Theology
The Theology department’s mission is to form young men in faith and to understand faith through intellectual study and reflection on the Catholic Tradition. The philosophy of the Theology Department is to educate students in the Truth, Goodness and Beauty of Catholic theology, through the study of Sacred Scripture, Tradition, moral teachings, and doctrines of the Catholic Church. The department collaborates with the school’s formation and campus ministry programs to help students become the person God intends them to be. The department witnesses to the person and mission of Jesus Christ. Open to the contemporary world, it promotes the good of the earthly city and prepares students for service in spreading the Kingdom of God and eternal life in the City of God.
Courses
Academic
1102 CP Theology 1 – Encountering Christ, the Word
Year Course - Required for graduation
The Revelation of Jesus in Scripture – 1st Sem.
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, how it was formed, and its value to people throughout the world. 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 be introduced to the person of Jesus.
Who is Jesus Christ? – 2nd Semester
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.
1202 CP Theology 2 – The Mission of Christ
Year Course - Required for graduation
The Paschal Mystery and the Church
Students will build on and deepen theological concepts about the person of Jesus Christ learned in the freshmen year. The first semester of Theology 2 explores major themes in salvation history, drawing from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Building on notions of original sin and covenant, the course will then turn to an in-depth exploration of the Paschal Mystery through careful study of Scripture and Church documents. The semester ends by examining the call to discipleship in the Church and each individual's life. The second semester of Theology 2 builds on the theme of discipleship for a close examination of the Church and its continuation of the mission of Christ. Students will explore the nature and meaning of the Church and therein trace developments in its understanding of Jesus. This will include examination of the Church councils and its response to questions of orthodoxy. The course concludes by exploring the questions: Why Catholic? And What are the challenges facing our Church community?
1302 CP Theology 3 – Life in Christ
Year Course - Required for graduation
This course asks: what does it mean to live a Christian life? Building on what students have learned through their encounter with Christ in Scripture and in the teachings of the Church, these semesters explore grace in our everyday lives and the moral life we choose to live as a response to God’s love. The first semester focuses on the Sacraments as the official and special moments of grace in our spiritual lives, while the second semester focuses on defining and applying the moral law for Christian life.
1401 CP Critical Reflections
Year Course - Required for graduation
Critical Reflections – 1st Semester
Critical Reflections on the Theory of Knowledge in Philosophy and Theology, takes the motto of Servite High School: "I believe so that I may understand" as the necessary background for examining critical thinking habits which inform faith. The course introduces the student to epistemology, the theory of knowledge, and the way truth claims are made. Socio-political & moral philosophy theories are studied to examine the implications of morality for social living. Students are invited to critically examine these theories in light of the Gospel.
World Religions – 2nd Semester
Critical Reflections on the World’s Religions is a survey of the doctrines, scriptures, rituals, history and daily religious life of the religions of the East. This complements the extensive study students have already completed in Christianity and Judaism. This course focuses on the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and the religious traditions of China and Japan. The course is designed to provide the factual knowledge base necessary for critical thinking about the world’s religions. Students are afforded the opportunity to appreciate the universal search for the Divine & the expression of
7595 Formation Priory
9th-12th grade class. Required for graduation
Honors
1152 HP Theology 1 – Encountering Christ, the Word
Year Course
Prerequisite: Selection for Honors track
The Revelation of Jesus in Scripture – 1st Sem.
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, how it was formed, and its value to people throughout the world. 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 be introduced to the person of Jesus.
Who is Jesus Christ? – 2nd Semester
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.
1251 HP Theology 2 – The Mission of Christ
Year Course
Prerequisite: Evaluation of the student based on cumulative GPA, current grades and teacher recommendation
The Paschal Mystery and the Church
Students will build on and deepen theological concepts about the person of Jesus Christ learned in the freshmen year. The first semester of Theology 2 explores major themes in salvation history, drawing from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Building on notions of original sin and covenant, the course will then turn to an in-depth exploration of the Paschal Mystery through careful study of Scripture and Church documents. The semester ends by examining the call to discipleship in the Church and each individual's life. The second semester of Theology 2 builds on the theme of discipleship for a close examination of the Church and its continuation of the mission of Christ. Students will explore the nature and meaning of the Church and therein trace developments in its understanding of Jesus. This will include examination of the Church councils and its response to questions of orthodoxy. The course concludes by exploring the questions: Why Catholic? And What are the challenges facing our Church community?
1352 HP Theology 3 – Life in Christ
Year Course
Prerequisite: Evaluation of the student based on cumulative GPA, current grades and teacher recommendation
This course asks: what does it mean to live a Christian life? Building on what students have learned through their encounter with Christ in Scripture and in the teachings of the Church, these semesters explore grace in our everyday lives and the moral life we choose to live as a response to God’s love. The first semester focuses on the Sacraments as the official and special moments of grace in our spiritual lives, while the second semester focuses on defining and applying the moral law for Christian life.
1451 HP Critical Reflections
Year Course
Prerequisite: Evaluation of the student based on cumulative GPA, current grades and teacher recommendation
Critical Reflections on the Theory of Knowledge in Philosophy and Theology, takes the motto of Servite High School: "I believe so that I may understand" as the necessary background for examining critical thinking habits which inform faith. The course introduces the student to epistemology, the theory of knowledge, and the way truth claims are made. Once this portion of the course is completed, the class explores what faith is and how man comes to knowledge of faith. Theology, defined as "faith seeking understanding," establishes a means by which students can understand faith within the context of a Christian conversion that is affective, moral, and intellectual. Students reflect on the existence of the God of Jesus Christ and the way He can be met in life. Key Catholic theological teachings are explored.
