The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children that is rooted in the Bible,  liturgy, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an "atrium," a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials they use to help them absorb the most essential proclamations of the Christian faith. 

In the atrium a child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by taking the material for that text and working with it - placing wood figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for Communion. Older children often copy parables from the Bible, place written prayers in order from the rite of baptism, or label a long time line showing the history of the kingdom of God.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a sensorially rich experience for children from the ages of 3 to 12 years that gives children the opportunity to grow in love and knowledge of God through the Christian tradition.

Highlands is in the process of adopting the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as our children's curriculum and aims to have a level one (ages 3 - 6) classroom in place by Fall of 2011.  If you wish to know more about this exciting new ministry, please contact Reggie Holder.