For preschoolers (3 to 6 year olds)

There comes a moment when children first discover their inner life. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium is a place that prepares for this moment.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children, rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori.

Each week the children gather in a room prepared for them, the atrium. This space contains many materials the children can work with and use, where every object helps them to know God. It is a place of simplicity and order, prayer, work and community.

Everything in this room is appropriate to the ages and sizes of the children. The furniture is child-sized to foster moving about freely, working comfortably, using and moving objects. Their religious needs guide the catechesis. Materials aid the children in their understanding of the liturgy of the church and the tenets of our faith.

The atrium has a certain solemnity. The young child is shown how to walk slowly and speak softly so that, even though everyone in the atrium is busy and active, an atmosphere of silence permeates the atrium. The sessions offer to children the time to listen, work, pray, sing, wonder, rest and discuss important things.

Our catechist is Jennifer Rogers, a Montessori teacher with certifications in primary (3-6 years) and assistants to infancy (0-3 years) from Association Montessori Internationale. She has taught in the Montessori primary classroom for 10 years. Jennifer also has training in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. She has taught at St. Giles since 2005.

The Good Shepherd lesson

Prayer table for children