A Catholic high school curriculum rooted in the Lasallian tradition

Live Jesus in Our Hearts

Put the daily Lasallian prayer “Live Jesus in Our hearts” at the center of your Catholic high school curriculum! Rooted in the spirit of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Live Jesus in Our Hearts puts your students’ needs first, creating a dynamic space where they can truly contemplate their faith.

Witness your Catholic teens deeply engage with Scripture and the rich teachings of the Church. They won’t just listen; they’ll actively reflect and explore their own questions. Activity-rich and seamlessly integrated teacher guides make this active reflection a reality. As you lead each lesson, you’ll feel empowered to lead these vital explorations with confidence.

Plus, you can be assured that all Framework points are thoroughly addressed—this Catholic religious ed curriculum has received the official declaration of conformity! Empower your students to not just learn about their faith, but to truly live it.

View all the components of the Live Jesus in Our Hearts Series here.

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A comprehensive approach to Catholic religious education

Covering topics that range from the Old Testament to Catholic morality, Live Jesus in Our Hearts hits everything in between. The aim is for students to walk away with a deep and integrated understanding of their Catholic faith and its practical application in their lives.

Revelation and the Old Testament

This first-semester 9th grade course provides a comprehensive journey through Revelation and Sacred Scripture, from Genesis through the New Testament. Students will explore key Old Testament periods and prophetic messages and gain a foundational understanding of the Gospels, epistles, and Revelation. This study aims to cultivate a deeper Christian faith and prepare students for future engagement with the Word of God.

Jesus Christ and The New Testament

These units in the second-semester 9th grade explore Jesus as both human and divine, using the Gospels and Paul’s letters. Students learn about his life, message, and how he connects us to God. They study Jesus’ teachings on judgment and mercy in Luke and Romans, leading to the Trinity and Mary’s role. The course also covers the early Church in Acts and our call to holiness through love and service, as shown by Jesus and the saints.

The Paschal Mystery and the Gospels

For year 2 semester 1 (or third semester) students explore the Paschal Mystery, starting with its Old Testament roots and culminating in its celebration through liturgical prayer. Students will examine Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in the Gospels, understand its impact on our redemption and suffering, and learn about the universal call to holiness through prayer. This study aims to deepen their understanding of God’s saving plan and their personal relationship with Him.

The Church Foundations and Mission

Empower your students in the second semester of year 2 to understand the living, evolving Church! This course illuminates its origins, key characteristics, diverse expressions, leadership roles, and the universal call to holiness. Students will grasp the Church’s vital mission to serve and transform the world, inspiring them to active participation and a deeper connection to their faith.

Sacraments and God’s Grace

Unlock deeper meaning in life through the Church’s liturgy and Sacraments! This semester 1, year 3 course reveals how these sacred practices connect students to the Paschal Mystery, guide their Christian journey through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, and offer ongoing healing and conversion. Discover pathways for impactful service in the Church and the world through Holy Orders and Matrimony.

Morality and God’s Love

Unlock a life of purpose and integrity! This course, made for second semester in year 3, reveals God’s plan for student’s happiness and empowers them to make good choices guided by His wisdom. Understand the values behind each commandment – fostering a strong relationship with God, building just communities, and honoring the sacredness of life and love. Discover the divine gifts of grace, virtues, and conscience that strengthen their moral compass and learn the transformative power of forgiveness on the journey to becoming their best selves.

A catholic high school curriculum with digital resources included

This Catholic high school curriculum integrates digital resources into every unit, offering advantages for educators and students alike.

This comprehensive approach aims to empower both teachers and students within our Catholic high school curriculum, fostering a contemporary learning environment rooted in faith.

Streamlined Instruction: Benefit from readily accessible digital presentations that provide a clear and organized framework for each lesson.
Simplified Lesson Planning: The wide array of digital resources reduces the time and effort required for lesson creation.
Time Savings: Reclaim valuable time with pre-prepared digital materials, allowing you to focus on direct student interaction and individual needs.
Easy Assessment: Utilize convenient digital quizzes for quick and efficient assessment of student understanding, providing immediate feedback.
Effective Review Tools: Leverage digital quizzes as a seamless and readily available method for ongoing review, reinforcing key concepts and preparing students for exams.

Easy to understand . . . even easier to teach

Making lessons impactful for high school students requires teachers to be well prepared. We provide everything teachers need, right out of the box! Teachers don’t need to worry about preparing a year of lesson plans. Instead, they get to focus on what matters most: building relationships and connections with their students, and bringing the love of Christ to them!

A scriptural framework for life

We want students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it everywhere. On each page young people will find discussion and reflection questions, prayers, and real-life examples of people who have applied the concepts from the lesson in their discipleship, all with a deep foundation in Scripture! Students will learn the biblical fundamentals of the Catholic faith, and they’ll understand how God’s Word has been present throughout history and to the present day.

Applicable for all

Turn learned faith into lived faith! Every lesson establishes a firm foundation of understanding by breaking down complex theological concepts into easy-to-understand and applicable content. Key terms are clearly defined, and core themes are applied to teens’ daily lives, allowing them to take what they learn to heart!

Visual learning for a visual age

Throughout the centuries, the Church has made use of art to teach and enlighten the hearts and minds of the faithful. Every unit closes with an Art Study, where students are introduced to a piece of sacred art and invited to explore its deeper meaning and how it relates to the unit.

I am really impressed with the materials. I had seen the older version of the Morality course, which had some good resources, but so much work has been done, and there is really a wealth of resources to use, and the quality is very good. I've seen nothing comparable to what Saint Mary's Press is providing, especially in the Live Jesus in Our Hearts program.

l cannot say enough about depth and content of the Live Jesus in Our Hearts Series. These are the best High School texts available on the market. The content is engaging and challenging for students which is great at the High School level. As a Religion Educator in my 24th year of teaching my journey has and continues to be with Saint Mary's Press as the go to for our curriculum

It is AMAZING! The student texts are easy to read, relatable, and reaches students where they are at. The vocabulary terms are clearly defined and the main concepts from each unit are in line with the Bishop's objectives.

I find it a great foundation on which to build a theology course. The textbook is attractive and readable, while remaining faithful to the Church and providing a solid theology to students. The use of Scripture connects students to the Christian tradition that is both rich and life-giving.

The teacher's manual is OUTSTANDING. Being able to download and manipulate the presentations, quizzes, tests, and worksheets saves teachers an immense amount of time and the activities are fun, academic, and promote faith growth. SMP will always be my number one choice for high school texts. Thank you for allowing me to teach minds and touch young hearts through your materials!

We are currently using “Revelation & the OT” for the first time this year. We are thrilled with how approachable it is by such a wide range of levels. It is such a refreshing text. The perspectives offered give students an opportunity engage theologically deep topics in a developmentally appropriate way.

So happy with these texts: My students are engaged, apply the reading to their life, and are able to comprehend the Catholic Faith more easily with the glossary, PowerPoints, Quizlets, and reading questions that follow each chapter. KUDOS!

Get the curriculum that’s approved by bishops and teachers alike!

Live Jesus in Our Hearts is an engaging, Scripture-rich USCCB framework curriculum. All six textbooks come with the full approval of the Subcommittee on the Catechism.

Or call 800-533-8095 to order.

See the program learning objectives

Curriculum Video Overview

Scripture for teens

The Catholic Youth Bible

Get young people a Bible made for them! Relevant context and reflective extras make it the perfect Catholic Bible to study, pray, and grow with!

Sacramental Preparation

Living Justice and Peace

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Pre-Confirmation

Understanding Catholic Christianity

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