DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION: Each student must successfully complete a credit in Religious Studies each year the student attends Helias.

FRESHMEN

1000 UNDERSTANDING CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY/WORLD RELIGIONS (1 semester)
This course will review the basic practices and teachings of the Catholic Church. Attention will be given to issues which confront the adolescent beginning high school. One-fourth of the course will be devoted to the study of the world's major religions.

1001 INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE (1 semester)
This course is designed to help bring students to a greater realization of the general nature and contents of the Old Testament scriptures. Students will be given the opportunity to come to an understanding as to how the Old Testament scriptures reveal the promised presence, love and help of God as experienced and recorded in a people’s religious history. Students will be introduced to some major topics of literary forms and devices used by the Old Testament’s human authors to communicate their religious message. Students will be able to appreciate and understand God’s covenant with the Israelites and Sinai as revolutionary and still relevant in summarizing basic human responsibilities to grow in our relationship with God in order to also help bring about greater harmony, justice, and freedom in our lives today.

SOPHOMORES

1002 CHRISTIAN WORSHIP (1 semester)
This course is a basic overview of the Catholic tradition in community worship, personal prayer, and systematic study of the sacraments.

1004 JESUS AND THE NEW TESTAMENT (replaces “Jesus and Justice” course) (1 semester)
This course attempts to discuss the essential elements of the New Testament and the Person of Jesus.  Following a brief review of the major themes of the Hebrew Scriptures, the division and setting of the New Testament are discussed.  The key elements of each of the four gospels are detailed as to purpose, authorship, audience, themes and major focal points, as is Acts of the Apostles and the major letters of Paul.  The students study Jesus in both His humanity and divinity, as Messiah and Son of God and as Second Person of the Trinity.  The necessity and effects of the death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the meaning of the cross and empty tomb are given particular attention.

JUNIORS

1003 THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1 semester)
This one-semester course is designed to help the students understand the history of the Catholic Church beginning with the Apostles and continuing until the present day. The Church History course will demonstrate how the church plays a vital role in the history of man and on our daily life. Church History will also show how the heritage of our past affects the beliefs and traditions in the present age. It will help the students deepen their own faith by learning how God works through the church.

1005 MORAL RESPONSIBILITY (1 semester)
This course presents information on conscience, law, and freedom, relationship and responsibility, and provides the student with the process of moral choice and decision making. Sin and its consequences are considered, as well as the Sacrament of Penance as a means of reconciliation with God and the community. Current moral issues are also discussed. Problems which have risen due to advances in technology, and medical procedures, are discussed with the tradition and experience of the Catholic Christian Community.

SENIORS

1006 CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLES (1 semester)
The focus of this course is on Christian commitment stressing how a Christian lifestyle includes all of one’s communal relationships. The course shows how the following affect the student making the transition into the adult world: dreams, learning and creativity, work/career, the need for a proper perspective of money and possessions, sexuality, love, friendships, and communication skills. Primary attention is given to the lifestyle of Christian marriage, its basis in Scripture, and the psychological, sexual, and generative aspects of marriage. Other forms of commitment, such as single lifestyle, the permanent deaconate, the Sisterhood, Brotherhood, and the Priesthood will be presented. All seniors must take this course.

1008 CHRISTIAN SERVICE /APOLOGETICS (1 semester)
The students will study and discuss various topics unique to the Catholic faith, such as, Scripture and Tradition, The Pope, Marian Devotion and Doctrine, Veneration of Saints, Purgatory, and True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. They will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of each subject as well as an ability to defend and explain the Church's teachings. Inspired and motivated by the Gospel message, the student serves as a volunteer in one or more of the school-approved agencies, usually two or three times a week.

1009 SPIRITUAL AIDS FOR A CLOSER WALK (1 semester)
Spiritual Aids class will explore the different opportunities available through the Church to grow spiritually both in the present as well as in the future. The class will assist each student in developing a game plan for their own spiritual journey. Spiritual Aids class will be structured in a seminar format. Topics will be presented and discussed in a small group setting. Small faith communities will be formed with student participation an essential part of the class. Students will be able to experience first hand, methods designed to enrich their faith and the desire to share their faith with others.