GRADE 9 DISCIPLESHIP AND CULTURE (OPEN - HRE1O)
This course engages students in the examination of the Christian narrative as revealed in Sacred Scripture. Students are invited to a deeper understanding of both the joy and the demands of living out the call to discipleship as it is described in the Scriptures. Students explore discipleship as encountered in the Sacred Tradition of the Church (Sacraments, Liturgical Year, and Church Teaching and Law), as part of their ongoing personal growth and faith understanding. Students explore Catholic rituals, teaching, practice, morals and values, and virtues to facilitate a healthy and convenantal relationship with self, God and with others. Using theological reflection, they are challenged to explore the connections and disconnections of ethical concepts (euthanasia, abortion, sexuality, etc.) between the Church and contemporary culture. The course focuses on encouraging students to know and love by following in the footsteps of Jesus. As they learn of his words and deeds, they discover the importance of prayerfully serving the community to bring about the Reign of God.

GRADE 10 CHRIST AND CULTURE (OPEN - HRE2O)
This course both invites and challenges the adolescent to personalize the Gospel values and social justice principles that guide Catholics in understanding their role in shaping culture as disciples of Jesus. Students will explore such foundational topics as: what it means to be human, created in God’s image, what is culture, Christ and culture, living together in solidarity, social justice, prayer and sacrament, friendship and intimacy. Connections between the living Church and contemporary culture are explored in terms of what it means to be a responsible Christian adolescent in a secularized, pluralistic world.
This course can be taken through a dramatic arts experience by signing up for HRE2OD. The student experience will include in-class presentations as well as public performances at local parishes and elementary schools.

GRADE 11 WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF TRADITIONS: PERSPECTIVES, ISSUES, AND CHALLENGES
(UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE PREPARATION – HRT3M1)
This course provides students with opportunities to explore various world religions and belief traditions. Students will develop knowledge of the terms and concepts relevant to this area of study, will examine the ways in which religions and belief traditions meet various human needs, and will learn about the relationship between belief and action. They will examine sacred writings and teachings, consider how concepts of time and place influence different religions and belief traditions, and develop research and inquiry skills related to the study of human expressions of belief.
This course meets Group 1 of the Ministry Diploma requirements.

GRADE 11 WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF TRADITIONS IN DAILY LIFE (OPEN – HRF301)
This course enables students to study world religions and belief traditions in local, Canadian, and global contexts. Students will explore aspects of the human quest for meaning and will examine world religions and belief traditions as exemplified in various sacred teachings and principles, rites, and passages. They will also study the interaction throughout history between society and various belief traditions, and will have opportunities to develop research and inquiry skills related to the study of world religions and belief traditions.
This course meets Group 1 of the Ministry Diploma requirements.
This course may be offered as an in-class or online course.

GRADE 12 CHURCH AND CULTURE (UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE PREPARATION - HRE4M)
PREREQUISITE: HRE3M OR ENG3U OR ENG3C OR ANY UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY/ COLLEGE, OR COLLEGE PREPARATION COURSE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
This course enables students to deepen their understanding of how the Church engages contemporary culture with faith and reason, in pursuit of love, justice, and the common good. Students will have opportunity to learn how living
in the Baptismal vocation to a virtuous life, filled with the joy of the Gospel and nurtured by the sacraments, can transform them and society from within, allowing God to reign in human hearts. Students will also refine research and inquiry skills.
This course may be offered as an in-class or online course.

PHILOSOPHY: QUESTIONS AND THEORIES (UNIVERSITY PREPARATION - HZT4U1)
PREREQUISITE: ANY UNIVERSITY OR UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE PREPARATION COURSE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES, ENGLISH, OR CANADIAN AND WORLD STUDIES.
This course addresses three (or more) of the main areas of philosophy: metaphysics, logic, epistemology, ethics, social and political philosophy, and aesthetics. Students will learn critical-thinking skills, the main ideas expressed by philosophers from a variety of the world’s traditions, how to develop and explain their own philosophical ideas, and how to apply those ideas to contemporary social issues and personal experiences. The course will also help students refine skills used in researching and investigating topics in philosophy. The focus of the course is Christian philosophy.
Philosophy (HZT4U) can be substituted for the Gr. 12 Religion requirement.

GRADE 12 CHURCH AND CULTURE (OPEN - HRE4O)
This course has the aim of assisting students in understanding themselves as moral persons living the way of Christ through an examination of the revelation of sacred Scripture, and the experience and teaching of the Catholic Church. It engages students as critical reflection on significant contemporary moral and ethical issues in light of Scripture, Church teaching and their own experiences (i.e. Theological Reflection). Social and ecological justice issues are explored along with a study of topics that focus on Christian mercy and forgiveness. The graces and challenges of every day human living, understanding who we are, what we are called to be, and living in relationships, including marriage, and family life are explored from a Catholic perspective. Students are challenged to adopt the Christian stance in the political world.

Religion and Family Studies