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ReligionGraduation Requirement: 4 Credits
The Visitation Religion Department is rooted in the Roman Catholic faith tradition and strengthened by the shared vision of Salesian spirituality inspired by the founders of the Visitation, St. Jane de Chantal and St. Francis de Sales. In collaboration with their families, the mission of the department is to make Jesus Christ known, loved, and served in the lives of the students that they may do the same in their own lives and relationships.
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Grade Level |
First Semester Courses |
Second Semester Courses |
| 9th Grade |
Morality |
Hebrew Scriptures |
| 10th Grade |
Christian Scriptures |
Church History |
| 11th Grade |
World Religions |
Social Justice |
| 12th Grade |
Peer Ministry;
Quest for God;
Spirituality, Prayer, and Meditation |
Senior Seminar |
| Faith and Morality |
0.5 Credit (S1)
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The student will be introduced to moral guidelines with emphasis on clarifying personal values, formation of conscience and personal decision making. The stages of moral development are explored in this process. Using the Ten Commandments as an outline, issues of morality will be discussed in light of Catholic teachings. These include but are not limited to marriage, sexuality, and the sanctity of life.
Required for 9th grade students. |
| Intro to Hebrew Scriptures |
0.5 Credit (S2) |
The context and content of the Hebrew Scriptures will be studied with the goals of growing in understanding the covenant relationship between God and God’s people and recognizing the connection between the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. The stories will serve as a guide to help the student examine her own faith experience.
Required for 9th grade students.
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| Intro to Christian Scriptures |
0.5 Credit (S1) |
This course explores our understanding of who Jesus is as the heart of our identity as a Christian community and as people of faith. The class will study the life, ministry, message and meaning of Jesus’ fulfillment of the new covenant, and how the early Christians continued Jesus’ mission to bring about the Kingdom of God.
Required for 10th grade students. |
| Church History |
0.5 Credit (S2) |
Introduction to Church history investigates how Christ has been and continues to be manifest in His church throughout history. The course will be taught following the evolution of Christian doctrine, the Church’s response to worldly events, and the important people of faith who helped tradition become a pillar of truth for Catholics today.
Required for 10th grade students. |
World Religions |
0.5 Credit (S1) |
This course will study religions of the non-Christian traditions; Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Islam. Through the study of these religions, the students will learn about and respect the beliefs of other cultures while gaining a fresh insight into their own Judeo-Christian tradition. Because of the continuing movement in diversity of our culture, it is necessary to deepen our consciousness of others so that we may grow into understanding and compassionate adults.
Required for 11th grade students.
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| Social Justice |
0.5 Credit (S2) |
This course is based on Gospel values. The social justice curriculum challenges the students to think critically, act responsibly and to be aware of persons who are often overlooked. The class acknowledges the seriousness of existing social problems. It also points out signs of hope in the present models of people and organizations that are making contributions to justice and peace in our global community.
Required for 11th grade students. |
| Peer Ministry and Christian Service |
0.5 Credit (S1) |
This course explores programs of outreach, service and liturgy, emphasizing the necessary procedures and skills. It deals with issues such as poverty in relationship to the Church’s teaching on social action and our baptismal call to ministry. A special emphasis is placed on training for peer ministry, as students explore their own gifts and talents to learn and practice the skills needed to lead group discussions, direct group activities or minister to those in need in a variety of situations.
Required for 12th grade students*. |
| Spirituality, Prayer, and Meditation |
0.5 Credit (S1) |
Students explore their own identity as spiritual beings in relationship with God. Through the study of spiritual writers, the practice of prayer and meditation, and personal reflection on spirituality, students will formulate their own spiritual goals and create class prayer experiences. The course seeks a balance between articulation of spirituality, the art of prayer, and the practice of meditation.
Required for 12th grade students*. |
| Quest for God |
0.5 Credit (S1) |
This course explores our spiritual dimension. It looks at the questions of belief: why we believe, what we believe, and how we express that belief. Examples of works by people such as Thomas Merton and Francis De Sales are read to highlight “journeys” of faith. The importance of prayer in our lives is also emphasized.
Required for 12th grade students*. |
| *Students choose one of the above three courses for their fall semester religion requirement. |
| Senior Seminar |
0.5 Credit (S2) |
This course is designed to tie together the Visitation experience for seniors. It culminates the last four years of religious study and lived faith experience, and projects students into their future. The class is a clear reflection of the school’s motto: “Non Scholae, sed Vitae – Not for School but for Life.” Senior Seminar includes readings, videos, guest speakers, personal reflection and discussion, and concludes with the “Philosophy of Life” written assignment—a graduation requirement.
Required for 12th grade students | |
