Gathering for biweekly all-school Masses and taking required Catholic Faith classes is a typical experience for Cathedral students. But what does it actually mean to be in a school environment centered on faith? Catholic Faith classes are more than just a requirement for the school. The religious structure of teaching helps students grow in various amounts of ways whether that be religiously, spiritually, or personally. Catholic schools teach more about the tenets and rituals of Catholicism, how to be more Christ-like humans, how to grow as a community, and many more crucial aspects of religion. 

While the primary reason for Catholic Faith class is to learn more about the religion, Ms. Florendo, a current religion teacher at Cathedral, explains, “I don’t want the students to learn about the knowledge/faith, but I want them to be able to internalize it and learn how to live it in their lives.” She states, “I hope they see the relevance of faith for them in their lives, rather than just a requirement for the school.” 

Catholic Faith class is more than just the material that is being learned. Depending on where you are in your religious journey, it could be a class that is life-changing. As the Alliance for Catholic Education states, Catholic school students learn to “see the signs of God’s love around them, and become instruments of God’s grace in their own neighborhoods, communities and the world.”  We are taught that God is present and active in our daily lives. Being a part of a Catholic school, we are a community – unum, or one, as this year’s theme states. We are there for one another through thick and thin, sharing our sense of faith with one another. 

Catholic schools also bring diversity and different morals, as not everyone has the same religion. Sophia Smith, a non-Catholic student attending a Cathedral explained her experience here: “Having religion and community to guide me through my beliefs has helped me grow in my morals as well as my faith. Having other opinions and different perspectives has also helped shape the morals and values I have today.”  Smith enjoys Catholic Faith classes as the material being learned can be beneficial in many different aspects. She comprehends the material that is being taught, applies it to her own life, and personalizes it for herself. Catholic high school is not only for Catholic students. She is experiencing her faith journey, individually, with the help of the community aspect.

Junior Reece LaRocca, who currently takes Campus Ministry 11, provides a deeper look into how her understanding of the Catholic religion grew. Questioned about her years prior to Cathedral, and if she was familiar with the Catholic Faith, she explains, “I had received my first communion and went to Sunday school, however, I was young. I don’t remember many details, and I definitely needed a refresh on the Catholic religion.” LaRocca states, “I would say that I wasn’t very familiar with the faith…I definitely was eager to learn more about it coming to Cathedral, because before, I wasn’t sure where I would get that learning about the faith from.” 

The growth of CCHS as a faith community happens through the attendance of all-school liturgies. God is present when receiving the sacraments, the daily reminders that Christ is relevant and present through daily prayer, and learning more about the Catholic Faith even if it doesn’t fully align with one’s beliefs. Having a faith background during your school high years can make as little or as big a change as you want, if you only choose to engage.