Grade 8

Knowledge of Faith: To prepare Christians to know, understand, and integrate the foundational beliefs of the Catholic faith through Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and teachings of the Magisterium

Liturgy and Sacraments To prepare Christians to understand and foster a full, active, and conscious participation in the celebration of the liturgy and Sacraments

Moral Formation in Jesus Christ To prepare Christians to grow in holiness and make good moral choices by being drawn into a deep personal relationship with Christ

Prayer To prepare Christians to come into communion with God by learning to pray with Christ

Community Life through Discipleship in the Church To prepare Christians to live in community and to participate actively in the life and mission of the Church

Evangelization and Missionary Spirit To prepare Christians to participate in society as faith-filled disciples and to be able to witness their faith in word and deed

Safe Environment To help Christians realize that each person deserves to be loved and cared for and can help themselves stay safe

Recognize through revelation that God desires to be in relationship with us

Reflect on God’s revelation and thus come to understand our human desire for God

Explore, understand, and apply Scripture to life through the guidance of the Magisterium

Learn the history of the Catholic Church and its role in the world

Understand the core teachings of the Catholic Church

Understand that the Sacraments which are celebrated by the Church are outward signs of God’s love revealed through the Paschal Mystery of Christ

Know and value the importance of the Sacraments of initiation, including the dignity and responsibility of Baptism, the deepening of grace in Confirmation, and the centrality of the Eucharist

Know and value the importance of the Sacraments of healing – Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

Know and value the importance of the Sacraments of service to the Church – Marriage and Holy Orders

Understand that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church

Acquire the knowledge, spirituality, and skills which lead to full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgical life of the Church

Develop a moral foundation centered in a virtuous life and properly informed conscience through the teaching of the Catholic Church

Recognize the need for grace to live a moral life and to be faithful to Scriptural values 

Recognize and honor the dignity of human life from natural conception to natural death

Understand the nature of sin and personal responsibility

Develop a life-long relationship with God through prayer

Know and participate in Catholic prayers

Recognize the importance of the role of Scripture in our prayer life

Actively participate in the life and work of the local and global Church

Grow spiritually as a Church

Cultivate human values and Christian virtue

Recognize and respond to our baptismal call of service according to our vocation in life

Live as disciples of Christ through the knowledge and practice of Catholic social teaching

Give witness to Catholic principles and values in all aspects of daily life

Understand each human being is created in the image and likeness of God

Understand that choices have consequences

Recognize experiences of good and had human relationships and friendships 

Differentiate between holy and sinful behavior

Know and retell the story of Salvation History

Explain that faith is our life response to God, who reveals Himself to us

Discuss the implications for how belief in Jesus affects our life

Define oral tradition, literary forms, and synoptic Gospels

Recognize some significant developments in church history after the time of Jesus

Name holy men and women who lived throughout history and live now as disciples

Recognize the importance of knowing the Catholic faith to engage in ecumenical dialogue

Explore the origins, the history, and the mission of the Church and the role of the Church in salvation

Know that salvation is a gift from God that requires us to respond in faith and good works

Understand the four marks of the Church – one, holy, catholic, apostolic

Develop knowledge of the Church by exploring the creeds and Acts of the Apostles

Understand the mission of the Church is to “announce, bear witness, make present, and spread the mystery of the communion of the Holy Trinity” (CCC 738) 

Explain the communion of saints - “this expression refers first to the "holy things" (sancta)” and "refers also to the communion of "holy persons" (sancti) (CCC 960-961)

Understand the Christian meaning of death and life after death

Explain the rites of a funeral

Describe the process of canonization of a saint

Trace the development of the Sacraments of initiation through the Church’s history

Understand the significance of the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith (CCC 1324)

Define and explain evangelization

 Exhibit ways of evangelizing

Explain the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

Experience reconciliation

Trace the development of the Mass throughout the history of the Church

Recognize that Christ is present in the real presence of the Eucharist, priest, word, the assembled community (SC 7)

Understand that the Eucharist “is called ‘real’ not to exclude the idea that the others presences of God are not ‘real’ too, but rather to indicate presence par excellence, because it is substantial and through it Christ becomes present whole and entire, God and man” (MF 39)

Pray the Liturgy of the Hours

Explain the reason and history of the Lenten fasting regulations

Understand that living a moral life is a life- long process

Apply principles of Catholic moral teachings to daily life

 Know the precepts of the Church

Distinguish charity (CCC 1822) from justice (CCC 1807)

Understand the teachings of the Church on the right to life from natural conception to natural death

Relate how sources of violence, oppression, and injustice impact our society today

Understand that human life is sacred

Give examples of how to influence public policy concerning right to life issues

Identify the risk factors associated with sinful behavior and those who might use another person for their own personal use

Provide examples of how we use a well- formed conscience to make moral decisions

 Desire to live a moral, holy life

Understand the freedom which comes from approaching God with our deepest needs and concerns

Pray for the various complexities of the world

Pray the appropriate eighth grade prayers

Pray using Lectio Divina

Learn how to teach and model prayer to other students

Describe the relationship between charity and justice

Advocate for justice

Experience growth through attending retreats

Foster responsibility for changes in behavior to enhance Christian virtue

 Distinguish between the long-lasting happiness that comes from God and temporary happiness that comes from the world and things

 Identify and interpret our duty to work with religious and civic leaders to build a world based on justice and the common good

Understand that every person is called to holiness and lay people contribute to the church according to their own state in life (CL 16)

Identify the contributions of various religious orders throughout the world

Identify founders of major religious communities and how their followers serve the Church today

Visit a convent, seminary, monastery, or rectory to understand what it means to live as an ordained priest or religious priest, brother, or religious sister

Identify forces of violence, oppression, and injustice throughout history and in society today

Discuss the issues of homelessness, hunger, poverty, and illiteracy through the social teaching of the Church

Give a personal witness story of their own faith life

Evaluate wants and needs in relation to the common good

Identify opportunities to create change in personal behavior and/or attitude

Explain consequences of sin and how it hurts other people

 Identify personal boundaries that no one, not even a relative, should cross

Identify the risk factors associated with sinful behavior and those who might misuse another person