These words of Jesus are the leaven in the dough of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, echoing in the call of Jesus to the catechist, the parent, the parish:

 “Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them.
Of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Whoever welcomes a little child such as this welcomes Me and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but Him who sent Me.”

This website highlights the Philadelphia Area Roman Catholic Formation (particularly Level I) of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It is meant to encourage parents, pastors, ministers of evangelization and teachers of religion, principals and Directors of Religious Education to discern this invitation of Jesus Christ and to ponder the particular form that call takes in the ‘CGS.’ This catechesis, beginning with the three to six year old child and extending to age twelve, focuses in the first level (ages 3 to 6) on Christ Jesus the Light of the World and the Good Shepherd, revealed as gift proclaimed in Scripture and given in Liturgy.

CGS has been formed in the wisdom of the Montessori method and the lived tradition of the Catholic Church, paying attention both to “who is the child” and to the reality of “Who is God”. In serving the mystery of the great love of God and the child, CGS finds that both child and adult are called to ‘listen to God together’.

We believe that the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd can ignite a partnership with parents and parish to stimulate the graces of Baptism to flourish into a deep, loving relationship with Jesus and the Church. It has engendered a greater participation in the Mass and strong foundation for reception of Sacraments. The program has brought this blessing to children, catechists, and parents throughout many countries in the world and is growing here in the U.S.A. today.

This method was developed over a 50 year period in Rome, Italy, by Biblical scholar Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and her collaborator, Montessori educator Gianna Gobbi. It gives children time to explore the rich proclamations of our faith through the use of materials the children can handle.  With these, the children continue to think about presentations of Biblical parables, prophecies, or narratives and prayers and gestures from the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. The children’s choice of work includes these materials and other handwork and helps them internalize these proclamations as they enter into a dialogue with Christ, the Inner Teacher.  The fruit of this is joy.

The work of the adult catechist is to prepare the environment, called the atrium; to prepare the materials and the presentations; to carefully observe, guide, and listen to the children with love and humility; to listen to God with the child. Our own spirituality needs to have deepening roots in our life with Jesus, in Scripture and in the sacraments, as we discern His will in response to the particular gift of the Church’s teachings and in our lived experience of each day. Sofia once said that the mark of the success of a catechist is that she can ‘listen to God with the children.’ We find that listening to God with children is to us what the green pastures and still waters are to the sheep. The quality of enjoyment that is a mark of the child’s relationship with God is one that becomes ours, as well.

”This requires study and prayer. The children will be our teachers if we know how to observe them.”
Sofia Cavalletti in The Religious Potential of the Child. *

Parents invite the parish and catechists to share in their work as primary religious educators of their children. Parent letters and sessions designed to share the children’s presentations help with this collaboration. Catholic parents often hear in a new way the call of the Good Shepherd as their children experience being called by name to enjoyment of His presence in Scripture and liturgy.

Parishes welcome the children for Jesus’ sake in many ways.  One way is by providing space and encouragement for this program.

• Read a beautiful introduction to this work by clicking here.
• Please visit here for an introduction to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with a special focus on the work in the Roman Catholic community in the Philadelphia area.
• For information on what some of the first steps might be to begin, visit our How to Begin page.
• Books and other resources are available through www.cgsusa.org