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Formation Courses for Catechists
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What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Beginning in 1954 in Rome, Italy, Sophia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi, inspired by the work and insights of Maria Montessori, developed an approach to the faith formation of children. They recognized the religious potential of the child. Young children's souls are open to divine revelation despite being less developed intellectually and less skilled in reasoning. This program is based on the conviction that God and the child are in a relationship that can be deep and intense; while a 4-year-old may not be able to be a theologian, he or she can be a saint in communion with the triune God. The child has a deep need to experience and has a special capacity to enjoy the presence of God. The task of the adult is to help the child live fully this encounter with God. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is based on the sound teaching of the Catholic Church's tradition. In revealing the Good News to the children, Sacred Scripture & the Liturgy are utilized. The themes are offered in such a way as to develop the precious religious potential present in every child: the capacity to love God and be loved by Him. The National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was formed in 1984 with the purpose to "involve adults & children in a common religious experience in which the religious values of childhood predominate." These formation courses will give you the background information as well as the skills to create a prepared environment, an atrium, and make presentations that enable the child to draw near to God. Continue reading below for more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the atrium environment, and becoming a catechist! |
Questions?
For questions regarding CGS Level I or Level II Formation, please contact Mary Ellen at 337-774-2614, or email her below.
CGS National
If you'd like to learn more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, click below!
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Introduction to catechesis of the good shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a method of religious formation 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 and often homemade materials used to lead them into the life of the Church.
Many have wondered how these materials help the religious life of the child. When an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might pick up 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, placing wooden figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. Older children, who do read, often copy parables from the Bible, lay in order pre-written prayers, or label a long timeline which shows the history of the Kingdom of God.
This catechesis was begun over 50 years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti, a Catholic scholar with an expertise in Hebrew Scripture. Sofia was asked by a friend to prepare her 7-year-old son for First Communion. Knowing nothing about working with children, Sophia nevertheless began, opening the Bible to Genesis 1:1, reading bit by bit and reflecting with the boy on what they were reading. Seeing the joy, peace and satisfaction on his face led her to imagine the awesome spiritual potentials of the child. She began a collaboration with Montessorian Gianna Gobbi, who understood childhood development. Together with the children, these two began developing the materials you see in our atrium today. Sofia continued her work with children in her home atrium in Rome until her passing in 2011.
CGS has grown, and today children ages 3 to 12 are served in atria throughout the world, from remote rural areas to large urban cities. At each level, the curriculum is based on what Sofia and other catechists discovered, through careful observation over the course of many years, to be the most central, absorbing, resonant work for the children.
In Level I, 3-6-year-old children develop a relationship with a loving God, a God who calls His sheep by name, a God who will look for lost sheep. The children reflect upon many aspects of the Mass; the gestures and prayers they have seen so many times are named, discussed, and practiced. They learn new words, care for themselves and the environment, observe carefully, and respond with joy. The work of the 3-6-year-old child is primarily solitary work involving much repetition.
In Level II, the 6-9-year-old children are introduced to a God who directs the unfolding of salvation history with the aim of bringing all of creation into a deeper communion with Him. The children consider God's work of Creation and celebrate Christ's work of Redemption. Through the prophecies, they are offered a vision of the Parousia. A longing for harmony and the coming of the Kingdom and an end to all that is bad in the world surfaces. The children see beyond themselves, exhibiting concern for the world as a whole. In marveling at God's gifts, they begin to take stock of their own response. They look to Jesus' words and parables to help them know what is right; moral formation begins. They prepare for the Sacraments. They begin to read Scripture themselves. They create their own missals. They enjoy working in groups. They plan and lead prayer services.
In Level III, the 9-12-year-old children journal; they wrestle with moral questions as a group. Like the Level II children, they plan and lead weekly prayer, which grows more complex and may echo the Liturgy of the Hours. Their work on salvation History becomes more detailed, as the great "Plan of God" offers them a theoretical framework for all they learn in history and science at school. They wonder what their own contribution to this history will be. Vocation is a theme they explore, through the loves of prophets and saints. Level III children explore the elements of the Sacraments in more detail. They examine the miracles of Jesus. The children delve into the Old Testament typology and discover parallels between the stories there and the stories they have already learned from the New Testament. They continue to strive to find harmony in their world, showing a keen interest in justice and an emerging interest in service.
