Children’s Religious Formation
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Program is a Montessori based Catholic religious education program which nurtures the child’s relationship with God, and educates the child in the faith. Dr. Maria Montessori’s approach follows St. Thomas Aquinas’ understanding that “all our knowledge has its origin in the senses.” The “Atrium” is a place of prayer, prepared especially for children to contemplate the life of Jesus and the liturgy of the Church with the use of many sensorial materials, including infancy narrative figures, a raised surface map of the Land of Israel, a model altar and a model baptismal font. This concrete method of presenting the faith is similar to the way the Church teaches us through the sacraments, holy water, incense, and statues.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• The atrium is a place where the child comes to know the great realities of…life as a Christian, but also and above all, a place where the child begins to live these realities in meditation and prayer. There is nothing of the academic classroom about the atrium; it is not a place for religious instruction but religious life. (Sofia Cavalletti)
• The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd takes its name from the parable and image of Jesus that seemed to appeal most to young children.
The Atrium
“An interpersonal relationship is always a mystery; it is more so when it involves a relationship with God; when the relationship is between God and the child the mystery is greater still.” (Sofia Cavalletti)
Each atrium is specially designed with child-sized furniture including a prayer table for gathering, a model altar, as well as materials to deepen their familiarity with more parables and the Mass itself. After being presented with new material in a small group, children are free to choose work which particularly speaks to them to foster the growth of their own relationships with God.
The Catechist
How can you participate? We are always looking and are in need of specially trained volunteer catechist and assistant catechist. These adults facilitate the sessions with the children.
We are also always looking for volunteers to help make/ cut out supplies for the Atriums.
If you are interested in helping in any of these areas please contact Melanie Konieczka at 255-4600.
Then He took a little child and putting His arm around him said, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this for My sake welcomes Me!”
Mark 9:36-37
Other Faith Formation pages you might be interested in:
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Preschool Education
Elementary Education
Junior High Education
Senior High Education
Other Education pages you might be interested in:
Vacation Bible School
Young Adult Groups
Women’s Groups
Men’s Groups
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)