7 QT: Bringing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd into the home

7 Quick Takes: 

Bringing 

the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 

into the home

At the end of November, a friend of mine and I launched the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program in our parish.

For those unfamiliar with the program, I believe this brief video captures it beautifully.



We've had several sessions now, learning about the liturgical year and its colours, modelling how to slowly and reverently make the sign of the Cross, how to walk purposefully and quietly in the atrium -- in general, how to comport ourselves to be better equipped to participate in the Mass. We've also directed them with Montessori 'practical life' activities, such as pouring, scooping, threading beads, using tongs to pick things up to sort, and so on. They have eagerly learned about the globe and the land of Israel and have enjoyed being able to identify where Christ was born, lived and died and rose again.

The delight with which these children receive these lessons is so gratifying to me. I can hardly wait to teach each weekend.

It has been a dream of mine to have my children attend a program such as this for many years -- really, as soon as I first became acquainted with what it was. But in Canada, and in particular in the rural setting where we live, atriums (atria?) are few and far between. In fact, the closest one to us, prior to our own parish having one, was a two-hour drive one way.

So for several years I looked into the program, pouted that it wasn't available to me, and wrung my hands. I only wish someone had guided me in how to implement some of the aspects of it into my own home. Then my oldest two children, who have since aged out of the Level 1 catechesis for which I am trained, could have been exposed to its beauty, simplicity and richness.

I imagine there are other parents who feel as I did; if only I could sign up my own children for this! If only I could manage the training so to offer it for my own family! (Admittedly, the training is time-consuming and expensive, a dream not realistic for many families with young children, who are precisely the target age-group for this program.)

So today I offer you seven quick takes that I wish someone had compiled for me several years ago to make the program accessible in a simplified way for the home. I hope they offer some hope and reassurance for parents who want to give their children the rich, satiating food of our faith.

1.

Let them engage in the true Word

First, off, some background food-for-thought -- one of the premises this program rests on, and one that makes it truly unique, is that children have a deep capacity to relate to God. They needn't be "taught" so much as guided, because by virtue of their baptism, nay, by virtue of their very existence, they are loved by God and are capable and indeed long to love Him in response.

This may or may not be obvious to my fellow parents, but even for those who already accept these beliefs as true, we can't deny how they affect so much in how we relate to our children when it comes to handing on the faith.

One way in which we are challenged by the Catechesis program is to allow our children to engage in the actual Word of God.

While I see the place for children's Bibles to expose them to the great stories of our faith, they are not a substitute for the prayerful reading of the actual Word. Given that within the Mass, they will hear Scripture -- not babyish children's Bibles -- proclaimed, as a part of family prayer, incorporate Scripture. In the Catechesis, the Bible is placed on the prayer table with some pomp -- either on a beautiful pillow or stand, and perhaps with a sacred image, or flowers nearby to show its significance. Who says we can't do this at home?

Likewise, when we read Scripture in the atrium, we light a candle. This simple gesture always seems to delight children, and adults alike, as candlelight truly is so peaceful and mesmerizing.

Believe they are capable of listening to God's Word, in short chunks of course, but don't diminish them simply because of their age (1 Timothy 4:12). The Word ministers to our own hearts, why not to theirs?

2.

Put it on a tray

About as practical as can be.

If a Thing is Worth Doing with a child it is Worth Putting on a Tray (to paraphrase Mr. Chesterton).

I don't exactly understand why, but the mere placing of everyday items on a tray for a child to engage with makes it so much more appealing to them. Likewise, it's so much more manageable for their hands to grasp. They see the "work" (to use the Montessori phrase) in its purposefulness.

Don't be afraid by something that sounds so lofty.

See these images from Trillium Montessori? They are pretty attainable.

I'm pretty certain you already have a bowl, paper and scissors in your home. Perhaps you need a small tray to complete the set-up but I assure you they can be easily found at a thrift store for a reasonable price. I found one that had cheesy-looking snowmen on it; I just painted over it and voila, I'm like a REAL Montessorian!


(If you're hoping to streamline the shopping process, because, say, going to a thrift store usually means dragging a baby and a handful of under-napped toddlers around, Amazon has a decent selection of these very things. We bought this set for our own atrium.)



Also, look how simple this playdoh set-up is. Just a few basic materials grouped together but doesn't it catch your eye with its orderliness and purposefulness? How much more this appeals to a child, who's world is so often over-stimulating. Slowing things down, simplifying them to what's essential: it's a key principle in the atrium and I believe adds such peace to a home environment, too.

So, I'll go ahead and confess: in our home, we have a HUGE tupperware container with about 25 playdoh cutting and rolling implements.... after seeing this, I recall what I should have already known: less is more, especially with small children.

3.

Focus on joy

At first I was a little taken aback when doing my CGS training because it seemed that the program didn't emphasize the suffering and death of Christ. It's so vital, I argued silently in my mind! As I learned more, I grasped that the program doesn't downplay this important piece of the life of Christ, but rather ties it constantly with His life and His love. That is why when we teach the children about the land of Israel (the globe and map are important works that help them to see Jesus Christ was a real person in a real time and space), we show them the city of Jerusalem and say "where He died on the Cross and rose again." His Death and Resurrection are always tied in our language.

Why is this?

