PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION
In Luke 19:14, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” It is important for us to bring our children to Jesus. Our Parish School of Religion (PSR) Program is designed to do just that. Through regular class sessions, our children will learn the truths of our Catholic faith. Special prayer events as a family will help them foster a strong relationship with Christ. Parish events will help them understand the importance of fellowship and relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our PSR Program is for children in Preschool through High School. We meet most Sunday mornings throughout the school year (September – May), from 10:00am to 11:00am in the Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall. The PSR office and classrooms are located in the basement. Please see the Calendar of Events below for information regarding our PSR school year. If you have any questions or are interested in enrolling your child(ren) in our PSR Program, contact:
Chrissy Breedlove, Phone: 330-312-8577, Email:
DRE@OLMCarrollton.org
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (CGS)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is Montessori based. The atrium (room) is set up with different materials designed to meet the developmental needs of each age group. It is child led and child centric. The trained catechist observes, uses few words and simple actions, and offers assistance only when necessary. Every session includes group prayer time (procession, songs, prayer table, prayer cards, liturgical seasons, and feasts), but most of the session is for individual work.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was started by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome. Sophia was a brilliant theologian and Scripture scholar, and Gianna was an experienced Montessori educator, making them the perfect team. CGS happened quite unexpectedly. Sofia was asked by a friend to teach catechism lessons to her son and two other boys, an offer which she first refused since she had never worked with children. However, she took on the task and found it both delightful and fascinating. “She saw in those boys and in numerous other children, in the years that followed, a way of being in the presence of God that is both unique to the child and a gift to the adult who stops long enough to notice” (CGSUSA.org). Gianna, who had been working with children for years, was able to expand on what Sofia was observing and bring in the hands on, child led aspects we see in CGS today. CGS has since expanded to many countries throughout the world.
The name Catechesis of the Good Shepherd comes from the parable of the Good Shepherd. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Parish Setting by Tina Lillig says, “Cavalletti mentions that for a long time she thought the most powerful part of the Good Shepherd image was the protective aspect of the shepherd. It was an obvious thing because little children have a particular need to be protected, to feel secure. But as she studied their artwork, she saw another element, fuller and deeper, at the root of the sense of protection. It is the element of relationship. The sense of security is rooted in the relationship and is indeed a fringe benefit of that relationship. Later, the child will encounter the depth of this relationship in the paschal aspect of the parable: ‘The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) The Good Shepherd helps the children enjoy a relationship with God, a relationship of deep peace, a real relationship of being loved.”
Although the Parable of the Good Shepherd is the main overarching theme of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, other themes are presented as well. All of the themes are taken from Scripture and the liturgy (prayers and sacraments) in order to help nourish the child and meet their fundamental religious needs. Everything is designed to be Christocentric making Christ Himself the teacher and in turn making it possible for the child to learn to communicate with God in everything he does.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 will be offered two days a week, Sundays, 10:00am-11:15am and Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:15pm. The atrium is located in the Our Lady of Mercy Hall. See the attached calendar for specific dates. If you have any questions or are interested in enrolling your child(ren) in our CGS Program, contact
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was started by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome. Sophia was a brilliant theologian and Scripture scholar, and Gianna was an experienced Montessori educator, making them the perfect team. CGS happened quite unexpectedly. Sofia was asked by a friend to teach catechism lessons to her son and two other boys, an offer which she first refused since she had never worked with children. However, she took on the task and found it both delightful and fascinating. “She saw in those boys and in numerous other children, in the years that followed, a way of being in the presence of God that is both unique to the child and a gift to the adult who stops long enough to notice” (CGSUSA.org). Gianna, who had been working with children for years, was able to expand on what Sofia was observing and bring in the hands on, child led aspects we see in CGS today. CGS has since expanded to many countries throughout the world.
The name Catechesis of the Good Shepherd comes from the parable of the Good Shepherd. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Parish Setting by Tina Lillig says, “Cavalletti mentions that for a long time she thought the most powerful part of the Good Shepherd image was the protective aspect of the shepherd. It was an obvious thing because little children have a particular need to be protected, to feel secure. But as she studied their artwork, she saw another element, fuller and deeper, at the root of the sense of protection. It is the element of relationship. The sense of security is rooted in the relationship and is indeed a fringe benefit of that relationship. Later, the child will encounter the depth of this relationship in the paschal aspect of the parable: ‘The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) The Good Shepherd helps the children enjoy a relationship with God, a relationship of deep peace, a real relationship of being loved.”
Although the Parable of the Good Shepherd is the main overarching theme of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, other themes are presented as well. All of the themes are taken from Scripture and the liturgy (prayers and sacraments) in order to help nourish the child and meet their fundamental religious needs. Everything is designed to be Christocentric making Christ Himself the teacher and in turn making it possible for the child to learn to communicate with God in everything he does.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 will be offered two days a week, Sundays, 10:00am-11:15am and Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:15pm. The atrium is located in the Our Lady of Mercy Hall. See the attached calendar for specific dates. If you have any questions or are interested in enrolling your child(ren) in our CGS Program, contact
Chrissy Breedlove, Phone: 330-312-8577, Email:
dre@olmcarrollton.org
CGS - YOUTH MINISTRY - RCIA - ADULT ED - MUSIC MINISTRY - SACRAMENTS - FORMED - LIBRARY
