Catéchèse du Bon Berger

Our children have flourished in their years in the CGS. They have grown in their relationship with the Lord and in their faith all without even knowing it. From seeing the presentations and then being able to re-enact it for themselves on their own personal level in the Atrium and even at home. We are blessed to have this program right here in our parish. We wish we would have had the opportunity attend this program in our childhoods.

We’ve definitely noticed a change in them. They connect things from home and Atrium and Mass. They are more open to discussions about the Bible, they ask more questions and pray what’s on their heart, which is sometimes so sweet this Mama tears up. That you for helping in the very important area in their lives.

What do you love the most about atrium? "I love painting and coloring and going in the prayer closet. And learning about the Pascal Candle and putting in those "pokey things". (wounds of Christ pegs)

We've really been able to see Sofie’s relationship with Jesus grow deeper. The language she’s picked up through atrium is just amazing. She’s been able to do spontaneous prayer and she’s even teaching us parents a thing or 2 😉 This has been such a wonderful experience for our family.

" my favorite thing to do in atrium is the new works" What happens in the atrium? " We learn about how Jesus died and then rose again. Madame Louise always says “ did Jesus stay dead? " But I think she already knows."

We as parents find that after starting Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Greta notices more things during mass and in the church. It helps her pay attention during mass. We also love how it gives her that quiet time to be with Jesus all on her own.

"My favorite parts about Atrium are painting, baking bread, going in the prayer corner, making the rosary, doing the work of pouring and that's all my stuff I like to do. "

" I like working and talking to Jesus when I'm doing my work in quiet. "

"One thing I like about Atrium is the works and I like that we have a lot of time to reflect. Every work is reflecting on God."

"As parents, our one wish for our children is that they know God's love and love Him in return. In this busy world, Atrium has given them the opportunity to encounter Jesus in a quiet, slowed down, personal way, that we know they will carry in their hearts forever."

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is such an amazing way of introducing the littlest ones to our Lord. The program touches them on the deepest level through simple presentations and the most peaceful environment. I'm so grateful to have learnt about this program and have my children be a part of it. It is remarkable to see how much they can grasp about God's love at a young age. This program is a priceless gift for our families and for the church.

. I sat in with my daughter her first year of Atrium. What a blessing for me. If only all adults could have this experience. That is when I learned about liturgical colors and what a Paten is. It is such a gift for each of us to better understand and connect to the mass because of Atrium. This blessing alone would be reason enough at have all children attend Atrium even while taking another catechism class.

What I like about the bread activity is you get to put in the ingredients: flour, water, and yeast. Then I get to cook it. I like to see how it rises. And when it rises I think about the miracles Jesus did, like He made the bread rise and he rose from the dead too.

Ask my older children what they like about Atrium and what they learned and they will most likely say they don’t know, it’s boring and we don’t learn anything. But listen to them talk or answer questions or defend their faith to friends and you get another story. It always surprises me the understanding they have about the mass, bible stories, and the sacraments. Hidden gems of wisdom they have picked up without realizing it. Learning while living out their ‘boring’ time in Atrium. I might add, that if they have to miss a week and they are very disappointed. Funny how that is

What do you like best about Atrium? It feels good. The colouring is fun. I like the books about planets, flags, history - it’s interesting. I like the readings and how they talk about Jesus and the work He’s done. Madame Louise is a good teacher. She’s good at showing new stuff and activities and is calm - she helps me calm down.

A: What do you like best about Atrium? M: Making the bread. That’s what keeps them all healthy. Doing crafts with glue. The Prayer corner by the fridge. I like to pray to God and for my friends and animals (if they die) and pray for their sadness to go away.

A: What do you like best about Atrium? L: Cleaning the plant Playing with Jesus and the sheep, cause He give his life for us. Putting the Rosary together in the prayer closet. A: Why do you like putting the rosary together? L: Because it’s beautiful

Parce que madame Louise m’apprends plus à propos de Jésus – -J’aime le coin de prière parce que je peux prier seul – -J’aime prier en groupe à la fin –

Quand je vois les enfants travailler, ça me donne la joie parce qu’ils comprennent plus que nous, parce qu’ils ont un esprit d’enfant.

I am not accustomed to writing testimonies, yet I would say that the kids have a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and how he is the Good Shepherd, they understand their Bible stories (some of this may come from home - not sure), and they really enjoy going and being with others of their own age (when you homeschool this is appreciated). We are blessed to have this program, as we need to keep the young ones engaged in their faith (likely the main thing that CGS does) or else we risk losing them to this secular world.

They have enjoyed everything from the practical life works to the CGS works and of course the songs!!! Their favorite time being the quiet work time where they could explore and go deeper with the presentations that were made that day or on a previous day and the freedom to choose what work they wanted to focus on. One of the greatest memories was taking time to find correlations between the bible and the Narnia book series, a youth-lead project of their work time in Level 3. It is also at the Atrium that they made the best and longest lasting friendships!

So many children attending catechism classes never get the opportunity to attend mass. How foreign everything must seem to them when they do attend. But, if those same children had an opportunity to attend Atrium, imagine how welcoming and familiar coming to mass would be. Even the words and gestures of the priest are part of Atrium’s activities, so these children would hear familiar words and have an understanding of what’s going on even though they never attend. What an amazing gift to give those children.

CATÉCHÈSE DU BON BERGER | CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

(English below)
La Catéchèse du Bon Berger
Le 1er mai 2018, Monseigneur Albert LeGatt a officiellement reconnu la Catéchèse du Bon Berger,
comme un possible parcours continu de catéchèse dans l’archidiocèse de Saint-Boniface. La Catéchèse
du Bon Berger fondée en 1954 par Sofia Cavaletti et Gianna Gobbi, est un programme basé sur l’approche
de Maria Montessori. Elle comprend l’apprentissage de la Sainte Bible ainsi que la liturgie de notre Église.
La méthode Montessori tient à l’importance d’un environnement bien préparé pour promouvoir une
croissance naturelle chez l’enfant. Cet espace est appelé un Atrium. Les catéchètes présentent et utilisent
des matériaux préparés pour assister l’enfant dans la contemplation des paraboles ainsi que les gestes et les
rituels de la messe. L’atrium est l’endroit ou l’enfant peut vraiment s’arrêter et contempler, dans le silence
et la paix, les mystères de notre foi et se retrouver dans la présence du Christ qui les aime, qui les écoute et
qui les guide à chaque moment de la journée.
La Catéchèse du Bon Berger veut respecter ce qui est sacré chez l’enfant. Tout comme la graine de
moutarde qui grandit si bien avec les bonnes conditions, nous croyons que l’enfant a un grand potentiel
spirituel et religieux. Nous n’avons qu’à semer le grain et à lui offrir le temps et l’espace favorables pour
s’épanouir.
La Catéchèse du Bon Berger est offerte en français et en anglais, pour les enfants de 3 à 9 ans (2
niveaux), à la paroisse de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
Pour plus d’informations, ou pour inscrire votre enfant, veuillez communiquer avec Louise Fillion (Lorette) 204-237-4415
Pour connaître davantage le programme, cliquez ici : The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.