Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd


Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a distinct approach to the religious formation of the child. It takes place in the Atrium — where a child can fall in love with God.

Founded in Rome in 1954, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is centered on Jesus Christ and rooted in Scripture and the liturgy of the Catholic Church. The Atrium is sacred space that has been lovingly prepared for the children with beautiful, handmade materials in the Montessori tradition. Through these materials, the children have hands-on experiences with the essential proclamations of the Christian faith and with God Himself, leading to contemplative prayer and a deep relationship with God in children as young as 2- 1/2. In the atrium the child is called into a covenant relationship with Jesus the Good Shepherd. The child hears His call, a call that is by name, and she responds with deep, abiding love: the mystery of God meets the mystery of the child (Sofia Cavalletti). The divine covenant is entered in a personal way by the child: she falls in love with God. In later years, if she is ever tempted to stray from her faith, it will be much more difficult to walk away from a Person with whom she is in relationship than from an institution.

To learn more about CGS at St. John Paul II Classical School, click here.