Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Training Opportunity

January 3, 2018

Dear Parents,

A letter went home before Christmas for your consideration of an upcoming training at Our Lady of the Lake. Below please see the attached curriculum for the upcoming Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training opportunity.

Blessed New Year.

Joanne Swan Jones

 

Course Description:  The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori based religious formation for children, beginning at the age of three.  It seeks to create and facilitate a sacred, “hands-on” space for children called an atrium.  The atrium is a space in which both child and catechist can hear, ponder, and celebrate the most essential mysteries of the Christian faith as revealed in Scriptures and the Liturgy.  Originally developed sixty years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi, the Catechesis continues to spread worldwide and is used with adaptations in various Christian traditions.  This course will ground the participants in the theory and praxis of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd while also concretely preparing them to develop and facilitate an atrium for 3-6 year old children.

Course Objectives

  • To explore the general developmental characteristics and religious characteristics of the 3-6 year old child.
  • To facilitate meditation on the biblical and liturgical themes of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
  • To offer guidelines and assistance in setting up an atrium for the 3-6 year old child.
  • To deepen the participant’s ability to observe and learn from the child, while also exploring avenues for deepening the parental and congregational ability to observe and learn from the child.

Formation Leader: 

  • Katy is a recognized Level 1 formation leader with the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. For 11 years Katy served as the Director of Religious Education at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau, Alaska. During that time she led her parish in establishing atria to serve all the parish’s children from ages 3 to 12. Currently, Katy lives in Boise, Idaho, where she volunteers as a level 1 catechist at St. Mark’s Catholic Community. In May 2017 she graduated from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri with a Masters in Pastoral Studies with a concentration in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Katy brings with her great enthusiasm for this work and a love of living the religious life with children in the atrium. She is a contributing preacher for the Dominican podcast, “The Word” at word.op.org. She also serves on the Journal Team for the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She and her husband have three children.

Course Method:  During our time together we will alternate between presentations, album page work, and adult reflection.  The pace of the course will be determined by the participants, and will be connatural with the rhythm and pace of the atrium.  This is an experience of formation, not a course of information, so participants must be prepared for moments of deep contemplation and spiritual reflection.  We will learn together to follow the charism of the young child.

Certification:  At the completion of the course (about 90 hours) the participants will be issued a Level I certificate by the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  In order to receive the certificate, participants are expected to attend all course sessions, complete reading assignments, and do Montessori and atrium observations.  Make up work can be arranged with the formation leader.

A personal album is the desired goal and the course will prepare each participant to complete a personal album.  The formation leader will read album pages from the course for up to one year following the course’s completion.  After that, an entire album can be reviewed for an additional fee.

Required texts can be ordered at cgsusa.org.

 

Cavalletti, Sofia.  Religious Potential of the Child I (vol. 1). Chicago:  Liturgy Training Publications, 1992. (RCP I)

 

Gobbi, Gianna.  Listening to God with Children:  Montessori Principles Applied to the Catechesis of Children.  Loveland, OH:  Treehaus Publications, 2002. (LTG)

 

Cavalletti, Sofia, et. al.  The Good Shepherd and the Child:  A Joyful Journey.  Chicago:  Liturgy Training Publications, 2014.  (JJ)

 


 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Schedule

Level 1

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish

Holland, MI

 

Monday, January 22nd through Saturday February 3rd

Monday through Friday meet 3pm to 10pm

Saturdays meet 9:30am to 4:45pm

Sunday meet 12pm to 8pm

 

 

Day 1: Monday, January 22nd (5pm to 10pm)

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Introductions & Orientation to Formation

History of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Orientation to the Atrium as a Place of Prayer

  • Opening & Closing
  • Clothespins

Who is the 3-6 year-old Child?

What is the prepared Environment—the Atrium?

