THE CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

For children ages 3 to 12 years old

THE ATRIUM

The Prepared Environment

The Atrium was the place in the early church where

the catechumens were prepared. For the child, too,

the Atrium is a place of preparation for involvement

in the larger worshiping community.

The Atrium is one of the elements that help the

relationship between God and the child to flourish.

After a theme has been presented, the child is free

to choose an activity that will make possible the

inner dialogue with the “Interior Teacher”.

The Atrium can be compared to a retreat house

facilitating recollection and silence.

The Atrium is a place for religious life, for community

and worship – not a classroom for instruction.

The Atrium is a place of work which becomes a

conversation with God.

FORMATION COURSE FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS

Parents, catechists, religious educators, clergy and

other interested adults are drawn to the very rich,

retreat-like courses in the Catechesis of the Good

Shepherd.

There are three levels of training courses:

Level 1 is for children ages 3 – 6

Level II is for children ages 6 – 9

Level III is for children ages 9 – 12

Each level of training requires at least 90 hours of

lectures, lesson presentations, material making and

direction.

The Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shep-

herd grants a certificate upon completion of each

approved training course.

THE CATECHIST’S ROLE

The catechist’s role is to prepare the environment

and to make presentations that “call forth” the

child’s response rather than “pour in” information.

They listen with the child and together ask, “God,

who are you? How do you love us?” The adult is a

co-wonderer with the child as together they enjoy

meditating on the questions generated by the Scrip-

tures with the prepared environment as a develop-

mental aid.

THE MATERIALS

“The catechetical material... consists of concrete

‘signs’ of a transcendent reality... (and)... is a way of

letting the child prolong, alone with the inner teach-

er, the meditation begun together with the adult”.

Sofia Cavalletti

Ottawa Catholic Parishes and private Catholic school where the catechesis is offered:

Annunciation of the Lord Parish

www.annunciation-ottawa.com

Mrs. Lilia Villaseñor-Garcia

liliagarcia@sympatico.ca

613-745-4883

St. George’s Parish

www.saintgeorges.ca

Mrs. Ruth Ann McClure

ruthann_mcclure@rogers.com

613-724-2403

St. Maurice Parish

stmauricechurch.com

Mrs. Dale Balkovec

familyformation@rogers.com

613-224-1892

St. Clement Academy

Mrs. Lilia Villaseñor-Garcia

liliagarcia@sympatico.ca

613-236-7231

All courses cover age-appropriate themes for

children from the Bible and liturgy, the purpose and

use of the handmade material, an introduction to

the atrium, experience in presenting material, and

help in preparing a personal handbook (the catechist

‘album’).

Courses are offered in the various States in varied

formats from multiple weekend courses to the whole

90 hour course.

For more information about training courses contact

the Association of the Catechesis of the Good

Shepherd.

Canada: www.cgsac.ca

USA: www.cgsusa.org

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THE YOUNG CHILD (Ages 3 to 6)

The 3-6 year old child is particularly capable of receiving and enjoying the most essential elements of our faith – the announcement of God’s love, in the person of the Good Shepherd, who died and is risen.

Materials on the life of Christ and His teaching help make the mystery of God concrete for the child. The geography materials establish Jesus as a real person in time and space and Israel as the land through which God realized salvation for all. Infancy narra-tives announce the Incarnation with the words of Scripture, moving from the Annunciation, the Birth of Christ, to the Flight into Egypt. The model of Jerusa-lem and of the empty tomb are the starting point for the Paschal narratives which the child lives in a special way in celebrating the Liturgy of the Light.

Selected parables serve as keys to unlock the mystery of the kingdom of God and to nurture the child’s natural sense of wonder. How beautiful and precious is the kingdom of God! How small it begins! How slowly it grows! How magnificent it becomes!

Through the arranging of the altar, the child becomes familiar with the articles of the Mass. The child lives his relationship with God in a particular way in the liturgy. The 3-6 year old child enters the mystery of the Mass through the most important gestures including the preparation of the chalice, the epiclesis and offering, and the gesture of peace. From these gestures the Mass emerges as the Sacra-ment of the Gift. The child becomes acquainted with the historical character of the liturgy though the events of the Last Supper, Christ’s death, and, His resurrection.

