Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based faith formation program for children age 3 through sixth grade. In a sacred, hands-on space called an atrium, children and their catechists hear, ponder and celebrate the central mysteries of the Christian faith through Scripture and liturgy.
Founded in Rome in the 1950s, CGS includes three multi-age levels, each building on the one before it. Through this approach, children develop a lasting relationship with Christ and His Church. CGS is now used in dioceses, parishes and schools across the United States and around the world.
OUR APPROACH
Through Scripture and liturgy, children deepen their relationship with God. CGS recognizes that God and the child are already in relationship; adults provide a sacred space, called an atrium, where that relationship can grow. The atrium is a specially prepared room where children encounter Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Hands-on materials help them meditate on the foundations of our faith. These include figures depicting the Last Supper, maps of Israel and Jerusalem, mustard seeds and pearls representing the Parables of the Kingdom, and a small baptismal font and Paschal candle used to explore Baptism.
During these tender years, children are filled with wonder and awe. On a nature walk, they notice every insect, the rainbow in an oil sheen and the plane flying overhead. They stop, study and delight in the world around them.
The Level 1 Atrium nurtures that sense of wonder and the child’s joyful response to God’s gifts. Children explore parables that reveal the beauty and value of God’s Kingdom.
Practical Life exercises teach children to control their movements and quiet their bodies. A model altar and other materials introduce them to the church’s liturgical life. Hands-on Scripture materials allow children to revisit key Bible passages and continue listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd.
During these years, children develop reasoning skills, a sense of justice and a thirst for knowledge. They wonder how the world came to be and how they should live in it. Maria Montessori called this the “age of rudeness,” when children freely share the thoughts and opinions produced by their growing intellect.
The Level 2 Atrium nurtures these new abilities. As children deepen their relationship with the Good Shepherd, they learn how He calls them to treat others. Moral formation begins through Jesus’ New Testament maxims and parables about living in God’s Kingdom. Children also explore the history of that Kingdom.
Embroidery, calligraphy and other handwork replace the Practical Life exercises of Level 1.
After an intense, prayerful period of preparation, children enter more deeply into the church’s liturgical life through First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
Level 1 Scriptures and hands-on materials are expanded with cultural and historical context. Children also begin connecting key passages and identifying common themes, including those found in the Messianic Prophecies.
