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CORE Ministry

Recognizing that relationship and encounter are primary to faith development, CORE Ministry walks with students on their journeys of faith. Through worship, service, retreats and catechesis, CORE Ministry fosters the spiritual growth of the Saint Joseph Academy community and prepares students for lifelong discipleship.

The courses in this department are to be taken in sequential order.

  • Theology 9: Who is Jesus Christ?

    Big Ideas: This course will begin with an overview of the history and charism of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Then, through their study of the Bible, especially the Gospels, students will come to know and love Jesus Christ more personally. In learning about who He is, the students will also learn who He calls them to be.
    • History and charism (spirituality) of the Congregation of St. Joseph
    • Sacred Scripture
    • Overview of the Bible
    • The Gospels
    • The Mystery of the Incarnation
    • Jesus Christ Teaches Us about Ourselves

  • Theology 10: The Mission of Jesus Christ and the Church

    Prerequisites: Theology 9
    Big Ideas: Help students understand all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Students will also be introduced to what it means to be a disciple of Christ today.
    • The Promise of a Messiah
    • Redemption through the Paschal Mystery
    • What is Life in Christ?
    • God Has Taught Us How to Live a New Life in Christ
    • Gospel Message as the Basis for Catholic Moral Teaching
    • The Reality of Sin

  • Theology 11: Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ and Living as a Disciple of Chris

    Prerequisites: Theology 10
    Big Ideas: Begin with a focus on the Sacraments to help students understand and appreciate the Sacraments as encounters with Christ. Students will then consider how encounters with Christ in the Sacraments and in sacramental moments through life influence our call to live as disciples of Christ.
    • Sacramental Nature of the Church
    • Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, Sacraments at the Service of Communion
    • What is Life in Christ?
    • God Has Taught Us How to Live a New Life in Christ
    • Gospel Message as the Basis for Catholic Moral Teaching
    • The Reality of Sin

  • Theology 12: Life in Jesus Christ

    Prerequisites: Theology 11
    Big Ideas: 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 and will be introduced to the Church’s social teaching.
    • What is Life in Christ?
    • God Has Taught Us How to Live a New Life in Christ
    • Gospel Message as the Basis for Catholic Moral Teaching
    • The Reality of Sin
    • Social Teaching of the Church
    • Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

  • Independent Study: Ministry Leadership

    Prerequisite: Theology 9 and students will be required to take a grade-level theology course in addition to this elective.
    Big Ideas: Study the details of prayer and worship in a liturgical context and beyond. This projects-based course will explore the elements necessary to write prayers, plan prayer services and liturgies for the Saint Joseph Academy community while developing a deeper understanding of the liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church. Students will have the opportunity to learn, plan and lead a variety of prayer services for their peers and the entire Saint Joseph Academy community. This course will be offered in conjunction with a study hall. Students will meet two or three times a week dependent on the liturgical schedule.
    Independent Study: Ministry Leadership may be taken as a standard letter grade, A-F or Pass/Fail (P/F). Students wishing to take the course P/F are required to complete the Pass/Fail Waiver and inform the teacher that they would like to take the course P/F within the first two weeks of the course.

Department Faculty