Religious Education

Religious Education Education (Years 7-12) at Our College

Religious Education sits at the centre of life in our College. It is here that the Catholic faith is explored, the story of Jesus Christ is shared, and students are invited to connect faith with their own experiences of the world. As a Catholic school, we are part of the Church’s mission to form young people in wisdom, compassion, and integrity. Our Religious Education program seeks to bring the Gospel into dialogue with students’ lives in a way that is respectful, inclusive, and transformative.

Every student, from Year 7 through Year 12, participates in Religious Education. This ensures that all young people, regardless of their background, encounter the Catholic tradition while also having their own voices and perspectives valued. Our classrooms are places of genuine encounter and inquiry. Students are invited to ask their deepest questions about life and meaning, to listen to the stories of others, and to consider how Catholic faith and teaching might illuminate their own journey. Those who are Catholic deepen their understanding of their faith, while students from other Christian, other religious, or non-religious backgrounds are welcomed into dialogue where their contributions enrich the whole community.

Religious Education in our College is not about pressure or persuasion. It is about presenting the story of Jesus and the wisdom of the Catholic tradition with honesty and depth, and allowing students to explore what this means for them. It is about forming young people who can think critically, act justly, and live with compassion. In this way, we remain faithful to our Catholic mission while embracing the diversity of our student body.

Why Religious Education Matters

In a time where society can feel fragmented, Religious Education provides a foundation of meaning, belonging, and purpose. It is the subject that speaks to the whole person – mind, heart, and spirit. Through Religious Education, students are given the tools to make sense of themselves, their relationships, and their world.

Religious Education equips students to:

  • Learn the richness of Catholic faith, beliefs, and practices, especially through the Scriptures.
  • Understand how the life and message of Jesus continues to shape people and communities.
  • Engage with other world religions and philosophies in a spirit of dialogue and respect.
  • Reflect on personal experiences of growth, challenge, and identity in light of the Christian story.
  • Ask the ‘big questions’ of life and explore how different traditions respond to them.
  • Develop ethical reasoning and the ability to make decisions guided by compassion and justice.
  • Live out what they learn through service, social justice, leadership, and community action.

This is a subject that prepares students for life. It fosters a culture of integrity and empathy, ensuring our graduates are not only academically prepared but also socially conscious and spiritually aware.

Years 7-10: To Live in Christ Jesus

In Years 7 to 10, students follow the Diocese of Sale’s curriculum To Live in Christ Jesus. This program In Years 7 to 10, students follow the Diocese of Sale’s curriculum To Live in Christ Jesus. This program introduces students to the core dimensions of Catholic faith and places them in dialogue with contemporary life.

The program is structured around four strands:

  • The Triune God
  • The Life and Mission of Jesus
  • Sacramental Church
  • Christian Life and Catholic Social Teaching

Each strand is approached through four lenses: Scripture, Tradition, Prayer and Liturgy, and Religion and Society. This ensures students see faith from multiple perspectives – engaging with the Bible, learning from the living tradition of the Church, participating in prayer and liturgy, and connecting what they learn with wider culture and society.

Students explore how Catholic faith sheds light on the questions young people face today – identity, relationships, technology, justice, creation, and human dignity. At the same time, they engage respectfully with other worldviews, allowing them to grow in understanding of both their own values and those of others. To Live in Christ Jesus is inclusive, dialogical, and dynamic: it ensures every student finds relevance and meaning, while remaining rooted in the Catholic tradition.

Youth Ministry (Years 10-12)

Youth Ministry is one of the most distinctive and vibrant expressions of Religious Education at our College. Offered as an elective in Years 10, 11, and 12, Youth Ministry moves beyond the classroom to make faith active.

Students in Youth Ministry:

  • Lead liturgies, retreats, and prayer services for their peers and younger students.
  • Plan and carry out social justice initiatives and fundraising projects.
  • Participate in outreach to the community, giving practical expression to the Gospel.
  • Develop leadership skills through service, teamwork, and reflection.
  • Grow in their understanding of Catholic Social Teaching by putting principles such as solidarity, dignity, and stewardship into action.

There are no written exams in Youth Ministry. Instead, assessment is based on participation, leadership, and reflection. Students are challenged to ask not only ‘What have I done?’ but also ‘Why does this matter?’ and ‘What does this say about who I am becoming?’

Youth Ministry nurtures a head, heart, and hands approach to learning: knowledge of faith, compassion for others, and service in action. It is grounded in the values of our Josephite tradition – courage, compassion, and community. Students who take part in Youth Ministry leave school not only with academic skills, but also with confidence, empathy, and a clear sense of purpose.

VCE Religious Education Options

At the VCE level, Religious Education remains central and academically rigorous. Students choose between two senior pathways that complement different interests and strengths.

  • Religion and Society (Units 1–4): This subject investigates how religion interacts with culture, history, and ethics. Students explore how religions have shaped human society, how they respond to social change, and how belief systems influence decisions and debates today. It is a strong option for students interested in philosophy, law, politics, history, or global issues.
  • Texts and Traditions (Units 1–2): This subject focuses on the Scriptures, especially the Bible, examining them as sacred texts, literature, and history. Students develop skills in exegesis – the interpretation of texts – and explore the continuing significance of scripture for faith and culture. It appeals to students who enjoy English, Literature, History, or theology, and who want to engage deeply with the world of the Bible.

Both pathways reflect our Catholic identity while encouraging open, critical inquiry. They are academically challenging and personally enriching, helping students to connect faith, culture, and ethics in ways that prepare them for life beyond school.

Religious Education at our College is where faith, learning, and life come together. Grounded in the Catholic tradition, it tells the story of Jesus in ways that connect with the questions and experiences of young people today. It is central to our mission as a Catholic school, yet it is also a space where every student – Catholic, Christian, other faiths, or no faith background – is welcomed and respected.

Our program is dialogical and inclusive. Students are encouraged to bring their own perspectives, listen to others, and explore how different traditions and worldviews respond to life’s deepest questions. This is not about persuading students what to think, but about inviting them to think deeply, to reflect, and to grow.

By engaging with Scripture, Catholic teaching, prayer, and dialogue with diverse worldviews, students learn to connect values with action. They develop the skills to think ethically, act with compassion, and live responsibly. In this way, Religious Education shapes the whole person – helping young people grow in wisdom, integrity, and a sense of purpose that they can carry into every aspect of their lives.

https://toliveinchristjesus.ceosale.catholic.edu.au/learning-in-religious-education

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