ST. JOSEPH PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION

CURRICULUM GUIDE

2005

ST. JOSEPH PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION

CURRICULUM GUIDE

As Catholics we believe that the divine truth or revelation is given to us through two means: Holy Scripture and Tradition (the teachings of the Church). Therefore, the curriculum reflects a balance between these two sources.

Each grade level indicates the core scripture incorporated throughout that grade.

The Catholic Tradition is categorized under the four pillars of the Catechism:

V Creed (We Believe)

V Liturgy/Sacraments (We Worship)

V Prayer (We Pray)

V Morality (We Live).

Within each of the above pillars of our faith are found the 10 domains (main teachings) of our faith. The first part of this curriculum guides lists the specific faith knowledge to be learned.

DOMAINS (PILLAR)

TRIUNE GOD (Creed)

JESUS (Creed)

CHURCH (Creed and Liturgy/Sacraments)

WORSHIP AND PRAYER (Liturgy/Sacraments & Prayer)

SACRAMENTS (Liturgy/Sacraments)

SCRIPTURE (Creed)

DOCTRINE (Creed)

MORALITY (Morality)

BRING FORTH THE KINGDOM (Morality)

EVANGELIZATION (Morality)

In addition, the grade level section of the guide offers the topics to be covered, the core scripture incorporated, Catholic prayers/practices, faith vocabulary and saints.

This curriculum spirals upon itself, rather than being thematic. This enables the child to be re-introduced to the main teachings of our faith throughout their years in PSR. Teachings are re-introduced at age-appropriate manner, so that child is provided the opportunity to grow in their understanding and application of this knowledge to their life.

The emphasis on the faith knowledge is that is to be applied to daily life. Faith is not meant to be a matter of memorization of information, but rather the knowledgeable application and celebration of the faith knowledge learned.

OVERALL GOALS BASED ON THE TEN DOMAINS & PILLARS OF THE CATECHISM

Triune God (Creed)

Students will express understanding of the Triune God and the activity of the persons of the Trinity in their lives; they will demonstrate the importance of a personal relationship with God in their lives and in the life of the community.

Jesus (Creed)

Students will express a basic understanding of Jesus, his life and teachings; they will recognize Jesus as their Savior and model for Christian living.

Church (Creed and liturgy/Sacraments)

Students will describe how the Church carries out Jesus’ mission of message, community, worship and service; the structure and function of the Church in the world; and key developments in the history of the Church, including the role of Mary and the saints.

Worship and Prayer (Liturgy/Sacraments and Prayer)

Students will participate in the worship of the faith community, use a variety of prayer forms to enrich and express personal and communal spirituality, plan liturgy and prayer experiences with appropriate resources and demonstrate an understanding of the liturgical seasons, feasts, saints days and sacramentals.

Sacraments (Liturgy/Sacraments)

Students will participate in the sacramental life of the Church, recognizing the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life; they will express an understanding of the nature, importance and ritual of the seven sacraments and the sacramentality of all creation.

Scripture (Creed)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of Sacred Scripture as the inspired Word of God revealing God’s plan for salvation, and will read, interpret and apply Scripture to their lives.

Doctrine (Creed)

Students will demonstrate understanding of authentic Catholic teachings as promulgated by the Magesterium of the Church and apply these teachings to all life situations.

Morality (Morality)

Students will demonstrate understanding of Catholic moral teachings, make moral decisions consistent with these teachings, and especially exhibit a respect for life toward self, others and creation.

Bringing Forth the Kingdom of God (Morality)

Students will exercise responsible stewardship for the gift of creation, share their time, talent and treasure in service to the community as response to the Gospel call, and evaluate societal structures in light of Catholic social justice principles.

Evangelization (Morality)

Students will exhibit a welcoming and inviting attitude toward all persons encountered in the broader community and share their Catholic identity, beliefs and practices.

DOMAIN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Triune God

Students will express understanding of the Triune God and the activity of the persons of the Trinity in their lives; they will demonstrate the importance of a personal relationship with God in their lives and in the life of the community.

Goals:

¨ Student will express understanding and appreciation of the Father as Creator

¨ Students will express an understanding of Jesus as Son of God and our brother and friend

¨ Students will describe the Holy Spirit as our helper and guide

¨ Students will identify the Trinity as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

CONTENT TOPICS:

Knowledge

¨ Trinity – One God, Three Persons

¨ Father – creator, source of all life, love of creation

¨ Son – Jesus, Savior, brother, friend, Human and divine, Incarnation

¨ Holy Spirit – Helper, guide, advocate, paraclete, source of sacraments, gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit

¨ Trinity – model of relationship, community

Attitudes/Values

¨ See God as all loving and eternally merciful

¨ Feel a need for God in their lives

¨ Be open to the Holy Spirit

¨ To imitate God’s love and respect for all creation: human, creatures, and environment

Christian Life Skills

¨ To care for and respect human life

¨ To model development of relationships and community on the Trinity

¨ Recognize God’s presence in the world today

¨ To be tolerant and respectful of all people

¨ To develop and foster prayer life that stems from the recognition of God’s presence and our need of him

Jesus

Students will express a basic understanding of Jesus, his life and teachings; they will recognize Jesus as their Savior and model for Christian living.

Goals:

¨ Students will express an understanding of Jesus as Son of God and our brother and friend.

¨ Students will express understanding of Jesus as present in the sacraments.

¨ Students will profess belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

¨ Students will identify Jesus as the founder of the Church.

¨ Students will demonstrate understanding of Jesus as teacher and role model for Christian living.

¨ Students will express understanding of the Incarnation.

