Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Mission

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 program is an approach to the religious formation of children ages 3-5 years.

Class Description

It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an "atrium," a room prepared for them which contain simple yet beautiful materials that they use. In an atrium the child can ponder a biblical passage or liturgical prayers presented to them by working with the materials provided for that text.

The work of the child might be placing wooden figures of sheep and shepherd in the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd or preparing a small altar with tiny replicas of the same articles we use at Eucharist.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is the result of a long period of careful observation of children by Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew and Scripture scholar, and her Montessori collaborator, Gianna Gobbi, in Rome. Sofia and Gianna have reminded us to look to the child and watch for that sign of a deeply religious life-joy-and to ask the question:

"What face of God is the child telling us he or she needs to see?"

Class Times

Meets Wednesday mornings: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. or  1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Calendar for 2008-09

Tuition

$100.00 parishioner, non-parishioner $200.00, due at time of registration

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