At St Anthony’s, a Catholic view about Learning and Teaching is
reflected in both dimensions of Religious Education, namely, the
classroom teaching and learning of Religion and the Religious life of
the school. Teaching and learning in Religious Education is
intentionally developed on the foundation of a Catholic theology and
philosophy of curriculum. Four core themes are central: Anthropology,
Epistemology, Cosmology and the Catholic Christian Tradition.
Catholic View of Christian Anthropology
A Catholic view of Christian anthropology is centred on the person of
Jesus. It recognises each person is created in the image of God. It
emphasises Jesus as teacher whose Spirit infuses the whole curriculum
with a hope-filled vision of life. At St Anthony’s it is characterised
by inclusion, holistic and relational learning, and action in community.
Catholic Perspective on Epistemology
A Catholic perspective on epistemology orients a curriculum towards
rationality; holistic knowing; knowing and living; wisdom as the fruit
of knowing and life-long and life-wide learning.
The Catholic tradition views the acquisition of knowledge as a
lifelong and life wide enterprise. Reflective self-directed learning and
teaching provides Sabbath spaces for teachers and students to
interiorise knowledge .
Catholic Understanding of Cosmology
Cosmology relates to how we understand our place in the universe and
the choices we make to live within the integrity of creation. Through
the elements of stewardship and sacramentality, Catholic Christians are
called to respond to questions like: ‘What is our place in the
universe?’ ‘ How do we live within the integrity of creation?’
Catholic Christian Story and Tradition
From the very beginning of Christianity, the Christian community has
been engaged in teaching. The transformative process of learning and
teaching is captured in the Vision of Brisbane Catholic Education to
Teach, Challenge and Transform. This Vision is realised at St Anthony’s
through everyday witness; and learning and teaching that challenges and
transforms the culture and the world in which we live.
Ongoing spiritual formation for religious educators is as important
as professional and theological learning. A person-centred understanding
of spiritual formation begins with honouring and exploring the personal
narrative of each individual’s experience of My Story through an
approach that engages the head, the heart and the hands (experience,
knowledge, practice and application).
