Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori approach to faith formation with children that began in Rome over 60 years ago.
In 1954, Sofia Cavalletti, a Biblical scholar, and her co-worker, Gianna Gobbi, a trained Montessorian, began to develop this approach for the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the Church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori was a devout Catholic who believed faith formation has an essential role in the development of the child.
Registration for 2023-24
CGS meets September 13, 2023-May 8, 2024. Space in each atrium is limited. Registration details can be found here. (*UPDATE as of August 23, 2023, Level I & II sessions for Wednesday evening are full and the wait list is closed. If you are interested in the Level III atrium, please reach out to Heather at hrohe@saintfrancischurch.org for availability.)
*Level I-for ages 3-5 (must be 3 and potty-trained by the first session)
*Level II is for ages 6-8
*Level III is for ages 9-11
Session Times
Wednesdays 10am-noon, Level I
Wednesdays, 5:30-7pm, Levels I, II & III
Helpful Links
Faith Formation Volunteer Opportunities
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd takes place in a specially prepared space called an Atrium.
- The Atrium contains age-appropriate materials that are simple and essential to the child’s development of a relationship with God.
- The Atrium items are carefully selected or created out of wood, glass, metal and fabric. Many of the materials will remind the child of what they see in church.
- Children are taught a sense of reverence for the Atrium and for the items it contains. The expected behavior in the Atrium is peaceful and respectful, similar to what is expected at Mass.
- In our busy, noisy world, many children find refuge in the quieter atmosphere of the Atrium.
A visit to an atrium session would be a good way to understand the experience of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Each session consists of a presentation of new material, work time, and prayer.
- Presentations include biblical geography, liturgy, the Nativity narratives, parables, and practical life lessons. Older children are also introduced to Old Testament work.
- The presentations are selected to coincide with the Church year. After the presentation, the children may choose to work with the materials during their work time. All materials remain in the Atrium the entire year so children may revisit past presentations during their work time. The children are given time for repetition and contemplation but may only choose to work with materials that have been presented to them.
- Communal prayer takes place during each atrium session. The children gather around the prayer table and are encouraged to be calm and silent. This habit helps develop an atmosphere to listen and talk to God.
Since many of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd lessons are linked to the liturgy, children benefit greatly by also attending Mass regularly with their families.
For more information about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), contact the Faith Formation Office at 515-440-1030.
Volunteers
Many volunteers are needed to help Faith Formation programming run smoothly. Adult Catechists receive free Faith Formation (Family Formation, CGS, and Youth Ministry) tuition for their children. Assistant Catechists receive a 50% discount on their children’s Faith Formation tuition. Teen volunteers receive service hours. Please view the list of Volunteer Roles Needed.
If you are interested in sharing your time and talents with our youth, please contact the Faith Formation Office at 515-440-1030.