Christian Architecture Overview: Online Classes

When we think of Christian teaching, many of us think of the Scriptures, catechism, writings of the saints, and the teachings of the popes. In our 2015 summer bootcamp "Christian Architecture Through the Ages", Mr. Phillip Campbell will lead students in exploring Christianity's architectural heritage, which has traditionally been one of the main ways the faith is passed from generation to generation.

Registration is open. Click here: Homeschool Connections Registration Page (choose the summer semester and click on Search).

Christian Architecture through the Ages

Class dates: Monday through Thursday, July 13, 14, 15, and 16.

Total classes: 4

Starting time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central; 2:00 Mountain; 1:00 Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: None

Suggested grade level: 7^th to 12^th grade.

Suggested high school credit: 1/3 semester World History

Fee: $65 for all 4 classes.

Instructor: Phillip Campbell

Course description: This course will acquaint students with the basic components of Christian ecclesiastical architecture, beginning with the basilicas of the late patristic era and moving through the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical and Neo-Gothic.

Course outline: Day 1: Late patristic basilicas, Day 2: Romanesque and Gothic, Day 3: Renaissance and Baroque elements, Day 4: Revivalism and the Modern Descent

Course materials: Provided free by the instructor.

Homework: Minimal amount of reading; test at the end of the week with suggestions for further reading.

We hope to see you in class!

Click here: Homeschool Connections Registration Page (choose the summer semester and click on Search).

Catholic Scripture Study: Online High School Classes

Homeschool Connections, THE Catholic online curriculum provider, offers a wide variety of excellent theology courses. These courses can be taken as live, interactive courses or as recorded, independent-study courses. We offer apologetics, Thomistic philosophy, moral theology, Theology of the Body, and so, so much more.

Here are just two of our live, interactive courses coming up for the 2014/2015 school year. These courses give high school students an excellent working knowledge of Scripture so that they can know, love, and defend their Catholic faith:

Reading the Old Testament

(click on title to register)

Class dates: Mondays, October 6 to December 1, 2014.
Total classes: 9
Starting time: 2:30 pm Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)
Duration: 1 hour per class
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Theology. For a full credit, add another theology course.
Fee: $105 if you register on or before August 1, 2014. $120 after Aug. 1st for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course description: The Old Testament is the record of God’s initial interaction with His Creation and the human race and His preparation the People of God for the coming of the Messiah. This course will focus on the historical development of Israel from the patriarchs to the Maccabees. We will emphasize methods for reading a passage so as to more fully grasp God’s message for us.
Course outline:
Class 1: Overview
Class 2: OT understanding of God
Class 3: OT understanding of man
Class 4: OT understanding of cosmology (nature)
Class 5: Common words in the OT
Class 6: Marriage and family in the OT
Class 7: History of Israel from creation to the Roman occupation
Class 8: Christ in the OT
Class 9: Review
Course materials: Catholic Bible
Homework: Online readings from Bible. There will be a short online quiz after each class period based on reading and class material. Final exam graded by the instructor.

Reading the New Testament

(click on title to register)

Class dates: Mondays, March 2 to May 4, 2015. No class April 6.
Total classes: 9
Starting time: 2:30 Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Theology
Fee: $105 if you register on or before November 15, 2014. $120 after Nov. 15th for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course description:
Course outline:
Class 1 What is the NT?
Class 2 Studying and praying with the NT
Class 3 Genres of NT books, Gospel, gesta, letters, apocalypse
Class 4 Common terms in the NT
Class 5 More terms
Class 6 NT geography
Class 7 NT culture
Class 8 NT history
Class 9 The writing of the NT
Course materials: Catholic Bible
Homework: Quiz after each session. Write a final paper about a passage from the NT. All homework graded by the instructor.

These two courses are also available recorded through our Unlimited Access program.

Instructor biography: Dr. Robert Gotcher is an independent educator and scholar. He has taught at a major seminary, graduate and undergraduate students, lay ministry students, diaconal candidates, and high school students, both online and in the classroom. He and his wife, Kathy, are raising their seven children in Franklin, Wisconsin. Dr. Gotcher has been actively involved in the homeschooling of his children, especially in junior and high school. He has taught Latin, literature, physics, astronomy, and religion to homeschooled students. He has a special devotion to the classical trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, especially as they pertain to the written arts. Dr. Gotcher graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies. He received his M.A. in Theology of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and his Ph.D. from Marquette University.
          Dr. Gotcher teaches literature, theology, and formal logic for Homeschool Connections.

Introduction to Catholic Apologetics for High School

It is a great honor for us to present fantastic instructors to parents and students. Instructors such as Gary Michuta, author of several great apologetics books including Making Sense of Mary. Mr. Michuta will be teaching the following course in the Spring 2014 semester.

Click on the course title for registration information:
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Introduction to Catholic Apologetics (Defending the Faith Series)

Note: Limited to 15 students only.

Course dates: Tuesdays, January 7 to March 4, 2014.

Total classes: 9

Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 AM Central)

Duration: 1 hour

Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade (enthusiastic middle school student could also do well).
Fee: $110 if you register on or before Nov. 1, 2013. $130 after Nov. 1st for all 9 classes.
Instructor: Gary Michuta
Course description: This is beginners course on apologetics. The focus will become familiar with all the basic prooftexts for common disputed Catholic doctrines and how to answer the most common objections posed against Catholic doctrine. The student will also learn how to read Scripture in context to answer objections and how to use Catholic resources to find answers.
Course outline:
Class 1: Basics On How to Explain and Defend the Faith
Class 2: Bible Basics: What is the Bible? What it is, how its structured, where to find things.
Class 3: Using Catholic Resources / Apologetic Research
Class 4: Learning Prooftexts: Salvation / Answering Objections
Class 5: Learning Prooftexts: Peter and the Papacy / Answering Objections
Class 6: Learning Prooftexts: The Eucharist / Answering Objections
Class 7: Learning Prooftexts: Mary / Answering Objections
Class 8: What are the Early Church Fathers?
Class 9: Learning How to Share Your Faith with Confidence
Course materials: Recommended (but not required): Where's That in the Bible, by Patrick Madrid (Book or DVD).
150 Bible Verses Every Catholic Should Know by Patrick Madrid.
Other course materials provided free by the instructor.
Homework: The students will receive a worksheet with 10 to 20 review questions.

Making Sense of Mary by Gary Michuta

NOTE: Making Sense of Mary is part of THE Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Gary Michuta, Catholic apologist and HSC instructor, has a new book out this week. This is exciting

news. Gary taught a high school course for us last school year on the topic of Marian theology as he put together his new book. It was pretty exciting for our students and for us too.

From reviews of Making Sense of Mary at amazon.com:

Bravo! Gary Michuta has written a well-researched book explaining Mary in a way that even Protestants can understand. He clears a forest of distortions and misconceptions that people often have, even if it is out of ignorance. Yet, his tone is gracious as he explains from Scripture, and the teachings of the earliest Church, how the Roman-Catholic Church understands Mary. The book will surprise you, whether Protestant, Lutheran, or Roman Catholic.
     The book's rich foray into the Old Testament is especially impressive. All Christians would benefit from reading this book, if only because one would learn how much the Old Covenant foreshadowed the New. His chapter on the Fall into sin ("Eve and the Fall of Adam") is about the best I've read anywhere. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book. And yes, as a side benefit, you would also learn about Mary in a deeper and fuller way.

and

I HIGHLY recommend one read and RE-READ the Answering Common Objections section over and over and over! Make sure to take notes! Purchase this in hard copy AND Kindle edition and make sure to highlight in BOTH editions! Gary covers some questions in an outrageously INTELLIGENT and CONCISE manner! Some of these questions can tongue tie and confuse any average or advanced layman/theologian. The manner in which Gary goes about masterfully answering these objections is to be commended. Simply put: Awesome

You can purchase the book directly from: Grotto Press
Or, purchase the Kindle version from: Amazon

Thank you Gary for donating a copy of your book for The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Theology for High School Online

Homeschool Connections offers several fantastic high school theology courses, which are currently open for registration. (Unfortunately, our Middle School Apologetics course is already full and closed for registration. The good news is Middle School Apologetics is also available through Unlimited Access.)

