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Curriculum

Religion

The Religion curriculum provides the foundation to develop in each
student an understanding of our Catholic Faith and Lasallian mission. This department promotes a moral sensitivity to self and others and prepares the student to live as a Christian leader in a pluralistic
society.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ - 111

The purpose of this course is to give students a general knowledge and appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures. Through their study of the Bible they will come to encounter the living Word of God, Jesus Christ.
Jesus and Morality - 121

The purpose of this course is to help students understand all that God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Through this course of study, students will learn that for all eternity, God has planned for us to share eternal happiness with him.
Church and Its Mission - 131

This course will study the ways people integrate personal morality into the social settings in which they find themselves. Students will study and discuss the rich social justice heritage of the Catholic Church.
Theology and Culture/Relationships - 191

The first semester will examine the presence of theological themes in a variety of mediums. The course will highlightthe importance of analyzing the context from which the expressions of theology were and are produced and their relationship to Christianity, theChurch and its teachings.

The second semester will open the eyes of students to see the rich relationship religion and science have with one another. Ranging from Teilhard’s view of our sacred and evolving universe, the Galileo affair, the Church and evolution, and how faith can benefit those in science related careers, students will consider how Christ extends to all aspects of existence and shines, most especially, in science.
World Religions/ Introduction to Christian Ethics - 173

The Southern Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor wrote it best: a good man is hard to find. This course begs the question – What does it mean to be a good man? What does it even mean to be good? Spanning the ancient Greek writings of Aristotle and Plato through the technological world of biomedical engineering, this course will explore not only the historical, philosophical and theological foundations of ethics, but will also debate the merits of these theories in the context of contemporary arguments about medicine, technology, war, sex, business, and the environment.
World Religions/ Suffering, Evil and Death - 153

Theodicy is a question that all people of faith wrestle with throughout the course of their lives. Both sinners and saints have struggled with their own trials and tribulations that have forced them to seek answers to the existential question, “Why does a good God, who is supposed to be all loving, all knowing, and all powerful, allow bad things to happen?”

This course will challenge students to dig into their faith lives by exploring the systematic, scriptural, and pastoral responses to suffering and the problem of evil from both a personal and communal perspective. Theologians and philosophers like St. Augustine, Irenaeus, Thomas Aquinas and others have reflected deeply on the subject. Obviously, there are many schools of thought when it comes to these issues. This course will rely on Scripture to shed light on this subject and also challenge contemporary beliefs.

No course could ever attempt to provide students with an absolute answer to God’s role amid human suffering which remains a mystery, but by exploring some of the different Christian responses to suffering, we can gain some insights into our own lives and the struggles and joys we experience. People often wonder about evil and suffering, this course is designed to give students a vocabulary with which to express thoughts and views of human suffering through different theological lenses. The course will emphasize an application of the various theodicies to the student’s personal faith lives.
World Religions/God, Media, and Culture - 163

This course would examine the presence of religious themes and images in books, cinema, various forms of media, popular culture, the arts and technology. Students would then analyze the religious meaning within these forms to assess the degree to which the message is consistent with the teachings of Catholicism.

Faculty

Christopher Barczak

Religion - Department Chair

barczakc@calverthall.com
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As a undergraduate of Loyola College in Maryland with a degree in Mathematics, Mr. Barczak was hired to teach at Calvert Hall in the fall of 1997. In more recent years, Mr. Barczak has completed 2 Master's Degrees; one is in Theology and the other is in Church Ministry with a focus on leadership from St. Mary's Seminary and University. Additionally, Mr. Barczak has a CASE in Educational Administration from Loyola University Maryland. As the school's Lasallian Animator, he works with the administrative team to design and implement programs that foster the Lasallian charism and spirit with in the school community. He is a graduate of the Lasallian Leadership Institute and teaches religion and math, as well as leading the morning daily communion services. Mr. Barczak also works part-time as an affiliate professor of Theology at Loyola University Maryland. One thing he enjoys most about working at Calvert Hall is the camaraderie among the faculty and students as well as his daily ability to "teach minds and touch hearts."
Amy Buttarazzi

buttarazzia@calverthall.com
Patrick Collins

collinsp@calverthall.com
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Mr. Patrick Collins has come back to Calvert Hall after graduating from “The Hall” in 2015. He attended Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD where he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Catholic Theology, with minors in Theatre Arts and Youth Ministry. As a Campus Minister, Mr. Collins assists in the Liturgies, Retreats, Service & Immersion Trips, as well as teaching Freshman religion. He is excited to return to the brotherhood of Calvert Hall and positively impact the lives of CHC students.
Nicole Creamer

creamern@calverthall.com
Walter Dobrzycki

dobrzyckiw@calverthall.com
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Mr. Dobrzycki is a graduate of Calvert Hall '78 and teaches Freshmen and Sophomore Religion. During the week, he assists in the morning Communion Services offered daily at Calvert Hall. A great supporter of the activities at Calvert Hall, he frequently assists with the many events sponsored by the Student Government Association, Campus Ministry and other school activities. A Man of Faith, he enjoys incorporating this fundamental aspect of a Calvert Hall man into his teaching and vocation in life.
Katherine Ellis

ellisk@calverthall.com
Mary Kate Fasy

fasym@calverthall.com
Susan Grzech

grzechs@calverthall.com
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Mrs. Susan Grzech has taught for thirty-four years in Catholic Schools, including Immaculate Conception, Catholic High, Maryvale High School, and St. Joseph Cockeysville. She began teaching at Calvert Hall as a Language Specialist in 2006 and has assisted with the Student Council, Bicycle Club, Bowling Club, and Weight and Fitness Club. Mrs. Grzech believes that CHC’s faculty is given the gift of their students. "Each day as we teach, we are taught. After making the decision to be part of this school, I have not looked back. This is where I belong."
Giulia Henson

hensong@calverthall.com
Barbara Jones

jonesb@calverthall.com
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Before coming to Calvert Hall, Ms. Jones taught in the Archdiocesan elementary schools. During her time at Calvert Hall, Ms. Jones has served as senior class moderator and peer education moderator. She continues to work with the Peer Education program and is one of the leaders of the daily communion services. Having a strong family connection to CHC (her father, 6 of her brothers, and numerous other relatives attended the school), she feels right at home at Calvert Hall.
John McCormick

mccormickj@calverthall.com
Marc Parisi

Director of Student Activities

parisim@calverthall.com
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Marc Parisi came to Calvert Hall directly out of Mount Saint Mary's University. Marc spent nine years as the Director of Campus Ministry before joining the Advancement Team as the Communications Director for a year. Mr. Parisi is excited to become the Director of Student Activities. In this role Marc is responsible for building upon the great tradition of student clubs and activities so that there are extra curricular options for each student.
Leonard Rhoades

rhoadesl@calverthall.com
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Brother Leonard Rhoades, FSC is a graduate of La Salle University. He has a BA in political science, MA in Education, Theology, Pastoral Studies, and is also certified in Media Literacy. Brother "Len" teaches 10th and 11th grade religion here at Calvert Hall. Brother is involved with Varsity Football and J.V. Basketball as well as community service. Brother feels the classroom is a sacred place.