Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd

With its roots dating back to 1954, when a Catholic laywoman and Scripture scholar was asked by a friend to help prepare a small group of boys to receive First Holy Communion, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) has evolved into a global method of catechesis for children up to 12 years old. Known for its prepared environment called “the atrium,” children come to know, practice and love their Catholic Faith. CGS is being used by several parishes in our diocese and many families are coming to embrace this method of passing on the Faith and growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

At the turn of the century, Italian physician Dr. Maria Montessori began observing children and their most basic needs. She recognized the spiritual and religious inclination of the child and the necessity for them to be an active part of parish life. Following her research, Montessorian Gianna Gobbi and Old Testament professor Dr. Sofia Cavalletti were acquainted and picked up where Montessori left off. For the next several decades they developed a unique Faith formation program which we now know as The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Gobbi and Cavalletti observed and studied children working with various materials and meticulously pared down the catechetical content and materials to those which were most essential and those that spoke most intimately to particular age groups. What has evolved from this labor of love is a program through which children ages 0-12 can grow in their relationship with God through a deep engagement with Scripture and liturgy.

According to one Scripture scholar, “CGS emphasizes first knowing that the child has been given the gift of the Holy Spirit through baptism, that the Holy Spirit is active and that the Holy Spirit and the child work together to form that relationship to the Divine." Though this relationship exists, most young children do not have the tools or environment to properly express or develop the relationship. This program offers both.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Level 1 for Children Ages 3-6
Level 2 for Ages 6-9

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Level 1 for ages 3 to 6 and Level 2 for ages 6 to 9 is a special program for the youngest members of our parish community.  Session times are as follows:

• CGS Level 1 (Ages 3-5) Tuesday, 4:45-6:15 p.m.
• CGS Level 2 (Ages 3-5) Tuesday, 4:45-6:15 p.m.  
• CGS Level 1 (Ages 3-5) Wednesday, 4:45-6:15 p.m.
• CGS Level 2 (Ages 3-5) Wednesday, 4:45-6:15 p.m.
  
  Registration is now open--CLICK HERE. If interested in CGS, please contact the Faith Formation office at 412-367-9001, ext.8529 for more information.