Theology
The Theology program is based on the core curriculum of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops high school theology framework. Theology courses are required of all students for each year at St. Paul VI Catholic High School.
The first priority of any Catholic education program is evangelization, to communicate the Gospel message and to encourage every member of the community to share this message through their thoughts, words and deeds. Catholic education exists to assist the young to know and practice the faith and to enable them to proclaim the truth as taught by Jesus Christ through this Church.
The primary purpose of St. Paul VI Catholic High School is to foster student growth in the Gospel values. We envision a community including students, parents, families, faculty, staff, administrators, parishes and others associated with the school, which is focused on the knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith influencing us all to become more perfect images of God in whose image we have been created. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, ad redeemed.
All families need to have a Catholic Bible at home for home study.
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151- THEOLOGY 9 1 CR
9
The ninth grade theology curriculum focuses on “The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture” and “Who Is Jesus Christ?” The purpose of this course is to give students a general knowledge and appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures and to introduce students to the mystery of Jesus Christ, the living Word of God, and the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 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 will grow to know and love Jesus Christ more personally. 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. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
PREREQUISITES: None.
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GIFT OF HUMAN LOVE 9
Gift of Human Love is intended to help students discover the answers to the questions: Who am I? Why did God make me? What does it mean to love? This class is designed to aid parents in teaching their teen about the beauty and gift of human love and sexuality. A parent guide accompanying the student textbook is available to help facilitate communication at home. This course is a cross between theology and health since it teaches the concepts of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body as the context for topics including pornography, male and female reproductive anatomy, and the woman’s cycle. The class meets 12 times during the school year as part of the Freshman Health/PE course and constitutes the exam grade for that class. As with all sexuality programs, parents have the right, for moral reasons, to opt their child out of this class.
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152-THEOLOGY 10 1 CR
The tenth grade theology curriculum focuses on the “Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery)” and how “Jesus Christ’s Mission Continues in the Church.” The purpose of this course is to help students understand all that God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ and that in and through the Church they encounter the living 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. 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 learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
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153-THEOLOGY 11 1 CR
The eleventh grade theology curriculum focuses on “Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ” and “Life in 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. The course helps students understand that it is only through Christ that they can fully live out God’s plans for their lives. Students will learn the moral concepts and precepts that govern the lives of Christ’s disciples. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
PREREQUISITES: None.
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161-THEOLOGY 12/DEATH & DYING 1 CR
The twelfth grade first three quarters theology curriculum focuses on the study of Catholic Apologetics. Apologetics is concerned with establishing and defending the reasonableness of the Catholic Faith. The purpose of this course is to strengthen the faith by illustrating that the articles of the Catholic Faith are in full harmony with reason, by providing students with the tools necessary to discuss their faith in a reasonable manner with unbelievers and inquirers, and by refuting the arguments and objections of those who reject the Catholic Faith. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
Fourth quarter topic:
Death and Dying is designed to help students cope with death: of a family member, a friend, or their own impending death. It examines the theological implications of death, the dying process, and the process of grieving. The Anointing of the Sick sacrament and the funeral liturgy will be studied.
PREREQUISITES: None.
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166-THEOLOGY 12/THEOLOGY OF THE BODY 1 CR
The twelfth grade first three quarters curriculum focuses on the study of Catholic Apologetics. Apologetics is concerned with establishing and defending the reasonableness of the Catholic Faith. The purpose of this course is to strengthen the faith by illustrating that the articles of the Catholic Faith are in full harmony with reason, by providing students with the tools necessary to discuss their faith in a reasonable manner with unbelievers and inquirers, and by refuting the arguments and objections of those who reject the Catholic Faith. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
Fourth quarter topic:
The fourth quarter focuses on delving into a deeper theological study of the freshman course’s themes of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. The students will learn and be able to articulate the difference between the philosophical roots of how contemporary society views the human person versus how the Catholic Church views the human person. The key themes that will allow the students to understand the Church’s point of view include: Man’s creation as the Image of God, the Incarnation, and the Redemption of the body. The students will learn that their call to love is not only written into their souls but it is also, simultaneously, written into their bodies. The call to love goes to the core of what it means to be human and the answer to this call is fulfilled in the taking of vows in marriage, consecrated virginity, or the promises taken by priests.
PREREQUISITES: None.
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167-THEOLOGY 12/FAITH, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
1 CR
The twelfth grade first three quarters theology curriculum focuses on the study of Catholic Apologetics. Apologetics is concerned with establishing and defending the reasonableness of the Catholic Faith. The purpose of this course is to strengthen the faith by illustrating that the articles of the Catholic Faith are in full harmony with reason, by providing students with the tools necessary to discuss their faith in a reasonable manner with unbelievers and inquirers, and by refuting the arguments and objections of those who reject the Catholic Faith. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
Fourth quarter topic:
This upper-level elective is designed to provide a Christian understanding of science and technology. Students will learn the Christian philosophical foundations of science and technology in contrast to contemporary naturalistic worldviews. It will offer a framework for students to think about and relate to modern technologies and contemporary scientific issues. Among the topics to be studied are the following: the nature of science, the rise of technological thinking in education, economy, medicine, and work, STEM, social media, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence.
