Parent Orientation In Sum

Greetings Families,


We are well into our 3rd week of Faith Formation, and I finally have a moment to make a summary of our September 8th parent meeting for all who are interested. It actually only took 30 minutes or so, but I bet reading it will take even less time!

How Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is different from traditional textbook methods of religious formation:

We can begin with the obvious: there are no textbooks! But let's first describe a textbook classroom. In a textbook classroom,

• there are tables and chairs where similarly aged children usually sit for the entire class time,
• a catechist leads the class as a whole, usually at the head and leads the lesson and makes assignments. She or he is the director of the classroom activity
• the catechist in these classrooms may be someone with 15+ years of experience as a catechist and a professional teacher on the side, or it may be someone without any formal training doing this for the first time
• the material is covered according to the textbook. The scope and sequence is determined according to the text, as well as the interest of the class as a whole.
• a good catechist is someone who can create exciting ways to impart the material in the text in a way that the children will retain it.

In a CGS atrium:

• there are many different areas where the children may sit and receive lessons or work, as well as 3 different ages of child who are instructed not simply according to age, but also interest and ability.
• the catechist generally does not instruct the class as a whole unit, but gives lessons or "presentations" to small groups of children at a time. The child's activity, beyond the presentation he or she receives, is chosen by the child from a variety of choices that are offered. In this way, the child is generally the director of the class time, choosing work that corresponds to his or her interests and abilities.
• Each trained catechist has an "album" of presentations, 50+ presentations per level, complete with direct and indirect aims laid out--these are the goals of what we want the children to achieve and how we measure our success in the presentation. The material from these presentations is drawn from liturgy (the Mass) and scripture.
• the CGS catechist falls into two categories: lead catechist and assistant. The lead catechist is someone who has undergone a 90-hour formation/training course (over 2 weeks of formation) for the level in which they work. Each level is a pre-requisite for the next, so if someone is a lead catechist in Level III, she or he has completed a 90 hour training course for Level I and a 90 hour formation course for Level I, as well as 90+ hours for Level III. It does not necessarily mean that the catechist is "experienced," yet, and I can tell you that it is definitely a learning process to catechize in this way, but generally catechists will return year after year to serve and often get to serve the same child for multiple years. An assistant is someone who may or may not have been through formation, but "assists" the lead catechist with the work of maintaining the environment and assisting children in their work.
• the material is presented on a 3 year cycle and is presented according to the age and ability and interest of the individual child as much as possible. A material is never "done," and a child who wants to delve more deeply into geography or the parables or the bible work may always choose to do so.
• a good catechist is a "co-listener" with the children to the Word that she or he proclaims. The true catechist in the atrium is the Holy Spirit, and adults come to learn and be led with a listening, rather than instructing, stance before the child.

How it was developed over the course of the last 50+ years

• CGS began simply. The foundress, Sofia Cavalletti, was a well-educated scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures, and was asked to help prepare a friend's child for First Holy Communion. She took this role very seriously, and through collaboration with other women who had great interest and experience with child development research and success of Maria Montessori, this group of women developed what we know today as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It has been over 50 years now of observing what lessons and parables most resonate in the heart of the child, and what work leads them to desire holiness and develop spiritually according to their great potential.

What to expect (and what not to expect) from your child

• Atrium is a bit more like going to church than it is like going to school. The experiences are very personal and sometimes difficult to explain. It is not a matter of: "I drew this today" or "I learned about this today" so much as it is, "I received the Word of God, and it spoke to me in a new way." These sentiments can be difficult for a child to verbalize. However, sometimes it happens! We had a child last Sunday who spent time in the class "prayer chair" writing up her "prares" after working on two materials over the previous weeks:

"Jesus Christ thank you for bringing me into the world. You take away the sins of the world and keep me safe."

