The
2011 Conference Schedule is as follows:
FIRST & THIRD PERIODS
SURVEY – Fr. Cantrell (REQUIRED for all 1st year students) A study of the basic aspects of Christian life.
THE MASS – Fr. Yost (REQUIRED for all first year students) What is the Mass? Why do we do what we do?
RECEIVING THE WORD OF GOD – Father Crosthwait (REQUIRED for all 2nd year students) An introduction to and survey of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS - Fr. Nelson (REQUIRED for all 2nd year students) "There is a story about a schoolboy who was asked what he thought God was like. He replied... that God was 'The sort of person who is always snooping round to see if anyone is enjoying himself and then trying to stop it.' And I am afraid that is the sort of idea that the word Morality raises in a good many people's minds, as something that stops you from having a good time. In reality, moral rules are directions for running the human machine." From Christian Behavior by C.S. Lewis. This course will look at Christian decision making and our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
CHURCH HISTORY - Fr. Duncan- (REQUIRED for all 3rd year students)- This course is a survey of the life of the Body of Christ throughout its life. 2000+ years of very interesting happenings.
SECOND PERIOD
CHOIR – Father Drummond - A good voice is not as important as liking to sing.
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS – Fr. Guptill – Saint Paul saith: "we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) Learn the enemies of God and His Church and stand in renunciation of the devil and all his works.
UNVEILING ISLAM – Fr. Timothy Matkin - It is one of the largest, fastest growing, and misunderstood religions on earth. To help separate fact from fiction, we will be using the book of the same name by the Caner brothers. We will survey Muslim theology compared with Christian theology, the life of Muhammad, the Qu'ran, the five pillars of Islam, diverse Muslim sects, relations with Christians and more.
BEGINNING TO PRAY - Fr. Michael Heidt – How to keep open the lines of heavenly communication.
STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS – Fr. Lee Nelson – Ever wished that you could logically and reasonably give a defense for your Faith? In this class, we will explore the classic proofs for the existence of God, defend against the so-called "problem of evil" and lastly, prove that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and that He did what the Scriptures say He did. By the end of this course, you will be able to stand up for Jesus, both in your school and in your life.
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY – Fr. David Allen – The Theotokos, a woman for the ages is the greatest woman that ever lived. Mary is a model not only for strong women everywhere but for all of us.
THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH – Fr. Will Brown – What is the Church? Every Sunday we say that we believe in "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church". What do we mean by that? If the Church is one, then why do there seem to be many different churches? How can the Church be holy when her members are so unholy? What makes the Church catholic? In this class we will ask and answer these kinds of questions.
SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Fr. Gregory Crosthwait - An overview of the Sermon on the Mount as found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. We will pay special attention to Jesus' teaching as the foundation and form of Christian discipleship.
ELECTIVES FOR THIRD YEARS AND ABOVE:
FIRST PERIOD:
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS: How to Think Like a Christian or Holy Common Sense - Fr. David Allen - An Introduction to St. Thomas Aquinas' philosophy and theology. Learn how what you believe also makes perfect sense, how to pulverize anti-Christian bullies with a single blow of your mind, amaze your friends by showing that you not only believe that God exists, but you know for sure that He exists, how to be wise, even if you think you are not smart. All this and more, secrets of the universe, why there is something rather nothing, and how to ace every class in school for the rest of your miserable education.
GROUND FINE IN THE TEETH OF THE LIONS - Fr. Will Brown - Christians have always looked to the martyrs as exemplars of the Christian life. What can their stories tell us about how to live and die? In this class we will get to know some of the great martyrs of the Church, by reading first-hand accounts of their deaths and asking what their examples have to say to us.
PROVERBS: Wise Living in a Foolish World – Fr. Ron Drummond - The road before us in life constantly forks and we must choose which path to take. How can what the right word, action, or decision is? This class will survey the Old Testament book of Proverbs. With help from the fathers of the Church, we will discover how the ancient wisdom of the Hebrews teaches us wise living in a world filled with foolishness.
"THE GREAT DIVORCE - HEAVEN AND HELL - Fr. Michael Heidt - The class will read the C.S. Lewis' book and consider our destination - down into the fiery pit, or up into paradise?"
THIRD PERIOD:
SURVEY OF THE APOCRYPHA - Fr. Timothy Matkin - We'll take a close look at that part of the Bible that most people have never heard of and may not be in your copy, but it still used in church and is important to understanding our history and faith. Course will include an overview of the content of each book. Students must bring a Bible that includes the Apocrypha (or deutero-canonical books).
THE HOLIEST WEEK IN HISTORY: the Liturgy and Logos of Holy Week. - Fr. Lee Nelson - An in-depth look at the liturgies of Holy Week paired with a study of the biblical texts, this class aims to immerse you into the wonderful story of the culmination of God's plan of redemption. You will live out Palm Sunday, sit with Jesus in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday, and follow the Way of the Cross on Good Friday. Finally, you will go to the tomb and find it empty on Easter Sunday.
MYTHBUSTERS -Fr. Jonathan Duncan - "You only have to pick up a book, magazine, or newspaper or turn on the radio or television, to learn that there are numerous myths and misconceptions out there about the Catholic faith. Sadly, these myths and misconceptions can be found outside and inside the Church. We'll look at myths about: the bible, sexuality, evolution and creationism, and others. Join us as we shed some light on these myths, and get to the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith."
THEOLOGY OF THE BODY – Fr. Gregory Crosthwait– (was Advanced Chastity) - This class engages Christian teaching about the meaning and purpose of our human bodies, male and female. We will sensitively address practical questions of how to treat your body (and those of others) as temples of the Holy Spirit. We will also encourage students to make and keep plans for being chaste while living in the real world.
THE DIVINE COMEDY: Paradiso - Fr. Martin Yost - “Eager to rise, now ready for the stars.” So Dante reaches the top of Mount Purgatory, poised for the experience of Heaven. In the Paradiso we shall meet saints who show us those Virtues, both natural (Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude) and theological (Faith, Hope, and Love), that fit the soul for the light of God’s presence. It is not necessary to have taken the previous years’ Dante classes.
