Description:

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori based faith formation method for children ages 3-12 based on the pillars of Scripture and Catholic Liturgy. The educational method of Maria Montessori is centered on the developmental needs and capacities of the child. CGS has been used throughout the world for nearly 70 years. It is based on building a personal relationship with God through prayer, the Bible, and Liturgy since 1954 in Rome, Italy. Together, Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi pursued the revelation of the young child’s religious potential through decades of careful research and observation of the children they served. Gianna Gobbi, a protege of Montessori, collaborated closely with the theological knowledge of Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew scholar, to develop CGS – an approach which not only appeals to the profound religious intuition of younger and older children, but also evolved from the children themselves. Today the work remains active in Rome and is used in at least 65 countries around the world.Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has a “prepared environment” called the Atrium – a dedicated space furnished with handmade materials. The prepared environment has the “prepared adult” – catechists who have received specialized formation in CGS. Along with other adults & parents willing to assist the catechist and serve the children, the prepared adult and prepared environment works together to help the “prepared child” in discovering the child’s faith unique to the child’s lived experience.