Theology Department
Department Philosophy
The Department of Theology at Serra High School takes seriously the conviction that theology is faith seeking understanding, forming students through the integration of faith and reason. Rooted in the primacy of the person of Jesus Christ and the living tradition of the Catholic Church, our courses and faculty accompany students, both Catholic and non-Catholic, on a shared journey of intellectual, spiritual and moral formation. Through study and serious reflection, students are invited to enter the great conversation concerning faith and truth and to cultivate intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Challenged to develop authentic and defensible reasons for their beliefs and to apply those convictions to their daily lives, students grow in wisdom and learn to live in their particular community, practicing selfless, unconditional love and contributing meaningfully in service to the Church and the world.
Theology Courses
- Theology 1: Becoming Men of Faith, Wisdom and Service
- Theology 2: Jesus and the Gospel
- Theology 3A: Catholic Ethics and Morality
- Theology 4A: Men in Relationships
- Theology 4B: Social Justice
- Church History
- Philosophy (not offered in 2026–27 school year)
- Honors Philosophy
- Philosophy and Theology of Sport
- Religions of the World
- Liturgical Studies, elective
- Campus Ministry TA, elective
Initial Placement
All students are required to take Theology 1: Siempre Adelante: Becoming Men of Faith, Wisdom, and Service.
Honors and AP Courses
- Honors Philosophy
Student Opportunities
Campus Ministry: Our Campus Ministry program helps students put their faith into action through direct service, voluntary and all-class retreats, immersion travel opportunities, student planned and led liturgies and prayer services, and social justice programs.
Ethics Bowl: Students participate in a collaborative competition where they discuss real-life ethical issues, analyze complex cases and respond to questions from opposing teams and judges.
Christian Service and Justice Club: Members plan the fall and spring justice projects and help coordinate Christian Service opportunities for all students.
Leadership Roles: The Campus Ministry “Encounter” Student Leadership Team is a year-long program for senior leaders focusing on faith formation, leadership development, brotherhood and prayer. These student leaders also lead freshman and sophomore retreats, Kairos, justice programs and participate in our liturgical celebrations.
Mission and Brotherhood Program: Mission and Brotherhood is a student leadership and moral decision-making program that is unique to Serra. Based on Gospel values, it teaches our Padres how to make better decisions for themselves and to stand up for those who are not able to do so. The students in the program receive special instruction in a unique Senior Theology class and lead events with lower classmen, culminating in a presentation to freshmen at the end of the year.
Resources
Students have access to a social justice library and a philosophy library as well as to Bibles and catechisms to support their religious study. They also learn to access online Biblical commentary tools.
