Origins of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

(I was asked to give a talk to the Ladies of St. Andrews and this was the talk I gave in 2007.  In turn they graciously helped us financially to get much needed furniture, rugs and materials when we first started Level II.  We only had enough materials for two atrii, so my husband and I worked together building the materials for a third atrium.)

The origins of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd can be attributed to three Catholic Italian women:

Maria Montessori, M.D. (1870-1952)
She was the first woman doctor in Italy.  She did research in Rome on how children learn at different stages of development.  She did this for twenty years after giving up her practice.  She worked with sixty young children of working families.  She was up for the Nobel Peace Prize for her research as she was the first  person to ever do research on developmental psychology and learning of children.  As a woman of those times, she barely stood a chance of  winning, however in any education courses you are bound to study her research and she is held in high regard in education history.

Dr. Sophia Cavalletti (1917-2011)
She was a Hebrew and Scripture scholar; a member of the Vatican Commission for Jewish-Christian relations; and a writer for Vatican II.  She was also a scientist.  She attended a conference of Maria Montessori in England and came away wanting to scientifically study how children at different ages and stages of development could learn the Bible and Liturgy of the Mass.  She did just that after people began asking her to prepare their children for the sacraments.  She then designed the program as we know it as The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  She discovered early on that three year olds especially love the parable of the Good Shepherd.  They gravitate toward Him as a protector and someone who loves them.

Professor Gianna Gobbi (1919-2002)
She was an educator herself and had worked with Maria Montessori and later joined Sophia in her work.  Together they established the program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

A good definition of the word, "Atrium" then would be that it is an approach to the religious formation of children, ages 3-12 years.  It originated in 1954 with the founding of the children's centre or "Atrium in Rome, Italy.

I looked up the definition of the word, "Atrium."  It means:
1.  A central main room of an ancient Roman private house.
2.  A courtyard, mostly surrounded by colonnades in front of early Christian or medieval churches.
3.  An auricle of the heart.
4.  The entrance to the Vatican, which is sometimes referred to as the Atrium.
So we can conclude that the Atrium is the entrance to learning about God, the Church, the Holy Bible, the Sacraments and the Holy Mass.

The program is based on the conviction that a child has a deep need to experience and enjoy the presence of God and that God and the child are in a relationship.

How wonderful to hear that because it is what we as adults should be aspiring to in meditation and contemplation of Our Lord.  It is what the Protestants refer to when they ask, "Do you have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ?  This program nurtures that relationship from the very beginning.

This program is also used by Episcopal, Lutheran, Anglican or any non-Catholic church which uses a Liturgy.  It has been adapted for these churches.  Sometimes when there are not enough catechists, the children from these various churches use the same atrium.  The catechists also do their training together if there is only one training available in their area or when the schedule is convenient.

What I loved immediately about the program after observing it was the peacefulness of the room.  There was busy activity going on as the children were deeply involved in whatever materials they were working on.  Three observations about the program also made me know I wanted the training for this.  I was observing a presentation on the small altar as the catechist named each article of the mass: chalice, paten, tabernacle, etc.  However, she hesitated when she got to the article inside the tabernacle, but a child called out "ciborium!" before she could remember the name!  The 3-6 year olds are like little sponges and remember everything you tell them.

Then there was the incident when I had my first class in 2002 as I was assisting the catechist during my training in Phoenix.  I just didn't believe that three year olds could possibly understand a parable in the Bible.  I watched one three year old turning around while sitting on the rug and squirming while the Pearl of Great Price was being read.  Yet as I observed this child using the materials afterward, I could see he knew the story perfectly.  I could hear him telling the story quietly in his own words as he moved the figures exactly as the catechist was doing during her presentation.  After that, I was a believer.  It is truly teaching the children "meditation and contemplation of scripture" at the earliest age.

Also, I was always happiest when I'd get feedback from a grandmother or parent that their child while at mass would call out, "That's the Epiclesis!"  They knew the different gestures of the priest during the mass as well as their names.  What a great program!

Class Schedule:
The class schedule is set up as follows:
1.  The children sit on the rug at the prayer table.  They begin with prayer.
2.  The catechist then gives a presentation on either a Bible Story or demonstrates one of the gestures of the priest during the Liturgy of the Mass.  (about 20-25 minutes)
3.  The children can now choose a work.  There is only one of each Bible Story but there are many art activities relating to the mass and the Bible Stories, so the child can choose one of these or another Bible Story which was already read to them. (about 50 minutes)
4.  The bell is rung (around 10 minutes after the hour.)  This indicates that it's cleanup time.
5.  They gather back on the rug quietly.  We pray.
6.  We sing songs ending the class joyfully.
7.  Dismissal as we call individuals to get their work out of the folders to take home.

About the training of the catechists:
The training for each Level is 2 weeks long.  Sometimes it will be scheduled 1 week during one summer and the following summer will be 1 more week.  Other times I've traveled to Phoenix one weekend every month for the same amount of time.  I finished my Level I training in 2004 after observing and as an assistant for one and a half years during the training.  I certainly learned a lot about my faith.  I feel privileged and honored to prepare children for the sacraments.  I can't think of anything I've enjoyed more.  I was a teacher for 22 years in the public sector and always knew I was where God wanted me to be then and even more now.  I have been blessed with this ministry.