We are glad you are interested in learning more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. You are probably asking, "What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?"

In short, it's giving your child the gift of a 
relationship with God, but let's dive deeper.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is a beautiful, hands-on way of nurturing the growth of children’s relationship with our loving God as well as learning about our faith, the Bible, prayer, and the Mass.  It was developed by Dr. Sofia Cavaletti, a Bible Scholar, and Gianna Gobbo, a Montessori Educator, who believed that God and the young child have a unique relationship with one another, particularly before the age of six, and this relationship could be assisted by an adult but is directed by the Spirit of God. Given a quiet space for contemplation and prayer, it is the Holy Spirit himself who helps the children learn. The Holy Spirit acts within the child; it is He who initiates a relationship. It is He who gives growth and wisdom. In this environment, the children’s relationship with God grows and blooms.

In the early Church, the faithful were prepared for initiation into the life of the Church in a place prepared for the spiritual life. They called this place the “atrium.” Just so, when children are prepared for the participation in the church community the place should be prepared to help children pray. If our aim is to help children enjoy relationship with God we must ask, “What kind of environment can we create that will respect and cultivate the child’s needs and capacities at their particular level of their development, especially in terms of their spiritual development?” In a traditional classroom, the primary relationship is  thought to be between teacher and child. There is however, a third important, but often silent partner in education: the environment. This environment does not have to remain invisible partner, but rather can be intentionally shaped. This proper environment for religious formation is a place for conversion. Upon entering the environment, you will see child-sized furniture, religious art hung at child eye-level, and representations of Scripture that can be seen, touched, and moved around. It should be a place of spiritual retreat for children. A place of work, study, and prayer, where work and study become contemplation of God, and prayer. 

In our Atrium, you will see children quietly involved in “prayer work” as they contemplate the presentations offered each day. Trained catechists offer these presentations to the children and observe the children as they work with carefully prepared materials. This hands-on approach allows the children to encounter God’s love for them and allows faith to root deeply in their souls. As one parent shared,

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a wonderful addition to our faith formation program and we are working to expand it to serve more children. Our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program includes:

• A Nido-toddler Atrium for 18 months - 3 years. (A Nido environment is available for younger siblings.)
• Level I Atrium for children ages 3 - 6 years.
• Level II Atrium for children ages 6 - 9 years.
• Level III Atrium for children 9 - 12 years is anticipated in 2026.

If you are interested in touring our atrium, and hearing more about this amazing program,
  please contact us using the link below

Contact CGS

Nothing gives us more joy than helping families understand and appreciate
  the beauty and wisdom of this engaging faith formation program.

You can read more about individual programs here

For more in-depth information about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, we encourage you to watch the video below or visit the National Catechesis of the Good Shepherd web site.

​​​​​​If you are interested in joining us, or would like more information
please click here