Ateneo de Naga University High School is a Catholic, Filipino, Jesuit and a Bicolano institution of learning. Through its Religious Education/ Values Education Course offering, it seeks the integral development of its students by: 

• giving students instructions on the Christian Catholic doctrines and practices (Catholic)
• contextualizing  the teachings of the Faith within Philippine situation (Filipino)
• imparting to the students the Jesuit and Ignatian ideals of excellence and service, “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” (Jesuit), and:
• promoting a Faith rooted in a culture heavily pervaded with a devotion to INA (Bicolano) 

Therefore, The Religious Education Program hopes to help in the formation of the graduates who have competence that serves the Faith, conscience that promotes social justice, compassionate commitment to change that is inculturated and Christ centeredness that impels inter-religious dialogue. Hence, the Religion Course in the Ateneo de Naga High School is an important and necessary course for every student in the Ateneo de Naga high School. 

GOALS

Religious Education specifically aims “to develop, with God’s help, an as yet initial faith, and to advance in fullness and to nourish day by day the Christian life” of the students. It aims “therefore at developing understanding of the mystery of Christ in the light of God’s Word, so that the whole of a person’s humanity is impregnated with the Word” The goal of the Religious Education program is to guide the students towards the acceptance of the teaching of Jesus Christ through the Church by rendering parish/church services which shall be monitored every quarter, and more so, to lead them to a total commitment to the Person of Christ. This leads the students to develop specific value/s as they go through the courses: 

1st year: Self-image (Pagka-Tao),

2nd year: Humaneness (Pagsasa-tao);

3rd year: Interpersonal Relationship (Pakikipagkapwa-Tao), and;

4th year: Gratuitous Love (Utang na Loob). 

Though each individual person as student is the object of value formation in the entire Religious Education program, it is hoped that the entire Religious Education program in all year levels in the Ateneo de Naga University High School shall aid in the formation and strengthening of the family. Therefore all values in focus in each academic quarter in all levels cascade into the formation of the family—a family anchored on Faith in God. 

First Year.  The Foundations of the Catholic Faith and the History of Salvation: Old Testament. 

The first year students are introduced to the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) and the methodology in catechetical instructions as directed by the National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines (NCDP) which is the integration of Doctrine, Worship, and Morals, based on Church Teachings, Scriptures and human experience. Not all the students come from Catholic schools. Those who do, have different levels of knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the Catholic Faith. The first year Religion course then starts with the 12 Articles of Faith, basic Christian prayers and the Eucharistic Celebration. They are introduced to the Sacraments of Reconciliation. Those who have not yet received the sacraments of are prepared for their reception by choice of their parents/guardians. The students are taught to use the Bible as a source of our intimate knowledge of God’s Word, and of our Christian traditions. The students are also taught how to use the Bible for one’s personal prayers. 

OBJECTIVES:  

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Realize that God is the Lord of History;
2. Understand the demands of the Catholic Christian Faith;
3. Recognize God as their personal God; and
4. Pray to God.

VALUE IN FOCUS: Self-image (Pagka-tao)

Second Year.  ENCOUNTERING CHRIST: Teaching Jesus, His Church and the Sacraments. The New Testament  

This course will introduce and deepen the student’s knowledge of Jesus. According to Pope John Paul II in his encyclical, Catecheci Tradendae, the essential purpose of every catechetical instruction is to “put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy with Jesus Christ.” The foundation of catechesis is not the doctrine, or the moral laws, or the act of worship, but the person of Jesus Christ. This course will provide materials, lectures, activities that hope to develop in the students a faith committed to the person of Jesus. They will be helped to understand better their own personal relationships with others and God through a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus, His Church and the Sacraments. 

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

1. be familiar with the New Testament books and especially the four gospels;
2. show their willingness to live according the life of Jesus;
3. deepen their faith in Jesus through frequent prayer, reception of the sacraments, and participation in the Eucharistic  Celebrations; and
4. show their commitment to the Church through parish service. 

VALUE IN FOCUS:    HUMANENESS (Pagsasa-Tao) 

Third Year.  THE  MISSION OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH: The Church on the Move: Church and Sacraments 

This course aims to provide the third year high school students of Ateneo de Naga University with the basic loving knowledge of the Church and Sacraments instituted by Christ.It will introduce the students to the two natures of the Church and its various images and the different ways by which the salvific mission of the Church is continued in and through the Church and the Sacraments. This course will also provide opportunities for students to express how they can be active participants of the Church.

OBJECTIVES:  

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

1. appreciate the beginnings of the Church as an Institution and as communities of faith;
2. have a deeper understanding that the Church being both human and divine is governed by laws;
3. have a meaningful involvement in their parishes by doing parish service.
4. deepen their faith in Jesus through frequent prayer, reception of the sacraments, and participation in the Eucharistic Celebrations.  

VALUE IN FOCUS:   Interpersonal Relationship (Pakikipagkapwa-Tao)    

Fourth Year.  LIVING THE FAITH OPTION:  Making Moral Decisions Based on Christian Principles. 

Faith has three dimensions, namely: doctrine, worship and, morals. About our faith, there is always something to learn, something to pray for, and something to do and obey. It is this dimension of doing and obeying which is the subject matter of the fourth year Religion course in high school. This course also stresses that one should bear in mind that merely doing and obeying which is not grounded on prayer and one’s loving response to a loving personal God is nothing but activism.

OBJECTIVES: 

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

1. realize that personal living out of their Faith in Freedom must be grounded on Scriptures and Church teachings and Tradition;
2. understand the doctrinal basis of the Christian Moral Life and decisions;
3. demonstrate in their lives correct moral judgments based on their conscience; 
4. demonstrate in their lives the important place of prayer and worship though their active participation in the liturgies, especially the Eucharist;
5. demonstrate that they are active members of Christ’s Church by doing parish service in their communities.  

VALUE IN FOCUS:   Gratuitous Love (Utang na Loob) 

Note: One day/week, subject matter is devoted to the gospel or familiarization of liturgical, religious/spiritual rites, depends on need of students.