The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — a religious formation program for children ages 3 to 13 rooted in the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. The children attending meet in a carefully prepared room filled with biblical and liturgical materials to help them draw closer to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. This room—called the Atrium—is a place of simplicity and order, prayer, work and community. Everything in this room is intended to be appropriate to the ages and sizes of the children who gather there.
Level 1: Children 3-6 The smallest ones are introduced to the liturgy by means of models of sacred objects of the Mass, vestments of the priests and liturgical colors which are seen in the sanctuary. Then, when they go to Mass, they rediscover things with which they are already familiar. They listen to the words of Jesus in the Bible which proclaims His birth, ponder parables of the Kingdom of God and celebrate His Resurrection.
Level 2: Children 6-9 Children receive initiation into general knowledge of the sacraments and a more particular knowledge of the Mass. With the help of visible and tangible materials, the children are able to observe and model the gestures of the priest and reflect on the words of Jesus, “This is my Body. This is my Blood” repeated by the priest at Mass. A wealth of catechetical knowledge is provided by observing the gestures which makes the most exalted concepts easy to understand. It is a language which is, as far as possible, both solemn and simple at the same time.
During this age range, the children enter the moral phase of their lives. The parables of the Good Samaritan and the Pharisee and the Tax Collector are meditated on as an example of how Jesus wants us to love God and our neighbor. They are also prepared for making their First Penance and First Holy Communion.
Level 3: Children 9-13 These children have already received their First Communion. They will go deeper into study of the Mass and Sacraments, particularly Baptism and Confirmation. Also, they begin to acquire an elementary knowledge of the Bible. Guided by their catechist, they begin a study of the Old Testament — Creation, Exodus, Exile, and anticipating the coming of the Messiah announced by the prophets. Typology is also introduced.
The children will rediscover all the elements which they have been learning from the first years — but now, however, they see them within the vast framework of the history of humanity, created by God, guided by God, redeemed by Jesus, and sanctified by the Church through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
