Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a religious education curriculum for children that builds upon a child’s natural sense of wonder and their need to learn through rich sensory experiences in order to help the child fall in love with God. This Montessori-based approach seeks to create and facilitate a sacred “hands-on” space in which both the children and catechists can hear, ponder, and celebrate the essential mysteries of the Catholic faith as revealed in scripture and liturgy.
The adult and child immerse themselves in Scripture to ponder who God is, His love for us, His Kingdom, and how we are to live in that Kingdom. By lifting up specific aspects of the Liturgy for the child, the adult helps them to understand the depth of the Mass and to better participate in the life of the Church that Jesus Himself founded.
CGS catechizes each child individually in a unique and beautiful space called the atrium” which contains simple yet beautiful materials children work with to draw closer to God in prayer. The children gather with the catechists to listen to God through:
Parish contact information: Olivia Salonek, DRE; osalonek@stsaaj.org