PHILOSOPHY

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worth of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you may have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4: 8-9)

An authentic program for religious education in a Catholic school must encompass the threefold ministry of the Church as described by the National Conference of Catholic bishops in their pastoral letter, "To Teach as Jesus Did":"The educational mission of the Church is an integrated ministry embracing three interlocking dimensions: the message revealed by God (didache) which the Church proclaims; fellowship in the life of the Holy Spirit (koinonia); service to the Christian community and the entire human community (diakonia)."

As a result of this statement, our overall objective is to guide our students within the experience of the Palma faith community (koinonia), to find fulfillment in their lives through knowledge of God's love and plan for redemption as revealed in Sacred Scriptures and our Tradition (didache), and to find fulfillment by an authentic Christian response to that Revelation (diakonia). These elements, with the support of Palma's Campus Ministry, are then celebrated sacramentally and liturgically to fulfill the evangelizing and catechizing mission of Palma Junior High and High School. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is regarded as an essential resource and guide in the Theology Department's participation in the school's mission.