Well, when dealing with very young children (a level 1 atrium works with children 3-6), their souls are so in tune with JOY. They live very much in the moment, with their whole beings, so the notion of suffering is not something they necessarily grasp. As they grow older in the atrium, and are on a less sensory-emotional plane and more rational-moral plane, the Crucifixion is explained in more detail. By that age, they have a deeper concept of sin and therefore can grasp why this happened as it did.

So, in our own homes, when we wish to point out Jesus on the Cross, we can tell them with gladness, "look how much Jesus LOVES us!" Tying this act into His love speaks to what their minds are capable of grasping at this age. And really, it's a lesson worth contemplating for all of us.

4.

Cultivate stillness

Oh, I'm sure you're scratching your head as to how to just get your children to stop swinging from the chandeliers... and now you want them to be still.

But hear me out.

When we gather at the prayer corner, we invite the children to enjoy a moment (like, a few seconds) of silence and remind them that we can pray by being still in our bodies. I have heard from other catechists, and seen with my own eyes, how refreshed they are to be invited to be still and silent. I read in the Journal published by the American Association a quote from a six year old boy who said, "I love my atrium, because where else could I go to experience silence?"

Such rich thoughts from such a young child!

Now, how does one cultivate stillness in the home? It's not easy, believe me (cackle, have you MET my kids?). But even in my meagre attempts, I see an improvement in the children's demeanour when we pray. If I invite them to silence, rather than bark at them to 'just be quiet, for heaven's sake!' they are unsurprisingly more receptive by kindness that crossness.

When we gather the children in the atrium at the prayer corner, we ask them to "practice stillness in their bodies" and then light a candle. Taking a moment to gently collect oneself helps tremendously! It certainly helps the children in the atrium, as well as my children at home.

Stillness should be presented as an opportunity for rest and renewal, not because their noise is irritating... ;)

5.

Think beyond Nativity sets

Many families have a child-safe (not breakable) nativity set in their homes, and hopefully allow and even encourage their children to touch and move the figurines around. I can't recommend this enough; it's a pivotal work in the atrium.

In the Catechesis program, we do so many more stories than just the birth of Christ.

Consider making, or buying (or asking a crafty friend or relative to make for you) a set of any number of Bible stories. I did an Easter set a long time ago, before I even knew about CGS, and found it was a wonderful teaching tool for my then-preschool-aged Noah.

In the Catechesis program, we tell the parable of the Good Shepherd, the Pearl of Great Price, the Last Supper, the Annunciation, and many others, to the children through figurines they can work with individually.

Actually, if you wanted to create this at home, the Annunciation might be the easiest to do. Assuming you already have a Nativity set that is safe for the children to touch and work with (again, I think it's so important, as I still remember so fondly doing this when I was four or five in my parents' home), you can take the Mary figurine and the Angel and use this for an Annunciation presentation.

See this diorama made by CGS Create? It looks like the figurines are from a regular nativity, and the house for Our Lady could made from a cardboard shoebox or a thrifted bread box... or you could skip the house, if you wish.

(Also, from my limited perspective as a new catechist, I think this material has TOO much going on. The figurines, and maybe one or two items to help establish it's a house, are all that's needed; any more than that is just distracting to the children. So don't be overwhelmed trying to recreate this.)

To present it to your family, light the candle. Read the Scripture verse slowly, move the figures slowly (never while speaking, so they can focus on just one action at a time) and then invite your child to use this themselves if they'd like.

And voila, you're doing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the home!

6.

Get them tracing!

For the slightly older children (4 1/2 or 5 and up), they absolutely love to trace beautiful words or images. We have clipboards and tracing paper at the ready, as well as words of Scripture written out in lovely handwriting (calligraphy would be perfect, but not necessary) as well as pretty silhouettes they can trace with images from the Bible. They simply love doing this, and it is touching to watch them work so diligently and attentively at this task.

Some of the activities we do in the atrium, I freely admit I don't feel comfortable doing at home unless I have cleared my schedule for the moment to attentively observe my children doing it properly (that is, not making a mess).

Tracing, however, is a simple (mess-free!) task that gives the child such a sense of accomplishment and joy.

7.

Follow the child

I used to take this dictum from Maria Montessori almost literally, but without the framework of how an atrium (or a Montessori classroom) works, this led to a disastrously messy home and a burned out-mother. We do follow the child in the atrium, but with proper boundaries around what they can choose to do. (A child may only use a material once it's been shown to them how to use it properly).

So how this may change what we do at home is when giving them simple materials to work with (like, a pouring activity on a tray), we don't restrict how long they do it. It may seem repetitive for them to do the same thing over and over, but we respect the fact that children need and want to enjoy the satisfaction of doing the same motion again and again. Who knows what kind of quiet reflection their minds are engaging in while doing so?

I can't recommend doing these simple activities with our child at home. It may make otherwise busy moms feel flustered, having one more thing to do, but in the Montessori method, after showing them how to correctly use a material and observing them do it to ensure they are managing it correctly, they can be left to enjoy it by themselves. In fact, they should be given the space and respect to do so. So give them some small pitchers and cups to pour with at the table, and feel free to get back to prepping supper or whatever other work you need to do.

It's a powerful concept to bring into the home - great freedom but within specific and intentional boundaries.