Through the offerings listed by the Theology Department, we seek to offer a variety and balance in the education of the individual at Loretto. We take an approach to religious education where (to use the words of St. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23), "the whole person, spirit, soul and body" is challenged to conversion.

Each individual is called to a life in which the Spirit of God is lived out daily and expressed through the relationships with others. It is the goal of the Theology Department to prepare students to meet the moral and spiritual demands of this age with a good sense of who they are as women of faith. This is accomplished through the course of studies outlined for each grade level and balanced with a variety of service and liturgical experiences as well as retreats. Through study of the Word, through participation in Worship and through Service to others, students share in Community and in the deepest traditions of their Catholic heritage. Students are challenged to examine their lives in the light of Christian morality, spirituality and social justice as they journey to discover who they are and what role they will play in the world.

In a catechetical response to the church's renewed emphasis on social justice issues today, Loretto High School has a minimum 5-hour service requirement in each trimester of Theology during the Frosh, Sophomore. and Junior years. Loretto High School also requires the completion of a Christian Service class prior to graduation.

A total of ten trimesters of Theology are required for graduation.

Instructors

Mr. Cheever has taught at Loretto for over 30 years.  He holds a degree in Philosophy with a Religous Studies Minor from California State University, Sacramento.  He also has a M.A. in Philosophical and Systematic Theology from the School of Theology in Berkeley, CA.  Mr. Cheevers newest love, is the game of golf-- a game that can be played but never won.

Mrs. Gallawa is in her third year of teaching at Loretto High School.  After graduating from Loretto in 2000, she graduated with a double major in Political Science and Theology and Religious Studies from the University of San Diego.  Mrs. Gallawa is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Education from California State University, Sacramento.  In addition to teaching she is also a Loretto swim coach and works on the student and faculty spirituality teams.  Mrs. Gallawa's interests include running, board games and card games, snow boarding, wake boarding and cooking.

Ms. Pryor has been in education for more than thirty years, eighteen years in secondary education and fourteen years at the university level.  The past seven years she has taught theology at Loretto.  Ms. Pryor has a B.A. in theology from Loyola Marymount; and a M.Ed. from Seattle Pacific University, a M.A. in theology from St. John's University, and a D.Min. degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary, a member school of Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union.  Ms. Pryor is a Loretto alumna and is delighted to have returned to pass on the heritage of a Loretto education-an academic tradition of excellence dedicated to helping young women grow in faith and prepare for a life of service.  Ms. Pryor has traveled extensively around the United States and Europe.

Mrs. Sparks has worked at Loretto since 2007.  Prior to joining the Loretto Family she had been an administrator and teacher in the Diocese of Sacramento for twenty three years.  She has had a variety of Catholic educational experiences.  Mrs. Sparks was trained in elementary school by The Ladies of Tralee, Ireland who were loving Sisters of Mercy.  In high school she was taught by the wonderful Mercy Sisters of Auburn, her undergraduate work was at Loyola Marymount University, run by the Jesuits and her post graduate work was through St. Mary's College where they Christian Brothers philosophy is ingrained.  Her first years of teaching were very much influenced by the Franciscan Brothers at St. Francis Elementary.  And now, Mrs. Sparks is at Loretto with the beautiful charisma of Mary Ward and the Loretto Sisters.  These dedicated sisters, brothers, and priests have inspired her during her lifetime and she feels blessed to be a part of the Loretto community where she can share what she has learned.

 

Click here to download the Theology Department Course Descriptions