"From creation to Redemption to Parousia you have been leading us into your light. You sacrificed your life for us thank you Jesus Christ Amen"

• In the younger ages, the first few weeks are not as obviously fruitful, as the child has quite a bit if "practical" work to do to prepare and enable themselves to hear and absorb the content that will be presented. In some ways, the practical life work in the atrium, such as cutting paper, spooning beans, and pouring water, can appear to be completely unrelated to the goals at hand. However, these activities build the child's capacity for concentration and control of movement: very important skills needed for further exploration of the atrium!

How the three levels of CGS meet the developmental needs of the 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 year old child (Levels I, II, and III respectively)

• It is worth pointing out that CGS begins with the needs of the 3 year old child in mind, but continues to grow and change to meet the needs of children in their own unique developmental stage. The need for repetition in young children is more than met in the Level I atrium by the work presented there, while the need but lack of desire for repetition is met for older children by varied works on the same topic. Many of the materials in a Level III atrium can be as difficult or simple as the child needs them to be, and the extention works (e.g. research that the child may do) are directed exactly where the child is. This is why one never really outgrows the material in Level III (I know I haven't), but the way in which it is used changes. For more information on this, keep reading in the blog for individual work descriptions!

How CGS follows the guidelines of the General Directory for Catechesis

• The GDC and the NDC are both followed very carefully by the content presented in CGS. The difference is merely in the method and approach. We have a catechist in our Level II (1st grade-3rd grade) atrium who had taught 2nd grade faith formation for years and she was impressed at how everything that was covered in the book was woven seamlessly into the CGS approach. I have templates covering exactly how our presentations work to meet these guidelines available for parents who want them.

Why CGS is respected worldwide and used by the Nashville Dominican Sisters and Missionaries of Charity

• When asked why the Missionaries of Charity have gone to using CGS in their schools as well as in the formation of their own sisters, the superior of the order (after Mother Theresa's death) replied, "Contemplation." The Good Shepherd approach, as you could see in the 5th grade girl's prayers above, facilitate contemplation in the child... more than just thinking about God, it is a communication with him, and a driving force behind the desire for holiness.

How to follow your child's work and communicate effectively with his/her catechists

• This BLOG! Read here to learn more about the actual lessons and fruit that is taking place in the different levels of CGS.
• Email Mandie! I can put you in contact with your catechists with one click!
• Observe in your child's atrium! Ask your child's catechist when would be a good time to come and observe. There are some guidelines that we have (trying to be invisible is one of them!) that the catechist will give you to help you see how the class goes even when you aren't there!
• Hang around after class or come early and ask the catechist how your child is doing. Catechists love nothing more than talking about the work of the children in their atrium!

That is about all for this rather lengthy "orientation," but I hope you have a better understanding of the experience your child will be having this year. We look forward to working together with you!

God Bless,

Mandie DeVries, CGS Level III Catechist and Director of Faith Formation

History of the Gifts

Last Saturday, our First Communion team had the awesome priviledge of putting on a day-long retreat for our First Communicants. There were various activities and presentations that the children worked on in the morning, and in the afternoon I was blessed to be able to present my absolute favorite work: a presentation called the "History of the Gifts." This work, and the children's reflections on it, was so powerful that I would like to share with you our experience as relates to the great feast we celebrate this weekend: Pentecost.

The History of the Gifts is contained in a beautiful "treasure chest." The chest, full of gift boxes filled with different pictures and articles from creation, is a step-by-step consideration of God's preparation for US. It is a History of the gifts He created to give US.

We first think about the galaxies and the stars and the planets and the moons. The children were very excited to share all they knew about planets and the sun. We then moved into the mineral world and opened gift boxes one by one that contained different rocks and minerals. We considered coal, for example, and how God's creation of coal made it possible for trains to run, and houses to be warm. We considered gold, and how humans have transformed this precious metal into jewelry and money. We considered pyrite (fool's gold), which so captivated one boy that he held onto it for the rest of the presentation.

Next, we considered ocean life. When I asked the children why they think God made shells, some children began to explain how the shells protect the creatures from predators. I looked at the beautiful collection of shells carefully, and asked again. One child cut to the heart of the matter, "God made shells to fascinate us."

