Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a “hands on” approach to the Christian formation of children (potty trained 3 year olds through age 7). It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. It practices a method that allows the child to pursue a contemplative, joyful, and prayerful life. In this class, the work of the child easily becomes meditation and prayer and has a strong focus on scripture reflection, the work of our hands, the beauty and restoration of creation, and the love of our Good Shepherd. Children gather in an “atrium,” a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use. Our lead catechist is Amy Hughes.
You may be wondering how these materials help the Christian life of children? If an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might take a Bible, find the passage, and read it slowly again and again. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer. But a little child, too young to read, needs another way. In an atrium, the child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by taking the material for that text and working with it – for example, placing wood figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, preparing a small altar table with the furnishings used for the Lord’s Supper, or sitting in prayerful silence after hearing scripture read aloud. In the class, the work of the adult is to guide the child through these contemplative practices and to allow the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of each little one.