Below are details for all or our high school theology courses that are being offered as live, interactive courses for Fall 2013:

Theology: The Mass Explained (Understanding Our Faith Series) 

(click on course title to register)

Course dates: Thursdays, September 12 to October 31, 2013.
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 5:00 PM Eastern (4:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1/2 semester Theology
Fee: $90 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $110 after Aug. 1st for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course description: We participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every week. We know it is a great privilege and a great grace. We’ve read excellent explanations in our religion texts books. But our understanding of an infinite Mystery can never be complete. We can always go deeper. This course uses images from Scripture to deeper our understanding of and appreciation for what we are doing and experiencing when we “go to Mass.”
Course outline:
Class One: Introduction: What is the Liturgy: a summary of the teaching
Class Two: Active participation
Class Three: The Mystery in which we participate
Class Four: The Mass, Temple, and Sacrifice
Class Five: Harvesting of all creation
Class Six: The Wedding Feast of the Lamb
Class Seven: Approaching the Mystery with fear and trembling
Class Eight: What Now?
Course materials: Bible, Missal, teacher’s text.
Homework: Reading, weekly quizzes, final paper graded by the instructor.

Apologetics: Peter and the Papacy (Defending Our Faith Series) 

(click on course title to register)

Note: This class is limited to 15 students only.
Course dates: Tuesdays, September 10 to October 29, 2013.
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade.
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Theology.
Instructor: Gary Michuta
Fee: $100 if you register on or before August 1, 2013. $120 after Aug. 1st for all 8 classes.
Course description: With the election of our new pope, it is more important than ever to be able to explain the papacy to non-Catholics and clear up many of the misunderstanding and misinformation offered on the internet and main stream media. In this class, we will go through the Old Testament background concerning the government of God's People, the New Testament evidence for the primacy of Peter, the papacy, and the often misunderstood teaching of Papal Infallibility. We will also learn how to address and answer many of the most common objections raise against the Papacy from a biblical and a historical perspective.
Course outline:
Class 1: The Old Testament foundation for the Papacy
Class 2: Matthew 16:16-19 - The foundations of the Papacy
Class 3: Examining the New Testament Evidence for the Primacy of Peter and the Papacy
Class 4: The Papacy in History: Historical Evidence for the Primacy of Rome
Class 5: What is Papal Infallibility - Biblical Evidence
Class 6: What is Papal Infallibility - Historical Cases
Class 7: Answering Common Objections
Class 8: Answering Common Objections / Mock Dialogues
Course materials: Recommended (not required): Upon this Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church (Modern Apologetics Library) [Ignatius Press, 1999]. Peter: Keeper of the Keys (DVD) [Ignatius Press]. (click on titles for ordering information) Other course materials provided free by the instructor.
Homework: The students will receive a worksheet with 10 to 20 review questions plus short reading assignments.

Lumen Gentium: Theology for the Year of Faith 

(click on course title to register)

Note: This course is limited to 15 students only.
Course dates: Wednesdays, September 4 to December 4, 2013. No class Oct. 16 and Nov. 27.
Total classes: 12 Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Ability to read and understand the encyclical.
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade.
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Theology
Fee: $175 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $195 if you register after Aug. 1st for all 12 classes.
Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA
Course description: A Study of Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI Emeritus, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the convocation of the Second Vatican Council by designating October 11, 2012-November 24, 2013 as the "Year of Faith." In his Motu Proprio, Porta Fidei, Benedict said the anniversary celebration "would provide a good opportunity to help people understand that the texts bequeathed by the Council Fathers, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, 'have lost nothing of their value or brilliance. They need to be read correctly, to be widely known and taken to heart as important and normative texts of the Magisterium, within the Church's Tradition ...'' In this class will do precisely what the popes have asked: we will read and discuss one of Vatican II's central documents: Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Among other matters, we will learn what the council really says about: -- what the Catholic Church is -- who belongs to the Church -- the teaching authority of the Church -- the infallibility of the pope -- the objects of the Church's teaching authority -- the role of bishops and priests in the Church -- the role of the laity -- Mary's place in the Church
Course materials: Pope Paul VI's encyclical Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church). Click on title to find free online.
Homework: Students will read the text of Lumen Gentium over a period of 12 weeks. The teacher will evaluate the students by essay tests given after Week III, Week V, and Week VII. Thereafter, evaluation will be based on student's responses to questions in class.

Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man” 

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Tuesdays, Sept. 3 to Oct. 22, 2013
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $90 on or before Aug. 1, 2013, $110 after Aug. 1st for entire 8-week course.
Instructor: Monica Ashour, MTS; M Hum
Prerequisite: None.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester credit Theology
Course description: This overview of Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body will give a “bird’s eye” perspective of the whole of TOB. Far from relegating TOB to the area of sex and sexuality, TOB provides meaningful tools to see one’s life in the context of Jesus’ love for His Church and the life and love of the Blessed Trinity. A special emphasis will be made regarding the vocational call to the priesthood, religious life, and married life, and how both “celibacy for the Kingdom” (JPII’s words) and marriage mirror and inform each other. Caveat: Coursework subject to change based on the discretion of the online instructor’s assessment.
Course outline:
Class 1: Overview of Theology of the Body.
Class 2: Our bodies as a teacher: The “language of the body”
Class 3: Our bodies as a sacrament (JPII)
Class 4: Our bodies: fallenness due to detachment (all sins are due to not “re-reading the truth of the language of the body)
Class 5: Our bodies can experience redemption: Masculinity and Femininity
Class 6: Our bodies at the end of time: spiritualized body, perfect inter-subjectivity, the essence of heaven
Class 7: Our bodies and their “spousal meaning” tell us to discern our call: priesthood, consecrated life, marriage
Class 8: Recapitulation of everything
Course materials: For the first day’s class: please read the required reading from the Bible. 1. Genesis, Chapters 1 to 3 2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 355-682 (Read 47 paragraphs a week) 3. The Documents of Vatican II; Gaudium et Spes, paragraphs 47-62 (2 paragraphs a week) 4. “Letter to Families” (Pope John Paul) (This gives a good TOB outlook in abbreviated form) 5. The short essay “The Weight of Glory” in the longer collection with the same name: The Weight of Glory and short essay “Man or Rabbit”, both by CS Lewis. Additional reading lists provided for students who desire to go deeper into the subject.
Homework: Weekly quizzes, a major project, & final exam: Answer keys provided for parental or self grading. A minimum of 30 minutes a day suggested for study, reading, quizzes, project, and final Note that the pressure is not great, as rarely is there discussion over the reading assignments. Rather, Miss Ashour gives the reading list to help the students find good resources and to learn more on their own since we don’t have much time in class.

Theology of the Body, the Church and the Sacraments (Ecclesiology & Sacramental Theology)

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Tuesdays, Oct. 29 to Dec. 17, 2013
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $90 on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $110 after Aug. 1st for entire 8-week course.
Instructor: Monica Ashour, MTS; M Hum
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester credit Theology
Course description: The students in this course will study the nature of the Church, that is, how She is in the “nature of a sacrament” (Lumen Gentium), along with all of her other aspects from the perspective of Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body. While the traditional understanding of the Church will be presented, students will see that such teaching, undergirded by Blessed John Paul’s Theology of the Body, becomes one mosaic. For instance, students will see what Pope John Paul means when he says marriage is the “primordial sacrament” and what it means that “redemptive love becomes, in a sense, ‘spousal.’” Students of this course are mystified by the shift in their imagination. They will see, then, why Vatican II’s favorite description of the Church is Body-Bride.
Course outline:
Class 1: Course expectations and overview
Class 2: The source of Revelation
Class 3: The Marks of the Church
Class 4: Recapitulate ecclesiology
Class 5: The Sacraments
Class 6: The role of the Holy Spirit
Class 7: The Mass and liturgy
Class 8: Recapitulation of everything
Course materials: 1. The Bible—The Institution of the Last Supper in all 3 synoptic Gospels and John’s Washing of the Feet; all of the book of Ephesians; Hebrews 5-13 2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 3. The Documents of Vatican II, especially Sacrosanctum Concilium and Lumen Gentium 4. Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Pope John Paul’s encyclical on the Eucharist and Its relationship to the Church—Read 6 paragraphs a week) 5. The short essay “The Weight of Glory” in the longer collection with the same name: The Weight of Glory and short essay “Man or Rabbit”, both by CS Lewis. 6. Fr. Godfrey Diekmann’s “Two Approaches to Understanding the Sacraments” (provided FREE by instructor).
Homework: Weekly quizzes, a major project, & final exam: Answer keys provided for parental or self grading. A minimum of 30 minutes a day suggested for study, reading, quizzes, project, and final Note that the pressure is not great, as rarely is there discussion over the reading assignments. Rather, Miss Ashour gives the reading list to help the students find good resources and to learn more on their own since we don’t have much time in class.

Homeschool Connections also offers a large variety of recorded, independent-learning courses in all subjects including Theology. Click here to learn more about the recorded courses: Unlimited Access!

