Last November, Salesian Sister Margaret Rose, who focuses on hands-on Catholic faith formation at All Saints Academy in Parsippany, N.J., brought the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based program, to the school for children ages 3 to second grade. She was encouraged to do so by All Saints teachers and parents.
A classroom was quickly designated as the Atrium, a quiet space for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. There, God and each child can learn to listen, work, and foster a relationship with God. This is assisted by the adult, but directed by the Spirit of God within the child.
In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the only true teacher is Jesus, and together the catechist and the child are co-listeners to the Word of God. It is a biblically, Scripturally, and liturgically based method that engages a hands-on approach with beautiful, natural materials designed for the child’s use. The program supports catechists, parents, and others in the Church as they grow in their understanding of the child.
This method of catechesis began in Rome, Italy, in 1954 with Sofia Cavelletti, a biblical scholar, and her colleague Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori-trained educator. Together, they discovered children’s innate relationship with God while observing and engaging with them.
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Among the many faith-based activities, students build and trace maps of the Holy Land, reverently set the prayer table, work with the articles of the altar and the elements of the Mass, ponder the Scriptures with wonder and awe, and sing songs. These activities allow students to enjoy the richness and beauty of the faith.
Soon, students start to notice items in the church or at Mass, such as the Paschal candle, the altar, and the chalice on the altar. They also share the message of Jesus’ love and light during class discussions.
Leanne Gonzalez, All Saints’ principal, called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd “a true blessing” for the school.
“Sister Margaret teaches us that through prayer, reflection, and community, we can recognize God’s love in our daily lives and share that love with others through kindness, compassion, and service,” Gonzalez said. “Students are encouraged to grow with confidence, curiosity, and a deep sense of peace, helping them become thoughtful learners and caring individuals,” she said.
All Saints has long been identified for its strong Catholic identity and culture, fostering spiritual and students’ academic growth in a Christ-centered environment. It exists and operates under the auspices of four local parishes of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.: St. Peter the Apostle, where the school is located, St. Christopher and St. Ann, all in Parsippany, as well as St. Pius X in Montville.
Father Nico Quintos, pastor of St. Ann’s, called the Atrium “a place of prayer, in which work and study spontaneously become meditation, contemplation and prayer.”
“Now, a non-Catholic family in the school has a prayer table at home. They are not the only ones. Children will bring home what they have experienced and absorbed,” Father Quintos said.
Parents also express gratitude for the information sent home to continue the conversation, which has helped to deepen their own faith and knowledge of the faith.
A volunteer helper, who is also a devout Catholic and religious educator, said she thinks the time students have spent in the Atrium “has and will continue to serve as the foundation for their development as children of God and persons of faith.”
In the absence of textbooks, technology, and other traditional teaching methods, the children are given the opportunity to experience the Jesus, the Good Shepherd, through a multisensory approach, a teacher said.
“Using my own teaching observations, it’s through the integration of the Scripture, the materials, and self- exploration that children will cultivate their deepest longing, which will propel their thinking, naturally leading them to the wonder and awe and a personal relationship with the living God,” the teacher said.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium will continue at All Saints and will hopefully also serve the children of St. Peter’s, Level 1, ages 3 to 6, on Sundays.
In September, All Saints will offer an adult formation course on 12 Saturdays, once monthly, to train participants in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd method. The pace is retreat-like. Many people join for their own spiritual growth or to bring to their own children and families.
More information: email Margaret Rose at smrfma1@yahoo.com.
