For more information on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
or
on the Early Childhood Development Center, 

please contact Celine at cgs@saintjudepgh.org

Click on the picture below to open a pdf of an article sharing the beautiful experience taken from the magazine the Bishops' Bulletin of January 2022. The article is written by Pauline Lev and is from CGS atrium at St. Lambert Parish, Sioux Falls.

The Early Childhood Development Center is a proposed new parish ministry focusing on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Montessori Method. It will mainly focus on children (Montessori preschool with CGS) but also with formation opportunities for adults. Below is the proposed plan for the Center for the next two years. We have been blessed to have Celine Mitchell join us at the helm of this project.
You will meet Celine in the weeks ahead. 

•  Invitation/discernment to be on planning team with 1^st meeting on Zoom by Nov. 3 or on site

•  Invitation/discernment to be on working team – many hands needed to clean and prepare 2 rooms – toddler atrium/Montessori room and atrium for Level I CGS – on site meeting Nov.3

•  Celine meets with Faith Formation/catechetical team to share CGS philosophy

•  Celine meets weekly with planning team – intro to CGS and developmental needs/characteristics of children 0-6  (on zoom or in person)

•  Conversation with Carlow regarding involvement in Center

•  Celine meets with working team weekly to clean and prepare atria

•  Bulletin announcements with needs of supplies, materials for rooms; woodworker, seamstress, artists, crafts

•  Goal is for rooms to be prepared with basic materials by end of December

•  Weekly materials making sessions on site

•  Book study on RPCI or Joyful Journey with planning team and interested parishioners

•  Promote “Lent for Little Ones” – a 4 week pilot for children ages 2-4 (with caregiver) and another group ages 4-6.  Celine will lead with one assistant

•  Schedule/Promote/advertise CGS Level I Formation Course to begin in April – parish, diocese and CGS website

•  Promote Montessori search for trained Montessori Guide or someone willing to take training - some training online and some on site (Florida, Ohio, other states)

•  If large amount of interest, can have 2 sessions for each age group to offer day/time options

•  Ongoing book study, planning group, materials making)

•  Up to 10 participants from diocese (parishioners get 1^st preference) can receive diocesan scholarships

•  Course options: weekly on Tuesdays or Thursdays; weekend; 4  four-day clusters)

•  Continue Level I CGS course and making CGS materials

•  Advertise/promote fall CGS sessions for children; schedule catechists & aides

•  Continue to prepare Montessori rooms

•  Search for Montessori teachers or those willing to take courses

•  Schedule another CGS Level I Formation Course to run weekly or monthly

•  Begin working on a room for Level II CGS, materials making held weekly for Level II

•  Schedule and promote a Level II CGS Formation Course for catechists

•  Ongoing CGS book study; materials making

•  Promote “Lent for Little Ones” during 4 weeks of Lent, 2 age groups; 2-3 with caregiver and 4-6. (this is seeder for future Montessori and CGS)

•  Purchase rest of Montessori toddler and primary materials by July

•  Hire Montessori trained teacher for primary 3-6 to start by July 1, 2022

•  For Montessori primary 3-6 starting Sept. 2022

•  For Montessori toddler (18 months – age 2.5)

•  For CGS toddler and Level I

•  For CGS Level II (just grade 1 and perhaps gr. 2), grade 3 will be included in 2023

Beginning this Lent - Toddler Atrium sessions designed for 2 thru 3 year old children where freedom of movement can lead to focused meditation while working with particular materials in a religious environment.
Specially prepared environment suitable to very young children
Simply organized space where young child has freedom of movement
Low shelving where a child can reach materials to “do it myself”
Simple yet beautiful materials that help connect to the liturgical life of the church where church seasons and celebrations can be recognized with particular colors
ABC’s of Christianity are presented through the senses so that the hand becomes the tool of loving and learning (through the hand, God’s Word enters the heart and mind)
A young child’s natural learning occurs best thru rhythmic language – the songs of our Mass and Psalms from the Bible offer opportunity to learn prayers and liturgical movements in a joyful atmosphere
St. Jude Parish - Atrium at St. Raphael site
Contact Celine Mitchell   babciasews@gmail.com

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd  (CGS) planning team has been meeting weekly on Zoom for a book study of The Religious Potential of the Child reflecting on the work of Sofia Cavalletti and religious formation of young children in preparation for starting our atrium.  The atrium is a specially prepared environment where young children and adults listen together to God and grow in the love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Like a garden that is first prepared before the seeds are planted, our rooms and materials for little ones are being prepared with loving hands by the planning.  A CGS Level I Formation Course (training for catechists) will be starting in the spring.  Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to this special ministry.  Children are not only the future of the church, they are also the present – the gift from God for all of us today.  Look for more details and information in upcoming bulletins and on the parish website.  If you would like to join in the preparation of CGS in our parish, please contact Nino or Celine (cgs@saintjudepgh.org).