Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd approach to the religious formation of children 3-12 years old 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 that they use in their reflection on God.

Following the Montessori approach, children gather together based on their age:

  • The Level I atrium is for children 3-6 years old (generally Pre-school and Kindergarten) and is offered Sundays from 9:45a.m.-11:15a.m. and  11:45a.m.-1:15p.m.  
  • The Level II atrium is for children 6-9 years old (generally first, second and third grade) and is offered Sundays from 9:45a.m.-11:15a.m. and  11:45a.m.-1:15p.m. and Mondays from  4:30p.m.-6p.m.  
  • The Level III atrium is for children 9-12 years old (generally fourth, fifth and sixth grade) and is offered Mondays from  4:30p.m.-6p.m. and  6:30p.m.-8p.m.  

Each atrium is led by volunteer catechists certified in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Catechists present materials to individuals or small groups in support of each child’s desire to know and love God.

We meet on the third floor of the Newman Center. Children enrolled in Level I need to be at least 3 years old by the first class and must be potty trained.

Registration for CGS 2010-2011 is available June 5-August 15, 2010.  Payment is required to complete the online registration. Sessions fill up quickly, so register early! If you would rather pay by installments or request a scholarship, please contact Karen Broering. 

The CGS program is a wonderful opportunity to involve many people and their time and talents. Our materials are largely handmade, utilizing skills of sewing, painting, woodworking and much more. Volunteers to help set up and take down the materials each week are also needed. Check out the Volunteer Opportunities in Faith Formation for additional opportunities and information.

Preparation for Reconciliation and First Eucharist are part of the Level II atrium. Please visit Sacramental Preparation to learn more about the preparation process.

To access the CGS Family Wiki: http://newmancenter-cgs.pbworks.com/  Please note that this is a secure website and you must have a password to log in. 

If you would like more information on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd approach to Faith Formation, please contact Karen Broering at (614) 291-4674 x108.

children reading books
A child prepares the altar