Many have wondered how these materials help the religious life of the child. When an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might pick up 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, placing wooden figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. Older children, who do read, often copy parables from the Bible, lay in order pre-written prayers, or label a long timeline which shows the history of the Kingdom of God.
This catechesis was begun over 50 years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti, a Catholic scholar with an expertise in Hebrew Scripture. Sofia was asked by a friend to prepare her 7-year-old son for First Communion. Knowing nothing about working with children, Sophia nevertheless began, opening the Bible to Genesis 1:1, reading bit by bit and reflecting with the boy on what they were reading. Seeing the joy, peace and satisfaction on his face led her to imagine the awesome spiritual potentials of the child. She began a collaboration with Montessorian Gianna Gobbi, who understood childhood development. Together with the children, these two began developing the materials you see in our atrium today. Sofia continued her work with children in her home atrium in Rome until her passing in 2011.
CGS has grown, and today children ages 3 to 12 are served in atria throughout the world, from remote rural areas to large urban cities. At each level, the curriculum is based on what Sofia and other catechists discovered, through careful observation over the course of many years, to be the most central, absorbing, resonant work for the children.
In Level I, 3-6-year-old children develop a relationship with a loving God, a God who calls His sheep by name, a God who will look for lost sheep. The children reflect upon many aspects of the Mass; the gestures and prayers they have seen so many times are named, discussed, and practiced. They learn new words, care for themselves and the environment, observe carefully, and respond with joy. The work of the 3-6-year-old child is primarily solitary work involving much repetition.
In Level II, the 6-9-year-old children are introduced to a God who directs the unfolding of salvation history with the aim of bringing all of creation into a deeper communion with Him. The children consider God's work of Creation and celebrate Christ's work of Redemption. Through the prophecies, they are offered a vision of the Parousia. A longing for harmony and the coming of the Kingdom and an end to all that is bad in the world surfaces. The children see beyond themselves, exhibiting concern for the world as a whole. In marveling at God's gifts, they begin to take stock of their own response. They look to Jesus' words and parables to help them know what is right; moral formation begins. They prepare for the Sacraments. They begin to read Scripture themselves. They create their own missals. They enjoy working in groups. They plan and lead prayer services.
In Level III, the 9-12-year-old children journal; they wrestle with moral questions as a group. Like the Level II children, they plan and lead weekly prayer, which grows more complex and may echo the Liturgy of the Hours. Their work on salvation History becomes more detailed, as the great "Plan of God" offers them a theoretical framework for all they learn in history and science at school. They wonder what their own contribution to this history will be. Vocation is a theme they explore, through the loves of prophets and saints. Level III children explore the elements of the Sacraments in more detail. They examine the miracles of Jesus. The children delve into the Old Testament typology and discover parallels between the stories there and the stories they have already learned from the New Testament. They continue to strive to find harmony in their world, showing a keen interest in justice and an emerging interest in service.
Life in the atrium
In the atrium, we are led by the children's desires for relationship with God/Jesus and to know what is going on during the Mass. Areas of interest include practical life, geography, articles of the Mass, Baptism, Prophecies of the Child, Infancy Narratives, Paschal Narratives, and Kingdom Parables. For the older children, the atria also include materials on moral formation, Salvation History and the Sacraments. We celebrate seasons as the Church does, drawing our presentations from the Scriptures most engaging to the children.
One of the books that guides our catechesis is "Listening to God with Children" by Gianna Gobbi. This approach allows the children to come to their own realizations and answers in their own time. The child who begins as a 3-year-old tends to absorb the Word of God with great delight at the words themselves and the pictures they bring to mind. In the second year, the child begins to connect parables to the liturgy. In the third year, this child may begin to create artwork demonstrating the unique understanding that resides in the heart of the child.
As the child's capacities for exploration and socialization expand during the Level II years, the connections made at Level I are deepened and broadened. The Kingdom of God, which had been introduced through parable and liturgical symbol, is now seen in its historical context. God is encountered as the Giver of gifts and initiator of the covenant relationship. The child's emergent moral sensitivities are nurtured as he considers his responses to God's invitations.
These themes are explored even more deeply with 9-12-year-olds, who look at the rise and fall of nations and cultures as part of the plan of God. They spend considerable time thinking about their roles in that plan. In-depth Old Testament work is complemented by detailed study of the Gospels. Both are enriched by delving more deeply into the Sacraments. In these ways, the themes and methods of Level I - especially respect for the call of the child's personal journey and his membership in a loving community - continue to shape the child's growing spirituality.
During an atrium session, the catechist presents material to the children, for instance, proclaiming the words from Isaiah 9:1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." Together with the children, the catechist discusses what it is like to be in darkness, how we feel when we see the light, what Isaiah might have meant when he said the people walked in darkness, what this light might be. It is the children themselves who eventually make connections between the light Isaiah proclaimed and the light given to each child at Baptism, the candles on the altar, the darkness that descended upon Jesus' death, the light of the Resurrection, and so on. Children are invited to work with any and all materials which have been presented to them.
Through CGS, children are given language for prayer, language to describe the Mass, opportunities to imitate/re-create what they've seen in Mass, exposure to Scripture, a time and place for developing their own spiritual life and much more.
One of the books that guides our catechesis is "Listening to God with Children" by Gianna Gobbi. This approach allows the children to come to their own realizations and answers in their own time. The child who begins as a 3-year-old tends to absorb the Word of God with great delight at the words themselves and the pictures they bring to mind. In the second year, the child begins to connect parables to the liturgy. In the third year, this child may begin to create artwork demonstrating the unique understanding that resides in the heart of the child.
As the child's capacities for exploration and socialization expand during the Level II years, the connections made at Level I are deepened and broadened. The Kingdom of God, which had been introduced through parable and liturgical symbol, is now seen in its historical context. God is encountered as the Giver of gifts and initiator of the covenant relationship. The child's emergent moral sensitivities are nurtured as he considers his responses to God's invitations.
These themes are explored even more deeply with 9-12-year-olds, who look at the rise and fall of nations and cultures as part of the plan of God. They spend considerable time thinking about their roles in that plan. In-depth Old Testament work is complemented by detailed study of the Gospels. Both are enriched by delving more deeply into the Sacraments. In these ways, the themes and methods of Level I - especially respect for the call of the child's personal journey and his membership in a loving community - continue to shape the child's growing spirituality.
During an atrium session, the catechist presents material to the children, for instance, proclaiming the words from Isaiah 9:1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." Together with the children, the catechist discusses what it is like to be in darkness, how we feel when we see the light, what Isaiah might have meant when he said the people walked in darkness, what this light might be. It is the children themselves who eventually make connections between the light Isaiah proclaimed and the light given to each child at Baptism, the candles on the altar, the darkness that descended upon Jesus' death, the light of the Resurrection, and so on. Children are invited to work with any and all materials which have been presented to them.
Through CGS, children are given language for prayer, language to describe the Mass, opportunities to imitate/re-create what they've seen in Mass, exposure to Scripture, a time and place for developing their own spiritual life and much more.
Learn more about becoming a catechist
-----Are you called to be a catechist?-----
In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, adults are given the opportunity to embrace a method of catechesis (religious education) that deepens your own relationship with God in ways you never imagined. Catechist formation in CGS consists of instruction, spiritual formation and lived experience in a sacred space called the atrium. Certification in each level of the atrium requires formation which includes time for instruction, contemplation and, most importantly, prayer.
We are blessed at Our Lady of the Lake to have three atria serving children from preschool to seventh grade. As our program grows, so does our need for certified catechists. Unlike other religious education curricula, CGS knows that there is nothing more important than helping children grow closer to Christ. Therefore, all catechists receive training in a way that is "retreat-like", giving them time and space to absorb the richness of what it means to live one's baptismal covenant and grow in the love and knowledge of God. The Level I course is the foundation for all three levels of CGS.
CGS strives to captivate the head as well as the heart of our students and our catechists. There is a very holistic approach to adult formation, enriching the adult in a background of scripture and liturgy, theology and prayer, as well as understanding the developmental readiness of children. These help the catechist to see what face of God the child most needs at various ages to grow in their relationship with Him.