Currently Available through Unlimited Access:

Church History; Trinitarian
Christian Anthropology—Who Am I?
Moral Theology—How Shall I Live?
Ecclesiology & Sacramental Theology—How Shall I Glorify God?
Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man”
Catholic Spiritual Writers
Introduction to the Bible; Old Testament 
Introduction to the Bible; New Testament
The Trinity
The Mass Explained
Practical Catholic Apologetics for Adults
Middle School Apologetics for Catholics
Apologetics Boot Camp
Defending the Bible in Modern Times
Advanced Catholic Apologetics
What About Mary? Marian Apologetics
Natural Philosophy; Philosophy of God

Thomistic Philosophy: Independent Learning

Thomism? Thomistic Philosophy? Natural Theology? Sounds awful lofty doesn't it? Surely too heady for a high school student!

We invite you to think again as you read these comments from our Thomistic Philosophy students from the Fall 2012 semester ...

• "To me, Thomas Aquinas always seemed like a very advanced kind of theology. Only scholars ever read him. I was surprised to find how readable he was, and how simple many of his teachings were. The content was so informative." 
• "I have gone from a person who was ignorant of Thomistic Philosophy to a junior Thomist." 
• "Mr. Palmer explained Aquinas very clearly. He used lots of examples and pictures to reinforce points, and it made the material seem relevant to the modern world." 
• "The Summa Theologica seemed boring to me before and now I have a much better understanding of it and I think I will read the Summa just for fun now." 
• "I love the Summa now and the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas." 
• "The homework was very hard but it made me think differently about things in a wonderful way. Mr. Palmer, in my opinion, is a genius when it comes to explaining Thomas and the Summa." 
• "The homework for this class was very good. Mr. Palmer was enthusiastic and knowledgable. He made things easy to understand, and he was a great teacher!" 
• "If I didn't have a good grasp of something, it was sure to come out when I did the homework. It forced me to really understand the material so I could summarize it." 
• "I would like you to make Mr. Palmer do several more follow-up classes. He is a great teacher and this has been my favorite class I have ever taken." 
• "Thank you Mr. Palmer and HSC!"

Have we convinced you that philosophy can indeed be accessible to teens? Even enjoyable? If so, here is the good news ... Mr. Palmer's course on Thomistic Philosophy will be available as a recorded course through our Unlimited Access! service starting in January. To sign up click here: Unlimited Access!

More good news! If you prefer live, interactive courses Dr. Rioux is teaching Philosophy of God starting in January. Click here to register or learn more: Natural Theology; Philosophy of God. 

Rule of Life for Teens

In this upcoming course, high school students will write a Rule of Life for themselves. This is a course that will help teens take their theology lessons and apply them to their everyday lives.

Catholic Living for Young People 

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, Jan. 31 to Mar. 21, 2013
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester
Fee: $95 if you register on or before Nov. 1, 2012. $110 if you register after Nov. 1 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Robert F. Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course description: In our complex and changing world, with its serious cultural challenges, how does a young person structure and organize his life so that he can grow in his relationship with the Lord and be a fruitful apostle? Themes covered include prayer, study, social life, recreation and entertainment, technology, and decision-making. Lecture and discussion.
Course materials: Provided by the instructor.
Homework: Readings. The student will compose a rule of life tailored to his own situation. Ungraded.

Catholic Living for Young People 

(click on course title to register)

Theology of the Body for High School Students

Our Theology of the Body for High School Students series continues with Theology of the Body, the Church & the Sacraments starting October 30, 2012.

You can jump into this series anytime, so no worries if you didn't take the course from September.. There is no prerequisite. We would love for you to join this great group of Catholic homeschooling students. Monica Ashour is the kind of teacher who can bring understanding to the most complicated theological truths. The students love her, partly due to her gift of for that reason, but also because they can see her joy for her subject matter -- Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body!

Theology of the Body, the Church and the Sacraments (Ecclesiology & Sacramental Theology)

