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M icltfiel M cCarthy
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[L freshman Brian Becbtteyer in his Religion 1 doss, as fr
S to ry by Michael llarbarula
rep always has had a strong calluig for its students to challenge themselves not only intellectually, but also spiii-
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tually. To achieve this goal, the Religion Department’s curriculum underwent several changes to truly become the foundation o f each student’s religious experience at school
Beginning in fieshman year, students encounter basic religion, continue with New Testament studies, prog
ress to an analysis o f Social Justice, and conclude with a study o f oomplex aspects o f religion in senior year,
including courses such as Bioethics taught by Mr. Michael Fletcher, PspM ogy an d R digon in stm c& l§r Mr. John Morris, Pnger, offered by Fr. Thomas Benz; SJ, and Churd? History, taught by Mr. Michael McCarthy. A revived emphasis on disdpleship was achieved through the diligence o f the new department chair, Dr. Dominic Scibilia, B e addition o f new fac ulty members Chaplain Fr. Thomas Benz, SJ, Mr. Frederick Galano, Dr. Jeffery Hartling, and the continued efforts o f the entire departmental faculty. The department recently emphasized the role o f the junior capstone Social Justice class as an integral part o f Jesuit edu cation Instead o f lasting one semester, the course extended to two semesters and stressed the importance o f the required Christian Service component o f the curriculum The journals students completed as part o f their 60hour Christian Ser vice expenence integrated their firsthand encounter o f injustioe with the analytical/theoretical fiamework they learned to construct for examining social justice. Aiming to reinforce the ideal that students should strive to make an “instructive and creative difference in world,” both Dr. Scibilia and Ms. Mara Codey, who spearheaded the endeavor, exposed students to the many injustices suffered by the socially taged. Junior Juan Nordelo agrees, noting that the course “truly gives students an opportunity to learn the truth about injustices in our country today.” Junior Nordelo made evident the Religion Depart ment’s encouragement o f individuals to oommit themselves to a full immersion o f faith and to realize; as senior Connor Callahan did, “that having faith is a lifestyle and not a casual, meaningless word.”
peaking about equality among a ll races, Mr.'~Robm ^Bd Hymas addresses his Social Justice class that includes juniors Vladimir DeWet and Lorenzo Dellutri. "The sup port o f the students" helped make Prep a home away from home for M r. Hymas.
A Place That Feels Like Home
man Rene Castaneda considers his classmate's ideas, Mr. M t( thy has made a home for' him self In Jesu it education sincg. adolescent days as a Regis H igh School student.