How do we approach Religious Education?
The Victorian Archdiocese and curriculum documents approach religious education based on the understanding of the two overarching sources of revelation, being scripture and tradition. According to the Archdiocese of Sale, “the foundational narratives of historical revelation, the scriptures, are re-enacted in and through the worship, teaching, service and witness of the Church’s tradition” (p. 86). Therefore, we approach religious education based on the understanding that these two sources interrelate to form our Christian being. The Sacramental program is a vital contribution to these content areas.
Today, religious education takes on an educative approach. This means that educational goals are the core emphasis of our teaching and learning, where students gain awareness, understanding and knowledge about the Catholic faith (Hyde and Rymarz, 2009). Religious education can support and build upon one's faith commitment, known as catechesis. According to Hyde & Rymarz (2009), the Catholic school has a vital role to play in the catechetical process. Preparing, receiving and celebrating Holy Communion, shows that religious education interacts with catechesis. As teachers provide knowledge to prepare student's for the sacrament, while combined with the act of the sacrament, can lead to a deepened value and faith response (Hyde & Rymarz, 2009). However, we know that today not all students in Catholic schools are not baptised Catholics or their faith commitment has been deterred. Therefore, religious education could be a source of evangelization, where hearing the word of the gospel is new or a source of re-evanglisation or invitation to those who have been removed from their faith (Hyde & Rymarz, 2009).
The following pages describe the different approaches taken from the different diocese of Victoria.
Today, religious education takes on an educative approach. This means that educational goals are the core emphasis of our teaching and learning, where students gain awareness, understanding and knowledge about the Catholic faith (Hyde and Rymarz, 2009). Religious education can support and build upon one's faith commitment, known as catechesis. According to Hyde & Rymarz (2009), the Catholic school has a vital role to play in the catechetical process. Preparing, receiving and celebrating Holy Communion, shows that religious education interacts with catechesis. As teachers provide knowledge to prepare student's for the sacrament, while combined with the act of the sacrament, can lead to a deepened value and faith response (Hyde & Rymarz, 2009). However, we know that today not all students in Catholic schools are not baptised Catholics or their faith commitment has been deterred. Therefore, religious education could be a source of evangelization, where hearing the word of the gospel is new or a source of re-evanglisation or invitation to those who have been removed from their faith (Hyde & Rymarz, 2009).
The following pages describe the different approaches taken from the different diocese of Victoria.