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Tuesdays, Oct. 30 to Dec. 18, 2012
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $90 for entire 8-week course.
Instructor: Monica Ashour, MTS; M Hum
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th
High school credit: ½ semester credit or full semester with extra reading
Course description: The students in this course will study the nature of the Church, that is, how She is in the “nature of a sacrament” (Lumen Gentium), along with all of her other aspects from the perspective of Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body. We will examine the thoughts of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who has written extensively on the Church and on the Liturgy.
Course outline:
Class 1: Course expectations and overview
Class 2: The source of Revelation
Class 3: The Marks of the Church
Class 4: Recapitulate ecclesiology
Class 5: The Sacraments
Class 6: The role of the Holy Spirit
Class 7: The Mass and liturgy
Class 8: Recapitulation of everything
Course materials (All can be found FREE online -- links will be provided to students):
1. The Bible—The Institution of the Last Supper in all 3 synoptic Gospels and John’s Washing of the Feet; all of the book of Ephesians; Hebrews 5-13
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
3. The Documents of Vatican II, especially Sacrosanctum Concilium and Lumen Gentium
4. Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Pope John Paul’s encyclical on the Eucharist and Its relationship to the Church—Read 6 paragraphs a week)
5. The short essay “The Weight of Glory” in the longer collection with the same name: The Weight of Glory and short essay “Man or Rabbit”, both by CS Lewis.
6. Fr. Godfrey Diekmann’s “Two Approaches to Understanding the Sacraments”
Homework: Weekly quizzes, a major project, & final exam: Answer keys provided for parental or self grading. A minimum of 30 minutes a day suggested for study, reading, quizzes, project, and final Note that the pressure is not great, as rarely is there discussion over the reading assignments. Rather, Miss Ashour gives the reading list to help the students find good resources and to promote exploring their faith on their own as they grow into adulthood.
Note: Please email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for a complete syllabus.

Advanced Catholic Apologetics for High School

Advanced Catholic Apologetics

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Wednesdays, Jan. 23 to Apr. 10, 2013. No class Feb. 13 and Mar. 27.
Total classes: 10
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Prerequisite: Defending the Bible in the Modern World, Introduction to Apologetics, Apologetics Boot Camp, OR equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 11th
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester with extra reading.
Fee: $140 if you register on or before Nov. 1, 2012. $160 after Nov. 1 for all 10 classes
Instructor: Gary Michuta
Course description: Learn how the Protestant Reformation happened in Europe and England, the major divisions within Protestantism, what are their major objections to Catholicism and how to answer them.
Course outline:
Class 1: Martin Luther and the birth of Protestantism in Germany
Class 2: Justification by Faith Alone, Purgatory (objections, answers, mock dialog)
Class 3: The Birth of Reformed Protestantism (Calvin, Zwingli)
Class 4: Real Presence in the Eucharist / Sacrifice of the Mass / Priesthood (objections, answers)
Class 5: Radical Reformation (Anabaptists / Baptists)
Class 6: Baptism, Confession (objections, answers, mock dialog)
Class 7: The English "Reformation" (Anglican / Episcopalians)
Class 8: Papacy and Apostolic Succession (objections, answers)
Class 9: Non-denominationalism, restoration movements, and mega-churches
Class 10: How to Share and Defend Your Faith Without Making Enemies

Course materials: All reading provided FREE by Mr. Michuta. For those who want to delve deeper into the subject, Mr. Michuta recommends: The Gospel According to James McCarthy by Gary Michuta [Grotto Press] and Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating [Ignatius Press].
Homework: Weekly quizzes graded by the instructor.
Note: Mr. Michuta will also teach Making Sense of Mary: Biblical Background for Marian Apologetics  in the spring semester.

Instructor's biography: Gary Michuta is the author of Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: Did the Catholic Church Add Books to the Bible? and How to Wolf-Proof Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Keeping Your Kids Catholic. Mr. Michuta's newest book Making Sense of Mary is due for release in a few months. Mr. Michuta was also the co-host of the radio show Hands on Apologetics Live. He is a frequent guest on various Catholic radio and television shows, and he also worked as an uncredited consultant for Steve Ray’s Footsteps of God video series. Since 2003, Mr. Michuta has developed apologetic material for the Eastern Church Re-Evangelization Commission (E.C.R.C) to aid the Chaldean Catholic Dioceses. Gary currently offers classes on Apologetics to Catholic parishes around the country.

Advanced Catholic Apologetics

(click on course title to register)

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc: Mr. Michuta will be available via email or phone in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

High School Apologetics: Marian Theology

NOTE: This live, interactive course is completed. HOWEVER, it is now available as a recorded course through Unlimited Access. Click here now to learn more: Unlimited Access to Catholic Homeschooling Online Courses (Independent Learning).

