* denotes department chairperson. To contact a teacher by phone, dial 201-547- and the extension listed above.

Mission Statement:

In response to the ultimate aim of Jesuit secondary education and the deepest hungers of the students that we serve, the Religion Department at Saint Peter’s Prep accompanies students in the development of their religious consciousness or sensibility of God. The Religion faculty encourage in students wonder and receptivity to belonging to God and the world prompted by the formation of each individual’s inner life. The Religion Department invites students to reflect on life in light of an encounter through studies with the God of Jesus of Nazareth and the church that God gives in service to the world. Finally, the Religion curriculum prepares students for the college study of Religion.

Course Descriptions 0010 Introduction to Religion Ignatian Heritage and Catholic Foundations

During freshmen year at Saint Peter’s, students will closely read the life of Ignatius of Loyola. Instructors will introduce students to the history and teachings of Catholic Christianity through a careful examination of the sacraments. The first year curriculum will begin the boys’ study of the Bible with a historical-critical introduction to the Old Testament with a focus on Genesis through II Kings and three prophets.

Thematic Sequence and Outcomes

I. Catholic Sacramental Foundations

By the end of the first marking period, first year students will know the distinctive marks of Catholic Christianity through a careful study of the sacraments of the Catholic Church, the Catholic sacramental imagination, and the relationship between faith, reason, truth, fact, and the importance of ritual.

II. Ignatian Heritage By the end of the first semester, first year students will

A. develop a spiritual and theological appreciation for the life of Ignatius of Loyola with particular attention to his historical and social milieu, religious context, and spiritual formation (reference to the first principle and foundation of The Spiritual Exercises will be made); B. become well acquainted with the history and mission of the Society of Jesus, especially the Jesuit mission in education in secondary schools and universities; C. understand what it means to be a student in a Jesuit college preparatory school that challenges boys to become men for others (readings will include documents like The Profile of a Graduate at Graduation).

III. The Old Testament By the end of the first year of study, students will

A. be grounded appropriately for an adolescent in an historical-critical approach to reading Scripture; B. formulate a basic historical, literary and theological understanding of the Old Testament with a focus on themes like creation, sin, grace, covenant, liberation, The Law, and the Prophets; C. begin the challenging intellectual, moral and religious task of recognizing distinctions between historical and scientific facts and religious truth in the literature of the Old Testament.

IV. College Preparatory Skills Outcomes By the end of the first year of studies, students will

A. discover how to read critically sacred texts, utilizing outlining (writing summaries) and note-taking assignments to recognize stated and implied important information and simple relationships; B. meet for the first time and begin to practice analyzing and synthesizing religious truths within sacred texts and history through reflective writing assignments; C. learn how to develop glossaries of significant terms, people and events for writing and presentation purposes; D. be introduced to and begin skill development in analytical essay writing in religion (Marking Period 1 – introduction with thesis and map; Marking Periods 2 and 3 – the development of a three paragraph essay; Marking Period 4 – the development of a five paragraph essay with citations); E. participate in student-centered class discussion utilizing Socratic, dialogical, cooperative learning or interactive lectures; F. become skilled at public and professional oral presentations through the use of student projects.

Common Texts

New American Bible Mick. Understanding the Sacraments Today. Link. Paths Through Scriptures (RCL) Ignatian Anthology (Saint Peter’s Religion Department)

Scope and Sequence

The Sacraments Ignatian Heritage Old Testament Studies Genesis through II Kings Focus on two Major Prophets 0020 Early Christian Literature The Gospels and Apostolic Letters

During the second year at Saint Peter’s Prep, students will have the opportunity through New Testament studies to meet Jesus again. Through historical, social, literary and theological studies of the Gospels and Letters, students will focus on how, from the developing perspective of people of faith, Jesus of Nazareth is recognized as the Christ of faith. Instructors will introduce students to Jesus’ vision of and mission in service to the Kingdom of God as the foundation for Christian moral decision-making, social justice, and church life.

I. Outcomes By the end of the fourth marking period, second year students will 1. understand the different though complementary images of Jesus that emerge from the canonical gospels, especially the Synoptic gospels; 2. know the teachings of Jesus with reference to the Kingdom of God and identified through the variety of literary forms in the gospels (for example, parables, pronouncement stories, short sayings); 3. reflect on Jesus’ commitment to the Kingdom of God as realized in his healings and social interactions with people at the margins of the Roman Empire and Judaic society; 4. recognize and assess the impact or influence of first century Israelite and Roman politics, culture, history and religion on the gospels, letters and their respective communities; 5. develop a foundational historical awareness of the emergence of the Christian church from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

II. Skills Outcomes By the end of the fourth marking period, second year students will be able to

1. read the New Testament through lenses informed by historical, literary and religious criticisms; 2. decipher religious meanings behind sacred texts and images; 3. advance note-taking skills initiated during first year studies; 4. develop writing summaries beyond reporting skills into reflective writings that introduce students to interpretation (for example, using a journal); 5. enhance essay writing, composing seven paragraph essays with analyses of quotations from and paraphrases of sources; 6. identify and use reliable biblical and historical research resources; 7. develop research organization (reading and note-taking) strategies; 8. compose a brief research paper or public oral presentation that stresses abilities to work with complex relationships, inference, interpretation, and documentation.

