“Catechesis aims to bring about in the believer an ever more mature faith in Jesus Christ, a deeper knowledge and love of his person and message, and a firm commitment to follow him.” (National Directory of Catechesis, No. 19) 

At TFS, the Religion curriculum serves as the framework for religious instruction. The goal is to assist all students in growing in an understanding of their faith as Roman Catholics and deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ. Through intentional integration, faith becomes a lived experience for students, shaping their hearts and minds as they become compassionate, thoughtful, and faithful.

Beginning in Kindergarten through eighth grade, the Diocesan Religion curriculum has six fundamental tasks: Knowledge of Faith, Liturgical Education, Moral Education, Teaching to Pray, Education for Community Life, and Missionary Initiation.

Iris Lacson, third-grade teacher, shares that in her class, they cover various topics, including God's Love, The Trinity, Jesus Christ, The Church, Morality, and Sacraments. “The students love hearing how what we cover in Religion relates to what happens to them in real life,” shares Mrs. Lacson. “For example, when we get to our topic on Morality about Choosing Love, we discuss how, as part of choosing to love, we forgive our siblings even if they do something that annoys us. That lesson always gets so much student participation because many can relate to that situation.”

In 5th grade, the focus is on the sacraments and Mass, with a special emphasis on the gift of the Eucharist. The sixth-grade curriculum is focused on the Old Testament and God’s faithfulness and love throughout salvation history. Ed Manville, a religion teacher for these grades, has always been active in his parish and has participated in mission trips to serve the poor. Before TFS, he taught theology at Cardinal Gibbons (CGHS) and high school in the Wake County Public School System. “There is no greater privilege than sharing the gift of our Catholic faith with youth,” says Mr. Harmon. “I see this as part of my vocation, a way of fulfilling the mission God has given me.”

In fifth and sixth grade, every class begins by praying in the back of the classroom, a dedicated prayer space. A child-friendly meditation (often a reflection on Scripture or a saint) is read. Intercessory prayers are often shared, or a praise and worship song is played. This year, in collaboration with Tom Harmon (the seventh and eighth religion teacher), all sixth graders have a prayer journal that they carry with them through their middle school years at TFS. Sixth, seventh & eighth-grade students will also participate in annual retreats created for their respective grade levels led by a team at CGHS.

Mr. Harmon, now in his eighth year at TFS, is a religion teacher for the 7th and 8th grades. In the 7th grade, the primary focus is on the New Testament, starting with Jesus’ historical and Jewish background and discovering how the context of the Gospels illuminates the foundation of our Catholic faith. This class integrates a personal relationship with Jesus through the Sacraments and our love of neighbor, as illustrated by TFS’ monthly Catholic Social Teaching projects.

In 8th grade, the attention is primarily on Church history, beginning with the birth of the Church at Pentecost through Acts of the Apostles. Highlights of the past 2,000 years of Church history are explored, discovering the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the ‘thick and thin’ of Church history.

Mr. Harmon shares, “The middle school students are engaged through discussion groups, assignments, and projects, expanding their application of classroom instruction to apply creative and concrete projects.”

The Franciscan School strives to create a faith-filled environment that draws each community member closer to Christ. Principal Dawn Smith shares, “Not only can the Franciscan values of humility, care for creation, and love for all people guide prayer and worship, but also how students interact with one another, approach learning, and see their role in society.”