The Good Shepherd and the Child

“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.” Psalm 140 13-14   Maria Montessori began her journey with children of “different ability” so it is fitting that our work in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which follows her educational model, would be inclusive of children of all abilit...

“Take to heart these words which I command you today. Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7   “If we want to assist the child in his or her religious experience, an important area which we must attend is that of prayer. Prayer is, first of all, listening to God. It is the particular ke...

“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” – Job 42:5   “Open your eyes; the mysteries hidden in the visible are revealed to you.” – Gregory of Nyssa   Sofia Cavalletti in History of the Kingdom of God: From Creation to Parousia states that “the typological method searches for the ‘imprint’ of one phase of sacred history upon another, keeping in mind the unity of the...

“You, yes you, O Lord, my God, have done many wondrous deeds!  And in your plans for us there is none to equal you. Should I wish to declare or tell them, too may are they to recount.” Psalm 40: 6   Claudia Margarita Schmitt joins us today to dive into Chapter 4 of The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey.  We discuss the child’s capacity for wonder and the parable method that Jesus’ uses...

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news.”  Isaiah 52:7   This episode continues our book study on The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey.  Lynne Worthington discusses with us some practical ways that adults and families can sit beside the child in their religious development. She lifts up the role of the environment, espe...

Chapter 2 – Helping the Child with Maggie Radzik   “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” Jeremiah 1:5   This episode continues our book study on The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey. In this episode Maggie Radzik shares with us the beauty and wisdom found in Chapter 2: Helping the Child.  We discus...

Chapter 1: God and the Child Together– The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey with Marty O’Bryan   “God is love” 1 John 4:7   This episode begins our book study on The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey. In this episode Marty O’Bryan helps us dive into chapter 1: God and the Child Together.  We discuss the two vital needs of the child, protection and relationship, and how the...

“Behold, children are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward.”  Psalm 127:3   Do Children have something to teach US about God?  Can they draw US closer to the heart of God?  Pam Moore joins us on the podcast today to discuss her book, Taste and See- Savoring the Child’s Wisdom, and her years of observation of children.  She speaks about beautiful pieces of wisdom that children have...

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” Jeremiah 1:5 NAB   The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd exists to serve the religious potential of the child, even the youngest child.  In our episode today we explore who is the Infant-Toddler?  How can we serve them through The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? How is the e...

“And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” ACTS 2:4   Fifty days after the feast of Easter, we celebrate Pentecost. This feast celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father, the birth of our Church and the gifts that God gives us to transform our lives. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate...

“Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:32   During the Easter season we often hear the story of Jesus with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus.  This is one of the resurrection narratives catechists read and discuss with children in the Levels II and III atria (6-11 year old).  This scripture offers many avenues to explore...

Join us in a reflection on the Parable of the Good Shepherd led by Rebekah Rojcewicz.   Rebekah Rojcewicz  has been a catechist serving all ages of children for thirty-eight years,  having received her formation from Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome,  Italy. Rebekah also serves Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in several capacities.  In addition to being a catechist in her parish, St. Patr...

“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Ephesians 2:10   This week Angela Miller shares the story of her community in Ohio who have come together in response to the Holy Spirit to build atria, be formed, and fall more deeply in love with God together. From the first day, it was clear to Angela that CGS wa...

When the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make the preparations?”  Luke 22:7-9   In this time when atria sessions, catechist formation, and even liturgical gatherings are being cancelled out of the need...

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken                                                       nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.  All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace." Isaiah 54: 10,13    Our lives are in a very unique place with the Coronavirus pan...

  “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”  Revelation 21:1-2 NAB Why is exploring the geography of Jesus’ life important for the child’s spiritual journey? Can pondering biblical geography hel...

“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others.” – Colossians 3:23 NAB   Does the idea of making materials for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium intimidate you?  Do you find material making to be spiritually uplifting or seemingly impossible?  Why is the catechist requested to make the materials with his/her own hands? How can this become a tool for spiritual grow...

“A tranquil mind gives life to the body” Proverbs 14:30a NAB   What is the Montessori philosophy of “normalization?” What does it look like? Does it look the same in each child? How can we foster normalization?   Normalization fosters peace and joy in the child.  It allows the child to enter into a deeper spiritual prayer time. As adults we have a unique role to create the optimal environment and...

"All your children shall be taught by the Lord; great shall be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:13 NAB Diane Olsen shares with us the importance of the environment for the absorbent mind of the child.  We explore the role that the environment has in spiritual formation and the place of the adult in that environment.  Our discussion is on the first two chapters of Gianna Gobbi’s book Listenin...

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, *  you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:3 NAB   Does the child already have a connection with God?  How can we, as adults, foster it?  Why does an encounter with God create a peace and joy in the child and what does this look like?  What about the children who have a hard time finding that peace and joy?  What is a Me...

Welcome to the Good Shepherd and the Child Podcast!  Where we explore the spirituality of the Christian child using the method of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In this introductory episode Mary Mirrione, National Director of the United States Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, answers the question: WHAT IS The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Mary Mirrione began working with CG...