Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” Matthew 13:31-32
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was born from the joy of the children in their encounter with God and the witness of lives nourished by this joy. It has also been observed that children of the same developmental stage, even though belonging to different cultural backgrounds, respond to certain elements of the Christian message in the same way. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd acknowledges a deep bond between God and the child and this relationship produces, in the child, a desire to draw ever nearer to God.
Through years of observation, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program utilizes a specially prepared environment called an atrium. This unique setting allows scriptural and liturgical themes to develop and resonate with the child’s religious need according to his or her age level. This one of a kind program divests itself of any strictly scholastic character so as to become an experience of life, an education in faith, and a celebration of the encounter with the Father, in listening to Jesus the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was born from the joy of the children in their encounter with God and the witness of lives nourished by this joy. It has also been observed that children of the same developmental stage, even though belonging to different cultural backgrounds, respond to certain elements of the Christian message in the same way. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd acknowledges a deep bond between God and the child and this relationship produces, in the child, a desire to draw ever nearer to God.
Through years of observation, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program utilizes a specially prepared environment called an atrium. This unique setting allows scriptural and liturgical themes to develop and resonate with the child’s religious need according to his or her age level. This one of a kind program divests itself of any strictly scholastic character so as to become an experience of life, an education in faith, and a celebration of the encounter with the Father, in listening to Jesus the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
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Level I Atrium for ages 3-6
The 3 to 6 year-old child is particularly capable of receiving and enjoying the most essential elements of our faith—the announcement of God’s love especially experienced through Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who died and is risen. Materials on the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings help to make the mystery of God concrete for the child. The heart of the catechesis for children under six revolves around the Parable of the Good Shepherd. Jesus announces that he is the Good Shepherd who calls each one by name. The sheep listen to the voice of the Shepherd and follow him. The 3-6 year old child enters the mystery of the Eucharist by first learning the names of the articles used on the altar and then through the most important gestures including the preparation of the chalice, the epiclesis and offering, and the sign of peace. Through the experience of seeing these gestures, presented one by one, the Mass emerges as the Sacrament of the Gift. The child becomes acquainted with the historical character of the liturgy through the events of the Last Supper, Christ’s death, and His resurrection. Level II Atrium for ages 6-9
The elementary age child is captured by the image of the True Vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” The proclamation responds to the deep need of these children to better know his or her relationship with God, family, friends, and the larger community. Moral parables offer a model for comparing their behavior with that of the Pharisee, the Tax Collector, or the Good Samaritan. The elementary children see the parts of the Mass—the Liturgy of the Word, the Preparation of the Gifts, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the Communion—as one unified prayer made of many smaller prayers. Children prepare for the celebration of First Communion (or Solemn Communion) through a series of communion meditations focusing on the relationship with Jesus. Preparation of personal missals filled with illustrations and prayers is also part of this preparation which helps to deepen their love and understanding of the Eucharist. Level III Atrium for ages 9-12
The history of salvation focusing on the plan of God as a plan of communion, a plan which links all people together through God’s love delight the older child. The emphasis is on our response to this unfolding generosity of God and recognition of the responsibilities that come with receiving God’s great gifts and seeing oneself as a collaborator with God. “What is the kingdom of God and my place in it?” is a cosmic query which lays the foundations for a life commitment in relationship with God. Materials on the Prophets of the Old Testament, the Gifts of God, the Miracles of Jesus, and expanded presentations on Liturgy and Scripture can also be found in the Level III Atrium. The Materials of the Atrium
The materials in the atrium are often three-dimensional wood representations of a particular scripture or are items that represent what can be found in Baptism or Eucharist. They are attractively displayed and invite the children to explore and deepen their experience of the presentation at their own rhythm. The most important characteristic of the materials is their close link to the biblical and liturgical sources of the Church. The materials, or as we refer to them as Works, might include maps of Israel and miniature environments representing the elements of the parables or the historical events from the infancy or paschal narratives that have been shown to satisfy the spiritual needs of the child. The model altar and its articles convey the centrality of the Eucharist. The Baptismal font and other liturgical items initiate the child into the liturgical life of the church. |
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