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Religion
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Religion Department is to Foster within our students spiritual growth through a personal relationship with Jesus, which is strengthened by academic instruction, deepened by experiences of prayer and sacramental celebration, enriched by Apostolic service, and guided by principles of Catholic morality within the Carmelite tradition of openness to God in all events of Life.
The Religion Department at Mount Carmel consists of twelve faculty members. Successful completion of our four or five year program, the length of which is determined by the Student's date of admission, coupled with the fulfillment of a preset number of apostolic service hours for each year of attendance are requirements for graduation. The study of history, mission and tradition of our Catholic heritage are fostered daily. An overview of the Catholic Church is introduced at the eighth grade level. The Upper levels lay equal emphasis on the study of Catholicism, during the first semester, followed by spiritual development themes in the second semester. The curriculum at the freshman level is on the New Testament and sexuality, the sophomore level is on Old Testament and morality, the junior level is on Sacraments and social justice, the senior level culminates with church history, world religions and vocations.
Entering a religion classroom at Mount Carmel Academy, one is reminded of the Carmel charism inviting us to be open to God in all the events of life. It is a Christ-centered sacred space that weaves ministry and curriculum together and challenges our students to grow in intellectual knowledge of Catholicism along with a personal relationship with Jesus.
Teacher and student generated prayer begins each class session and encourages meaningful and spontaneous conversation with God. A prayer space is an integral focal point in each religion classroom. Teachers are witnesses and role models within their own journeys of faith and encourage respectful and compassionate interaction in promotion of a faith community. Scripture is the key element of the prayer service and is supplemented be secondary sources, music, petitions, thanksgivings, and any creative means which respectfully engages the senses and draws one into prayer. Prayer services relate to school, local and global events; and acknowledge feast days and special events such as birthdays, specific joys, struggles or pains.
Recognizing that students learn in different ways, teachers strive to offer a variety of learning opportunities. These might include the use of class discussion, role-playing, research and writing assignments, PowerPoint presentations, artistic and creative interpretation, use of the Catechism and Sacred Scripture. In many cases, students are allowed to select from among varied assessment instruments. Cross Curriculum connections are frequently incorporated into classroom topics as a reminder of the Carmel spirituality belief that God is present in all of life.
Within this framework, students are encouraged to honor the sacredness and dignity of all creation, and make their faith come alive within their families, school, and community. Parents and grandparents are invited to participate in liturgies recognizing the milestone celebrations of life at Mount Carmel Academy. A sense of sisterhood is nurtured when students participate in an annual scapular initiation, acknowledge Confirmation celebrations or write retreat letters to one another. Relationships with the extended Carmel Community are fostered with visits and correspondence with the Sisters of Mount Carmel and activities with the children cared for at Cub Corner. Information regarding opportunities for continuing apostolic service is disseminated in religion classes and students are encouraged to make a difference in the world.
The department also plans school-wide liturgies and retreats for each grade level, actively participates in the Come Lord Jesus prayer program, and guides student ministry work as lay ministers of Eucharist, prayer group leaders, retreat teamwork, and altar servers. The sophomore level, in conjunction with University Hospital and the Louisiana State Troopers office, also provides mandatory education concerning the dangers of substance abuse and driving through the Sudden Impact Program. Members of the Department join students in weekly masses, prayer before school, and community functions such as the Rosary March for Life, Chrism Mass, Walk for the Hungry, blood drives, Abbeyfest, and World Youth Day, demonstrating a sense of unity in all our call to serve the Lord and build the Kingdom of God.
Nurturing faith becomes more of a daily endeavor as students are invited to participate in various religious services and challenged to practice acts of Christian charity and mercy. The religion class is also the setting for para-liturgical observances: praying the Stations of the Cross, reciting the rosary or offering a blessing or prayer, which may be requested by a student or any member of the school or larger community. Such prayers may concern a student, their family, the school, or the community at large. The atmosphere of a religion class at Mount Carmel Academy is one of comfort, joy, prayer and reverence guided by clear and meaningful curricula that is always open to the inspiring presence of the Holy Spirit.
Toils Tribulations . . . Ultimate Triumphs
On August 29th 2005 the City of New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The Levee Break on the 17th street canal was less than a mile from Mount Carmel Academy. Our city, school and department suffered from this blow, but recovery continues for all the Gulf Coast. The Religion Department suffered losses of time, talent and resources. Educators were separated from their students, for the span of a semester, though during that time many set out with determination to continue the education of their students and others in the Archdiocesan Transition Schools, continuing to minister to their pupils. Tracking concerning the ACRE assessments became invalid. Meanwhile the Academy suffered loss after loss. The religion department alone lost all materials connected to the eight-grade classes, and summer service camps. All materials related to school wide masses were washed away or destroyed, including such things as the Altar, vestments, candlesticks, chalices, the Tabernacle, banners and more. The Adoration chapel was submerged and has yet to be restored. The Department also lost some valued educators who were not able to return as well as our very experienced and resourceful Come Lord Jesus Leader. Those who did return were faced with the emotional, psychological and educational damage done by the storm and the semester away from their school. Each teacher competently adjusted his or her curricula in order to avoid repetition as much as possible. More importantly then and still today, each teacher aids the students in continuing to cope with the aftermath of the storm.
While this is a sad chapter for our city, school and department, we continue to rebuild, renew, heal, and improve. Our vision and prayer is that when history judges us we will have ended up with a better department, school and city.
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