The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

CGS01 The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd approach to the religious formation of children 3-12 years old 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 contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use in their reflection on God. Following the Montessori approach, children gather together based on their age:

The Level I atrium is for children 3-6 years old (generally pre-school & kindergarten)

The Level II atrium is for children 6-9 years old (generally 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade)

The Level III atrium is for children 9-12 years old (generally 4th, 5th & 6th grade)

Each atrium is led by volunteer catechists certified in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Catechists present materials to individuals or small groups in support of each child's desire to know and love God.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is not new. It began in Rome in 1954 with the foundational work of two women, Catholic biblical scholar Sofia Cavalletti and her collaborator, Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator. Today, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is used in 15 countries throughout the world. It has been in the United States since 1983.

St. John Vianney Parish will be beginning our own atrium in the fall of 2011. We will be beginning with just the Level I atrium. If you would like to register your 3-6 year old child please call Lauren Patterson at 864-4166 Ext. 204. You can download the registration forms here (PDF).

"If we want to help the child draw nearer to God, we should, with patience and courage, seek to go always closer to the vital nucleus of things. This requires study and prayer. The child will be our teacher if we know how to observe children."

Dr. Sofia Cavalletti,
Biblical Scholar/Co-Founder
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd