. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by Him throughout history through the Holy Spirit. The students will come to know that the Church is the living Body of Christ today and, as such, has both divine and human elements. This course will place heavy emphasis on the American Catholic Church. Students will learn about how the Church is led and governed by the successors of the Apostles.
• Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Society
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the Church’s social teaching. In this course,
students are to learn how Christ’s concern for others, especially the poor and needy, is present
today in the Church’s social teaching and mission.
