About CGS

By Lisa Fix, CGS Level I Catechist
 
“Help us, O God, to enter into the secret of childhood, so that we may know, love and serve the child in accordance with the laws of thy justice and following thy holy will.”[1] (Maria Montessori)
 
What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? “CGS could be considered a gift that the Church wants to offer its children, but it is perhaps better understood as a gift that children offer the whole Church.  As such, CGS is not a ministry undertaken for children so much as a ministry undertaken with children” [2] (Ann Garrido)

• The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Maria Montessori religious formation for children that began in Rome in 1954 by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi.
• Its name comes from the parable of the Good Shepherd.
• There are 3 levels of CGS:  Level 1 for 3yrs – 6yrs, Level 2 for 6yrs – 9yrs and Level 3 for 9yrs – 12yrs.
• CGS focuses on the child’s relationship with GOD through Jesus the Good Shepherd.

 
What is a CGS Catechist? “The adult who is to proclaim the most essential points of the Christian message, to listen to it with the children, and to observe the children in order to know their needs, must remind himself that he is the “unworthy servant” of the Gospel.”[3] (Sofia Cavalletti)

• A CGS Catechist is not a teacher.  “The only teacher is Christ; both children and adults place themselves in a listening stance before His Word and seek to penetrate the mystery of the liturgical celebration.”[4] (CGSUSA)
• All three (3) levels of CGS involve extensive formation building upon the previous level. 
• A Level 1 CGS Catechist has had the following formation:

= 90+ hours of lecture formation, 20 hours of observation time in a Level 1 Atrium, 2 years as an Assistant Catechist in a Level 1 Atrium, making the materials that the children will use, writing album pages, learned how to make presentations to children and ongoing reading of research information.
 
What is an Atrium? “The Name of the space in the ancient basilica which lay between the street and the inner sanctum of the church.   It was like an entry-way or foyer, and it was in this place (often a covered courtyard) that the faithful prepared themselves, both physically and spiritually, to enter the Church and to participate in the liturgy.” [5] (Gianna Gobbi)

• The Atrium had its beginnings in the early church during the Roman Empire
• The Atrium is Mass Centered.  “This means that the work of the atrium focuses on the relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd which finds its most concrete and intense moment of life in the Eucharist.”[6] (Gianna Gobbi)
• The Atrium is a special room that has been prepared for the children of the church.
• The Atrium has a silent atmosphere so the children can meditate (listen to Jesus) and pray while working with materials that they have freely chosen. 
• The materials in the Atrium are not teaching aids for the Catechist, they are for the use of the children.
• The Atrium is simple, essential and beautiful.
• The only book in the Atrium is the Holy Bible.

“The Catholic tradition offers us a rich deposit from which to draw.  In regard to content, we have a wealth of sources at our disposal: the Bible, the Liturgy, and the Magisterium of the Church.  If we hold faithfully to these, we will have a secure foundation.” [7] (Sofia Cavalletti)
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[1] Gianna Gobbi, Listening to God with Children (Treehouse Communications, Inc. 1998), Author’s Note: Maria Montessori
[2] Ann M. Garrido, Preaching with Children (Chicago, IL: LTP, 2022), pg 20
[3] Sofia Cavalletti, The Religious Potential of the Child (Chicago, IL: LTP, 1992), pg 52/Gianna Gobbi, Listening to God with Children (Treehaus Communications, Inc. 1998), pg 16
[4] The United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the 32 Points of Reflection, point #3
[5] Gianna Gobbi, Listening to God with Children (Treehaus Communications, Inc. 1998), pg 4
[6] Gianna Gobbi, Listening to God with Children (Treehaus Communications, Inc. 1998), pg 8-9
[7] Sofia Cavalletti, The Good Shepherd and the Child; A Joyful Journey, (CGS Publications 2014), pg 31

By Lisa Fix (CGS Catechist Level 1)

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4)

I’ll be the first person to tell you that when it comes to making materials for the Atrium, I was not that person in the beginning.  In the early spring of 2019, Jesus called me, “Lisa we still have works to do.” I had no idea what He meant by “works?” In June I signed up for The Catechesis of The Good Shepherd course being held through the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s, Summer Institute.  I had no idea what CGS was? This 3-day course led me to The Level I formation of CGS and I soon realized I was way out of my comfort zone. I kept asking Jesus, “Seriously?   You are calling me for this?  I have to build an Atrium? What’s an Atrium? Works? What do you mean by “works”?  I don’t do crafts Jesus?  I don’t use a saw? What’s a scroll saw? I don’t know how to operate these tools?  I don’t sew?  I don’t color?  I don’t paint? A plant, I have to keep a plant alive?  How am I going to do all this by myself? Seriously?  I have to sing? I don’t sing and I don’t know any of these songs? Jesus, I don’t…. seriously?  Jesus, “I have a health issue, even if I set aside all that I don’t know how to do, how am I to be a catechist when I am suffering with all this pain?” I felt Christ put his hand on my shoulder and I relaxed.  I told Him, “Ok. I don’t know how this is all going to work, but Jesus, I trust you.  So, yes, I will build an Atrium with you.”