With those simple and powerful words echoing in my mind, I continued our relflection with a new appreciation of creation, knowing more and more that each plant, each animal was not created for its own sake, but for our fascination, as a gift to us. When we reached the moment when God gave us other people it was perhaps the most beautiful moment in the presentation. People are the first created beings that were created for their own sake and not for the use of others. The children reflected on how lonely we would be without other people to love us and take care of us or to play with. We then reflected on how the gifts of creation have been transformed by humans--into buildings, cars, clothing, heat, etc. If there were not other people, then we would be back in raw creation--a creation that had never been transformed by the power and genius of human invention.

The final gift, of course, was the best of all. We reflected on how God sent his Son to us--who gave his life on the Cross and who gives His very Self to us in the Eucharist!

This weekend, I would like to think a little bit further on the gifts that Jesus sent us after his Ascension, at Pentecost. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not like the gifts that came in Creation. The gifts of Creation were given for human beings' fascination, as that little boy reminded me, and they are for us to use and transform to bring out the gifts' potential: transforming raw cotton into thread and fabric and creating a beautiful quilt, for example.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit, however, are given to transform US from our raw potential into that perfect state to which Christ calls us, "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Matt 5:48. As Sofia Cavalletti, the foundress of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, reflects in her book, Living Liturgy: Elementary Reflections,

"Would human beings be restricted to their own level--however high and exalted--and thus be shut off from the possibility of access to a level of greater fulfillment and richer meaning? If so, these creatures that crown creation would be in a position inferior to irrational creatures... Will they not be given wings to fly above their own human world?" (page 9).

God in his great love and mercy, deigns to come among us and remain with us, that through our participation in Mass and our cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we may "fly above" the material world. Through the Holy Spirit's refinining touch and the Potter's gentle hand, we also are transformed into a full revelation of the image and likeness of God that is hidden in each of us. We are being transformed even now! What dignity we have, that God Himself co-operates with us in this great work of perfecting our souls!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created, and Thou shall renew the face of the Earth!

May the Holy Spirit in his sevenfold gifts come mightily upon you and your families and remain with you always!

God Bless,

Mandie DeVries, Director of Faith Formation

Last Class

We can't believe it. Our final class of the year is over and done. The last class of the year will almost always involve the Pentecost presentation. This presentation involves a reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4:

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

This proclamation is followed by the presentation of the 7 gifts of the Spirit. Each gift has a red ("red is for Pentecost!") candle and a red tent card that lists the gift and its explanation. For the first time this year, we also made individual gift cards in the shape of a red flame that had the gift and description on it. As we lit each candle, we explained the gift and what it was:

Wisdom: that we might know in our inner self the greatness of God and be able to share that with another in their time of need.
Understanding: That we might know God more and more
Knowledge: That we might know more
Counsel: That we might know what to do and how to do it
Fortitude: Strength: that our faith in God might be strong
Piety: That we might love God totally
Fear of the Lord: That we might be aware of the greatness of God

One child chose wisdom and said, "I think that my gift is already at work in me, but in a hidden way...kind of like Jesus was hidden in the Good Shepherd...the Holy Spirit is hidden in the flame."

What a way to end the year. Of course we still have First Communion meetings to go, and those are always very wonderful and exciting... Keep us all in your prayers as we prepare the children for this special gift: Jesus himself!

God Bless,

Mandie DeVries, Catechist & Director of Faith Formation

First Communion Pilgrimage

Our trip to the Grotto last Saturday was very awesome. I've attached some pictures for you, though they don't even begin to do the Grotto justice. For more information about this phenomenal "8th Wonder of the World", check out their website: http://www.westbendgrotto.com/.

We arrived around 11:30-about 30 minutes earlier than we intended. Mapquest thought it would take nearly 3 hours, but even driving the speed limit and stopping to grab sunscreen we got there in 2.5!

This was the back of the sign that greeted visitors. We definitely felt the blessings!

This was the first grotto that we entered. There are 9 total.

This grotto glorified the Trinity. Mary is holding baby Jesus out for the world. The symbolism was very deep and meaningful and the children loved finding the hidden words and symbols in the stone.

