Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Handbook
Contents
Introduction...... 2
Classes Offered…………………………………………………………………………….2
General Information……………………………………………………………………..3-4
Introduction to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program……...……….5-8
Introduction
Welcome to the St. Thomas More Newman CenterCatechesis of the Good Shepherd and Middle Schoolprograms. Here, we provide a religious foundation for childrento becomeacquainted with the living traditions of the Catholic Church; prayer, liturgy, scripture, doctrine, principles of moral living, and service. In this way, the Faith Formation program is a supplement to those who are lifted up as theprimary teachersand models of our Catholic/Christian faith - theparentsandfamily.
It is assumed that parents who enroll their children in faith formation are interested in nurturing and continuing Catholic beliefs and traditions within their families. Therefore,it is absolutely essential that parents take an active role teaching and supporting our Catholic/Christian beliefs with their children. Daily prayer, weekly attendance at Sunday Mass and Holy Days, parental involvement in sacramental preparations, and simply discussing and reviewing the weekly catechesis are significant ways that families can offer encouragement and support for their children's faith formation. For our faith to develop and grow, as children and also as adults, ongoing education and practice are required!
Sincerely,
Kate Weber
Coordinator for Children and Teen Ministries
Classes Offered
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children ages 3 to 12. All sessions are 90 minutes long.
Level I (3-6 yearolds) is offered on Sunday mornings at 9:45a.m. and 11:45a.m.
Children enrolled in Level I need to be at least 3 years old bythe first sessionand must be potty trained.
Level II (6-9 yearolds) is offered on Sundays mornings at 9:45a.m. & 11:45a.m. and Mondays at 5:30p.m.
Level III (9-12 yearolds) is offered Sundays at9:45a.m. &11:45a.m.
Middle School Program is offered to7th &8th graders on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. We offer sacramental preparation for Confirmation every other year. During the 2018-2019 school year we will be preparing for and receiving the sacrament.
Sacramental Preparation
First ReconciliationandFirst Eucharist preparationare available through CGS Level II to all children grade two and above. Additional materials and retreats are involved with a small additional fee.
Adult Confirmation: For preparation information contactLaura LeCompteator (614) 291-4674 x101.
General Information
Main Contact: Coordinator for Children and Teen Ministries
Kate Weber
614-291-4674 x113
Our Website:
Calendar: Please follow the link to see our calendar.
Family Communication
Parents will receive program information via email. We send out program information and invitations to special events frequently.A monthly email will update parents on the happenings within our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program and may offer a variety of ways to foster a deep faith with your family and children. Middle School families will also receive email updates from the catechists and coordinator throughout the year.
Family Participation
Each family is expected to volunteer their time, talents, or treasures in some way throughout the course of the school year. Please read through our CGS FamilyVolunteer Roles so you can decide what fits you best. This helps to create an opportunity to get to know other families in the program. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the faith formation your child is receiving. It may also be helpful to review our Frequently Asked Questions before deciding how you want to get involved.
In our Middle School program volunteer roles are more flexible and may include helping to plan a service project, bringing food, or coming for a special event. Our needs will be communicated to you throughout the year.
Absences- If your childneeds to be absent, please notify his/her catechistvia email.See below for email contacts. Catechists plan specific presentations for your child on a weekly basis. They prepare sometimes for a one on one presentation. It is very helpful if they know ahead of time that your child is unable to be present at the atrium this year.
Catechist Contact Information
Level 1 9:45 / Therese Phillips /Level 1 11:45 / Nancy Hummer Heink /
Level 2 9:45 / Karen Broering /
Level 2 11:45 / Jen Silliman /
Level 3 9:45 / Angie Johnson /
Level 3 11:45 / Suzanne Tayal /
Level 2 Mondays 5:30 / Angela Galli /
Level 3 Mondays 5:30 / Janice Tugaoen /
Canceled Session–Cancellation of Religious Education classes follow the weather related emergency policies of the Newman Center. We do not encourage anyone to travel to the Newman Center in unsafe, or potentially unsafe, conditions. Every effort will be made to notify families and volunteers of cancellations via email and the main website as soon as the decision has been made. However, if email is unavailable, please check:
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-Newman Center front desk 614-291-4674
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Dismissal- Please note:All children (LevelI, II and III) MUSTbe picked up from their atrium by a parent. If the child is picked up by an adult other than a parent, the catechist must be notified in advance in writing. All Middle School children must be picked up by an adult as well. Please do not have them meet you at the car. This is an important way we can be vigilant about keeping our children safe. ***No student will be allowed to leave the building without an adult!***
Illness/Illness Prevention -Please stay home if your child is sick, especially if they are presentingflu-like symptoms. We will provide hand sanitizer in every atrium and opportunities for children to wash their hands to keep the germs to a minimum! A child should stay home for at least 24 hours to rest if the following symptoms are present the morning of CGS or the previous night:
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Fever >100 degrees
- Itchy or reddened eyes with drainage
- An unusual rash
- A poor night's sleep due to illness, cough, etc.
