ASSESSMENT OF CATECHESIS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

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The National Catholic Educational Association ACRE Test not only provides an overall picture of catechetical and religious education at a Catholic school; it offers a snapshot of individual classes and students and how well the various elements of the Church's Catechism is being learned.

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SUMMARY SCORES

BY

THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

2001 (TOTAL FAITH KNOWLEDGE -- 70% COMPARED TO 66% National Average)

2002 (TOTAL FAITH KNOWLEDGE -- 71% COMPARED TO 70% National Average)

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Left % is Overall Score and Right % is National Average

Top Score is 2001 Result

Bottom Score is 2002 Result

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77% Compared to National Average of 72%.

II. THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTIAN MYSTERY

66% Compared to the National Average of 68%.

III. THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND MORALITY

71% Compared to the National Average of 61%

IV. CHRISTIAN PRAYER LIFE

68% Compared to the National Average of 70%.

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Number on Left is 2001 and Number on Right is 2002

81%  DOMAIN ONE:  GOD-FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT  84.7%

90%  Foundation of our hope for union with God 90%

91%  Identify gifts of the Holy Spirit 85%

86%  Jesus is truly God and truly Man  81%

85%  The Meaning of the Trinity  81%

83%  Identify Christian description of God  83%

83%  Jesus welcomed sinners  77%

67%   Clearly expresses Church's belief that Jesus is one with God 71%

61%   Meaning of "Communion with Saints"  72%

83%   DOMAIN TWO: CHURCH-ONE HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC  83.9%

94%  Meaning: Church is Holy  96%

91%  Reason the Church canonizes saints  94%

89%  Meaning of "catholic"  86% 

89%   Relationship between the Church and the world  87%

86%  Baptism calls for active involvement in parish  77%

74%  Responsible for mission of the Catholic Church  73%

76%  Define the call to evangelize  72%

64%  Recognize the Church as teacher and guide 73%

73%  DOMAIN THREE: LITURGY AND SACRAMENTS  77.4%

90%  Holy Communion  90%

84%  Definition of sacrament  83%

80%  Mass  77%

84%  Christian marriage as sacrament  87%

77%  Identify recipient of Holy Orders  81%

58%  Definition of liturgical year  72%

31%  Meaning of Feast of the Immaculate Conception  35%

54%    DOMAIN FOUR: REVELATION, SCRIPTURE AND FAITH  46%

71%  The Bible as inspired word  52%

65%  The story of Adam and Eve teaches about human condition  79%

65%  Themes of the Acts of the Apostles  61%

60%  Identify St. Paul  48%

50%  Time when Gospels were written  56%

53%  Meaning of Paschal Mystery  64%

42%  Primary function of Jesus' parables  51%

28%  Meaning of Tradition  34%

69%  DOMAIN FIVE: LIFE IN CHRIST-MORALITY AND TEACHING  67%

92%  Definition of Sin  87%

90%  Meaning of Christian Hope  88%

88%  Catholic teaching on AIDS  90%

81%  Basis for catholic social teaching  85%

71%  Church teaches on faith and morals

66%  Catholic teaching on the nature of morality  72%

64%  Conscience formation according to Catholic teaching  74%

44%  Consequence of moral conversion  51%

44%  Meaning of true freedom  57%

44%  Meaning of "preferential option for the poor"  40%

61% DOMAIN SIX: CHURCH HISTORY  54%

78%  Identify the Council of Nicea  73%

79%  Identify the period when the Protestant Churches began  76%

73%  Purpose of Vatican II  68%

67%  Formation of the New Testament

64%  Purpose of the catechumenal process  66%

54%  Responsible for ending the persecution of Christians  60%

39%  Identify ecumenism  50%

37%  Identify teachings about Mary  27%

72%  DOMAIN SEVEN: PRAYER AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES  75%

89%  Identify cultural expressions of faith  81%

85%  Purpose of fasting  81%

80%  An essential means for growing in one's spirituality  76%

80%  Identify purpose of sacramental  81%

77%  Mary's appearance in Mexico that led to conversion to Christianity  81%

67%  Two days when Catholics are required to fast  58%

54%  Prayer type offered on behalf of others  73%

40%  Type of prayer that means "thanksgiving"  38%

69%  DOMAIN EIGHT: CATHOLIC FAITH LITERACY  73.4%

86%  Definition of virtue  79%

85%  Meaning of Incarnation  85%

80%  Purpose of the homily 

78%  Meaning of Grace  91%

45%  Identify the four evangelist  35%

39%  Identify a necessary basis for Church annulment  54%

AFFECTIVE STATEMENTS BY STUDENTS

93%  I look upon Jesus as my Savior and friend  97%

91%  Jesus' relationship with me really helps me  94%

94%  I believe that Jesus cured the blind and raised the dead  98%

90%  I feel Jesus really understands me  94%

79%  One way that God speaks to me is through the Bible  88%

91%  When I pray, God really listens to me  96%

96%  Even when I sin, God still loves me  96%

90%  I would like to learn how to get closer to God  93%

70%  I think of God as a strict judge  93%

70%  I attend Saturday/Sunday Mass  74%

69%  It is important to me to wait to have sex until marriage --

90%  I take time to think about whether my actions are right or wrong  --

75%  I think that Abortion is wrong  73%

79%  I am responsible for making the world a peaceful place  82%

62%  My friends and I talk about God 76%

72%  Gathering for a meal is important to my family  77%

72%  My friends and I talk about moral issues.  76%

74%  Students here really care about one another  93%

80%  Our religion program encourages volunteer work  92

74%  I belong to an excellent parish  84%

82%  People on my parish care about helping others  92%

72%  I am glad to be in this school  88%