This is the ceiling of the first grotto. It is meant to represent heaven!

This is the Christmas chapel. The pictures don't even begin to convey the beauty! There are beautiful pearls and precious stones that adorn this grotto that is called "Glorification of the Incarnation." It was quite a stark difference from the other nativity, which emphasized the poverty and humility of the Holy Family and our Lord especially. It is very plain and the whole structure is made with petrified wood.

This is the empty tomb. Visitors purchase roses in honor of loved ones (instead of lighting candles) and place them throughout the grotto. This was a favorite spot! He is Risen! Alleluia!

Check out these ordinary looking rocks.


Just like human beings, the outside doesn't always show the true beauty. We must look at things with the right light! (in this case, blacklights!)

There are many, many more pictures. Those who joined us on the pilgrimage definitely want to go back! This will be a yearly pilgrimage for our first communicants! They have a campground next door for those of you who like the early morning quiet. This is the largest collection of precious stone and rock anywhere in the world, created and maintained for the glory of God!

It was truly a gift for the ages. Thank you, Father Paul!

Liturgy of Light

Have you ever been to a Mass and experienced a holy moment and just wanted to stop and think and rest in the beauty of the experience? The Liturgy of Light is kind of like that. This "paraliturgy" is a borrowing of elements from the most intense and beautiful liturgy of the Church year: the Easter Vigil.

Isolating one aspect of this 2-3 hour liturgy, we focus on the Christ candle--hence the name: Liturgy of Light! We also have a child-friendly Exultet sung, which is one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard intoned! If you'd like to hear it again, check out the video I have attached!

The children's work in the atrium following the paraliturgy was truly a fruit-bearing exercise. Some children got to work making 3D Easter candles, complete with the symbol for the Alpha and Omega and the incense marking the five wounds of Christ. One child made a cross and taped stones on the parts of the cross where the wounds/incense nails would be. Last year, a child drew a beautiful picture of the Easter candle in the darkness with the bright light eminating from it.

This year, a new child who is in 1st grade made a booklet. One the front page she wrote Jesus, God, Love. The second page was black and on it she wrote (in black) "Can you see me, Good Shepherd?" and on the final white page she wrote, "I can see you in the darkness, Love, Jesus."

We also had a child in the older grade (not CGS) who shared with us an intense experience of Jesus during the Liturgy of Light. He said that he sat there and closed his eyes and tried to think about what God might look like (contemplation!), and he said he saw an image of Jesus--but he looked different than the pictures--and his face was in the flame of the big candle.

It is amazing the fruits that come from prayer and giving God the opportunity to work with souls. CGS is about creating an environment where God and the child meet, but it's funny because any catechist will tell you that when you give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to light a flame in a child's heart, you can't help but be set on fire, too. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

Amen.

Mandie DeVries, Catechist & Director of Faith Formation

Here is the video.. The Exultet starts at around 3m30sec. The first part is very like the Liturgy of Light in that there is silence and the spread of light! Divided but undimmed!

How the Mass Began

The last class before Holy Thursday, we always have a special presentation for the children in both Level I and Level II. This presentation is called the Cenacle and is named for the upper room where the apostles and Jesus celebrated the Passover meal that was the setting for the institution of the Holy Eucharist!

The material is nearly the same for both atria, and we use 12 little 3D apostles and 1 3D Jesus to represent the real apostles and Jesus on that night. There are also little candlesticks and candles, and a plate with bread (paten) and a cup with wine (chalice).

We prepare the children by saying that during this meal, Jesus spoke words that had never been spoken before: "This is my body," and "This is my blood." As we read the red "Last Supper" booklet containing the pertinent scriptures, the catechist moves the figures to retell the story. We finish the Level I presentation by recalling what happened in the Garden of Gethsemene after this meal.

