The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture (S-1)
The purpose of these courses 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. In the first semester course, students will pay particular attention to the types and prophecies of Jesus in the Hebrew Scriptures
Who is Jesus Christ? [Christology I] (S-2)
The second semester course introduces students to the Mystery of Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, and 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. In this second semester course, students will focus on the Gospels and the other sections of the New Testament.
The Mission of Jesus Christ-The Paschal Mystery [Christology II] (S-I)
Prerequisite: The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture/Who is Jesus Christ? [Christology I]. The purpose of this course is to help students understand all the 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.
Ecclesiology, Sacraments, and Liturgy (S-2)
The second semester helps 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. Students will also 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 Jesus Christ [Christian Morality and Ethics] (S-I)
Prerequisite: The Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery) (Christology II)/Ecclesiology, Sacraments, and Liturgy. The purpose of this course is to help students understand the Catholic believe that it is 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.
World Religions (S-2)
The second semester course World Religions (a University of California approved course) helps students to understand the manner in which the Catholic Church relates to non-Catholic Christians and to other religions of the world. Building on the foundational truth that Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church and entrusted to her the fullness of God’s Revelation, the course is intended to help students to recognize the ways in which important spiritual truths can also be found in non-Catholic Christian churches and ecclesial communities as well as in non-Christian religions in the spirit of the seminal Vatican II document, Nostra Aetate. It is also intended to help them to recognize the ways in which other systems of belief and practice differ from the Catholic faith. Students will examine a primal religious tradition of their own choosing. The initial quarter of the course will examine the major eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Zen, Confucianism and Taoism. The last quarter will treat the western-monotheistic (Abrahamic) religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Christian Vocations
Prerequisite: Life in Jesus Christ (Morality and Ethics)/World Religions. This course offers students opportunities to begin to apply what they have come to believe as their vocation as a Christian. The course is designed to be a “practical discipleship” for young men living in the United States in the 21st century. Through the reflection on real life choices, students are able to begin to prayerfully reflect on their personal gifts and unique call by God. Special attention will be given to surveying the various life vocations within the Church: single life, married life, religious life and priestly life. The goal of the course is to help students understand and have some methods of coping with the opportunities, challenges, and developmental tasks facing young adults today.
Social Justice
Prerequisite: Life in Jesus Christ (Morality and Ethics)/World Religions. This course is designed to introduce students to social justice issues and assist them in discovering their ability to create positive change in their own world. Students will critically analyze various social movements related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and class. Students will also explore and discuss how these concepts influence human understanding, relationships, and behavior for centuries. Students will understand how individuals operate within community contexts created through interactions and relationships structured by sociability, belonging, and responsibility. This course will encourage students to think critically and expansively about the social world and the conditions of humanity. Social justice will provide a foundation for students to explore social justice concepts, issues, and remedies, thereby developing the necessary analytical tools and information to see inequality and injustice and address historical and contemporary issues relevant to students’ present day lives.
Faith in Film, Media, and Literature
Prerequisite: Composition/World Literature 1. This elective course open to 10th-12th graders explores how the experience of Christian faith is manifested explicitly and implicitly in movies, media and literature. Students will explore selected productions of cinematography, other media, and literature to examine their theological and Christological significance. (Pending UC Approval).