¨ Students will refer to and reflect upon Scripture texts relating to the Sacraments and their institution by Christ.

¨ Students will express understanding of Jesus as messiah, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy

¨ Students will express a basic understanding of Jesus, his life and teachings, and recognize the importance of a personal relationship with him as their Savior and model for Christian living.

¨ Students will express understanding of Jesus as champion of the underdog.

CONTENT TOPICS

Knowledge

¨ Life of Jesus

¨ Teachings of Jesus

¨ Jesus as human and divine, as Incarnation

¨ Presence of Jesus in sacraments

¨ Jesus as teacher, role-model, personal Savior, founder of the Church, Bread of Life, Messiah, Second Person of the Trinity, friend, brother

¨ Jesus as center of our faith

Attitude/values

¨ Acknowledge by words or actions that Jesus is the heart of our faith

¨ Recognize Jesus came into the world to save everyone

¨ Recognize Jesus as personal Savior

¨ Recognize Jesus as role model for us to follow

Christian Life Skills

¨ To evaluate choices in light of Jesus

¨ To tell the story of Jesus

¨ To pray to Jesus

¨ To see Jesus as one, who, by reason of his humanity understands us.

¨ To participate in the sacraments

¨ To build the kingdom

Church

Students will describe how the Church carries out Jesus’ mission of message, community, worship and service; the structure and function of the Church in the world; and key developments in the history of the Church, including the role of Mary and the saints.

Goals:

¨ Students will identify Mary as the Mother of Jesus and our mother

¨ Students will define Baptism as joining the family of the Catholic Church.

¨ Students will identify the Church as the People of God.

¨ Students will describe events in the history of the early Church

¨ Students will relate the Pentecost Event as the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Church and express understanding that the Holy Spirit continues to be present in the Church and in individuals today

¨ Students will describe and express understanding of the Marks of the Church.

¨ Students will recognize the structure of the liturgical year and its impact on liturgical celebrations.

¨ Students will express understanding that the Mass is the great celebration of the Church

¨ Students will distinguish between various vocations/ministries in the Church and will describe the hierarchy of the Church

¨ Students will identify the Laws of the Church

¨ Students will use the Creed as a summary of Christian beliefs.

¨ Students will demonstrate understanding of the structure and images of the Catholic Church

¨ Students will trace the history of the Roman Catholic Church from apostolic times through the twentieth century.

CONTENT TOPICS

Knowledge

¨ Church as community, Body of Christ, People of God

¨ Church founded by Christ

¨ Universal Church

¨ Dimensions of Church

¨ Worship

¨ Community

¨ Message

¨ Service

¨ Marks of the Church

¨ One

¨ Holy

¨ Catholic

¨ Apostolic

¨ Role of the laity

¨ Hierarchy and role of ordained ministers

¨ History of Church from apostolic times to present

¨ Mary as Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, our mother

¨ Saints

Attitudes/Values

¨ To feel a sense of belonging to God’s family

¨ To appreciate and understand the gifts and responsibilities of Baptism

¨ To feel a sense of joy in celebrating the liturgical year

¨ To feel desire to evangelize

¨ To recognize the Church as the basis of Catholic identity

¨ To value being Catholic

Christian Life Skills

¨ To participate in the sacramental life of the Church

¨ To utilize gifts for Church (stewardship)

¨ To show pride in Catholic identity

¨ To develop awareness of belonging to a universal church as part of the community of saints

¨ To respect other faith traditions

¨ To share faith with others

¨ To develop personal spirituality

Worship and Prayer

Students will participate in the worship of the faith community, use a variety of prayer forms to enrich and express personal and communal spirituality, plan liturgy and prayer experiences with appropriate resources and demonstrate an understanding of the liturgical seasons, feasts, saints days and sacramentals.

Goals:

¨ Students will recognize prayer as listening and talking to God and will participate in traditional prayers of the Church.

¨ Students will participate actively in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist as the community worship of the church

¨ Students will express understanding that the Mass is the great celebration of the Church

¨ Students will distinguish between various vocations/ministries in the Church and will describe the hierarchy of the Church.

¨ Students will demonstrate familiarity with various prayer styles.

¨ Students will apply prayer to decision making.

¨ Students will apply prayer to daily life.

CONTENT TOPICS

Knowledge

¨ Understanding and reverence of sacred space

¨ Mass as celebration of the Church

¨ Structure

¨ Responses

¨ Roles

¨ Signs and Symbols

¨ Liturgical year

¨ Sacramentals

¨ Types of prayer

¨ Adoration

¨ Thanksgiving

¨ Intercessory

¨ Contrition

¨ Forms of prayer

¨ Vocal

¨ Traditional

¨ Spontaneous

¨ Scriptural

¨ Meditation

¨ Contemplation

¨ Centering prayer

¨ Imaging

¨ Prayer services

¨ Knowledge and memorization of traditional prayers of the Church

Attitudes/values

¨ To value communal prayer

¨ To value personal prayer

¨ To reverence sacred space

¨ To appreciate and value prayer and liturgy

¨ To show respect for Church “things”

¨ To understand and appreciate liturgical environment, music and art.

Christian Life Skills

¨ To develop personal prayer life

¨ To utilize various prayer forms

¨ To participate in the sacramental life of the Church

¨ To use scripture as source for prayer

¨ To use personal life experiences as source for prayer

¨ To recite the traditional prayers of the Church

Sacraments

Students will participate in the sacramental life of the Church, recognizing the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life; they will express an understanding of the nature, importance and ritual of the seven sacraments and the sacramentality of all creation.

Goals: