Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Christian formation process for children aged 3-12 years. The central aim of this faith formation process is to enable the child to experience and form an authentic relationship with God.

The Catechesis is grounded in Scripture and the liturgy of the Church, then framed by Maria Montessori’s principles of education. This allows children to hear the Gospels using sensorially rich materials. The children are free to work with these materials that represent essential proclamations of the Christian message.

The vision for this faith formation began in 1954 with Dr Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew and Scripture scholar, and her colleague, Professor Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator.

Beginning her work with young children in Rome, Cavalletti found that, whatever their culture, children have vital religious needs, and they respond in similar ways to the most essential elements of the Christian message.

Montessori, Cavalletti and Gobbi discovered that the young child has a religious potential, which when actualised through a genuine religious experience of God, is integral to the construction of his personality. The young child silently requests of the adult: “Help me to come closer to God by myself.”

Cavalletti says, “Children have an extraordinary capacity for prayer, as regards duration as well as spontaneity and dignity of expression. Theirs is a prayer of praise and thanksgiving, which expresses the nearness and transcendence of God at the same time.”

The parable of Christ, the Good Shepherd, is central to the development of the youngest child’s religious life, while the parable of the true Vine addresses the needs of the older child. Christ’s parables, as well as the central mysteries of his life and the liturgical year, are the focus of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Gobbi writes, “The Good Shepherd ‘calls his own sheep by name.’ This means that, as catechists, we cannot presume to teach prayer. Rather, our task is that of creating the conditions for silence and reverence which will help the child to focus on and listen to God.”

The Archdiocese of Hobart operates CGS at Lindisfarne for 3-6-year-old children on Wednesday mornings. Contact Christine Wood on 6208-6236 or email christine.wood@aohtas.org.au for registrations.

Kingston-Channel Parish runs CGS on Thursdays at 4-6pm for 6–7-year-olds, and Saturday mornings for 3-6-year-olds. Contact Catherine Sandric on 0407 552 239 to register. Both sites also need adult volunteers to support the ministry. Please call if you are interested. Training is provided.