Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Adults can help our program in many ways. Those who are interested, can attend a training course during the summer to become certified to lead an atrium.  Those who want to help but aren’t feeling called to work in the atrium at this time  can help make materials for the Atrium, to launder washcloths and other cloth materials, and to help maintain and clean the atrium spaces.

Upcoming Local trainings:
Level 1
Part A: May 15-20, 2023
Part B: May 2024 (exact dates TBD)

Level 2
Part A: 2024
Part B: 2025

Contact Kate for more information and to register.

To search for other training opportunities, visit cgsusa.org/learn/find-a-course

That Which Was Lost by YongSung Kim

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a religious education curriculum for ages 3-12 that builds upon a child’s natural sense of wonder and their need to learn through rich sensory experiences in order to help the child fall in love with God. CGS seeks to create and facilitate a sacred, “hands-on space” in which both the children and their catechists can hear, ponder, and celebrate the essential mysteries of the Catholic faith as revealed in Scripture and the Liturgy.

Refined over four decades, CGS catechizes each child individually in a unique and beautiful space called the “atrium.” The Atrium is a specially prepared place for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It is a place where we gather with children to listen to God through:

• Sharing of Holy Scripture
• Learning about the Sacraments
• Exploring the Parables Jesus shared about the Kingdom of God and how we should live in God’s Kingdom
• Learning about the Mass, including the articles used, the priest’s garments, prayers and gestures, and the colors and cycle of the church year
• Understanding the history of the life of Jesus through the BIble and Biblical geography
• Prayer – communal and individual 
• Practical Life Exercises – meant for development as well as meditative movement
• Art – as an expression of relationship to God

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is based on the Montessori method of teaching, which is self-directed activity and hands-on learning. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian Catholic, physician, and educator. Through her scientific studies on educational theory and pedagogy, her philosophy on education was born. Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi developed Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which serves children from ages three to twelve. The Catechetical Review, link below)

CGS follows Maria Montessori's studies of human development. Following that, children aren't grouped by their grade, but by their stage in development. There are three levels in CGS that coincide with a child's stages of development.
Level I (ages 3-6)
Level II (ages 6-9)
Level III (ages 9-12)