Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

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Does anyone have this in their church?

cgsusa.org/

My church is starting this new program and I’m just curious to know how well it does in other churches. Thanks!
 
It does pretty well in my neck of the woods. It’s basically the Montessori approach to catechesis. My DD enjoys it a lot. I like that kids as young as 3 can participate. Most traditional catechesis programs don’t start that early.

Generally speaking, it seems to me that the places that start up CGS take the Catholic faith pretty seriously. So it generally fares pretty well in those environments. The training the facilitators have to go through is more intensive than most traditional catechists have to go through.
 
Cardinal O Connor as bishop had the Good Shepherd Catechesis in his diocese for pre school. I introduced it to a parish and we implemented it with ‘I Am Special’…to bring the mystery of faith into every day life.

My current parish is hoping to implement it when we get the space. I added it to the Sacramental Prep for First Penance and First Eucharist.

There is an approach to the Good Shepherd Catechesis found in the Montessori Method that connects to the spiritual and human aspect of faith. I think this is what is lacking in modern catechesis…and faith ends up being alot of activities and movements and not enough reflection on God Who is already among us.

The Good Shepherd Catechesis connects to the faith of the child that is already there.
 
This is the second year for my parish. Of course, started with Level I last year, was enthusiastically received by the kids and parents.

Level II introduced this year. We’ve had to turn away kids, parents from around our area, up to capacity classes for volunteer teachers.

Our DRE said it’s inspiring to watch the kids learn. They seem to instinctively know certain things. The best is when they have the proverbial “Aha” moment. (DRE paraphrased, can’t remember her exact words, but essentially what she said.)
 
IF you have a teacher who understands the Montessori approach to education, and has a good set for the Good Shepard, it’s wonderful!!!
 
Reading the few comments, how I wish I could have continued in this form of catechesis…my friend who introduced me to it said the kids who started with this evolved very well in their spiritual life and faith.

The Good Shepherd Catechesis is essentially liturgical catechesis…very much a reflection of how we understand our faith at Mass.
 
Seems like finding information on how effective CGS is and how/what it actually teaches is hard to come by. lots of empty “its great” statements, but nothing substantial. I’m hearing from some parents in my parish that evolution is being taught and that it’s not really teaching anything - not teaching about sin in 1st Communion class? I’d really like to some objective comments on the program.
 
b_ulmen said:
Seems like finding information on how effective CGS is and how/what it actually teaches is hard to come by. lots of empty “its great” statements, but nothing substantial. I’m hearing from some parents in my parish that evolution is being taught and that it’s not really teaching anything - not teaching about sin in 1st Communion class? I’d really like to some objective comments on the program.
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The reason it’s so hard to pin down is that so much depends on who is teaching. It’s not just an “out of the box” program that a parish signs up for an implements to equal success regardless of other factors. Really, it’s not so much a “program” as it is a method of teaching.

Most of the people I know who take the time to learn and implement this more unconventional form of catechesis tend to be the type of people who take catechesis very seriously. But it’s possible for someone to do it badly, just as with anything.

My daughter is in the First communion prep phase of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and I can see a great impact. She’s told me she changed her favorite color to red and that her favorite letter is J. The reason for both is that they remind her of Jesus. 🙂 And she’s also been wanting to read the Bible every night as her bed time story the past few weeks because it makes her feel closer to Jesus. So something is working for her. 🙂
 
I love the Good Shepherd Catechesis but the drawback to it is the training involved. My friend, a deacon’s wife, showed me all about it, and helped me make the dioramas…but a few highly vocal people in the parish didn’t want it so we had to remove it.
 
This is an old thread.

My parish is in our 4th year of CGS.

Effective? OK, let me put it this way.

At the family’s dinner table one evening, one of the boys explained to his parents the whole Mass, including Transubstantiation. He got everything right. This boy is 7 years old, in his 2nd year of CGS.
 
What the Good Shepherd Catechesis essentially is is Liturgical Catechesis…about Jesus present in the Eucharist.

And how the Lord shares His light in the Word of God.

Good Shepherd Catechesis is particulary good for preschool and is a partial, not total catechesis for grade school age Sacramental Prep. You do need to know what sin is, what they are.
 
This is an old thread, but I have to post. I have been working as a catechist in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for 30 + years. To find out more about it, go to the source: The Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti. Sofia was one of the co-founders of CGS. She also worked at the Vatican as a Hebrew scholar and Saint Pope Paul II visited her atrium (classroom) in Rome. He came for a 15 minute visit but was so inspired by what he saw he stayed for over an hour. You can’t get much more orthodox then this. It is strongly based on catholic doctrine and covers all the elements required in catechesis by the catholic church. It has been accepted by many diocese around the country and is spreading to others. It is currently being used by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, not only in atria’s they offer to children, but as training for their novices. I have prepared children for their sacraments using this program and it is truly beautiful. The children are much better prepared for both the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion then when I helped in the preparation for these sacraments using the traditional catechesis method through a catholic school.

It is catholic but is well received by other denominations. They, however, may choose to use it according to the teachings of their denominations. How other denominations choose to use the program should not distract from its proper use in the catholic church. My advice is to verify in which denomination the instructor is using CGS and to whom the course is being offered. This will guide you as to what will be learned in the courses.

God bless!
 
I’ve seen videos of it and think it could be quite effective in catechizing young children. It would probably be better than traditional classroom catechesis for those kids who are more hands-on. I like the idea.
 
Yes, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is hands on and this is a nice aspect for children. But its greater gift is that it gives the child a time and place to deepen their relationship with God. The experience grows their knowledge of scripture, liturgy, and church; but more important is what happens in their hearts.

God bless!
 
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