TACOMA – At St. Patrick Parish in Tacoma, 7-year-old John Paul Lund leads other children in prayer as they sit in the atrium, a sacred gathering space where “the mystery of God meets the mystery of the child.”
That is the philosophy of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which integrates a Montessori approach in faith formation of children ages 3-12. The goal is to help each child fall in love with and be drawn into a deeper relationship with God, explained Kim Ward, pastoral assistant for faith formation at St. Patrick’s.
“Most importantly, catechists must prepare their hearts to be ready and willing to act as pencils in God’s hand,” Ward said. “The only teacher is Christ.”
Ward was among 13 catechists from the Archdiocese of Seattle who recently joined 600 others in Phoenix to celebrate the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd’s 60th anniversary.
The seed of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was planted in 1954 Italy, when Scripture scholar Sofia Cavalletti agreed to give religious instruction to a 7-year-old boy. Without any curriculum or plan, Cavalletti allowed the boy to lead their conversation, in turn learning how children encounter and experience God. Cavalletti soon collaborated with Giana Gobbi, a guide trained by Maria Montessori in Rome, and their faith formation process evolved.
Today, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is used in 37 countries; in the Seattle Archdiocese, 10 parishes offer the experience. Instead of using a published curriculum, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd relies on extensive training of catechists, who introduce faith themes emerging from the children’s needs.
Children at each atrium are grouped into levels by age. Children in Level I (ages 3-6) are often called “miniature monastics” since they can lack interest in socializing, they hear about rejoicing in God’s love for them. Level II children (ages 6-9) like to work with others and hear about remaining in a relationship with God. In Level III (ages 9-12), children learn of God’s plan through a 32-foot banner showing salvation history, and are encouraged to reflect on their response to it.
For catechists from the archdiocese who teach these children, the gathering in Phoenix was a time to celebrate and share their Good Shepherd journeys.
“We learned that, for seminarians in Colombia, the [Catechesis of the Good Shepherd] training is incorporated into their studies. And for priests in China, it is almost underground work,” said Joann Terranova, volunteer catechist and faith formation leader at St. Michael Parish in Olympia.
“The story is different, but the same in every place,” Ward said. “Children are loved. God wants them to live a full and happy life.”