It might be surprising to see no explicit religion class in the curriculum of St. Jerome Institute. This is a deliberate choice. The study of the Church, salvation history, the Bible, the Incarnation, and humanity’s response to God’s action in love is not one subject among many, but the foundation of all the seminars, studios, and supporting classes. The full scope of topics outlined in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) guidelines for high school catechesis are covered throughout the four years of the SJI curriculum, both through the texts and questions addressed in the seminars, and through the culture of the school. Over and above classroom learning, students come into relationship with Christ, the Church, and their broader community through daily lauds, weekly Masses, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and the festive culture celebrating the liturgical calendar.
By the time students reach their fourth year, they have sufficient background in history, philosophy, and literature to engage in true theological study. Fourth year students therefore add a capstone Seminar in Theology where they are formally introduced to the study of the Trinity and Christology, the plan of salvation and eschatology, theological anthropology, and ecclesiology.
