Theology Department

Department Philosophy & Goals

We believe:

• That life is a gift and that each person is valuable and uniquely blessed.
• That we are children of God, sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, united by the Spirit of God.
• That as citizens of the world community we are responsible for the preservation of the earth and for developing a just and peace-filled society.

That we are Church and are called to:

• Be active members of a worshipping community.
• Be people rooted in and formed by our Catholic heritage and traditions.
• Be formed by the Word of God, the Sacred Scripture.
• Be witnesses of hope in our present world as well as in the final fulfillment of all creation.
• Serve others throughout life.
• Transform the world through the transformation of persons.
• Eliminate the root causes of injustice.

Thus, it is our aim to help each student:

• Develop and deepen her relationship with God.
• Develop a genuine spirituality to sustain her in life.
• Discover her gifts and grow in self-esteem.
• Approach spiritual growth as a holistic experience which also includes emotional development and the formation of genuine interpersonal relationships.
• Discover a deeper understanding and appreciation of the liturgy, sacraments and Sacred Scripture.
• Develop skills and a process for moral decision-making.
• Explore the lifestyle options available to her: married, single, and religious life.
• Experience the call, responsibility, and privilege of serving others.
• Appreciate the faith and religious traditions of those who seek God in different religious expressions.
• Understand that her responsibility extends beyond her own local community, ultimately reaching to all of God’s children.
• Accept that spiritual and emotional growth is a life-long, dynamic process.
• Realize her citizenship in and responsibilities to the world community.

Additional Experiences

Students participate in daily prayer, reflection days and annual retreats. All students participate in monthly liturgical services and other prayer experiences especially during the seasons of Advent and Lent.

Service

Service to others is and always has been an essential element of our Catholic faith. All members of the DSHA school community are invited to participate in various service opportunities throughout the school year. All students participate in monthly food and clothing drives and outreach to the needy on local, national and international levels. These projects are of special importance during Advent and Lent. Students are also invited to participate in liturgy planning and training for various liturgical roles.

All students are required to participate in at least two service experiences each semester, one of which places her in direct service to the poor and/or vulnerable. The Salvatorian Service Award is presented to those graduating seniors who have best exemplified the spirit of Matthew 25: Whatsoever you do for the least of these, you do for me.