* Skills outcomes encourage cooperative and discovery learning as avenues for analysis and interpretation that complement Socratic dialogue and lecture learning (repetition).

Required Texts: New American Bible Pheme Perkins. Reading the New Testament. Paulist Press. Scope and Sequence The World of Jesus (Historical, Social, Religious Context Synoptic Gospels Mark Unique to Matthew Unique to Luke John Acts Letters Focus on one Major Pauline Letter 0030 Christian Ethics: Moral Decision Making and Social Responsibility

At Saint Peter’s Prep, Jesus is the model for human life. The Christian’s relationship with God is authentically expressed in a person’s deep human concern for others, especially the poor. During the third year of studies, students reflect on personal moral decision making grounded in Christian virtues. Students learn how to look at social systems and structures on a global as well as national scale in light of the gospel and Catholic social teachings.

I. Thematic Outcomes By the end of the fourth period, students will

1. understand and experience personal and social conscientization (a critical awareness of sin, grace, justice and injustice in their individual and social expressions); 2. engage through study and reflection on a narrative and character based Christian moral theology; 3. realize that Catholic social teaching (its history and content) is the church’s reflection on and response to God’s call for justice and peace; 4. recognize the congruence between Jesus’ transforming initiative (non-violent conflict resolution) and the Jesuit educational mission to prepare men for others and contemplatives in action; 5. assess 20th century history and 21st century current events in light of individuals and communities who put into action Jesus’ transforming initiative.

II. Skills Outcomes By the end of the fourth marking period, students will be able to

1. identify and read carefully the economic, political, historical, sociological and theological resources appropriate for doing social systemic analyses; 2. apply systemic analyses to local, national and global stresses in light of the gospel; 3. organize the quantitative and qualitative findings of systemic analyses in research papers and public presentations, offering judgments on social sins and proposing courses of transformative actions (building on research and writing skills initiated during the second year of studies); 4. participate in a course of transformative action proposed by students during the second semester; 5. compose a contemplative journal on transformative action for the purpose of evaluating service to faith and justice during the second semester.

Required Text: Department’s Social Justice Anthology Adams, Blumenfeld et al. Readings in Diversity and Social Justice Kindlon & Thompson. Raising Cain Scope and Sequence Foundations Biblical Catholic Social Teaching Ignatian Human Sexuality Race Social-Economic Justice Senior Seminar in Religion

During senior year, students return to the study of church history and Ignatian spirituality. Students complement those studies with a narrative approach to the study of world religions. Senior year will give particular attention to examinations of their educational and life experiences with assistance from Ignatian resources - considering the Jesuit understanding of being a contemplative in action.

Content Outcomes By the end of the fourth marking period, seniors will

1. understand the theological development of what Catholics believe (doctrine) giving specific attention to critical historical moments that define or deepen communal faith; 2. realize the social development and expressions of Catholic life; 3. appreciate the reasons for learning about world religions in a Catholic school context in light of the Vatican II welcome for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue; 4. become familiar with western and eastern religions through immersion in literature, arts and architecture, or films that give us entry into various religious traditions; 5. examine their own religious beliefs in light of their conversations with western and eastern religions; 6. develop an Ignatian vocabulary by way of a historical, theological and spiritual reading of primary sources, for example The Autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola, The Letters of Ignatius; 7. appreciate by way of guided experience the difference that spiritual disciplines like The Examen make in one's faith and life.

Skill Outcomes By the end of the fourth marking period, seniors will

1. develop an adult ability to discern religious truths within historical and literary texts, for example to be able to recognize what constitutes a history or story as revelation for religious communities; 2. refine interpretive writing skills through brief, focused compositions (one page analyses) and one major writing project (analytical or creative) for each semester; 3. enhance public speaking skills through class presentations on special topics that welcome the use of media of their choice; 4. practice the art of reflection on life and learning to the point of giving a disciplined expression of their spirituality or life philosophy. Common Texts Silff. Companions of Christ. Carmody and Carmody. In the Paths of the Masters. Gonzalez. An Essential Outline of Church History. Scope and Sequence Ignatian Examen throughout the Year

Marking Periods I and II: Church History - History and Personal as well as Public Identity ; The Profile of a Graduate at Graduation from a Jesuit School; The History of Christianity; The Student’s Family’s Religious History, His Intellectual and Ethical History

Marking Periods III and IV: World Religions; Personal and Public Identity and Mission; Four Spiritual Masters: The Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, and Muhammad; Senior Capstone Project: The Student’s Anthropology and Theology or Philosophy of Life; The Profile of “this” Student at Graduation