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In October 2008, we began the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at St. Peter the Apostle Montessori School.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was designed for children between 3-12 years of age and was inspired by Montessori principles of education. It was developed in Rome by biblical scholar Sofia Cavalletti and educator Gianna Gobbi, through work and observation of children at the Children’s Center, or "atrium" in Rome, Italy. Since its beginning in 1954, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been given official recognition in many dioceses throughout the world and though it is rooted in Catholicism, the methodology and deep spirituality of the program has attracted other churches as well.
At St. Peter the Apostle, level one of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, designed specifically for children ages 3-6, allows children to form a strong foundation rooted in faith, life-long spiritual growth, and moral living.
The goal of this program is to foster a love of God within the child. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is not focused primarily on academics, but rather on the development of the child in pursuit of actively living his or her faith, through the celebration of an encounter with the Father, in listening to Jesus the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Spirit. A deep spirituality is present within the curriculum. From age 3, children are invited into a relationship with God that draws them further and further into the Mystery of Faith as they grow, and indeed "fall in love with God," first proclaimed as Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Central to the curriculum is the Atrium. This is a place that can be compared to a retreat center, where the child can go to enjoy God in an atmosphere of solemnity and beauty. In the Atrium, the child becomes independent, mobile, and engaged in lessons designed to aid the child in prayer and meditation. The Atrium is also a place where children and catechists form a community, listening to the Word of God and experiencing all facets of the liturgical life of the church together. The room is inviting and friendly to children – a place where children can truly personalize God’s word.
Materials for the atrium are hand made by the catechist and aid children in discovering the mystery of God. Materials are consistent with certain liturgical and biblical themes suitable to the children’s developmental needs, and help to support continuation of meditation as the Holy Spirit works within the child in their exploration. Children experience the Gospel through their work with sensorially rich and beautiful, yet simple materials that are keyed to particular scriptural or liturgical moments.
Catechists of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd complete formation courses consisting of a minimum of 90 hours spent in prayer, lectures, presentations and practicum, with additional hours spent in observation in an atrium or Montessori classroom.
