What is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based religious formation program for children that is rooted in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. This program was originally founded in Rome by Sofia Cavelletti and Gianna Gobbi in the 1950s and continues to spread world-wide. The program operates from the philosophy that the child is already in a relationship with God and seeks to nurture that relationship through the proclamation and pondering of God’s Word by utilizing a carefully prepared environment called an “atrium.” The atrium is full of beautiful hand-made child-sized materials that help the child and their catechist to prayerfully enter deeply into the essential mysteries of the Catholic faith. By the grace of God, the hope is that the child will fall in love with Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, setting a firm foundation for their ongoing faith journey.
How will my child be involved in CGS?
At St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School in New Brighton, MN we are offering CGS to children ages 3 – 5 years old enrolled in our St. John’s preschool. The program begins in October and runs through May with classes available Monday through Friday from 8:45-11:55am. Half a preschool class, or ten children, meet in the atrium at a time with a trained catechist and assistant. CGS is the religion curriculum alongside the preschool teacher’s larger faith formation plan. For more information, please reach out to Jill Fink, Director of Discipleship at (651) 633-1540 ext. 1280 or finkj@stjohnnyb.org.
Parent Communication
CGS Parent Welcome Letter
Introduction to the Atrium
