What does “catechesis” mean?

The word catechesis comes from the Greek meaning "to echo the teaching”.  "Catechesis is nothing other than the process of transmitting the Gospel, as the Christian community has received it, understands it, celebrates it, lives it and communicates it in many ways."  (General Directory for Catechesis #105)

How was the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd developed?
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​Founders Sofia Cavalletti & Gianna Gobbi understood that the child, already in relationship with God, needs language and space to help this relationship grow.  They believed that the Holy Spirit is the primary teacher of the child and will move the child to what he or she needs most.  As they listened to the children’s questions and interests, they made materials and observed the children working with them.  When the materials met the child’s inner need to know and love God, the child responded with deep interest, concentration and joy. When a material was not satisfying the child in this way, it was removed from the catechesis.  Through this method of trial and error, they honed in on what was essential to the child’s spiritual development.
What is the adult's role in CGS:
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In CGS, the adult is not in the role of a teacher.  Instead, the adult is a co-wonderer with the child, listening and loving God with great joy.  The adult’s job is to listen carefully to each child’s needs and questions and provide resources to help their relationship with God grow.

Level 1 (age 3-6)

Young children have 2 essential spiritual needs: 
      *To know that God loves them
      *To know that God protects them
Through the Parable of the Good Shepherd, these needs are met and they enter into a joyful, loving relationship with God.

To help the child learn more about the life of Christ, selected bible stories are presented using scripture and child-sized figures and dioramas. 

Miniature church materials (i.e. small altar, chalice, paten, baptismal font, etc) help children become part of the worship community as they celebrate the seasons of the Church;  Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

Level 2 (age 6-9)

As the children mature, they begin to ask: 
        *What is God’s plan?
        *Where do I fit in God’s plan?
To answer these questions, we study the History of the Kingdom of God from Creation, through Salvation and on to Parousea.  They learn where their place is in God's plan and that they have their own "blank page" to write on, with God's help.

The child has learned that God loves them and now begins to learn how to love their neighbor through the stories Jesus told of mercy and justice.   

The parable that reaches the heart of the child at this age is the parable of the True Vine where Christ is the vine and we are the branches.  The child reflects that we are to remain on the vine and that we are all united through the Holy Spirit, who is the "sap" in the vine.

Level 3 (age 9-12)

​The older child reflects on the teachings of Jesus to help understand the meaning of life and to discern:
     *What is God calling me to do? 
     *What gifts have I been given by            God to help me?
To find answers to these questions, timelines of God’s Plan of Salvation are studied, along with the great figures and events in the Bible scriptures: Creation, The Flood, Abraham, Moses, the prophets; as well as the miracles in the New Testament.

​To explore the gifts that we are given to help us on our spiritual journey, we study the rites of Eucharist, Baptism, Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.