The Good Shepherd and the Child

"And Mary kept all these things, pondering on them in her heart.” Luke 2:19  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Autumn Domingue joins us on the podcast again to explain the art of Theological Reflection, how it can help us in this work, and to demonstrate the process to us.   Autumn Domingue is a spiritual director, formation leader, and Life Coach, whose greatest joy is journeying with th...

"Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:26  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Diane Olsen returns to the podcast to explore who the transitioning child is, the 6 year old, the 9 year old, and the 12 year old.  We also discuss how we can best serve these children in our atria.   “We must take man himself, take him with patience and confidence, across a...

"Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!” Psalm 103:1  Episode 100!!  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !    Read Marty’s article from the 2017 Journal Inspiriting Art Expression Online here.      Marty O”Bryan returns to the podcast to talk about prayer as a response in children, especially their art work.    Marty O’Bryan began her formation in the Catechesis of the Goo...

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Ruth, Mary and I discuss the unique topic of the hormone Oxytocin, the love hormone, what is it and how can it be fostered.  We also ponder how this hormone relates to our work in the atrium wit...

“A that time Jesus said in reply, ‘I give praise to you, Father Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these tings from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” Matthew 11:25  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Today we listen to the words of Gianna Gobbi from her book Listening to God with Children. We have part of chapter 5 and part of chapter 6...

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Next Month, on Sept 23-30, 2023 the International Consiglio or Council for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will be meeting in Italy.  Rebekah Rojcewicz who is a member of the Consiglio joins...

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” Colossians 2:6-7  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Today we hear all about the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from Aquinas Institute...

“May the favor of the Lord our God be ours, prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!” (Ps 90:17).   Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  In today’s episode we dive into two of our 32 Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 21 and 25, which speak about the materials we use in this work.   Link to the 32 Characteristics of The Catechesis of the Good Shepher...

“May the favor of the Lord our God be ours, prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!” (Ps 90:17).   Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  In today’s episode we dive into four of our 32 Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 17, 18, 19 and 20 which all speak about the materials we use in this work.   Lynda Catalano has been a catechist at Trinity Church in...

“May the favor of the Lord our God be ours, prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!” (Ps 90:17).   Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  In today’s episode we listen to the words of Gianna Gobbi from the 2001 journal about the materials we use in the atrium and their meaning, importance, and limitations.   Gianna Gobbi personally worked as an apprentice with Maria Montes...

“For God alone my soul in silence waits; from God comes my salvation” (Ps 62:1).   Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  In today’s episode we have a special guest, Karin Slabaugh, to speak about the person of Adele Costa Gnocchi, who she was, and her work that influenced both the Montessori world as well as the CGS world!   Karin Slabaugh has worked with the youngest children for over 30 yea...

“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us.” Luke 1:78  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Today’s episode is the third part of a conversation we had with Patricia Coulter where she and I discuss her brand new book The Infinite Mercy of God .   Patricia Coulter met Sofia Cavalletti in 1975, and their friendship and close collaboration lasted until Sofia’s dea...

“That my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Today’s episode is the second part of a conversation we had with Patricia Coulter where she and I discuss chapter 4 of Ways to Nurture the Relationship with God on the True Vine parable!    Patricia Coulter met Sofia Cavalletti in 1975, and their friendship and close collaboration...

“Blessed be the Lord who.... shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher” Ruth 4:14-15  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Today’s episode is the first part of a conversation we had with Patricia Coulter where she discusses her life in Italy doing the formation with Sofia and Gianna as well as how the book Ways to Nurture the Relationship with God came to be!   Patricia Coulter met...

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Dan Teller joins us on the podcast to ponder the Old Testament roots of the Good Shepherd parable using chapter 3 of Ways to Nurture the Relationship with God.   Dan Teller earned a Masters in Montessori Education from Xavier University in 1984 and has been involved in Montessori educat...

“Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:7  Jo Ann Padgett speaks to us today about the beauty and depth of the paschal mystery and how it penetrates every corner of the atrium in all levels.   Jo Ann Padgett has been involved in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd since 1987. She is fo...

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1   Sr Mary Michael come on the podcast today to share about her new book Following God’s Pedagogy and how it shows that the work of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offers an approach to children's catechesis that forms the mind and the heart which is exactly what is being asked of catechesis in the newest 2020 Directory of Catechesis....

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Fr Boniface Hicks speaks about the power and gift of accompaniment and how it parallels to the work of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.   Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. became a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in...

“You fixed all the limits of the earth; summer and winter you made.” Psalm 74:17  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Today’s episode is part 2 of my conversation with Gertrud Mueller Nelson, who speaks about how can live into the season of Easter in your homes, your domestic churches.  Many of her ideas can be found in her book To Dance with God .   Born in Germany in a German family and r...

“You fixed all the limits of the earth; summer and winter you made.” Psalm 74:17  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Gertrud Mueller Nelson joins us on the podcast to lift up many possibilities for families on how to live into the season of Lent in your homes, your domestic churches.  Many of her ideas can be found in her book To Dance with God .   Born in Germany in a German family and ra...

“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !  Megan and Erin join the podcast to discuss merciful parenting, how to live out the mercy sacraments in our homes with ourselves and our families.   Megan Wallenfang is a Secular Discalced Carmelit...

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4  Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !     Lynda Catalano returns to the podcast to help us understand what are the mysteries of God as well as the mysteries of the child and how they are compatible to each other. Also how we, the adults, can be better matchmakers for this relationship.  Lynda Cata...

“With firm purpose you maintain peace; in peace, because of our trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3   Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE !   Nicole Kavanaugh joins us as we kick off season 3 of the podcast with the first episode in a series for parents!  Nicole helps us explore how we can take the philosophies of Montessori and CGS and apply them outside of the atrium, most especially in our homes. Ho...

“…good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.”  Luke 2:10   Merry Almost Christmas!  As an early Christmas gift to all our listeners we would like to gift you the audio version of Ch. 6 of The Religious Potential of the Child, 3rd Edition , read by Rebekah Rojcewicz. This is a perfect chapter for this season.  We hope it enriches your spiritual encounter with Christ during this cel...

“Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4: 1b-3 Gianna Gobbi’s birthday is on Dec. 15 so we would like to get a glimpse at who she was by listening to some of her memories from one of her closest friends, Claudia...