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"Let
the children come to me. Do not hinder them.
The kingdom of God belongs to
such as these." -- Matthew 20:14
This year we are excited about using the
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum in all levels of our Sunday
School. This religious formation program for children is being used in
many Episcopal churches throughout the country and is rapidly growing throughout
the Diocese of Los Angeles. Several of our Sunday School teachers have
been undergoing extensive training and will serve as mentor teachers this year
for all of our staff. Mentor teachers will be available throughout the
year to meet with atrium assistants as needed. We feel that this is by far
the richest and most meaningful offering that we can provide for our children.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was developed
in Italy in 1954 by Sofia Cavaletti, an internationally known Biblical
scholar. It is based on principles of child development by Maria
Montessori. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program has been a study
in progress ever since. It is used in countries around the world in Roman
Catholic, Episcopal and Protestant churches. The Catechesis of the Good
Shepherd is the religious education curriculum of choice in the Diocese of
Los Angeles. St. Margaret's Church has been using it in the Pre-School
portion of the Sunday School for two years.
Young children already have a relationship with
God and yearn to draw near to Him. The catechist's role is to prepare
themselves and the environment and to make presentations that "call
forth" the child's response rather than "pouring in"
information. Together as co-wonderers they meditate on the questions
generated by the Scriptures. The child is provided with a place set aside
to work with materials related to Biblical stories, liturgical experiences, and
prayer. This place is called an atrium - a beautiful but simple place,
much like a retreat house, where the child can experience peace, joy, and
meditation to build his/her relationship with God. The atrium is filled
with hands-on materials from which he/she can choose to work. The
materials are presented by the catechist and then used by the child to continue
the inner experience begun with that presentation. Their work becomes a
conversation with God.
Our children love their time in the atrium.
They are getting the ultimate "self-esteem" program: the image
of the Good Shepherd and its message of Jesus' unfailing love for them - that
God's unconditional love is a part of their world in the family, their school,
and in the church. As adult leaders, we function not as teachers, but
facilitators. The children move about the atrium environment making their
own choices in working with the materials related to the Bible, liturgy, and
private and group meditation and worship. They love having these choices
including art materials where they can express their learning and levels of
understanding as they mature. Each atrium will have its own prayer service
with different types of prayer experiences, including prayer through music.
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