Making Sense of Mary: Biblical Background for Marian Apologetics 

(click on course title to register) 

Total classes: 10
Starting time: 10 am Eastern Time (9:00 am Central)
Dates: Jan. 17 to Mar. 21
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 semester credit with extra reading
Fee: $120
Instructor: Gary Michuta
Course description: Making Sense of Mary is not your average apologetics class. Instead of memorizing proof-texts, we are going to uncover how Scripture and the early Christians understood Mary’s role in God’s perfect plan of redemption beginning in Genesis with Adam, Eve, and the Serpent and tracing the prophetic echoes of that event all the way to the Book of Revelation. We’ll see why Mary plays such an important and indispensible role in God’s plan. How the Kingdom of David sheds light on Mary’s mission both on earth and in Heaven. How being members of the Body of Christ affects our relationship to Mary and finally what the “Woman clothed with the sun” in Revelation 12 tells us about Mary and our battle against the Evil One. The class will be based on Gary Michuta’s upcoming book, Making Sense of Mary.
Course outline:
Class 1: The Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve
Class 2: Mary’s Role in God’s Perfect Plan of Salvation
Class 3: The First Gospel
Class 4: Old Testament Prophecies about Mary
Class 5: Mary: The Queen mother of the Kingdom
Class 6: One Christ: Head and Body
Class 7: Daughter Zion
Class 8: The Woman of Revelation 12
Class 9: Apologetics
Class 10: Who were the “brothers of the Lord”?

Course materials: Making Sense of Mary by Gary Michuta (Grotto Press)
Homework: Weekly reading assignments.
Special note: Mr. Michuta will also teach Advanced Apologetics in the spring semester.

Instructor's biography: Gary Michuta is the author of Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: Did the Catholic Church Add Books to the Bible? and How to Wolf-Proof Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Keeping Your Kids Catholic. Mr. Michuta's newest book is Making Sense of Mary Mr. Michuta was also the co-host of the radio show Hands on Apologetics Live. He is a frequent guest on various Catholic radio and television shows, and he also worked as an uncredited consultant for Steve Ray’s Footsteps of God video series. Since 2003, Mr. Michuta has developed apologetic material for the Eastern Church Re-Evangelization Commission (E.C.R.C) to aid the Chaldean Catholic Dioceses. Gary currently offers classes on Apologetics to Catholic parishes around the country.

Making Sense of Mary: Biblical Background for Marian Apologetics 

(click on course title to register)

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc: Mr. Michuta will be available via email or phone in between classes for questions and comments. Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months. Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Other theology courses offered by Homeschool Connections for the spring 2013 semester (click on course titles to learn more):
Advanced Catholic Apologetics with Gary Michuta
Theology of the Body; How Shall I Live (Moral Theology) with Monica Ashour
Natural Theology: Philosophy of God with Dr. Jean Rioux

Apologetics Reading List: Defending the Bible

Gary Michuta provides the materials for all of his Catholic apologetics courses free of charge. We have found that students love the topic of apologetics and hunger for more reading material. For this reason. Mr. Michuta always provides an optional reading list for students who want to continue to learn after class time has finished.

Here is the Recommended Reading List for Apologetics: Defending the Bible in Modern Times. Click on the title for ordering or download information:

Classes 1-2 
Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible, Gary Michuta (order from: Grotto Press).
Where We Got the Bible: Our Debt to the Catholic Church, Rev. Henry Graham (FREE download) 

Classes 3-4
Is the New Testament Reliable? Paul Barnett, IVP.
Evidence for Our Faith, Fr. Joseph Cavanaugh, University of Notre Dame Press, 1959 (out of print).

Classes 5-6
Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), Vatican II (FREE download)

Classes 7-8 
100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scripture, David Armstrong (Catholic Answers)
By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition, Mark Shea (Our Sunday Visitor).

Class 9 
Divino Afflante Spiritu, Pope Pius XII (FREE download)

High School Apologetics: Defending the Bible in Modern Times

We, at Homeschool Connections, feel very blessed to have the best instructors come to us. Gary Michuta's life's work has been Catholic apologetics, traveling the country, appearing on EWTN and Catholic radio, and writing books. He is as engaging with teens as he is knowledgable in his field. It is indeed a great blessing to have the opportunity to offer this course to the Catholic homeschooling community.

