Curriculum
Rooted in Truth: Understanding Classical Catholic Education at St. John’s
What Is Classical Catholic Education?
At its heart, a classical Catholic education is rooted in forming the whole child intellectually,
morally, and spiritually. While traditional education often leans on rote memorization, classical
education teaches students how to think critically, reason logically, and seek truth with
confidence.
Our faith informs this work. We believe God is the root of all truth, and when students
understand this, they gain a firm conviction that guides them across every subject. This is why
classical Catholic education is sometimes called “liberal” or “virtuous” education. The word
liberal here has nothing to do with politics; it refers to being liberated, free to learn openly, fully,
and truthfully.
Spirit of Truth: Our New Religion Curriculum
This past year, St. John’s Catholic School adopted a new religion curriculum: Spirit of Truth by
Sophia Institute for Teachers. This program blends scripture, church teaching, sacred art, and
hands-on activities in a way that is both engaging and deeply meaningful. Students learn
through videos, readings, critical thinking questions, and reflections designed to help them grow
in knowledge and relationship with Jesus. Its teacher guides and student workbooks are
beautifully aligned, giving our students a more integrated and robust experience of the faith.
Integrating Prayer and Devotion Into School Life
At the same time, our Spiritual Committee has been working to weave prayer and devotion even
more intentionally into our school year. We begin each month with a new virtue drawn from the
Dominican Sisters’ virtue curriculum. We gather for First Friday Rosary. And once each
trimester, Father Phil leads us in Eucharistic Adoration, which we began introducing last year.
Adoration is a quiet time of reflection with Jesus, an invitation to rest in His presence. It is also
the first act of the virtue of religion. To adore God is to acknowledge Him as Creator, Savior, and
Infinite Love. Jesus reminds us in Scripture, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” The Catechism echoes this truth, teaching that adoration is the foundation of worship.
Teaching Masses With Father Phil
We are also blessed that Father Phil has begun offering Teaching Masses, breaking down each
part of the liturgy so students can understand the traditional and theological reasons behind
what we do at Mass, the gestures, the prayers, the responses, the silence, and the order of theliturgy. These moments help students see the Mass not just as something we attend, but as
something deeply meaningful, intentional, and beautiful.
Experiencing the Mass and Adoration More Deeply
At school, adoration and teaching Masses both invite students into a richer understanding of the
faith. During adoration, students spend time before the Eucharist in age-appropriate silence.
Our older students may choose to sit quietly with nothing in their hands, or they may pray with a
Bible or hymnal. Our goal is to introduce students to the beauty of the Church’s forms of
worship, helping them understand not only what we do, but why we do it.
Why Classical and Catholic Belong Together
By grounding our students in truth, beauty, and faith, we help them grow as thinkers who can
reason with clarity and live with purpose. Classical education and Catholic teaching work hand
in hand, forming minds, strengthening hearts, and guiding students toward virtue.
Next week's Curriculum Corner will explore how Theology of the Body is already integrated into the Spirit of Truth curriculum.
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