• This method was first developed in Rome by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti, a Roman Catholic Hebrew Scripture scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator.  The teachings of this catechesis reflect the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, a deep love for the Good Shepherd, for the Scriptures, and for the sacraments, as well as a particular love and knowledge of the child.  Some groundwork had been laid earlier in the century by Dr. Maria Montessori.

• Certifications to train and those given at course levels are given by the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The National Association is in close association with the International Consiglio and with Sofia Cavalletti and her collaborators in Rome, Italy.

• The training content has as its primary sources the Bible, the Liturgy, and the body of CGS writings, particularly those of Sofia Cavalletti.  All of the presentations can be easily referenced to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.           

• In America, Catholics as well as Christians of other denominations have been attracted to this method.  In our own Philadelphia area, in particular, we have been greatly blessed by the response of other Christians to the CGS and helped in our getting started.  We pray that these friendships and our solidarity in answering the shepherd’s call and enjoying the presence of God with the child may continue.

• We have also been blessed by the work of the Archdiocese of New York with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  In that Archdiocese, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is the preferred method of catechesis for all children before grade 1.

Philadelphia Area Catholic Formation

• “The Church makes the Eucharist and the Eucharist makes the Church,” as St. Augustine said and Pope John Paul II reiterated in his encyclical “Ecclesiae et Eucharistiae”.  It is the gift of the presence of Jesus that makes us Church: his voice resounding at Mass in the reading of the Scriptures and his presence given in his body and blood.  It is the Church that gives us Jesus.  It is we who receive and who then give Jesus to each other and to the world.

• Catechesis is a gift given to build up the people of God.  In particular, catechesis on the Eucharist is meant to help us become what we receive: His body.  We hope that the voice of the Good Shepherd will go out to many and that some will be called to this work to build up the body of our local Church, here in this  Archdiocese. May the wisdom of the gentle, humble heart of Jesus, the heart of the Lamb of God, be our wisdom as we hear and respond to this call.

• The Lord Jesus present in the Eucharist is the ‘sun’ around which we revolve and by whose grace we live.  We lift up this gift to the generations to come.  We enter into the mystery of God and the child that the child will fall in love with the Lord who loves each one and calls each by name, and who is present in the sheepfold of the Church, calling each to ‘come to Him’ in the Eucharist, and speaking to us especially when the community gathers to listen to the Scriptures at Mass.

•  He invites us, in all the difficulties of our mission, to ‘come to the foot of the altar’.  (Words of Mary to St. Catherine Laboure)  We place ourselves in Mary’s hands, under the title of “Mother of the Great Amen”, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  She it was who first held the Good Shepherd in human hands.  What great hands!

• Relating to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
  
  General and National Catechetical Directories
  All of our presentation plans are referenced to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  We can provide a framework of how this catechesis fully embraces the wisdom of the GCD and NCD as to the meaning, the method, and the content of catechesis for young children.  If you are interested in this analysis, please e-mail us.  info@cgsvoice-phila.org

• The National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has provided a detailed summary of what is covered in the training of the catechist and in the formation of the children.  This is also available when requested by a pastor or DRE.  info@cgsvoice-phila.org

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in Context

Sofia Cavalletti reminds us all that the Church has been around for 2000 years and has endured without the gift of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  For some, this work is a call, for some it is a call that consumes us like the light consumes the candle.  A great joy it is, and an unmerited blessing, a surprise, a gift--  but it is not for everyone and should never be ‘mandated’.  Let it always exist as an ‘invitation’, as one way to answer the command: “Let the little children come unto Me and do not stop them.  Of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  On the other hand, let us heed well his words “Do not stop them”, and encourage and assist in any way we can those so called to this particular work.

Atria in Catholic parishes, homeschool coops, missions and schools. All are Level I unless noted otherwise:

PARISHES

St. Colman’s, Ardmore
Sunday morning
Contact: DRE

St. Denis, Havertown
Sunday morning
Contact: nancy@cgsvoice-phila.org
One Weekday session oen to anyone

St. Genevieve, Flourtown
Atrium of the Little Flock
Tuesday eve, Sunday AM
Contact: DRE

St. Luke, Glenside
Sunday morning
Contact: DRE

St. Mary, Phoenixville
Sunday morning
Contact: DRE

St. Philomena, Lansdowne
Atrium of God’s Peace
Wednesday AM/PM, Friday AM
Contact: CRE

SCHOOLS

Regina Angelorum Academy
Wynnewood, PA

Regina Coeli Academy
Wyndmoor, PA

Our Mother of Consolation School
Chestnut Hill / Philadelphia, PA
Contact: jmjbetsy@aol.com
Atrium of Consolation
Mondays for Pre-K and K children in school

MISSIONS

Missionaries of Charity
Norristown and Chester, PA

HOMESCHOOL COOPS

JMJ Homeschool Coop
St. Anne’s Atrium
Contact: motherof8@comcast.net

Valley Green Atrium of the Sparrow
6304 E. Valley Green Road, Flourtown, PA
Meets Wednesdays 12:30 - 2:30 PM
Level II, III
Contact: jmjbetsy@aol.com

Living Bridges Homeschool Coop
in old school of St. Mary's in Phoenixville, PA
Wednesdays
Levels I and II
Contact: staff@livingbridges.org

St. Philomena's Atrium of Peace
Meets twice a week
Contact: barbara@cgsvoice-phila.org

Please let us know if you know of any other atria in our area Catholic parishes, homeschool communities, or homes.