Bible in the Prayer Corner

 

Day 2: Tuesday, January 23rd (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Montessori Method

  • Practical Life
  • The Role of the Adult

Introduction to the 3-Year Cycle

Model Altar

  • Basic Articles
  • Jesus Present in Tabernacle & Word
  • Remaining Articles

Nomenclature & Movement (3-Period Lesson)

Practical Life (Controlled Movement):

  • How to walk in the atrium
  • How to speak in the atrium
  • Rolling a mat
  • How to use a small rug for work
  • Walking around a rug

Catechist’s Album & Album Pages

 

 

Day 3: Wednesday, January 24th (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

The Liturgical Colors

Land of Israel

  • Globe
  • Raised Surface Map
  • Regions Puzzle Map

Mystery of the Incarnation: Geography

Sign of the Cross

Genuflection

Work of the Child

Practical Life (Grace & Courtesy):

  • How to interrupt
  • What to say or do when one’s work is being disturbed by another person
  • How to ask for help
  • How to ask a peer to watch or participate in one’s work

 

Day 4: Thursday, January 25th (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Celebration of Beginning of Advent

  • Prophecy of the Great Light

Prophecy of the Names

Incarnation: Messianic Prophecies

Annunciation

Prophecy of Bethlehem

Birth of Jesus & Adoration of the Shepherds

Prayer of the Child

Practical Life (Controlled Movement):

  • Pouring Progression

 

Day 5: Friday, January 26th (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Incarnation: Infancy Narratives

Visitation

Prophecy of the Mother

Birth of Jesus & Adoration of the Magi

History of Salvation

Practical Life (Controlled Movement):

  • Spooning Progression

 

Day 6: Saturday, January 27th (9:30am to 4:45pm)

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Prophecy of the Star & Scepter

Presentation in the Temple

Christmas-Epiphany Celebration

Celebrations in the Atrium

Practical Life (Preliminary Handwork):

  • How to paste
  • How to use scissors
  • Folding

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Parable of the Precious Pearl

Education to Wonder & the Parable Method

Parable of the Hidden Treasure

 

Day 7: Sunday, January 28th (12pm to 8pm)

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Parable of the Leaven

Parable of the Growing Seed

Celebration of the beginning of Lent

The Good Shepherd

The Found Sheep

Good Shepherd background

Psalm 23

  • v. 1
  • v. 1-3

Moral Formation and the 3 to 6 Child

Practical Life (Controlled Movement):

  • Carrying a chair
  • Carrying a tray
  • How to sit
  • Walking on the Line

 

Day 8: Monday, January 29th (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Last Supper

Cenacle background

Liturgy as Memorial

City of Jerusalem

Paschal Mystery

Mystery of Life & Death

 

Day 9: Tuesday, January 30th (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Light

The Empty Tomb

Practical Life (Care of the Environment):

  • Dusting
  • Sweeping
  • Polishing
  • Plant Care
  • Flower Arranging

 

Day 10: Wednesday, January 31st (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Epiclesis

  • Gesture
  • Prayer

Offering

  • Gesture
  • Prayer

Eucharist as Sacrament of Gift and Covenant

Preparation of Chalice

  • Preparation of cruets
  • Gesture
  • Prayer

Sign of Peace

Washing of the Hands (Lavabo)

Art in the Atrium

 

Day 11: Thursday, February 1st (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd

  • with sheep
  • with people

Bible-Liturgy Unity

Silence Game

Practical Life (Preliminary hand work):

  • Sponging
  • Pin punching
  • Sorting

Role of the Assistant in the Atrium

Music in the Atrium

Cosmic Function of Liturgy

 

Day 12: Friday, February 2nd (3pm to 10pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Baptism

  • Light & White Garment
  • Water, Word, Holy Oils
  • Gestures

Method of Signs and Baptism

 

Day 13: Saturday, February 3rd (9:30am to 4:45pm)

3pm to 5pm Atrium practicum time

Background reading:

Opening Prayer

Liturgical Calendar

Vestments of the Priest

Observation

Parent & Parish (or School) Education & Involvement

Wrap-up Notes (Life in the Atrium)

Pentecost Celebration

 

 

*Recommendations about the readings:

If possible, it is helpful to read the 3 required texts (Listening to God with Children, Joyful Journey, and Religious Potential of the Child 1) in their entirety before the course, that way during the course you are able to skim over the assigned readings each evening and be ready for the discussion the next day.

Each morning we will begin with prayer and then go into a discussion of the readings for that day.  We’ll focus on three questions:  What part of the readings stood out as particularly interesting or new for you?  What was confusing or puzzling in the readings?  How might the readings affect the way you minister? 

Share