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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.
  • Theology 9

    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.
  • Gift of Human Love

    GIFT OF HUMAN LOVE                                               9
    The Gift of Human Love is designed to aid parents in teaching their teen about the beauty and gift of human sexuality. A parent guide is included with the student textbook 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: male and female anatomy, the woman’s cycle, natural family planning versus birth control, fetal development, abortion, pornography, and sexually transmitted diseases. The class meets approximately once a month as part of the Freshman Health/PE course.  
  • Theology 10

    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.
  • Theology 11

    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.
  • Theology 12: Death and Dying

    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.

  • Theology 12: Theology of the Body

    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.

  • Theology 12: Faith, Sci, Tech

    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.
  • Theology 12: Bioethics

    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. 
  • Christian Discipleship

    Christian Discipleship 
    .5 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, to plan bible studies, and to become disciple-makers of their peers. Students will learn leadership skills, and more importantly, be able to discern their vocation within the life of the Church through fulfilling the Church's mission of evangelization.
    Prerequisites: None
  • Evangelism

    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
  • Catholic Art and Evangelization

    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

Faculty

St. Paul VI Catholic High School is a private Diocesan Catholic preparatory school for girls and boys in grades 9-12 in Chantilly, Virginia, seeking to help our students Grow in Grace and Wisdom. Our school is part of the Diocese of Arlington and offers rigorous academics, an inclusive community focused on spiritual and leadership formation, and a proud athletic tradition featuring nationally renowned programs competing in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association.

St. Paul VI Catholic High School is an accredited member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.