CGS in the School

CGS in a Montessori School Setting

“I have been nothing but AMAZED at what CGS has done for the faith of my children. This is truly a dream method of formation for our faith!”
– Jon Leonetti, Catholic speaker and author, whose children attend School of Mary Montessori in Des Moines, Iowa

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was developed through the careful observation of the spiritual engagement of children and according to the principles of Montessori education. Maria Montessori writes about providing the children access to an Atrium – an environment prepared with age-appropriate religious materials that enable a joyful expression of the child’s relationship to God:
“I would have the room built in an ecclesiastical style… There would be statues, here and there, of our Lord, our Lady and the saints; and the children would bring flowers to put in front of these… and also light candles before them. On the walls would be sacred pictures… The whole room would be fitted up as a sensorial environment calling out to the souls of the children.” (Maria Montessori, The Child in the Church)

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at St. Helena Montessori School

CGS in a Traditional or Parish School Setting

“I see the spirituality of the children developing in the Atrium and it is changing our school.”
– Kindergarten Teacher, Catholic School

A school is a center for learning, where adults and children come to be formed. Montessori tells us that the child’s relationship to his or her environment is different than an adult, the child absorbs their environment. What the child sees becomes a part of him, not just a memory, but form part of his or her soul.
The spiritual formation of the children, the educators, and the family is a priority for the school. Establishing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Traditional or Parish School Setting is a gift for the entire school community. The spirituality that is nourished in the Atrium environment has the potential to permeate the entire school community, and to assist the family in living their faith more authentically at home.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Epiphany Catholic School, Normal, IL

Sample CGS In-Service

Sample In-Service for the Board of Education,

Pastoral Council or Finance Council Members

Each topic is a potential 20 to 40-minute in-service to be shared with the members of your parish board of education, pastoral council, or finance council members.

Each is a stand-alone topic, and may be presented in any order, but the first three are recommend as a foundation for the other topics.

What is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
Maria Montessori and her Method Coming Soon!
The Prepared Environment and Materials Coming Soon!
32 Characteristics: The Adult Coming Soon!
32 Characteristics: The Child Coming Soon!
32 Characteristics: The Method Coming Soon!
32 Characteristics: Sacramental Preparation Coming Soon!
Catechist Formation Coming Soon!
What are the Level One, Level Two, and Level Three Atria? Coming Soon!

Montessori's Message to Teachers

Just prior to her death in 1952, Dr. Maria Montessori sent this message to teachers from the Catholic Montessori Guild who were gathered at a meeting in London, England.

Never, as in this moment, has the Christian faith needed the sincere effort of those who profess it. I would like to ask all of you, who are gathered in this meeting, to consider the great help that children can bring to the defense of our faith.

Children come to us as a rain of souls, as a richness and a promise which can always be fulfilled but which needs the help of our efforts for its fulfillment. Do not consider the child as a weakling: the child is the builder of the human personality. That this personality be Christian or not depends on the environment around him and on those who guide his religious formation. Do not think that because the child cannot understand in the same way that we adults understand that it is useless to allow him to participate in our religious practices. The staunchest and deepest faith is generally found among the unsophisticated people whose women take their children to church while they are still breastfed: the child’s unconscious absorbs Divine Powers while the conscious reasoning of adults is only human.

You who enjoy the great gift of belonging to the Catholic faith must intensely feel the great responsibility you have for the future generations because, among you, there are those who have renounced the world to bring the world to God.

Take then, as help in your task, with faith and humility, “the all-powerful children” (Benedict XV). Take as your special task to watch that their limpid light be not dimmed. Protect in their development those natural energies implanted in the souls of children by the guiding hand of God.

News from Schools

The Catholic Key, Kansas City, MO

Documents

The Faith Formation of Children- Are We asking the right Questions by Fr. Chris Aridas

CGS: Method Serving Content

Catechetical Themes in Level I CGS and Relevant Church Documents

Catechetical Themes in Level II CGS and Relevant Church Documents

Catechetical Themes in Level III CGS and Relevant Church Documents

CGS in Schools in Your Region

Schools with CGS

Do you want to speak to someone who has implemented CGS in their school setting? See below for names and contacts for a school, who are Organization members of CGSUSA, who would be glad to answer any questions you may have about beginning CGS with your community.

Pacific Coast Region

Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy, Vacaville, CA, contact Michelle Kim at atrium.pes@gmail.com

Rocky Mountain Region

Southwestern Region

St Matthew Catholic School, Franklin, TN, contact Holly Ledieu at hledieu@stmatthewtn.org

Northern Plains Region

Way of the Shepherd Catholic Montessori School, Blaine, MN, contact Carolyn Kohlhaas at carolyn_kohlhaas@wayoftheshepherd.org
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Wichita, KS, contact Anne Krsnich at akrsnich@stthomaswichita.com
The Church of the Epiphany, Coon Rapids, MN, contact Mary Minor at mminor@epiphanymn.org

Great Lakes Region

The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School, Cincinnati, OH, contact Anne Marie Vega at amvega@gscmontessori.org
Epiphany Catholic School, Normal, IL, Contact Jennifer Havens at jennifer.havens@epiphanyschools.org
St. Gertrude School, Cincinnati, OH, contact Cindy Wurzelbacher at swurzelbacher@stgertrudesch.org
Everest Collegiate High School & Academy, Clarkston, MI, contact Amy Pruchnicki at apruchnicki@everestacademy.org
Lakewood Catholic Academy, Lakewood, OH, contact Katie Brocklehurst at kbrocklehurst@lcasaints.com

Southeastern Region

Northeastern Region

St. Pius X School, Baltimore, MD, contact Jen Ripley at jripley@stpius10school.org
St. John the Baptist Catholic School, New Freedom, PA, contact Sr. Jane Keller SSJ at SrJKeller@sjbnf.org

Becoming an Organization Member of CGSUSA

All Montessori Schools as well as Traditional and Parish Schools are encouraged to become Organization Members of CGSUSA.

Organization Member Benefits Include:

Organization Resources Including: In the Meadow and Parent Resources
Annual Journal
Communication Including: CGSUSA News, Foglietto, Member Memo, Member Directory
Voting Privilege
Mustard Seeds

Ideal for organizations seeking to support children, adults, and families grow closer to God through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. While this is not a group membership for individual catechists, the Organization Resources have proven to be very helpful to catechists, parishes, regional groups, and religious leaders using CGS in their work with children and families.

Become an Organization Member