Religious Education
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: NURTURING A LIVING FAITH IN GOD
The aim of our Religious Education Programme is to educate our students in the Story, Traditions and Practice of our faith in order that each one may grow in her own faith in Jesus Christ. Our Faith Formation policy is grounded in the goals of Sacred Heart Education: A Living Faith in God, Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom, A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values, Building Community as a Christian Value, and A Social Awareness which Impels to Action. (Heritage and Horizon)
We incorporate these into our programmes through course content in class, Liturgies, Prayer Services, Seasonal Services such as Carol Services, Penance Services, Meditations, Saint Vincent De Paul Conference, Faith Friends Programme, Retreats, Relevant Project Work and Presentations.
JUNIOR CYCLE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Junior Cycle Religious Education promotes the holistic development of the person. It facilitates the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and moral development of students. Junior Cycle Religious Education provides a particular space for students to encounter and engage with the deepest and most fundamental questions relating to life, meaning and relationships. It encourages students to reflect, question, critique, interpret, imagine and find insight for their lives. The students’ own experience and continuing search for meaning is encouraged and supported.
Religious Education supports the development of students by helping them-to explore how religious and other beliefs are expressed; engage with life’s big questions; and reflect on moral values for life.
As students learn to live in an increasingly pluralistic world, Junior Cycle Religious Education has a critical role to play in the curriculum in providing opportunities for students to consider the variety of religious beliefs found in Ireland and elsewhere, become aware of different understandings of the Divine, and examine other interpretations of life. It encourages respect and understanding of different beliefs, perspectives and ways of living, including both the religious and non-religious response to human experience.
Religion has shaped and been shaped by historical events, something which continues today. Junior Cycle Religious Education gives students an important framework for understanding past and present events, actions and beliefs and their impact within the context of people’s lives. It also promotes an understanding of religions as dynamic, internally diverse and evolving over time. Junior Cycle Religious Education within an Irish context offers students an opportunity to develop an understanding of how different religions, and Christianity in particular, have contributed to the society in which we live.
People today are faced with many concerns, many of which require an ethical response. Junior Cycle Religious Education has an important contribution to make in encouraging students to engage critically with belief systems and principles of moral behaviour which can serve as a foundation for decisions.
Junior Cycle Religious Education helps to equip students with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and values to support their life journey and enable them to participate in their communities and in the world as informed, respectful, responsible and caring members of society.
Junior Cycle Religious Education focuses on developing knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and values to enable young people to come to an understanding of religion and its relevance to life, relationships, society and the wider world. The course is built around three interconnecting strands: Expressing Beliefs, Exploring Questions and Living our Values.
Classroom-Based Assessments and Assessment Tasks are best described as the occasions when the teacher assesses the students using the specific task(s) set out in the subject specification. They are included within the time allocated for Religious Education, which is a minimum of 200 hours.
TRANSITION YEAR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The syllabus of the Religious Education programme is divided into modules
1.Social Justice
2.The Search for Meaning and Values
3.World Religions
The Social Justice module gives students an insight into the challenges in local and global communities today in creating a just and inclusive society. The Search for Meaning and Values gives students the opportunity to explore religious issues from a contemporary perspective. Students also receive the opportunity to go on retreat as part of their spiritual development. Examining world religions promotes understanding and tolerance of other faiths and their religious practices.
FIFTH YEAR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
In Fifth Year the programme covers main areas:
1.Moral Issues and Decision Making
2.Sacramental Theology
3.New Religious Movements
4.Justice in Action
Moral Issues and Decision Making
The students explore the area of morality in a more detailed way than at Junior Cycle. They focus on several moral issues and learn the importance of making informed decisions.
The role and authority of the Catholic Church in the decision making process is also explored in relation to a number of contemporary moral issues.
Sacramental Theology
The students explore the meaning and symbolism associated with the 7 sacraments. It provides students with the opportunity to develop their own personal faith and understanding of rites of passage.
New Religious Movements
The differences between the main stream “Religions” and “New Religious Movements” are examined through the study of the beliefs and practices of a number of these groups.
The students will learn about and evaluate the development of these traditions. Common characteristics and recruitment techniques of Cults are also dealt with in this module, as well as the dangers associated with joining such a group. Time is also given to learning about and celebrating liturgical feasts and seasons at the relevant times of the year.
Justice in Action
The students explore the meaning of the term justice and specific justice issues from a religious perspective. They are given the opportunity to reflect upon how to become agents of transformation.
SIXTH YEAR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
In Sixth Year the R.E. programme focuses on preparing the girls for the challenges to their faith in the modern world. In conjunction with the Goals of Sacred Heart Education, the witness of the Sacred Heart Order worldwide is also a central theme. We explore how the role and character of the Sacred Heart Nuns has developed in the face of the changes in social climate and changes in the role of women in modern society.
Sixth Years are also given the opportunity to become Children of Mary. This programme is rooted firmly in the tradition of the Sacred Heart and culminates in the giving of medals on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) each year.
Mount Anville Secondary School has a Faith Formation Policy. If you would like a copy please contact the secretary’s office.
LEAVING CERT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION EXAM
At Senior Certificate Level students pursue the Senior Certificate Religious Education Examination Syllabus over the course of two years. The course encourages the students to assume the roles of critical questioner and reflective searcher.
Students will explore the following topics. Coursework is completed as a journal and is 20% of the overall result.
- Search for Meaning
- Christianity: Origins and contemporary expressions
- Moral Decision Making
- World Religions
- Religion and Gender
- Issues of Justice and Peace
- Worship, Prayer and Ritual
- The Bible: Literature and Sacred Text
- Religion: The Irish Experience
- Religion and Science