As a Roman Catholic school in the Lasallian tradition, St. John's regards faith education, development, and expression as the cornerstone of all aspects of the student experience. Our religion curriculum is designed to guide a student through a series of intellectual explorations on a journey that brings them to the point of adult faith. Students are invited to further their faith exploration by participating in our Christian service and retreat programs each year.

Course Offerings

  • 9th grade: Introduction to Sacred Scripture
  • 10th grade: Jesus and Church
  • 11th grade: Morality and Social Justice
  • 12th grade: Senior Religion
  • 12th grade: Peer Ministry

Course Requirements

Christian service is a vital component of a Catholic, Lasallian education. Rooted in Christian values, the Lasallian experience prepares young men and women for lives dedicated to leadership, achievement, and service to their community. Throughout their St. John’s experience, students complete a minimum of 90 hours of direct service to different communities, including their family, their faith community, and the poor and marginalized.

Extracurricular Opportunities

  • Campus Ministry: The Department of Mission and Ministry helps students deepen their faith and understanding of the human experience through ample opportunities to get involved in living our Catholic, Lasallian mission. Our liturgies, retreats, seminars, and service opportunities lead students to the answers they seek and help them make God known to others.

  • Lasallian Youth: Lasallian Youth offers students a variety of opportunities to minister to the economically poor through direct service and education in the spirit of St. John Baptist de La Salle. Members assist in building a faith-filled community at St. John’s. Activities include collecting items for food and clothing drives, mission collections, service activities, and tutoring grade school students at the San Miguel School in Washington, DC. This group also assists other school clubs, teams, and faculty groups plan and participate in service projects. 

  • Social Justice Cadets: Our mission is to explore, discuss, and educate ourselves on social justice issues that affect our community and the world. We hope to spread awareness of human rights violations. The club will pick one issue each year and, through education and activism, work for tangible change. If you are passionate about justice and want to work for justice, this is the club for you.

  • Prayer in the De La Salle Chapel: Prayer and meditation are important to everyday life. In addition to our weekly Mass (Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:00 am) additional opportunities are offered to pray together as a community. After school on Mondays, students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend Adoration from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm, providing a direct experience of Christ in the Eucharist. On Friday mornings, prayer begins at 7:30 am and reflects on Gospel readings that correspond to Sunday's liturgy. There is no formal sign-up procedure; all students are encouraged to attend any services.

 

Religion Faculty

List of 13 members.

  • Photo of Donna Moga

    Donna Moga 

    Department Chair, Religion; Morality and Social Justice, Senior Religion
    202-363-2316 x1953
    University of Scranton - B.A.
    Catholic University of America - M.A.
  • Photo of Olivia Booth

    Olivia Booth 

    Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Jesus and Church
    202-363-2316 x1972
    University of Scranton - B.A.
    Harvard University - M.Ed.
  • Photo of Ken Cooper

    Ken Cooper 

    Jesus and Church, Morality and Social Justice
    202-363-2316 x1948
    Manhattanville College - B.A.
    Boston College - M.A.
    Catholic University of America - M.A.
  • Photo of Debra Emery

    Debra Emery 

    Campus Minister; Peer Ministry
    202-363-2316 x1022
    Gonzaga University - B.A.
    Georgetown University - M.A.
  • Patrick Fitzgerald 

    Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Jesus and Church, Senior Religion
    202-363-2316 x1967
    Mount St. Mary's University - B.A.
    University of Dayton - M.A.
  • Photo of Robert Gilmore

    Robert Gilmore 

    Campus Minister; Peer Ministry
    202-363-2316 x1023
    St. John Fisher College - B.A.
    Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School - M.A.
    All Hallows College (Dublin) - M.A.
    George Mason University - M.Ed.
  • Photo of Kelly Leonard

    Kelly Leonard 

    Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Jesus and Church
    202-363-2316 x1904
    Catholic University of America - B.A.
  • Photo of Spencer Macklin

    Spencer Macklin 

    Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Jesus and Church, Senior Religion
    202-363-2316 x1949
    Christian Brothers University - B.A.
  • Photo of Jonathan Navas

    Jonathan Navas 

    Honors Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Senior Religion
    202-363-2316 x1907
    Loyola University Maryland - B.A.
    Emory University - M.Div.
  • Photo of Stephen Sheridan

    Stephen Sheridan 

    Jesus and Church, Morality and Social Justice
    202-363-2316 x1994
    University of Notre Dame - B.A.
    University of Notre Dame - M.A.
  • Photo of Thomas Showalter

    Thomas Showalter 

    Morality and Social Justice, Senior Religion
    202-363-2316 x1954
    Catholic University of America - PhB
  • Photo of Thomas Sipowicz

    Thomas Sipowicz 

    Director of Mission Integration; Morality and Social Justice
    202-363-2316 x1188
    University of Texas - B.A.
    Washington Theological Union - M.A.
  • Photo of Beth Tyrrell

    Beth Tyrrell 

    Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Senior Religion
    202-363-2316 x1989