Ministries & Offices Children’s Ministry

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

“The child’s deepest need is for relationship. We know that we grow and are formed through relationships…I think that it is possible to say that God is the necessary Partner the child needs for the fullest possible self-formation.”
- Sofia Cavalletti

We are passionate about sharing God’s personal love with children. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a ministry for children aged 3-12 years that is based on Scripture and the Sacred Liturgy. It is inspired by the principles of Montessori education.

This ministry provides an opportunity for children:

  • to fall in love with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in a child-friendly space called an atrium – located in a home, church, or school. (Plan a visit to the Edith Stein Atrium located in the John Paul II Pastoral Centre.)
  • guided activity to aid meditation on Scripture and the mysteries of the Christian faith once a week - in small groups, facilitated by trained adults (catechists).

CGS was developed by Sofia Cavalletti, an Italian scripture scholar and theologian, who worked in collaboration with Gianna Gobbi, a close colleague of Maria Montessori. Cavalletti insisted that the most pressing need of the young child is the need for God. CGS effectively meets this need. In the process it also evangelizes adults.

There are three levels of CGS:

Level 1, for the 3–6-year-old child,
Level 2, for the 6-9-year-old child,
and Level 3, for the 9-12-year-old child.

Catechist formation in CGS immerses the adult in:

  • Scripture
  • Liturgy
  • Theology
  • Prayer
  • The needs and spiritual growth of the child
  • Making and using atrium materials