In this course, students will explore the ways in which the Catholic Church has responded to God’s invitation found within the narrative of Salvation History. Furthermore, they will seek to reflect upon how they can respond to God’s invitation for discipleship in their own lives. To accomplish this, students will first investigate Church history and the Church as the living Body of Christ and Communion of Saints. Through their exploration, they will “learn the key characteristics of major historical periods, events, and personalities in the Church” and “appreciate the ways in which the Holy Spirit guides and sustains the Church and her followers.”* Moreover, they will learn that despite persecution, the Church continued to grow.  From the preaching of the Apostles, the witness of the disciples, and the witness of the martyrs, the Church expanded throughout the world. Students will then explore the origins of Church doctrine* and come to understand the Church as a counter-cultural and global living body. Then, they will begin to examine themes which form the foundation for discipleship: Prayer, Sacraments, Morality, Discernment, and Vocations.

* Selections taken from the Diocese of Cleveland’s Religion Curriculum for Grade 8