The Liturgical colors and calendar situate the child in the church year expressing the Paschal Mystery “We proclaim your death oh Lord, and profess your resurrection, until you come again”. A Prayer corner reflects the liturgical cycle with appropriate colors, prayers, songs, and readings to enhance the rituals and celebrations of the seasons.

THE OLDER CHILD (Ages 6-12)

The elementary aged children are captured by the image of the True Vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing”. The proclamation responds to the deep need of the older children to know better their relationships with God, family, and the larger community.

The children at this age seek guidelines. The moral parables offer a model for comparing their behavior with that of the Pharisee, the Tax Collector, or the Good Samaritan. The Found Sheep, the Found Coin, and the Prodigal Son are examined as the children prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The proclamation and meditation stress God’s love, which is constantly forgiving.

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 unity. A three- to four-day retreat prior to the celebration of First Eucharistic allows the children

the opportunity to plan several liturgies and to participate fully.

The imagination of the older child and his or her agility with the concept of time are powerful stimuli to explore the past and the future. Presentations focus on the high point in the history of salvation from the creation through the redemption to the parousia. Other presentations focus on the many gifts of His own divine life, in the person of Jesus, a gift which will pervade the whole universe at the completion of history.

With the older child (ages 9-12) a third presentation of the history of salvation focuses on the plan of God in history as a plan of communion, a plan which links all people together. The emphasis is on our response to this unfolding generosity of God and the responsibilities that come with receiving God’s great gifts. “What is the kingdom of God and my place in it?” It is a cosmic query which begins to lay the foun-dations for a life’s commitment.

The Catechesis of The Good ShepherdProgression of themes from Level I to Level III

THE SPIRAL METHOD

Level One Level Two Level Three

Altar I, II and III (nomenclature and use of each article) Altar description cards Liturgical colors (meanining of each color) Vestments of the priest Liturgical calendar (Main Celebrations in the Church) Liturgical calendar II The liturgical calendar expanded work (how to determine the Easter days)Sign of the Cross & Genuflection

The Bible in the Prayer Corner The Bible and Books that Comprise It The Plan of God (time line work about Secular and Sacred History)(The Bible as gift of God and as light in our lives) How to find a citation & use scripture charts The Plan of God w/ control, mute, and idividual work strips

The Fettuccina (time line work continuing reflexion about the Gifts of God)Setting the prayer table new more formal elements slowly added to communal prayer time The Open Book Opportunity for personal prayer Introduction of longer psalm phrases and prayers from infancy narratives The Peoples & the People of God short spontaneous communal prayer times Communal Prayer My Century introduction of short psalm phrases and Our Father 2000 Years prayers from infancy narratives Parables regarding prayer: Insistent Friend The Kingdom of God & my Place in It

Pharisee and tax collector The History of the Jewish People (control & mute strips)Worship in Israel

The Globe and the Raised Surface map of Israel Pin Map with flags for numerous cities and geopgraphical features Creation-Scripture & Typology Study The Regions Puzzle Map Booklets on the land and cities of Israel The Fall _Scripture & Typology Study

The Flood -Scripture & typology StudyAbraham - Scripture & Typology StudyMoses, Exodus and the Law _ Scripture & typology Study

The light Synthesis of five Messianic prophecies The city Introduction of three new prophecies with moral dimensions Call of the ProphetsThe name Isaiah 9:2 / 9:6 Struggles of the ProphetsThe woman Isaiah 7:14 11:6-9 11: 1-3 Message of the Prophets (Messianic & Moral)The star and the scepter Micah 5:2

Numbers 24:17

The Annunciation Further study of the five infancy narratives with new cultural and moral perspectives Further Synthesis Work with the Infancy NarrativesThe Visitation Prayer Nunc Dimitis (continuation from 6-9)The Birth of Jesus and adoration shepherds MagnificatThe Adoration of the Wise Men The Flight into EgyptThe Presentation in the temple

