Director of Faith Formation - Teresa Hoffelmeyer

Youth Ministry - Gerene Farrell

Adult Faith Formation Coordinator - Danette Jackson

Click here for more information about Registration for Catechesis 2008 -2009

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd began very small much like a mustard seed, in Rome, Italy.  The year was 1954.  Sofia Cavalletti, a scripture scholar and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator opened their first atrium.  Building upon the work and methodology of Maria Montessori, they began to develop an approach to faith formation that not only appealed to the profound religious intuition of children, but which evolved from the children themselves and which continues to evolve even today.

This form of catechesis has now spread throughout the world and, like a mustard seed, has grown into something much larger than could ever have been imagined from such small beginnings.  Perhaps no one has been more amazed at the growth of the catechesis than Sofia herself who continues to develop materials and work with children in her atria in Rome.  In her humility, she again and again attributes the success of the catechesis to children and listening to God with children.

Beliefs

We believe that:

• God and the child have a unique relationship with one another, particularly before the age of six.

• The growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child.

• Children need sacred space to foster the growth of that relationship.

• The child's spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means.

The Atrium

In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we meet in a prepared environment called an atrium:

• The atrium can be compared to a retreat house facilitating recollection and silence.

• The atrium is a place for religious life, for community and for worship.  It is not a classroom for instruction.

• The atrium is a place of work.  The child's work becomes a conversation with God.

• In the early church, the atrium was where the catechumens were prepared.  For the child too, the atrium is a place of preparation for involvement in the larger church community.

• In each atrium, there are special materials that help children explore and deepen their understanding of biblical and liturgical presentations.

Characteristics

From an article written by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti, the characteristics of this method of catechesis: 

• It is experimental in nature, always listening for the most essential needs of the child at every stage of development.

• It is not scholastic in nature.  Instead, catechists and children listen together to the Word and celebrate that Word communally.  The only teacher is God.

• It is faithful to Catholic Tradition.

• Children are viewed as having their own special religious richness.  The catechists' role is to care for and nurture this inner wealth.

• The parable method of teaching is used, following Jesus' example.  This is a spiral method that evolves from a central nucleus and opens to vast horizons.

Good Shepherd Atrium

The Level I atrium for children 3 years through Kindergarten, is called the Good Shepherd Atrium because of the focus on the joy of being loved by the Good Shepherd who calls each of us by name.  Christ as the Good Shepherd and Christ as light are two themes to which all children seem especially drawn.

Presentations at the level include:

• Maps of Israel and Jerusalem

• The Infancy narratives with miniature environments

• Gestures of the mass including preparation of the chalice

• Articles of the mass and setting the altar

• Liturgical colors and calendar

• The Kingdom parables

• Baptism

• Prayer in the prayer corner

• The Good Shepherd and Found Sheep

• The Last Supper and Empty Tomb

• Seasonal Celebrations such as the Liturgy of Light

True Vine Atrium

The level II atrium, for children in 1st through 3rd grades, is called the True Vine Atrium because of our focus on the parable of the True Vine and Jesus' words that we are to "abide" in him.  At this level, each child receives their own Catholic Youth Bible.

Children preparing to celebrate the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist participate in a series of five meditations and a retreat.

Presentations at this level include:

• Bible Meditation and Wooden Bible

• The History of Salvation and the key moments:  Creation, Redemption, Parousia

• The Gifts Strip

• Pin maps

• The Holy Mass Chart

• Kingdom Parables, moral parables, and parables of mercy

• Maxims (short sayings of Jesus)

• The Origin of the Eucharist

• Beginning missal making
  

Covenant Atrium

The Level III atrium, for children in 4th through 6th grades, is called the Covenant Atrium because of the focus on the Old Testament and God's covenant relationship with us.

Presentations at this level include:

• The Plan of God time line

• The Origin of the Liturgy of the Word

• The Structure and Complete Rite of the Mass

• The Sacraments

• The Prophets and the Old Testaments studies

• The History of the Jews

• The Miracles of Jesus

• The Cardinal Virtues

The theme of covenant is present throughout all the years of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and is fundamental to the moral formation of children.  A covenant relationship involves gift and response.  Young children may simply respond to God's gifts with deep joy and inner quiet.  Older children may respond with some type of action because they understand that they are instrumental to the history of the Kingdom of God.  They know that how they live their lives has impact on this history.

Holy Spirit Atrium

The Level IV atrium, which is still evolving in our parish and is technically not an atrium, is for 7th and 8th graders.  We call this the Holy Spirit Atrium because of our focus on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the children in the sacrament of Confirmation.

Presentations at this level include:

• The Social Justice teachings of the Church

• The early church in the New Testament

• Jesus' teachings through the parables, I Am statements, maxims, miracles and the Beatitudes.

• The prophets are revisited followed by discussion of the prophets of today

• Church history time line

• Christian art and architecture

• Prayer Forms from our Faith Tradition

• Lives of the Saints

• Old Testament Bible study of David

• Apologetics

• Sacraments

Children may celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation at the end of 8th grade following a retreat at Conception Abbey.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to...

• Involve adults and children in a common religious experience in which the religious values of childhood are predominate.

• Form disciples, prophets, and kingdom makers for our time, who will collaborate with God and one another to nurture the growth of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Therefore we will...

• Provide an environment where the child's natural love of God can be nurtured and celebrated.

• Use the methodology set forth by Sofia Cavalletti in the Religious Potential of the Child, books I and II.

• Draw special attention to the core concepts of Catholic Social teaching.

 

 

LIGHT Youth Group

Living In God's Harmony Together is our catechesis program for high school students.  They meet on Wednesday nights from 7:00 until 8:15.

The goal of catechesis at the high school level is to draw the parish youth into a role of responsibility in the Catholic Church's life and mission.

LIGHT provides many opportunities for the youth to explore their faith.  The group volunteers and allows the teens to become a part of the community.  The group also allows the youth to build a lasting faith through prayer, retreats, worship, and faith sharing.

The high school students have the opportunity to participate through:

Volunteer

Yard clean up for the elderly.

Canned food drives for local food pantry.

Feeding the homeless in Des Moines.

Crop Walk which raises money for the hungry.

Roadside clean up for the Knights of Columbus.

Church breakfasts.

Helping with younger children in the parish.

Retreats

Food fasts

Quest - a retreat for freshmen and sophomores

TEC - Teens Encounter Christ is for juniors and seniors

NCYC - National Catholic Youth Conference is held every other year

Youth rallies

 

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St. Joseph Catholic Church, May 2008
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