"We know that something very sad happened. The soldiers came and arrested Jesus, and the next day... he died." (At this, the catechist extinguishes the candles). Many of the smallest children and some older ones audibly gasp upon hearing this... not because they may not have known it already, but because it really is an amazing thing that Jesus truly died for us! The catechist continues, "But we know that Jesus did not remain in the darkness of death! (relights candles) On Easter morning, he rose again!"

The Level II presentation continues after this point into a presentation called "The Origin of the Eucharist." The catechists remembers with the children how Jesus rose and appeared to the apostles over the course of the next 40 days until his Ascension into heaven. Then the apostles return (and the catechists replaces the apostles around the table in the upper room), and celebrate the Eucharist (probably Peter said the words of Jesus: "This is my body" and "This is my blood"), and Jesus became present to them in the bread and wine. But the apostles grew old, and other faithful men were appointed bishops to succeed them. (At this point we bring in a 2D bishop to represent many bishops that were appointed), and as the Church grew, these bishops appointed other men, called priests, to assist them (now we replace the bishop with a 2d priest).

Now this is the best part: "Over the centuries, bishops and priests have continued to repeat the words of Jesus--bringing the gift Jesus wished to give to all people of all times, his presence in the bread and wine. Even to this present day, priests and bishops continue this apostolic ministry. (Now the backdrop is turned around to reveal the picture of our own parish church!) So that we all can receive the gift of Jesus, even here at All Saints!"

The children's "oohs" and "aahs" were very sweet, especially the children who have seen this presentation for the past 3 or 4 years and never knew what was on the other side of the backdrop! This is a concrete presentation to help us all understand how we are a part of what happened in that room 2000 years ago on Holy Thursday, and it helps us to have a great respect for our priests and bishops who bring us this gift that Jesus wished to share with all people of all times: His very Self!!!

God be with you all this Holy Week!

Mandie DeVries,
Catechist and Director of Faith Formation



Children

Mystery of Life and Death

The catechists are very happy this week that we have finally found someone to help us prepare the work called "The Mystery of Life and Death." It requires planting wheat seeds at 1 week intervals and showing the progression of the life/death of a seed and the new life that comes from it. Unfortunately, many of your CGS catechists are not blessed with green thumbs, but Ms. Lynn happened to major in horticulture and apparently that is what we needed!

The meditation began with this reading from the Gospel of John:

"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." John 12:24

We then explored with the children what happened to the grain of wheat when it fell to the ground: it changed! Life came out of it! It was fun digging up a plant to see what has happened to the seed. Looking at the sheath of wheat, we see what has become of this grain falling to the ground--although some of them thought it was a bit of a stretch to call the full sheath of grain "fruit"!

We did this work in both levels this week (since it's the first time any of the children ever saw it!) and some children were absolutely rapt with attention. One child wrote a prayer, "O dear Jesus, help me not to stay small like the grain, but to grow and grow and grow!" Another child synthesized our "Blue Strip" work that details the History of the Kingdom of God and drew a picture with concentric circles, starting very small and growing larger and larger. He said that the center circle was the Resurrection of Christ, and that it keeps radiating out--growing and growing throughout history. When he showed this to his classmates at prayer that evening, one child raised her hand and said, "That is the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

Speaking of amazing, there was one other Level II work that two children did that I want to share with you this week. Two boys, a 3rd grader and a 1st grader, who do not usually work together, took on the HUGE project of copying the entire Blue Strip. This is a meditation on the creation of the world, with scientific explanations paired with scriptural verses. One child took it upon himself to start drawing the strip on a 10-15 foot strip of adding paper, supplementing it with verses, and the other began to write the bottom explanations on white paper, stapling them in their appropriate place on the adding paper. It is by far the BIGGEST work any children have done so far, and it was entirely on their own initiative.

As one of our catechists said, the prepared environment of the atrium is a place where work is prepared and the child may use it to the glory of God. This catechist said that CGS has helped her to appreciate how God made a prepared environment for us: the world! There is work for us to do, and it will (hopefully!) lead us to Him.

May God bless you and your families! Have a happy Spring Break!!!

Mandie DeVries
CGS Catechist & Director of Faith Formation