Parable of the Mustard Seed Synthesis of the five Kingdom Parables Miracles of JesusParable of the Leaven Exploration of new "time-oriented" questions concerning the Mustard Seed- expanded meditationParable of the Grain of Wheat the History of the Kigdom of God through The Precious Pearls - expanded meditationParable of the Pearl of great Value The Fettuccia (time line material about 3 moments: Creation, Redeption and Parousia) Parable of the hidden treasure The Blue Strip & Mute Strip,

History of the Gifts. (time line material with 3 moments plus all the gifts we see in Creation)

The groundwork for moral formation is laid by helping Introduction of several moral parables; The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyardthe child to fall deeply in love with the Good Shepherd The true Vine The Parable of the Ten bridesmaids

10 bridesmaids The Parable of the TalentsWedding Feast The Parable of the DebtorsThe Sower The VirtuesThe Summary of the Law & the Maxims (love your enemies, when you pray..., Maxims in the CosmosYour body is a temple..., you must be made perfect...) 9-12 Maxims

THE Good Shepherd The Good Shepherd with the wolf and Hireling Schism in the Church and EcumenismThe Found Sheep Psalm 23: 1-6 the child is also introduced to fractures that havePsalm 23: 1-3 Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd with International Figures taken place in the Christian Church over the past Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd. 2000 years and invited to reflect on what this

means in this context of God's larger plan that "all may be one".

The Mystery of Life & Death The Mystery of Life & Death (The Parable of the seed) Further work with the Passion NarrativesThe Cenacle (last supper) The Cenacle and the Origin of the Eucharist (continuation from 6-9)The City of Jerusalem The city of Jerusalem with labels and description bookletThe Empty Tomb Introduction of Passion narratives (Messianic Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus Arrested,

Jesus before Caiaphas, Trial before Pilete, Crucifixion) and post-resurrection narratives:The Empty Tomb

Preparation of the Cruets Continued reflection on these earlier five gestures The Synagogue - Origen of the Litugy of the WordIntroduction to the Gestures of Epiclesis, Synthesis of the Eucharist The Structure of the MassOffering First Missal work The "Color Base Material" - The prayers of the MassPreparation of the Cruets The Mystery of Faith The Preface of the MassLavabo Origin of Eucharist The Mystery of FaithSign of Peace The breaking of the Bread The Mystery of Faith and Prayers of intercession

The Propers of the MassThe Story of a Bread

Christmas/Epiphany Christmas/Epiphany Christmas/EpiphanyLiturgy of the Light Liturgy of the Light Liturgy of the LightLast Supper re-enactment of the Last Supper PentecostPentecost Pentecost re-enactment of the Last Supper

Introduction to the signs and gestures of Baptism Synthesis of the Signs/Gestures of Baptism The complete Rite of BaptismBaptism I, II and III Baptism description cards

Rite of Baptism -key moments

Use of moral parables especially True VineThe Found Sheep Rite of ReconciliationParables of Mercy: (w/ 5 armour of Light Meditations Eph 5:8;Found Sheep Rom 13: 11-14; Lk 15: 4-6; Lk 15: 8-9, 11-32; Found Coin Mt &: 1-5; Mt 18: 23-35; Lk 12:16-21 + maxims) + Lk 12: 13-21Forgiving FatherHealing of Centurion's ServantRite of Reconciliation

A series of five meditations to prepare the children The Sacred Chrismdirectly for participation in Reconciliation and Eucharist,

EpiclesisThe Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd. Rite of Anointing of the Sick w/ articles, gestures, and rite.

followed by a retreat and celebration of the sacraments. The complete Rite of Confirmation w/ articles & gestures, vestments of bishop

NOMENCLATURE FOR THE LIFE IN THE CHURCH

BIBLE

PRAYER

BIBLICAL GEOGRAPHY

PROPHECIES

INFANCY NARRATIVES

KINGDOM OF GOD

MORAL FORMATION

GOOD SHEPHERD

PASCHAL MYSTERY

EUCHARIST

CELEBRATIONS

BAPTISM

RECONCILIATION

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

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