Curriculum

Overview

School of Faith provides a series of courses that cover the full content and experience of the Catholic faith. The program is based on a three-year cycle of Basics of the Faith, Salvation History and Christian Virtue. From this core curriculum, we offer a variety of electives including Faith and Culture, Christian Philosophy, Introduction to Theology, The Spiritual Life, Theology of the Body and more.

All the courses are designed to engage the student both intellectually and spiritually. Students will be equipped to know their faith more deeply, and to live their faith within the context of the modern world. 

Salvation History

This two-semester course is a detailed walk through the biblical story of salvation. Too many Catholics listen to the Scripture readings every Sunday but fail to understand the big picture of the story. This class opens up the Bible in a new and exciting way that invites every student to live out the drama of salvation in their own lives. The main text for the class is the Bible.

Faith Foundations

In two semesters this class covers all the key elements of the Catholic faith. It is a walk through the Creed with an emphasis on how the articles of faith fit into the biblical story of salvation. This class explains who man is in relationship to God, how the sacraments communicate God's grace, how to pray and much, much more. Every student who finishes this class will have a strong understanding of what the Church teaches and how to live the fullness of the Catholic faith. The texts for this class are the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Bible and detailed class notes that draw from the Church Fathers and contemporary Church figures.


Virtue: The Pursuit of Happiness

The Christian life is often thought of as necessarily safe and dull. This class explains why the life of Christian virtue is not only the path to true happiness, but is filled with adventure. Christian living gives life meaning and is the most fulfilling path to happiness. This class teaches why the virtues are the way to our happiness and how to live a virtuous life. The main texts for this class include the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Saint Thomas Aquinas's treatment of the virtues.


Catholic Spirituality: the Role of the Holy Spirit, Mary and Prayer in Our Life

“Jesus told us, ‘This is eternal life: to know thee the one true God and Jesus Christ who you have sent’ (John 17:3).  This ‘knowing’ of God is the ultimate knowing of the Father through his Son as empowered by the Spirit. The knowing is not just intellectual, but through the Spirit and so we must learn to live in the Spirit with the Church.  This course will highlight the importance of the place of the Liturgy and Sacraments in the growth of our union with Christ through the supernatural virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love; the imitation of Christ in the Beatitudes; the development of his virtues and Mary’s faith through daily use of the Rosary; preparing ourselves for contemplative prayer and removing obstacles to a devout prayer life; the use of sacramentals and varying popular devotions; it will clarify the necessity of devotion to Mary and the maintenance of union with the faith of the Church; covering sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and the necessity of acts of charity towards our neighbors (corporal and spiritual works).”