The wonderful part of this formation is that the only prerequisite is a love of Christ and a desire to share that love with children!
Could the Lord be calling you to follow the Good Shepherd and share His love with the children of our parish? Would you like to learn more about CGS here at Our Lady of the Lake? Please reach out; I would love to show you around our atria and answer any questions you may have. If you're ready to sign up for our upcoming Level I Formation to become a catechist, just click on the next box for details.
In Christ,
Mary Ellen
We are blessed at Our Lady of the Lake to have three atria serving children from preschool to seventh grade. As our program grows, so does our need for certified catechists. Unlike other religious education curricula, CGS knows that there is nothing more important than helping children grow closer to Christ. Therefore, all catechists receive training in a way that is "retreat-like", giving them time and space to absorb the richness of what it means to live one's baptismal covenant and grow in the love and knowledge of God. The Level I course is the foundation for all three levels of CGS.
CGS strives to captivate the head as well as the heart of our students and our catechists. There is a very holistic approach to adult formation, enriching the adult in a background of scripture and liturgy, theology and prayer, as well as understanding the developmental readiness of children. These help the catechist to see what face of God the child most needs at various ages to grow in their relationship with Him.
The wonderful part of this formation is that the only prerequisite is a love of Christ and a desire to share that love with children!
Could the Lord be calling you to follow the Good Shepherd and share His love with the children of our parish? Would you like to learn more about CGS here at Our Lady of the Lake? Please reach out; I would love to show you around our atria and answer any questions you may have. If you're ready to sign up for our upcoming Level I Formation to become a catechist, just click on the next box for details.
In Christ,
Mary Ellen
registration brochure for Level i adult formation
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Course Description
The Level I course is the foundation for all three levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The objectives of this Level I Formation include:
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 children will be our teachers if we know how to observe them. -Sophia Cavalletti |
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registration brochure for Level II adult formation
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Course Description
The Level II course continues and expands upon the themes first introduced in Level I catechist formation. New themes are also introduced at this level. Sacramental preparation is also a key component. The objectives of this Level II Formation include:
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Your Invitation
You are invited to participate in this Level II Formation which will prepare you to work in an atrium with children ages 6-9 years-old. Part 1 of Level II will meet September 2-5, 2022 and November 18-21, 2022 at the Oustalet Center, 203 Commercial Ave, Lake Arthur, LA. Part 2 of Level II will meet January 13-16, 2023 and March 16-19, 2023, also at the Oustalet Center. Full days will be 9am to 5pm, Sundays, 12pm to 5pm and the last day of each session, 9am to 3pm. This course is a spiritual formation experience for adults as well as instruction in this method of catechesis for children. The pace of the course is retreat-like, allowing for its contemplative nature to be a prayer experience for adults as well as model the atrium experience for children. Presentations are given from scripture and liturgy in the same way they will be given to the children. Adults will receive background information on selected themes, including a foundational study into Maria Montessori's work with children, and will be encouraged to read the core CGS texts throughout the course. Time will be allocated for making materials used in the atrium and discussing and writing album pages for presentations. Successful participation of this course will result in a certificate from the Nationals Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. |
Tuition
For parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake, and for those who will serve here as a catechist, there will be no charge for Formation, however donations toward Formation expenses would be appreciated. For all others, the Formation fee is $125. Membership in the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, www.cgsusa.org is highly recommended for each participant and will allow access to the Level I Materials Manual ($50/year.) Hosting coordinator for this formation is Mary Ellen Sweeney.(ollsecretary@bellsouth.net) Book Order
Four books are recommended reading for Level II/III Formation. (See books here.) You will have the opportunity to join a group order on the registration form below, or you may order your books separately. Formation Leader
Hope Johnson has led the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Mississippi for nineteen years. A certified CGS catechist in Levels I, II, and III, Hope guides the children of Saint Peter in the atrium and serves as the coordinator of children’s catechesis for her parish. Hope is a wife, mother, pediatric nurse, and author of the picture book, Catholic Prayers for Children. She enjoys leading catechist formation and sharing the love of our Good Shepherd with children and adults. |
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