The first catechists in any child’s life are the family members with whom he or she lives. What happens at home – both positive and negative – provides lessons for life. In the family, faith is shared as part of the unfolding of daily life. The home or “domestic church” provides a real place in which a child learns to live his or her faith as well as understanding it.
Our goal is to create a program of lifelong faith formation that is centered in and flows out of the events of Church life. It embraces all ages and generation, promotes faith growth at home and promotes participation in Church life.
For More Information Please Contact: Krissy Sullivan
Children’s Liturgy of the Word is offered on Sunday mornings at the 10:30 Mass. This is designed for children ages 3 - 1st grade. The children are dismissed from Mass to hear the gospel in a format that is easier for little ones to understand. Registration is not required.
We have weekly classes for grades 1-8 on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm. The 1st-6th grade program features reading and discussion of the weekly Gospel, as well as various activities to help the youth understand and live out their faith. The youth are provided with opportunities to do service projects in our community as well as the Rochester area. Religion classes are designed to teach the children that Christianity is a life style, not a thing reserved for Sunday. Parents are encouraged to help in the classrooms and take an active role in the teaching of their children.
Registration is required for these classes.
For More Information Please Contact: Krissy Sullivan
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a religious formation program developed to nurture the child’s relationship with God. The format, inspired by the Montessori method, is simple. The catechist gathers with the children in small groups in a beautiful environment containing interactive materials representing the Bible and the Church’s liturgy. This room, especially prepared for the children, is called the “atrium.” Here a catechist presents key scripture passages and parts of the Church’s liturgy to the children.
Also included in the presentation is an invitation to prayer, song and meditation. The children then have the opportunity to ponder these biblical passages or liturgical prayers while working and praying with the figures representative of the passage and prayers. Often the children’s prayer is done by reenactments of the text and meditation. They may do this by 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. Through this process, the children develop a sense of awe, wonder, and joy in our God.
THE WORK OF THE CHILD:
Sofia Cavalletti, with the help of Gianna Gobbi, began this work in 1954 in Rome. A known Hebrew scholar/theologian, Sofia discovered that the child received the Word of God from Holy Scripture with joy. She discovered that the children want only the essential things, the big truths, not watered down. Sofia discovered that the child already has an established relationship with God, and what is primary for the child is the relationship with God.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 ATRIUM?
In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, there are three levels of atrium.
The Level One atrium is for children ages 3, 4, and 5.
The Level Two atrium is for children in first, second, and third grades.
The Level Three atrium is for children 4th through 6th grades.
In each atrium there are children from 3 different age groups, as the materials in the room grow with the children. Likewise the children learn to work together, with the older children as “mentors” for the younger ones.
HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program involves so many people. We are always in need for people to:
Take training to be a Catechist!
Take training to be an assistant
Volunteer to help make or sew materials
Donate supplies for class
WHEN IS CGS OFFERED?
Level 1 is offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm.
Level 2 is currently not being offered
Level 3 is currently not being offered
HOW DO I REGISTER? Please Contact: Krissy Sullivan
Phone: 507-533-8192
E-mail: [email protected]