Honors Institute for Leadership in Life (HILL)

HILL is a seminar style course that leads students through an exploration of the challenges of leadership in a modern world, viewed particularly through the lens of our faith, considering issues from theological, sociological, historical and economic perspectives. Through the exploration of a variety of texts in fields such as theology, sociology, business and the arts, the consideration of current problems and moral/ethical challenges, and the incorporation of voices of many active in community, government and business leadership, HILL will explore what it means to be a Christian leader, the virtues and values essential for leadership, the unique challenges faced by leaders rooted in faith and how to navigate the challenges of leadership in an increasingly secular world. These topics are considered to better prepare students to handle the responsibilities of leadership.

The second semester includes an exploration of ecumenism, studying the ways in which other systems of belief and practice differ from the Catholic faith and the manner in which the Catholic Church relates to non-Catholic Christians and other religions of the world. Building on the foundational truth that Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church and entrusted to her the fullness of God’s Revelation, the study of ecumenism is intended to help students recognize the ways in which important spiritual truths can be found in non-Catholic Christian churches and ecclesial communities as well as in non-Christian religions. The richness of the Vatican II documents, the Decree on Ecumenism and the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, will help guide the students in this course.

Students are selected through an application and interview process; past academic performance of the student is an important consideration.

Prerequisite: Departmental approval and teacher interview required.