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ATRIUM
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The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: A Place of Joyful EncounterThe Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is an approach to the religious formation of children, rooted in the Catholic Church’s Scriptural and Liturgical Tradition, and inspired by the educational principles of Maria Montessori. The work is built on the belief that God and the child are already in a profound, unique relationship, and our role as adults is to serve as humble co-listeners, helping that relationship to flourish.
This method was pioneered in Rome by biblical scholar Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Montessorian Gianna Gobbi in 1954. Dr. Cavalletti developed the core of the catechesis by observing which biblical and liturgical themes most naturally spoke to the religious potential of the child. In the United States, Rebekah Rojcewicz carried this work forward, translating essential texts and training a generation of catechists. Today these Spirit filled methods are being widely used across the world. In the Archdiocese of Detroit there are more than 30 flourishing Atria. We are happy to provide CGS for the families of St. Clair Shores.
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ATRIUM GROUPINGS
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WHAT IS THE ATRIUM?The Atrium is a specially prepared environment where children can come to know, ponder, and celebrate the mysteries of our Christian faith. It is not a classroom, but a prayerful space designed for contemplation, listening to the Word of God, and meditative work. It is equipped with simple, beautiful, and handmade materials that are essential for the children to explore the core themes of the faith through their hands.
“Will you teach me something about God?” These words are a catechist’s dream come true. They were words spoken by a 3rd Grade child in the Atrium at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School within the Archdiocese of Detroit.
If you have ever walked into an Atrium before, you would be familiar with the fact that the environment of the room is unique. In the Church, you'll find a sanctuary lamp hanging with a 10” red glass globe near the tabernacle, while the Atrium has a 2” red glass vigil light standing next to a model size tabernacle. The Church has an ambo designed for an adult to stand behind, while the Atrium has an ambo small enough for a toddler to stand behind. The Church is silent, so is the Atrium. The Word of God is proclaimed in the Church, as it is in the Atrium.
If a child comes into an Atrium and opens his or her heart to the graces available, there will be learning about God, and in turn a deepening of one's relationship with Him. CGS honors the child’s innate capacity to enjoy the presence of God through beauty and order.
It is our hope that the work with children in Atria across the Archdiocese evolves and explodes into a lifelong dialogue with the Creator. As they grow, we hope these students carry the light of their Baptism and the strength of the Spirit into the wider world.
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