Photo compliments of
www.publicdomainpictures.net

Defending the Bible in the Modern World

click on course title to register

Class dates: Wednesdays, Sept. 12 to Nov. 14, 2012
Total classes: 10 Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 8th to 10th
Suggested high school credit: 1 semester credit with extra reading
Fee: $140 for all 10 classes
Instructor: Gary Michuta
Course description: Learn how the Bible came to be (OT and NT canons), how to explain and defend Sacred Tradition, and why the Bible Alone (Sola Scriptura) is unbiblical and unworkable.
Course outline:
Class 1: How do we know which books belong in the Old Testament?
Class 2: Why are Jewish and Protestant Bibles missing seven Old Testament books?
Class 3: How did the New Testament form?
Class 4: Can we trust the New Testament? Is the New Testament authentic and reliable?
Class 5: What is Sacred Tradition? Can we trust it
Class 6: Answering Objections: Are there "lost books" of the Bible? Can tradition err?
Class 7: Does the Bible teach that it alone is our sole rule of Faith?
Class 8: What does the Bible teach regarding its proper interpreter?
Class 9: Answering Objections: Are there errors in Scripture? Why are there so many translations?
Class 10: How to answer commonly attacked Scripture (e.g., Creation in Gen. 1, Noah's flood, etc.).
Course materials: Provided free by the instructor. An additional reading list is offered for students who want to expand on the course lessons here: Apologetics Reading List.
Homework: Weekly quizzes graded by the instructor.
Note: Mr. Michuta will be continuing with apologetics in the spring. Advanced Catholic Apologetics starts in January.

Instructor biography: Gary Michuta is the author of Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: Did the Catholic Church Add Books to the Bible? Gary’s latest book is How to Wolf-Proof Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Keeping Your Kids Catholic. This book gives Catholic parents and educators valuable insights into the deceptive tactics used by anti-Catholics and concrete suggestions on how to combat these methods. Mr. Michuta was also the co-host of the radio show Hands on Apologetics Live. He is a frequent guest on various Catholic radio and television shows, and he also worked as an uncredited consultant for Steve Ray’s Footsteps of God video series. Since 2003, Mr. Michuta has developed apologetic material for the Eastern Church Re-Evangelization Commission (E.C.R.C) to aid the Chaldean Catholic Dioceses. Gary currently offers classes on Apologetics to Catholic parishes around the country.

Equipment requirements: Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc: Mr. Michuta will be available via email and phone in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Defending the Bible in the Modern World

click on course title to register

Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man”

Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man”

(click on course title to register) 

Class dates: Tuesdays, Sept. 4 to Oct. 23, 2012

Total classes: 8

Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)

Duration: 1 hour

Fee: $90 on or before Aug. 1, 2012, $110 after Aug. 1 for entire 8-week course.

Instructor: Monica Ashour, MTS; M Hum

Prerequisite: None.

Suggested grade level: 10^th to 12^th

High school credit: ½ semester credit

Course description: This overview of Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body will give a “bird’s eye” perspective of the whole of TOB. Far from relegating TOB to the area of sex and sexuality, TOB provides meaningful tools to see one’s life in the context of Jesus’ love for His Church and the life and love of the Blessed Trinity. A special emphasis will be made regarding the vocational call to the priesthood, religious life, and married life, and how both “celibacy for the Kingdom” (JPII’s words) and marriage mirror and inform each other. Caveat: Coursework subject to change based on the discretion of the online instructor’s assessment.

Course outline:

Class 1: Overview of Theology of the Body.

Class 2: The “language of the body”

Class 3: Original unity

Class 4: Fallen man

Class 5: Redeemed man

Class 6: Eschatological man

Class 7: Vocational discernment

Class 8: Recapitulation of everything

Course materials: For the first day’s class: please read the required reading from the Bible.

1. Genesis, Chapters 1 to 3

2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 355-682 (Read 47 paragraphs a week)

3. The Documents of Vatican II; Gaudium et Spes, paragraphs 47-62 (2 paragraphs a week)

4. “Letter to Families” (Pope John Paul) (This gives a good TOB outlook in abbreviated form)

5. The short essay “The Weight of Glory” in the longer collection with the same name: The Weight of Glory and short essay “Man or Rabbit”, both by CS Lewis.

Additional reading lists provided for students who desire to go deeper into the subject.

Homework: Weekly quizzes, a major project, & final exam: Answer keys provided for parental or self grading. A minimum of 30 minutes a day suggested for study, reading, quizzes, project, and final Note that the pressure is not great, as rarely is there discussion over the reading assignments. Rather, Miss Ashour gives the reading list to help the students find good resources and to learn more on their own since we don’t have much time in class.

Note: Please email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for a complete syllabus.