The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, for children from three to twelve years of age, began in Rome in 1954. It is inspired by the Montessori principles of education.
This approach is the result of a long period of careful observation of children by Sofia Cavalletti and her Montessori collaborator, Gianna Gobbi
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was born from discovering the joy of the children in their encounter with God; it always and everywhere being nourished by this joy.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd divest itself of any strictly scholastic character, so as to become an experience of life, an education in faith, and a celebration of the encounter with the Father, in listening to Jesus, the one Teacher and in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
It is a place of meaningful work through which the child can have a conversation with God (work becomes a prayer)
The Atrium is a place for religious life, for community and worship – not a classroom for instruction. The catechist renounces every form of control (such as quizzes, tests, exams etc…)
The catechist observes and studies the vital needs of the children and the manifestations of these vital needs according to the developmental stage of the child.
The Bible and the Liturgytwo main pillars for presentations and children’s work
