Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is
a world-wide religious formation program for a
young child. It is Montessori based, and provides
the catechist prepared lessons along with in-scale,
hands-on material for children. With this material
and their taking part, children are able to
experience their Catholic faith through scripture,
liturgy and sacraments. Children meet in a
specially prepared environment, the "Atrium,"
that is designed to make them more comfortable. This child-centered program is dedicated to meet the needs of individual children, as they explore their own relationship with God.

This particular method of Christian education, more than any other, is predicated on the fact that young children have deep religious experience which should be encouraged to grow. We acknowledge that a child understands that God has made himself present to them and they are fully capable of forming an intimate relationship with God at their level of comprehension. The catechist needs only provide the guidance and vocabulary for children to become aware of their personal relationship with God. In this way, children learn how to express their relationship and love of God.

Beginning in the year 2008-09, we began implementing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) at St. Mary Star of the Sea. This began with the age group of 3 to 5. Beginning with the 2010-2011 year, we begin implementing the CGS method for the group of 6-8 year olds. It is expected the CGS method of instruction will become the primary religious education program for children through age 12 beginning with 2013-2014 religious education year. Please visit our Children's Faith Formation home page to download the registration forms and schedules for this year's Religious Education programs.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
    is divided into three levels:

Level 1 (ages 3-5): In level 1, the primary
image for children is Christ the Good Shepherd
who loves his sheep and gives everything
he is for them. The Good Shepherd knows
his sheep and calls them by their name.
The child comes to discover who the Shepherd
is, and who the sheep are. What stands behind
all this is the first moment of the covenant,
the moment of gift. Level 1 stays focused on the
moment of gift with the aim of children coming
to a deep enjoyment of it. Children at this level enjoy a special gift of God as they develop a foundation of religious insight that I personally find missing from other catechetical methods.

Level 2 (ages 6-9): In level 2, students are afforded the opportunity to reflect and experience their personal response to the gift of God in their lives. Children delve into Christology, and the History of the Kingdom of God. The child begins to discover God's plan of salvation and understand that they have something to contribute to it.

Level 3 (ages 9-12): Level 3 encourages deeper human response on the part of the participants. The teachings are focused on the Plan of God as worked out in the Bible and human history. (Implementation scheduled for the 2012-2013 religious education year.)