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What is The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a dynamic Christian spiritual formation program tailored for children ages three to twelve. CGS is a product the work of Hebrew scholar Sofia Cavalletti and Montessori-trained colleague Gianna Gobbi. Cavalletti and Gobbi's work is rooted in 50 years of studying the essential components of the relationship between children and the Good Shepherd. The method that has emerged from their study has been highly effective in calling children into a deep relationship with the Good Shepherd and in nurturing them to know His ways and listen to His voice. The Shepherd's Call takes the beauty and effectiveness of Cavalletti's and Gobbi's method and tailors it specifically to the needs of other Christian communities.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd employs the Montessori method of teaching. This approach is uniquely suited for engaging the children and helping them to take initiative in their own walk with the Lord. Lessons invite the children to see, touch, taste, smell, and learn kinesthetically. The Montessori approach structures the environment to give each child responsibility and freedom of choice and movement.
In order to develop skills and concentration necessary to prepare the child for Biblical lessons to come, CGS offers lessons known as "practical life". These lessons range from sitting quietly, polishing silver, measuring accurately, pouring carefully, to flower arranging and plant care. Practical life instructs proper care of the gifts God gives and builds concentration on a task. Developing a child’s concentration to a task is required, so he or she may attend fully when given a Biblical lesson.
Bible lessons feature reading scripture passage themselves, but are “hands on” in that they are accompanied by beautifully hand-crafted figures for the children to move along with the scripture reading. Following the scripture presentation, the teacher asks searching questions about the passage in order to draw the children in more deeply. The materials for each lesson are placed in their own spot on the shelf within the child’s reach. After the teacher's initial presentation, the child may return to work with the material as the Holy Spirit draws.
Lessons for the Three- to Six-Year Old Children:
The Good Shepherd Parables - Sharing parables which explore the relationship between the child and the Good Shepherd.
Infancy Narratives - Presenting stories of Jesus' conception, birth, and life as a baby which reveal the mystery of the shared divinity and humanity of Jesus.
Geography of Israel - Anchoring Jesus and the events surrounding his life in real time and space, establishing him as an historical person who shares the same world with the child.
Kingdom Parables - Exploring the wonder, beauty, growth, and mystery of the Kingdom of God through parables.
Church Practices - Inviting the children to greater understanding and participation in the church service.
Paschal Narratives - Sharing stories of Jesus' death and resurrection, enabling children to participate in his life and the mystery of His death and resurrection.
Prophecies - Proclaiming Old Testament scriptures which announce the coming of the Savior, helping the child to begin to see the timeless nature of God's plan for salvation, the cohesiveness of scripture, and the nature of the messiahship.
Baptism - Sharing about this moment of initiation into the family of God.
Communion - Pondering aspects of the family meal of communion with Christ.
Celebrations - Enjoying the significant Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter in child-centered ways.
Practical Life - Offering materials to build concentration and develop skills specific to caring for and working in the classroom, such as pouring, plant care or sweeping.
Prayer Table – Providing a special place to encounter the Good Shepherd through prayer in child-centered ways.
The presentations and materials within these categories provide the fabric upon which the children can embroider their own relationship with God.
Levels 2 and 3 (six- to twelve-year olds) follow suit, addressing the children’s spiritual developmental needs through appropriate materials and lessons. The previous themes continue to be explored in greater depth and in age-appropriate ways, while adding the following subjects:
Moral formation - Exploring parables and other forms of scripture which address the child's desire to respond to the love of Good Shepherd by seeking to live a holy life.
The History of the Kingdom of God - Discovering God's plan for His kingdom, the characteristics of it, and the child's place in it.
Teacher training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is intensive, but spiritually renewing for the participant. It not only teaches the approach, but also spends significant time helping the trainees to explore and absorb the depths of the lessons that will be presented. During training, participants ponder each lesson, seeking related scripture, distilling doctrinal content, defining essential goals, and structuring the presentation they will make to the children.
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