At Mt Maria College, our Religious Education program consists of two distinct but complementary dimensions, namely an educational dimension and a faith formation dimension. The first dimension, most commonly referred to as the classroom teaching and learning of religion, is focused on Religious Education as an educational activity. It utilises a range of teaching and learning processes and resources. The second dimension, faith formation, is reflected in the religious life of the school, family and parish. The Guidelines acknowledge that the educational dimension and the faith formation dimension are inextricably linked. The classroom teaching of religion is one element in a complex web of experiences that have the potential to nurture the faith life of young people.
It is highly recommended that students have access to or their own Bible at home. Recommended Bibles are ‘The ‘Catholic Youth Bible - St. Mary’s Press’ or for students with learning needs ‘The Catholic Children’s Bible – St. Mary’s Press’, or any Catholic Bible.
In years Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten, all students study Religious Education. The program operates using the Archdiocese of Brisbane Religion Syllabus and Material prepared by Brisbane Catholic Education. Students cover 6 topics a year from 1. Beliefs, 2. Scripture, 3. Morality, 4. Celebration and Ritual.
Each of these programmes is an essential part of the curriculum. Integrated over two years, central elements taught are: 1. Beliefs, 2. Scripture, 3. Morality, 4. Celebration and Ritual.
In Years 11 and 12, The College offers its students a choice of 2 programmes: Study of Religion – an Authority subject or Religion & Ethics – an Authority Registered Subject.
Through the Study of Religion students can learn to understand the causes and processes of change and continuity that have shaped today’s world, and the role religion plays in this.
The social context in which Australian students live is challenged by global interrelationships. Studying religion can help develop an understanding of the ways in which particular cultural contexts have influenced, and continue to influence, the formation of an individual’s world view and the framework of beliefs in which it is interpreted.
The subject is available to all students irrespective of individual religious belief.
Religion and Ethics helps students to know and understand the influence that values, belief systems or religious traditions have on their own and other people’s behaviour. A search for meaning helps students from various cultural, social, linguistic and economic backgrounds to learn about and reflect on the richness of religious and ethical worldviews. Religion and Ethics encourages students to develop ethical attitudes and behaviours required for effective participation in the community and to think critically, creatively and constructively about their future role in it.
The study-area core of Religion and Ethics focuses on the areas of ethics and meaning in life, incorporating personal, relational and spiritual dimensions of religious experience. Students investigate these using an inquiry approach and relate them to their own life situations through a number of elective topics and a variety of learning experiences.