Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Marie Harrer, Good Shepherd Catechist

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children 3 - 6 years old.  This form of catechesis offers the children a hands on approach to learning more about their faith such as liturgical colors, parables, biblical geography, and articles of the altar, inviting our children to a loving relationship with God.

It is rooted in the Bible and the liturgy of the church with an interactive approach to learning. Children gather in an "atrium," a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use.

You may be wondering how these materials help the religious life of children? If an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might take a Bible, find the passage, and read it slowly again and again. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer. But a little child, too young to read, needs another way.

In an atrium the 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 the Eucharist. Older children who do read often copy parables from the Bible, lay in order written prayers from the rite of baptism, or label a long time line showing the history of the kingdom of God.

If you would like your child(ren) to experience their faith through this hands-on approach, please contact us.

Visit the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for additional information about the program.