2020 came with a lot of changes, whether that be personal, social, or, to some, physical. Benilde-St.Margaret’s was not opposed to changing itself this past year; the men and women heading up the religion department saw this strange year as a chance to switch things up. 

By taking feedback from current students and understanding what students are looking for in classes, they set out to give new life to religion electives. “We want to meet student desire and need,” Theology Department Chair Ms. Becca Meagher said.

To get feedback the BSM religion department came up with a survey to send out to the incoming seniors. “From informal feedback from students, we knew it was a time to add and change and there was some energy amongst the department about wanting to add some new classes as well.” 

The surveys sent out by the religion department consisted of eight courses, the four existing and the potentially new four courses, in order to get formal feedback from students. “The 161 responses showed what we knew already: Faith and Action and Christian Prayer were the most disliked and least interesting [classes],” Meagher said. They added a summary of each potential class in order to get students’ honest options on what they thought of both old and new classes. 

Two classes will be added in the fall semester: Sports Region and Thinking Theology. As noted in the survey, Sports Religion “will explore how sports can bring us closer in our relationship with God, self, and our dear neighbor by taking a practical and spiritual approach to the concepts of teamwork, leadership, selflessness, sacrifice, and so much more.” Thinking Theology is a class that will actually be available for getting college credits at the University of St. Mary’s. These classes will replace Faith in Action and Christan Prayer pending interest during registration this week. 

It’s important to the religion department to add classes to the curriculum that allow students to connect faith and life as students continue to grow in both. “As seniors, you’re in a position to find yourself and [honing] your skills to leave BSM with an understanding of how to tap into their own spirituality,” Meagher said.