Theology

 Semester 1: Revelation

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, 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 may grow to know and love Jesus Christ more personally.

Semester 2: Christology

 In the second half of the year, students will be introduced 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.

*All Freshmen Students are enrolled in Theology I College Prep

The Paschal Mystery and the Church College Prep

Semester 1: The first semester of the course focuses on The Paschal Mystery and how this tremendous mystery has helped found an institution that has lasted over two millennia. It aims to help students recognize that the moral life involves an ongoing commitment and attempt to live out Christ’s mission in our daily lives and that this commitment adds meaning to their very existence. It includes guidance in the process of conscience formation and how we as Christians can keep Christ alive to ourselves, others, and in the Church of today. The course introduces the student to Catholic Social teaching and the sacraments of initiation. Ultimately, we will focus on how being a disciple will impact the way we live our lives and how our lives will impact the world around us.

Semester 2: The second semester of this course will be spent expanding the student’s relationship and knowledge of the Catholic Church as an institution and the spirit of its theology. Its primary aim is to facilitate each student’s spiritual growth toward maturity in Christ through the liturgical life of the Church. The course examines our relationship with self, others, and God through the lens of Church life, Synodality and the sacraments. The hope for the second semester is that each student is afforded the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the liturgical life of theChurch and how important their role is as members of the Body of Christ. Students are introduced to how the sacraments have been celebrated over the centuries.

The Paschal Mystery and the Church Honors follows the same outline as the CP course but features more challenging readings and writing assignments which require more in-depth analysis. The Honors course carries a 5% weight.

Semester 1: During the first semester, students will study the Old Testament and will learn basic principles for understanding and interpreting the Bible. The semester will focus on the careful study of the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, The Prophetic Texts, and the Wisdom Literature.

Semester 2: During the second semester students will encounter an in-depth introduction to Christology through an exploration of the religious truth of the Gospels and Christ's teaching. Students will examine the Divinity of Jesus and conclude with an examination of the Acts of the Apostles and Jesus’ establishment of the early Church. 

Semester 1

The first semester is devoted to an extensive study of the Hebrew Scriptures. The course is designed to guide the student of the Bible through the text and its development, and enrich his understanding of the way the Bible came to be written. The first marking period is devoted to the Hebrew Scriptures and biblical criticisms. Here, the student is introduced to contemporary biblical scholarship, including the use of the historical-critical method. The second marking period is devoted to the prophetic literature and the history of the Jewish people from Abraham to the destruction of the Second Temple.

Semester 2

The second semester is devoted to an extensive study of the Christian New Testament, with a particular emphasis on the Gospels. We will look at the development of the New Testament canon in the Apostolic Time Period. We will also look at the audience for each of the Gospels, who may have been the evangelist, and how the evangelist arranged his material to tell a bigger story. Later in the semester, we will look at Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline letters to better understand the letters attributed to Saint Paul and the development of the early Church in the apostolic period. Students will be invited to write exegetical research papers on various New Testament scripture passages. This course carries a 5% weight.

This two-semester course affords the student the opportunity to explore in greater depth the history and central beliefs of the church (first semester) and Catholic personal morality and social justice (second semester). The students are invited to come to a deeper understanding of how these various dimensions of the Catholic faith relate to their own lives. In the second semester, students examine how the Church’s social teachings impact the Church’s stance on social and political issues. This course serves as both a summary of prior instruction and a preparation for living a Catholic life as adults.

This course is divided into two parts. In the first semester, the course examines Christian theology. It is an opportunity for the student to encounter the great theologians of the Christian tradition, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of theological positions, to develop his own ability to reason theologically, and to engage in verbal and written theological debate. In the second semester, the course deals with Christian theological ethics. In light of Christian theological claims, the course analyzes different types of moral reasoning and examines specific ethical issues. This course carries a 5% weight.

The purpose of this course is to help students understand that it is only 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.

Responding to the command of Jesus to “love one another,” the seniors in the Peer Ministry Program provide opportunities for the freshmen to compare their values and attitudes with those of the Gospel. Through group dynamics and interpersonal relationships, the program challenges both the freshmen and seniors to grow on a variety of levels. The seniors are prepared to lead weekly meetings with small groups of freshmen. In an attempt to foster personal, social, religious, and relational growth in the freshmen, the seniors utilize a series of group exercises designed to both challenge and affirm the freshmen, with the Peer Minister lending direction and support. The seniors are challenged to be witnesses of faith in their sessions with the freshmen. 

Students interested in being in this course must submit an application in the spring of their Junior Year. This course carries a 5% weight.

This yearlong course provides an opportunity for students to reflect on Jesus's command "love one another" and the U.S. Catholic Bishops' call to become "faithful citizens,” persons who value human dignity and contribute to the common good. Students will participate in structured volunteer activities within CBA and in the wider community.  Students will be asked to think "what am I good at?" and "what do I like to do?" because frequently these questions lead to placement at an appropriate volunteer site. However, sometimes the service that is the best fit is entirely unforeseeable. This course provides an opportunity for such exploration. 

The academic coursework centers on personal morality and Catholic social justice teaching. Through required readings, journal-keeping, and class meetings, students will reflect on their experience of following Jesus’s command to love others and the Bishops’ call to become faithful citizens. As senior year ends, students will be asked to consider continuing volunteer service in college and beyond. 

Students interested in being in this course must submit an application in the spring of their Junior Year. This course carries a 5% weight.