Course Description:  The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori based religious formation for children, beginning at the age of three.  It seeks to create and facilitate a sacred, “hands-on” space for children called an atrium.  The atrium is a space in which both child and catechist can hear, ponder, and celebrate the most essential mysteries of the Christian faith as revealed in Scriptures and the Liturgy.  Originally developed sixty years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi, the Catechesis continues to spread worldwide and is used with adaptations in various Christian traditions.  This course will ground the participants in the theory and praxis of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd while also concretely preparing them to develop and facilitate an atrium for 3-6 year old children. 

Syllabus

• Sign up for training!
• Financial donations, volunteer time and prayer
• Woodworking
• Silver, bronze items to polish & Wood objects to polish: small statue, small box, other objects
• Seemstress: Tablecloths for prayer table in liturgical colors: red, deep green, purple, white (table is about 24 x 40), Aprons for children, White linen fabric to make altar cloths for model altar- 4 yards
• 4-5 Bed trays available on Amazon: “Winsome Wood Stockton Bed Tray”, natural/white, foldable legs
• Plants- large and small
• Holy pictures to hang on wall
• Low round table (as a round end table or coffee table), Low tables- old coffee tables Small bookcases
• Beautiful, small pillows for children to kneel on, sit on, or to place the Holy Bible on
• Small area rugs- could be runners, 5 x 7, etc
• Statues of the pregnant Madonna, the Holy Family, Saints, Crucifix of Risen Jesus (6" tall)