“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” — Isaiah 54:13.
All of us are tasked not only to grow in our own faith but to pass on the truths of our faith to our children.
Many parents have a desire to foster this spiritual growth and learning.
However, it can often be a challenge to instill religious values and know how to guide youth to a genuine love of the Lord.
This is especially true amid the chaos and anxiety of the world.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) offers a place to cultivate Catholic teaching as well as inspire the profound joy and peace that comes from knowing Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
At its core, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori approach to the religious formation of children.
In CGS, children learn about God and others by reflecting on being created in the image of God.
The program began in Rome in 1954 and was developed by Sophia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi.
Based on the educational principles of Maria Montessori, the program is rooted in the Bible and the liturgy of the Church.
The method serves children ages three to 12 and has expanded to serve infants, toddlers, and adolescents.
Incredibly, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has grown and spread to more than 65 countries while being embraced by many religious orders, priests, and bishops.
In CGS, children gather in an “atrium,” which is a room prepared for them that contains simple yet beautiful materials that they work with to draw closer to Christ in prayer.
This creates a sacred space for children to simply be children of God and be at peace.
The curriculum focuses on respecting the dignity of the child, their developmental age, and the their individual needs.
CGS is unique in that it is focused on working with materials. This approach allows children to delve deeper into concepts and create tangible connections to what they are learning.
The method is described as both instructive and experiential; it is intended to captivate the head as well as the heart.
Some of the main areas of focus in the curriculum include prayer, geography as it relates to Biblical stories, the Eucharist and the sacraments, the Paschal Mystery, the Bible, prophecies, and parables. The program also utilizes Lectio Divina.
All of these topics serve to foster a better understanding of the Scriptures, Mass, and the Gospels.
There are three levels of the program: Level I (three to six years old), Level II (six to nine years old), and Level III (nine to 12 years old).
Every topic is designed to be age-appropriate for each level.
“The themes presented in the atrium are those to which the children have responded with depth and joy,” said The United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in its “32 Points for Reflection”.
What are the benefits?
Beyond the rich learning experience and opportunity to lay critical foundations for faith in children, there are a multitude of benefits that come to both the children and families that participate in CGS.
First, it gives children the opportunity to make lasting friendships in a faith-filled environment.
Simultaneously, it serves parents by providing them with a faith community and encouraging them to embrace a method of catechesis that will deepen their own relationship with God.
Finally, children who participate in the program stay involved in the Church.
For example, CGS provides opportunities for teens to be assistants in the program after they have finished the levels offered in the learning atrium.
Moreover, the method encourages youth to love their faith and share it with others both inside and outside of their time in CGS.
How to get involved
In the United States, there are more than 1,250 atria.
Within the Diocese of Madison, there are 13 active atria at various Catholic parishes and schools.
Beyond joining an active atrium, you can receive training and formation in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
These training courses are led by formation leaders who are recognized leaders through the United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Additionally, they are structured to fit the needs of the community.
There are several upcoming training sessions being held in the Diocese of Madison.
Training for Level 1A (ages three to six) is currently in process at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison.
Training for Level 2A (ages six to nine) will be held at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison from July 22 to 27, 2024.
There are also other trainings offered in other Wisconsin dioceses and in nearby states.
To register and learn more about the upcoming trainings, visit madisondiocese.org/catechesis-of-the-good-shepherd
For more information, to plan a visit to an atrium, or if your parish is interested in hosting an atrium, you can contact catechist and Diocesan CGS Coordinator Katie Haun at cgsmadisondiocese@ gmail.com