After many setbacks I finally began to make the materials for the Atrium in the summer of 2024.  I started with the Good Shepherd and the sheep fold.  I was nervous but as soon as I began, I relaxed.    

With the undertaking of the “works” of making materials my relationship with Jesus began to grow deeper.  This formation as a CGS catechist brought me closer to Him with a greater understanding of my own growth and opening myself to accept that growth within.  By working with my hands, I began to understand the worth of these “works.”   In the silence of focusing on the making of the material I found myself listening.  I was listening to the inner teacher and He was working within me.  My heart was lifted up with much peace, gentleness, love and kindness.  For example, while painting the 2-D figures for the Eucharistic Presence I wondered about all the people of the world.  I thought about how much GOD Loves ALL the people.  How much love He has when creating each and every one of us.  I also thought about how much fun He must have with creating all of creation.    

Material making brings a sense of peace.  With quieting myself, working with my hands, focusing outwardly and listening inwardly I felt still and calm.  With this stillness came an awareness that my heart was opening to a deeper relationship with Christ.  As if all of time stops and it is just me & Him.  I would feel happiness in what I was working on and joy because I was with Jesus, drawing closer to him.  As my love for Jesus grew, I would think about how the children also would be doing their “works” with these materials while listening to Him as He calls them by name, teaches them and their love for Him would grow.  

Peace, Happiness, Joy, Kindness, Gentleness, Love and Patience have all lifted up my heart.  I realized as I worked my way through material making that each “works” requires different gifts and talents and even though I did not know “how-to” I could “do.” I trusted Jesus, left my comfort zone and took my time.  If I made a mistake while painting I could re-paint.  I also could ask for help and I did.  Yes, Jesus gave me a helper to do these important “works” in the Atrium.  My husband Joe is that helper.  Jesus completely trusts Joe with all “tools; saws, drills, hammers, etc.”  Jesus, Joe and I are in complete agreement that I should not operate any tools.  Joe continues to guide me in all of my many questions like “How do I do this? “or “Really I should have used some white paint so the green wouldn’t be so green?”  “Two coats of polyurethane on everything?” My husband Joe and I have both grown and deepened our relationship with Christ both as a couple and individually while making the materials.   

I have such a passion for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Back in 2019 I realized that I was called because GOD’s purpose for me was now the time that He had planned.  I told the whole class of Catechists and my formation Leader and her Assistant that “I now know my purpose.  Now I understand why I was born, went through all the good, bad and ugly in my life.   It was because it brought me to this point in time.  This is what GOD had planned for me, my purpose. It is now at this point in time.”   This realization meant I would be stepping outside of my comfort zone; it meant that I acknowledged my complete trust in Jesus, it meant that GOD’s timing is GOD’s timing.    

“And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)

Between the years 2019 – 2024 I had tremendous setbacks and hurdles.  Despite all of this I knew my purpose and continued to move forward in building an Atrium.  GOD’s timing is always perfect and is not our timing.  I kept my faith and never let go of the Good Shepherd.  During those years I collected much furniture, glassware, baskets, religious photos, figurines, nativity sets, etc.… I was building the Atrium and my house was home to all that I acquired.  In the summer of 2024, I was able to move into Room #1 at my parish.   The parish held onto this room for CGS through all these years with its own challenges.  I began the “works” of material making that August.  

 Jesus continues to show me my many gifts & talents.  My trusting and listening to him has opened my heart so that He can continue to nurture the child within me.  Thus, bringing me closer in relationship with GOD.  

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “(Matthew 18:4)

Making materials is always ongoing.  With the many directions, steps, how-to’s and the amount of time dedicated to these “works” I became more aware of the time GOD spends creating.  He doesn’t have directions, steps or how-to’s either.  I did wonder “just how much time does GOD spend on creation?”  Then I realized GOD is always creating.  Creation never ends.   With material making you will always be making and listening to Jesus who is always teaching you, desiring you to come closer to him in all that you think, say and do.  Creation within one’s self is always ongoing, just like the making of the materials.  

 My everyday life outside the Atrium also began to change with the “works” of making material.  I look at creation around me, and those I interact with each day differently.  I have grown more consciously aware of how I respect myself, others, surroundings and how I go about my day.  I discovered that I do have much more patience, peace, joy, happiness, kindness and love within to share.    
  
Back in 2019 I asked, “What is an Atrium?”   “An Atrium is a place in which the only teacher is Christ; both children and adults place themselves in a listening stance before His Word and seek to penetrate the mystery of the liturgical celebration.” [1]

As my husband Joe and I do the “works” of building the Atrium and making materials for the children to work with while they listen to Jesus, our inner teacher, I am reminded of what Jesus said,

“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:14)

We are all of GOD’s creation.  We are all of GOD’s children

[1]Appendix A:  Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Point #3, pg 97, The Good Shepherd and the Child, Joyful Journey by Sofia Cavalletti, Patricia Coulter, Gianna Gobbi, Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro MD, Rebekah Rojcewicz