The Theology Department at Bishop Kelly High School has the responsibilities for developing, coordinating and overseeing that portion of the school's academic curriculum which deals with the knowledge of God and religious truth. The focus of Bishop Kelly's instructional theology program is to be found in what is called "didache" an awareness and experience of God's love and redemption as revealed in scripture and tradition - the cognitive element. The school's total theology program is composed of two additional components, known as "koinonia" - which is faith formation based on involvement in Christian community - and "diakonia" - which encompasses prayer, liturgy, sacramental celebrations, retreats, etc. In dealing with the academic goal of the Theology Department, its members are confronted with questions of faith and young people. It will be the primary goal of the Theology Department to enhance the Catholic faith of its students and to help them explore, understand and articulate that faith which they already possess—in light of the Church's experience and teaching. It is the department's belief that an appropriate education in Catholic theology must honor both elements. Students will be taught the living, ongoing faith and tradition of the Church and they will be provided with the opportunities to experience that faith and tradition as their own. Students who graduate from Bishop Kelly High School will be able to articulate the beliefs of the Catholic Church as well as to express how these beliefs apply to their own lives.

To compensate for the limitations imposed by the classroom, Bishop Kelly High School has broadened its theology program to incorporate two additional segments - campus ministry and service learning. The campus ministry program allows students to live out the Gospel message through service to the total school community while the service learning program enables students to reach beyond the confines of school and family communities to benefit the larger community of which they are a part. Because of the overlap, which legitimately exists among the classroom, the campus ministry and the service learning programs, it is imperative that these three components work in close harmony with one another in coordinating the total theology program at Bishop Kelly High School.

THEOLOGY I: OLD TESTAMENT -Fall Semester
Grade Level: 9-required
This required course presents to incoming freshmen the possibility that God can be found in Holy Scripture. The Catholic Church teaches that God is revealed through Scripture and Tradition. This course will interpret the inspired Scripture paying special attention above all, “…to what God wants to reveal through the sacred authors for our salvation” (Catechism of the Catholic Church Par. 137). The course will include a study of the development of the Old Testament, the literary forms, the diverse approaches used in their interpretation, and a comparison of these scriptures with the other literature from the time and area in which they were written. Emphasis of the course will be twofold: an understanding of the meaning of the words when they were written and a consideration of how they can nourish the students' own spiritual lives. Ten hours of service learning will be a component of the course, with the emphasis on working within the home and surroundings for relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some examples might be: helping an elderly grandparent with chores, planning an outing for family, helping a neighbor, or babysitting for a single parent (friend).

THEOLOGY I: NEW TESTAMENT -Spring Semester
Grade Level: 9-required
This course continues the yearlong study of Holy Scripture, by focusing on the writings concerning Jesus Christ and early Christianity. Here students will encounter the Gospels and other early church writings. The course will discuss the literary forms, the images of Jesus and the development of the Church as seen in the New Testament. Students will be presented with opportunities to draw connections between the Old and New Testaments since each sheds light on the other. Ten hours of service learning will be a component of the course, with the emphasis on working within the home and surroundings for relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some examples might be: helping an elderly grandparent with chores, planning an outing for family, helping a neighbor, or babysitting for a single parent (friend).

THEOLOGY II: -Two Semesters
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: HISTORY AND TRADITIONS
Grade Level: 10-required
The sophomore theology curriculum builds upon the idea that God is revealed through Scripture and Tradition. While the freshmen deal with how God is encountered in the Bible, the sophomores look for God’s presence in the life of the Church. The Bishop Kelly prayer states “Help me see Jesus in others and have others see Jesus in me.” This course, therefore, begins with an exploration of the individual person’s faith journey and moves into an understanding of how we, together, make up the body of Christ, the Church. This course includes personal spiritual growth and community relatedness, selected faith issues including God’s existence, prayer and classic books in Catholic spirituality. The course also includes the sacraments, the major periods of Church history, councils and creeds, the communion of saints, Mary-the mother of Jesus, the liturgical year, and the organization of the Church. Ten hours of service learning will be a component of each semester with the emphasis on work within a worship community or religious organization.

COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS I -Fall Semester
Grade Level: 11-required *
Comparative Religions is offered both semesters but with differing content each semester. One semester is required for juniors. Seniors may take an additional semester to satisfy their Theology elective requirement. The course is designed to broaden the students' perspective so that they will more fully understand the people of the world and, in turn, deepen their understanding of themselves and their own religion. The course, which will begin by identifying and studying the key elements of religion (worship, belief, and community) will then use these insights as the organizing principles for learning about religions originating in the Near East, India and Asia. Attention will also be directed toward an understanding of non-Catholic Christian denominations. Students will be expected to attend various religious services outside of the school day. For juniors, ten hours of service learning will be a component of the course.

COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS II -Spring Semester
Grade Level: 11-required *
Comparative Religions is offered both semesters but with differing content each semester. One semester is required for juniors. Seniors may take an additional semester to satisfy their Theology elective requirement. The course is designed to broaden the students’ perspective so that they will more fully understand the people of the world and, in turn, deepen their understanding of themselves and their own religion. The course, which will begin by identifying and studying the key elements of religion (worship, belief, and community) will then use these insights as the organizing principles for learning about religions originating in the Near East, India and Asia. Attention will also be directed toward an understanding of non-Catholic Christian denominations. Students will be expected to attend various religious services outside of the school day. For juniors, ten hours of service learning will be a component of the course.

* Juniors must take a semester of Moral Decision-Making, and one
semester of Comparative Religions

MORAL DECISION-MAKING -One Semester
Grade Level: 11-required *
This one-semester junior class is offered each semester of the school year. This course will emphasize the Christian vision of decision-making with Jesus as the model of full humanness. Students will be challenged to examine their own choices in light of Roman Catholic teachings. The course will include topics with specific moral concerns such as: drugs, alcohol, medical ethics, violence, relationships, social justice, prejudice, discrimination, life and death issues, sexuality and HIV/AIDS. For juniors, ten hours of service learning will be a component of the course.

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY AND CHRISTIAN BELIEF -Fall Semester
Grade Levels: 12
Philosophy and Christian Belief is designed for seniors. Students will develop a working familiarity with ancient Greek philosophers including Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, as well as selected Muslim, Jewish and Christian philosophers. Special emphasis will be placed on the philosophies of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. This is a college preparatory course. Students will be challenged to read from original philosophical works and to think critically and abstractly. The teacher’s role is to provide a means for the students to understand the philosophical texts and to demonstrate that Christian belief takes the process of philosophy seriously. Our fundamental issue is the effect that philosophy has on Christian faith.

MODERN PHILOSOPHY AND CHRISTIAN BELIEF -Spring Semester
Grades: 12
Philosophy and Christian Belief is designed for seniors. Students will develop a working familiarity with modern philosophers and periods of thought from the Renaissance to the present. This is a college preparatory course. Students will be challenged to read from original philosophical works and to think critically and abstractly. The teacher’s role is to provide a means for the students to understand the philosophical texts and to demonstrate that Christian belief takes the process of philosophy seriously. Our fundamental issue is the effect that philosophy has on Christian faith. Only one semester of Philosophy may be taken to satisfy the Theology requirement. A second semester may be taken as a general elective.

SOCIAL JUSTICE -One Semester
Grade Levels: 12
In this class students will be called to recognize and name the injustices in our midst. Topics include war, poverty, and governmental systems. They will discover how to analyze causes of injustice in light of our Catholic faith, tradition, and the catholic response. Catholic social justice is an essential part of our Catholic faith and life.