Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

We try to put the child in touch with those “sources” through which God reveals and communicates Himself in living form; namely, the Bible and Liturgy, in balanced proportion. – (Rebekah Rojcewicz, RPOC, p.28)

Children’s Religious Formation

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children 3-12 years of age. It originated in 1954 with the founding of the first Atrium (classroom) in Rome, Italy, by Sophia Cavalletti, and was inspired by the principles of Maria Montessori. The Catechesis is based on the conviction that God and the Child are in relationship. The child has a deep need to experience, and a special capacity to enjoy, the presence of God. Our role as adults is to protect and nurture this bond, and help the child fully live the encounter with God and Jesus, the Good Shepherd. When helped to do so, this experience becomes formative of the child’s whole person and generates great joy.
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

Developed by Sofia Cavalletti, an Italian Hebrew scripture scholar, building on the work and methods of Maria Montessori, the Catechesis seeks to give children the guidance and vocabulary which enable them to become aware of their relationship with God and give expression to it. With the Catechesis we help each child to continue to fall in love with God while building community among peers.
• 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

What is this word Atrium? Montessori coined this term recalling the part of the Early Christian church building where catechumens would gather in preparation to join the church. How fitting that this special room in which we are preparing our children to enter/participate in the church be called the same. The Atrium is the meeting ground of two mysteries: the mystery of God and the mystery of the child
“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

The role of the adult in the atrium is secondary. It is the child’s own inner guide and teacher, the Holy Spirit, which directs the mind and heart. The importance of the catechist is to place materials within reach and share scripture that fills a particular longing at each stage in a child’s spiritual life.
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)