Jump to content
An Old School Catholic Message Board

Catechesis Of The Good Shephard


Slappo

Recommended Posts

Does anyone know anything about this catechetical program for children? Our parish is starting it for pre-k and k and will eventually be doing it for all elementary I believe. The Catholic SAHM's that we know all are in love with it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Basilisa Marie

My parish does it for the "preschool" type stuff for our faith formation program.  I don't know if they modify it at all, but everyone loves it and there's almost always a waiting list. I can't speak to the upper elementary part of it, though. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FutureCarmeliteClaire

It's a montessori-style catechetical program. There are different age levels, going from infant all the way up to 12 if I'm not mistaken. I've been a helper-type person in several CGS classes. I'd put my kids in it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do you want to know about it? We have level I & II at our parish. Once we can expand it to all grade levels (6th grade) I will never use anything else again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can someone explain what it is? I've never heard of it. What do they do? How is it different from the standard "learn these Catholic lists" catechesis programs?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do you want to know about it? We have level I & II at our parish. Once we can expand it to all grade levels (6th grade) I will never use anything else again.

 

I'm just more wondering what my trusted Catholics at Phatmass think of it :). I don't have any particular questions. What is your favorite part of the program? Or I should say what do you think makes it so awesome :)

Edited by Slappo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check out some of the pictures on the national website: http://www.cgsusa.org/

 

"The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is 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 materials they use to help them absorb the most essential proclamations of the Christian faith.
 
You may be wondering how these materials help the religious life of children. If an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might take 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. 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 often copy parables from the Bible, place written prayers in order from the rite of baptism, or label a long time line showing the history of the kingdom of God.
 
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a sensorially rich experience for children from the ages of 3 to 12 years that gives children the opportunity to grow in love and knowledge of God through the Christian tradition."
 
Some of the reasons I like CGS:
  1. It forces a catechist to be a catechist instead of an ill-prepared teacher. Catechists are required to invest in the atrium and take 10 session training courses for each level they want to teach in. This usually means paying anywhere from $400-800 out of pocket. The catechetical experience becomes an experience of prayer for the catechist as they meditate on the mysteries themselves that the children will enter in. Often times the catechist takes notes on what the child says about Jesus when the child encounters Jesus in the classroom. They become a catechist in the true sense of the word - they bring the child to Jesus and then get out of the way.
  2. CGS uses only the liturgy and Bible for its textbook. There are no publishing houses or million dollar marketing campaigns. There is no money to be made off of it. It's growth throughout the world is through word of mouth.
  3. Every time someone enters the atrium for the first time they say the same thing "Why wasn't this here when I was in religious education. Can I join?"
  4. Preparing an atrium takes the efforts of the entire parish. Where many parishes are divided on issues, everyone comes together to build the atrium. It can be a very healing experience. There are no clicks in the atrium.
  5. The child becomes a disciple through the atrium. Their will and intellect are engaged and they are invited to consider the Good Shepherd. Who is He? Does He love me? How can I have a relationship with Him? The smallest child experiences the love of the Good Shepherd through scripture and liturgy. I have 5 year olds in the atrium that know the Mass better than their parents.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Some of the reasons I like CGS:
  1. It forces a catechist to be a catechist instead of an ill-prepared teacher. Catechists are required to invest in the atrium and take 10 session training courses for each level they want to teach in. This usually means paying anywhere from $400-800 out of pocket. The catechetical experience becomes an experience of prayer for the catechist as they meditate on the mysteries themselves that the children will enter in. Often times the catechist takes notes on what the child says about Jesus when the child encounters Jesus in the classroom. They become a catechist in the true sense of the word - they bring the child to Jesus and then get out of the way.
  2. CGS uses only the liturgy and Bible for its textbook. There are no publishing houses or million dollar marketing campaigns. There is no money to be made off of it. It's growth throughout the world is through word of mouth.
  3. Every time someone enters the atrium for the first time they say the same thing "Why wasn't this here when I was in religious education. Can I join?"
  4. Preparing an atrium takes the efforts of the entire parish. Where many parishes are divided on issues, everyone comes together to build the atrium. It can be a very healing experience. There are no clicks in the atrium.
  5. The child becomes a disciple through the atrium. Their will and intellect are engaged and they are invited to consider the Good Shepherd. Who is He? Does He love me? How can I have a relationship with Him? The smallest child experiences the love of the Good Shepherd through scripture and liturgy. I have 5 year olds in the atrium that know the Mass better than their parents.

 

 

I love the bolded!

 

Do you have any problems getting enough volunteers to be catechists? The time commitment for training itself is awfully difficult. I think our diocese is covering all training costs for our catechists at least for now. My wife was interested in doing the training, but the training was not during a time very conducive to our family as we prepared for a second child and I changed jobs.

 

Our parish already has problems getting enough catechists for our elementary CCD classes we are currently using.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the bolded!

 

Do you have any problems getting enough volunteers to be catechists? The time commitment for training itself is awfully difficult. I think our diocese is covering all training costs for our catechists at least for now. My wife was interested in doing the training, but the training was not during a time very conducive to our family as we prepared for a second child and I changed jobs.

 

Our parish already has problems getting enough catechists for our elementary CCD classes we are currently using.

 

Just the opposite. CGS is well staffed and "sold out" (we always have a wait list) while we always struggle getting catechists for the regular program and attendance continues to wane.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...