PREREQUISITES: None.
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168-THEOLOGY 12/BIOETHICS
1 CR
The twelfth grade first three quarters theology curriculum focuses on the study of Catholic Apologetics. Apologetics is concerned with establishing and defending the reasonableness of the Catholic Faith. The purpose of this course is to strengthen the faith by illustrating that the articles of the Catholic Faith are in full harmony with reason, by providing students with the tools necessary to discuss their faith in a reasonable manner with unbelievers and inquirers, and by refuting the arguments and objections of those who reject the Catholic Faith. Students will also learn what it means to be a human being: someone who is a gift, fallen, and redeemed.
Fourth quarter topic:
Students will explore the bioethical dilemmas of the modern day, such as abortion, reproductive technologies, stem cell research, cloning and human enhancement. The goal is for students to realize how to approach these issues from an understanding of the dignity of the human person and the consistency of Catholic teaching in contrast to that of other faiths and philosophies.
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Christian Discipleship
.5 CR or 1 CR
Grades 11, 12
Jesus invites each of us to a deep and uniquely personal relationship with him when he says "come and follow me." Take your faith deeper by learning what it means to walk with Jesus through prayer and virtue. Students will learn how to share their personal relationship with Jesus with other students, basic leadership skills, and most importantly, be able to start discerning their vocation within the life of the Church through fulfilling the Church's mission of evangelization. This elective requires an overnight retreat.
PLEASE NOTE: Students may choose to take this class only in the first semester or may take this class for the entire year.
Prerequisites: None
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CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP .5 or 1 CR
12
Christ invites us to share in His mission of sharing the Good News when He says "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." This course looks to take the foundation of intimating Christ from Christian Discipleship, and build upon by teaching students how to walk with others in their relationship with Christ. Students will learn how to teach others how to pray and grow in virtue, by accompanying them in their walk of faith. This elective requires students to help lead an overnight retreat.
PLEASE NOTE: Students may choose to take this class only in the first semester or may take this class for the entire year.
PREREQUISITES: Completion of Christian Discipleship in previous school year.
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Evangelism
.5 CR
Grades 11, 12
Young people can do this! Students will develop and implement an evangelism outreach project with and for PVI students and their families, faculty, and staff. Students will utilize St. Francis de Sales' work “The Catholic Controversy” which is a collection of pamphlets he used at age 27 in his evangelical outreach. Students will develop resources using various media.
Prerequisites: None
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CATHOLICISM AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY .5 CR
12
The goal of this course is to explore the development of Catholicism within America and how the faith has existed parallel to Protestant and Enlightenment ideals in the America founding. Students will learn how to analyze the theological, political, and philosophical roots of the founding, in addition to how those ideas have developed into the modern day. Topics will range from how Catholicism can exist alongside America liberalism, the distinctions between Protestant and Catholic Theology, and the place of Catholicism in modern American politics. Students will leave the course with a better understanding of their place as Catholics within the American political system and how to best evangelize in the democratic republic which they reside.
PREREQUISITES: None
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FINDING TRUTH IN LITERATURE .5 CR
11, 12
This course will explore truth, beauty, and goodness reflected in imaginative fiction that has helped shape a modern Christian worldview in a secular society. Students will read and discuss great stories as they are unfolded by Christian writers revealing what it means to be a human made in the image and likeness of God, yet fallen with the hope of Redemptive Grace. We will explore fictional works and films from authors such as Flannery O’Connor, C.S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, J. R. R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), and more.
PREREQUISITES: None
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The Catholic Approach to World Religions
.5 CR
Grades 10, 11, 12
Students will examine the points of contrast between Catholicism and the other major religions. Students will learn how to evangelize people of other faiths through addressing these points of contrast. Students will examine the techniques of evangelization used by the Church in the past. Students will also study the Church's current approach to interreligious dialogue, and criticisms of that approach.
Prerequisites: None
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Church History: The Catholic side of the Story
.5 Credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
The goal of this course will be for students to explore the Church's point of view of major historical events, such as the Age of Exploration, the Industrial Revolution, Communism and World War II. Students will examine the influence of the Church in shaping Western Civilization through the establishment of monasteries, universities, and hospitals. Students will examine controversial aspects of Church history, such as the Crusades, Inquisition and missions in the Americas. Students will contrast the mainstream narrative on these topics with what primary sources actually tell us.
Prerequisites: None
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CURRENT EVENTS AND CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP .5 CR
11, 12
This is a discussion based course designed to familiarize students with the current events of local, state, and federal government. Students will learn who the major public leaders are, discussing the issues that those leaders propose for citizens on the local, state, and national levels, and how those proposals affect us as citizens and Catholics. Frequent guest presenters are expected including lawmakers, law enforcement, judges and journalists.
PREREQUISITES: None
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Catholic Art and Evangelization
.5 CR
Grades 10, 11, 12
In this course, students will create art, evangelize through their art, and recognize their creative abilities as a vocation reflecting God as Creator and the essential role of beauty in expressing the Truth. Utilizing Pope St. John Paul II's Letter to Artists, students will learn why art is essential for expressing truth, beauty and goodness and for encountering the Divine.
Prerequisites: None
Ms. Allison Fentress '20
