Back to Family Discipleship

Would you like to help your child enjoy a deeper relationship with God? The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based approach to the religious formation of children, rooted in Sacred Scripture, Liturgy, and respect for the child’s rich relationship with God.

What is CGS?
CGS at Saint John's   

Schedule
Register
Come and See - "Seed Planting" Event
What is a CGS Atrium?
Interested in Registering or Learning More?
Pictures

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)

Early Learning Programs for Pre-K: 3-5 years of age

This religious formation program was developed to nurture the child’s relationship with God and is inspired by the Montessori Method.  The “atrium” is a beautiful environment especially prepared for children and contains various articles of liturgy (Mass, Baptism, Sacraments, Prayer) and scripture materials (Good Shepherd, True Vine, Moral Parables, Infancy Narratives, Prayer).  Children have the opportunity to ponder scripture passages or liturgical prayers while interacting with the materials.  

----

CGS at Saint John's
Saint John's will be offering The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd method of faith formation for children (ages 3-5). Out of the four monthly meetings, two will be part of "Family Discipleship" (which has formation for every family member) and two meetings are "CGS only." 

General Schedule

• Week 1: Wed., 6:00-7:30 PM (CGS only; Parents may leave or stay and socialize in School Dining Room or pray in Church)
• Week 2: Wed., 6:00-7:30 PM (CGS & Rest of family attends Family Discipleship)
• Week 3: Wed., 6:00-7:30 PM (CGS only; Parents may leave or stay and socialize in School Dining Room or pray in Church)
• Week 4: Sun., 9:30 AM -12:30 PM (CGS & Rest of Family attends Family Discipleship)
  • 9:30 - CGS & Family Discipleship (attend "Discipleship Sunday"
  • 10:30 - Family attends Mass
  • 11:30 - CGS & Family Discipleship

Catechist Training
The catechists who work with the children will participate in nearly 100 hours of formation and will prepare a special environment for the children, which is called the Atrium.  Please join us in praying for the those who are called to this ministry.  To learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd visit www.CGSUSA.org.

----

CGS Open House

Saint John's will host a CGS Open House for parents, grandparents, potential catechists and all those who are interested in learning more about this new ministry that will be established in our community. The Seed Planting will be held on Sunday, August 29th at 11:45 AM in the Gathering Space and Atrium. To learn more about the Open House,  please contact Joe Block at 651-288-3272.

----

What is a CGS Atrium?
The word “atrium” actually means “portico, or porch entrance to a large house.” The Atrium was a term given to the CGS space by Maria Montessori. It was chosen because in the ancient church, the atrium was a gathering space between the Church Proper and the street. It was the place where the catechumens, those preparing for initiation to the Church, would receive instruction. The Atrium has a similar purpose for our children, as it is a place to help them enter into full, conscious and active participation in the liturgical and communal life of the Church.  The atrium is a “prepared environment”? The prepared environment is a Montessori concept that the environment can be designed to facilitate independent learning by the child. In a prepared environment, children work with materials of their own choice and at their own pace. They experience a combination of freedom and self-discipline in a place especially prepared to meet their developmental and spiritual needs.  

“The atrium may be compared to a retreat house; as such it should be a place that facilitates recollection and silence, even in its external aspects of wall decorations and other furnishings. It is desirable that the atrium be “Mass-centered,” that is, a place where special prominence is awarded to the material relative to the Mass; a place where the baptismal font stands out in the area assigned to Baptism. The Gospel should have a position of honor and be located alongside the parable materials and materials relating to the historical life of Christ.” – Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti, p 56