Safety First- We think our children are precious and so we take special steps to ensure all of our children's safety. We follow a "Two-Deep" ministry by making sure that there are two adults in each atrium whenever possible. All catechists sign a code of conduct and the Diocesan Policy on Harassment in addition to having a background check and attending a "Protecting God's Children" Workshop, prepared by you have a concern or would like to discuss our procedures at the Newman Center, please contact Kate Weber.
As a parent, you too can attend a Protecting God's Children workshop to learn more about preventing child abuse. Also, each month, Virtus puts out an article that covers topics such as substance abuse prevention, bullying and how to safely use technology with your children and teens.
To report abuse, the first step would be to contact the police. Please also know that the Diocese of Columbus wants to hear from anyone whohas suffered. If you wish to report an allegationofabuse or needpastoral and/or clinical care in order to begin or continue the process ofhealing from sexual abuse as achildatthe hands of a member of the clergyor a church employee or volunteer, simply call the diocesan Victims'AssistanceCoordinator.You can contact the Victims'AssistanceCoordinator, the Rev. Msgr. Stephan J. Moloney,toll-free at 614-224-2251 uwish to receiveaComplaintForm For Allegations Of Sexual Abuse Of AMinor, or any of the diocesan policies andprocedures, simply call thenumber above or visit the diocesan web site at
Diocesan Harassment Policy- Please read thisDiocesan Harassment Policy (p.43)from the Diocese of Columbus, which is part of a larger document entitled Diocesan Safe Environment Manuel
Introduction to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program
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 wood 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 time line showing the history of the kingdom of God.1
This catechesis was begun over 50 years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavaletti, a Catholic scholar with an expertise inHebrewScripture.Sofia was asked by a friend to prepare her 7-year-old son for First Communion. Knowing nothing about working with children, Sofia 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 the 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, in rural Mexico, in urban Australia-- fromUganda to Pakistan! 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 chil9898dren.
In Level I, 3- to 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- to 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 considerGod's work of Creation and celebrateChrist's work ofRedemption. Through the prophecies, theyare offered a vision of the Parousia. A longing for harmony and the coming of the Kingdomand anend to all that is bad in the world surfaces. The children see beyond themselves, exhibiting concern for the world as a whole.Inmarveling at God's gifts, they begin to take stockof their own response. They look to Jesus' wordsand parables to help them to know what is right; moral formation begins. They prepare for the Sacraments. They begin to read scripture themselves. Theycreate their own missals. They enjoy working in groups. Theyplan and lead weekly prayer services.
In Level III, the 9- to 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 andmay 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 IIIchildrenexplore the elements of the Sacraments in more detail. They examinethe miracles of Jesus. They children delve into the Old Testamenttypology 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, Pascal 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 catechists 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 one 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; initiator of the covenant relationship. The child's emergent moral sensitivities are nurtured ashe considershis responses to God's invitations.
These themes are explored even more deeply with 9-12 yearolds, 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.
The Catechetical Year
In the prepared environment of the atrium, the catechist aids the children in developing a balance between the freedom to do the work that is most attractive to them and their responsibility to the community.
As the year begins, the children will be introduced to the atrium. They will learn to take their shoes off when they enter as a reminder to “walk gently, speak softly, and listen for God.” They will learn to ask permission to watch another child work. They will learn where the paper, scissors, glue, work mats, and so on are kept and how to prepare a workspace for the next child. The children will learn songs that are sung in the atrium. They will gather at the prayer table.
As the year progresses, they will celebrate the changing seasons with Advent Processions, and by changing the colors for Christmas, Ordinary Time and Lent. They will “bury the Alleluias” and resurrect them most joyously at our Easter Liturgy of the Light. They will celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The Parents' Role: Awaiting Glimpses of the Kingdom
The child’s work in the atrium is their prayer. It is their developing relationship with God.
The work of your child in the atrium is very precious. Some hold that work very closely—perhaps not feeling comfortable yet with the language that explains it. Trust that discussion will come when your child feels ready to share.