Projects

Unit 4 Project: "Fall from Grace"

Research the story of one famous person's "fall from grace" and create a poster that tells this person's story. You may research a sports star, celebrity, or politician. Your poster should be an artistic expression -- re-telling this person's 'fall from grace' -- in the form of a collage of images, headings, and subheadings. Design your poster carefully: consider your choice of color, shape, balance, form, and scale.

As you share this person's story, pay particular attention to their confession: What did they do wrong? Why was it wrong? Did they even confess to doing something wrong? Do you think their confession was sincere or were they simply caught in the act? And finally, using the criteria from class, would you consider their sin to be mortal, serious, or venial and why? Be prepared to present your poster to the class and tell this person's story.

Requirements: Your poster should be poster board size: approximately 28" x 22" or 11" x 17." Please choose appropriate photographs for your project.

Unit 2 Project: "Faith, Family, and Fun"
1. Interview your parents/grandparents or any other individual who can shed light on the history of your family's faith journey (great aunts/uncles are excellent as well). After hearing their words, re-tell the story of your family's faith journey in your own words. For example, did anyone convert to Christianity or Catholicism? Was anyone baptized as an adult, etc.? Was anyone in your family a member of a religious community: Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, Carmelites, Poor Clare Sisters, Benedictines, Cistercians, etc.? Did anyone go through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)?

2. Ask an adult in your family, "What is your most memorable experience of the sacraments?" If they are not Catholic, ask the question, "What has been your most memorable experience within the context of your religious faith?"

3. Interview three adults in your family and ask them these two questions: 1) if they can recall their Baltimore Catechism days, "What is their definition of a sacrament? and 2) what is their own definition of a sacrament?

4. Ask an adult in your family to answer as best they are able this question, "What does it mean to be Christian?"

If one of your grandparents or parents is not Christian or Catholic you still need to complete the interviews and learn as much about their tradition as you can. Furthermore, if your family is not particularly religious why do they choose not to join or follow a religious tradition?

Requirements: Type a two pages summary of the above information. All papers should be double spaced (except the heading) and ask someone to proof-read your work before you turn it in. I am happy to review your work if you submit it to me in a timely manner. Remember, have fun and try to get to know your family's faith history. And, be prepared to share your thoughts with the rest of the class.

Good luck,
Mr. Lawler


Unit 1 Project: "God in all Things"
"The world is charged with the grandeur of God." -- Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.

These words mark the beginning to Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, "God's Grandeur" as well as serve as inspiration for our Unit 1 project. Hopkins spoke of a world which continually reveals and revels in the reality of God present in the here and now, or as he says, "deep down things." Once we have studied and memorized the poem, our next opportunity is to partner with Hopkins as we too search for the God in our own world. As he beautifully intoned in his poem "Pied Beauty" it is in the most mundane places, the most over-looked where, too, the reality of God's handiwork can be found. This sacramental world view is reinforced to us as we begin our own study of sacraments. Our challenge, therefore, is to capture the reality of God's presence as we encounter God in the ordinariness of life. Through the lens of our camera we will compose our own poem honoring God's greatness.

Requirements: One 8x10 black & white picture on photo-quality paper with the caption or title (on back). A half page typed reflection on how your photograph reveals the sacramental world to you.

Remember, you do not have to be a great photographer to capture God's greatness and beauty. Have fun!