Catechesis of the Good Shepherd’ will begin September 28 at 3:00pm at St. Joseph and St. Martin.  Kindergarten students will join at 3:45pm.

Friday morning CGS has also begun and is held 9:30-11:30 am.   Please use the office complex doors for student drop off and pick up.

WHAT IS CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD?
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based Catholic faith formation program where  children can grow in their relationship with God through a deep  engagement in Scripture and liturgy.

GOD AND THE CHILD
CGS is based on the belief that God and the child are already in  relationship. Our work as adults is to provide a place for the child and  God to come together and grow.

THE ATRIUM AND MATERIALS
The atrium is a specially prepared room where children can come to know  Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The atrium is prepared with materials that  children work with as a way of meditating upon the essentials of our  faith found in Scripture and in liturgy. Examples of materials found in the atrium include small clay figures of Jesus and the disciples used to meditate on the Last Supper; detailed interactive maps of the Land of  Israel and the City of Jerusalem to help situate Jesus as a real person  in time; Jerusalem Mustard Seeds and beautiful pearls to help ponder the Parables of the Kingdom of God; and a small Baptismal font and Paschal  candle used to explore the significance of Baptism.

HISTORY
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious formation program for children, beginning at the age of three. It seeks  to create and facilitate a sacred, “hands-on” space for children called  an atrium, in which both the children and their catechists can hear,  ponder, and celebrate the most essential mysteries of the Catholic faith  as revealed in the Scriptures and the Liturgy. Originally developed in  Rome by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi fifty years ago, the  Catechesis continues to spread world-wide. This course will ground the participant in the theory and praxis of CGS while also concretely  preparing him/her to develop and facilitate an atrium for 3-6 year old  children.

CGS Objectives
· To explore with participants the general  developmental characteristics and religious characteristics of the 3-6  year old child.
· To facilitate meditation on the biblical and  liturgical themes of CGS.
· To offer guidelines and assistance to  catechists for setting up an atrium for 3-6 year olds, preparing an  album, and making materials.
· To deepen participants’ ability to  observe and learn from children while also exploring avenues for  deepening parental and congregational ability to observe and learn from  children.