St Ignatius High School - Ignatian Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Theology Course Seeks Understanding of Faith The most pressing problem facing educators today is the question of developing in young people an awareness of God, a knowledge of true values, and an appreciation of moral wisdom. Removing an obstruction to this development, the monumental Jesuit Educational Association's Workshop on the Christian Formation of Jesuit High School Students, made a clear distinction between religion and theology. Religion is a virtue — a way of life — which richly imbues the school's educational philosophy. Religious education, therefore, becomes the work of the entire school: its administration, its faculty, its extracurricular activities, its many informal gatherings. Relegated to the classroom. Theology becomes another academic subject worthy of intellectual pursuit. In the words of Fr. Thomas Lconhardt, S.J., who has done so much to impliment the Workshop here at Ignatius and to challenge the often boyish and stagnant faith of the students, Theology is faith seeking understanding.” In establishing its program, the Theology Department completely overhauled its material and objectives in order to capitalize on a natural growing experience of the ever-questioning teenager: to doubt much which he has believed, including his Faith. The four year course sought an understanding of Faith through an awareness of the human person, society, Christian marriage, and the Church; it also utilized the more traditional topics of revelation and the sacraments. In addition, the Department demanded carefully kept notebooks and continually emphasized the need for private reflection upon class material so that the notebooks would eventually become the principle textbook. A final dimension of the Theology Program invited the parents to come to St. Ignatius in the evening to receive the same courses their sons were receiving. Much credit must be given to new teachers Fr. Robert Welsh, S.J., and Mr. Gordon Myers, S.J., who were instrumental in offering to sophomores and seniors this new course, unparalleled in the Cleveland Area. 24

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% Counseling. Fr. James O'Reilly, S.J., (Counseling; Theology 4); Fr. William Sullivan, S.J., (Counseling; Theology 3); Fr. Arthur Kanuch, S.J, (Counseling; Theology I); Fr. Andrew Yatsco, S.J., (Counseling; Theology 1); Fr. Robert Broome, S.J., (College Counselor). Retreats Emphasize Personal Involvement The teenager often finds adolescence a lonely experience. It is a great strain on his courage and on his ability to truly comprehend unchangeable values and meanings which seem to be retreating behind the advance of questioning, doubt, and disillusionment. He is confronted with himself; and at this lime, he either accepts or rejects himself. Through the counseling program, the student enjoyed a person-to-person relationship with the man whom he chose as his counselor. The counselor helped the teenager develop, through a frank exchange of ideas and personal experiences, self-knowledge and self-acceptance which fostered efficient decision making and the establishment of realistic goals in life. The program also gave regular counselors more time for counseling, and Fr. Robert Broome, S.J., left classroom duties completely to help juniors and seniors on selecting colleges. Complementing the counseling program, retreats became a personal commitment and an involvement with others. Through talks by juniors and seniors, discussion groups, and movies, the open retreats for freshmen and sophomores emphasized an awareness of their relationship with God and with other adolescents. Juniors experienced involvement in their closed retreats and periods of both meaningful reflection and involvement in their Christian Action Movement retreats. With diversified and stimulating retreats, seniors became aware of the need for concern and involvement in the world. Through Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), the co-ed Search for Christian Maturity (SEARCH), and the In Service neighborhood retreats, a spirit of community imparted a sense of belonging and an especially Christian enthusiasm. Both the Colombiere and CAM retreats stressed personal reflection with personal involvement. Through commitment, involvement and reflection, the teenager will grow to accept himself and to understand the responsibility of his adulthood. 23

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Theology Depjrlment. Mr. Gordon Myers. S.J., (Theology 2); Fr. Thomas Leonhardt. S.J.. (Department Head; Theology 2. 4); Fr. John Kysela, S.J., (Theology 3); Fr. Robert Welsh. S.J., (Theology 1. 4). LEFT: Fr. Robert Welsh, S.J., considers a good student-teacher relationship outside of class essential to a good relationship while in class. TOP: Fr. Thomas Leonhardt’s course is geared toward young adults to promote a faith-awareness for the future. OPPOSITE PAGE. TOP: Mr. Gordon Myers, S.J., plans to moonlight as an actor, making silent quickie films with famed actor Stacy Steele. 25