St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Evanston, Illinois

The Children's Education program at St. Mark's uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum.

The Atrium of the Good Shepherd: 3-6 year olds

The Child:

The period from age three to six is a time of sensory learning for children. Three to six year olds have a drive to interact with their environment. They are in the process of constructing their own way of being in the world. The sensory experiences provided in the atrium are meant to orient the young child to life in the church. The materials used in the atrium are not aides for the catechist, but the means by which the child begins to pray and meditate through “work” with the materials. Therefore, the materials in the atrium are real objects such as glass, linens, wood, silver and brass which give the young child a foundation of reality upon which to build.

The Meeting Place:

The Atrium of the Good Shepherd is a special place set aside for the children ages three to six. It is an environment prepared by the catechist in order to allow the relationship between God and the child to develop and flourish. The atrium is not a school room, but rather a place of prayer and reflection that prepares the child for full participation in the life of the church.

The Program:

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is an approach to the religious formation of children, three to twelve years of age. It originated in 1954 with the founding of the children’s center or “atrium” in Rome by Sophia Cavalletti, a biblical scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, an educator of children and teachers. Inspired by Montessori principles of education, the catechesis is based on the conviction that God and the child are in relationship. CGS deals with the vital religious needs of the child and is faithful to the essentials of Christian tradition based on the Bible and liturgy.

The Content:

Young children are introduced to practical life skills and controlled movement related to life in the atrium. These include such activities as rolling a mat, dry and wet pouring, flower arranging, cutting and gluing. These activities are designed to help the child to become aware of and gain control of body movements, to center and focus, to gain independence, and to integrate body and soul.

The Good Shepherd is at the heart of the program. The parable of the Good Shepherd is the first parable presented to the children. Other parables about the kingdom of God (the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, and the precious pearl) are also presented during the year.

The children learn about the liturgical calendar which the church follows and they participate in celebrations to mark the special days of the church year. They learn about the colors used by the church at different times of the year. Children are introduced to the signs and symbols of the church: the table to which we are invited by Jesus for a special meal and the gestures of the sign of the cross and the peace, as well as the preparation of the chalice, lavabo, epiclesis and offering.

Presentations on the geography of the land of Israel are followed by the infancy narratives and help children to situate Jesus in a time and place on this earth. The infancy narratives include the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of Jesus and the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Presentation in the Temple.

The Atrium of the True Vine: 6-9 year olds

The Child:

Six to nine year olds have a reasoning mind and want to know why things are like they are, and where things come from. Imagination is very important to them; they are interested in the total universe. We begin the year by giving them the universe, as in creation, then we narrow our focus to talk about specifics within creation. They seem to lose a sense of order and become messy with their work, but actually, they are making a change in focus from the physical order of things to the mental. They are very capable of great work. They are beginning to become proficient readers, and in the second half of the year they learn to find their way around the books of the Bible. Children at this age have a strong sense of right and wrong and are very concerned with rules. Thus, they enjoy meditating on the Maxims, tracing them.

The Meeting Place:

The Atrium of the True Vine can be compared to a retreat house, a special place set aside for children ages 6-9 to meet with each other; to meditate on God’s Word; to work with especially prepared materials, to find their particular place in the Kingdom of God, and to explore what it means to become a branch of the true vine.

The Content:

Most lessons are given in a three week time slot; the first moment being one of wonder and awe, then a chance to step back and take a second look at the mystery of God, and finally a chance to ponder their own place in God’s Kingdom. Drawing on their growing ability to reason, they draw comparisons as we do a synthesis of the familiar Level I parables.

Scripture – The children are encouraged to look up passages and read from the Bible: parables about prayer, such as the Pharisee and the Publican; moral parables such as the Good Samaritan. Awe and wonder about the universe and God’s creation are experienced through scripture now. Jesus’ invitations, called the Maxims, (“Pray for those who persecute you; love one another as much as you love yourself”) satisfy their need for rules.

Geography and the Birth and Life of Jesus - Study of the geography of the Holy Land becomes more extensive. Further narratives of Jesus’ life are introduced, particularly the Presentation at the Temple and the Flight to Egypt. We continue to meditate upon the prophecies during Advent.

Liturgy – Hands-on charts give an overview of the Eucharist, and small symbols, objects, and scripture cards allow the children to revisit Level I and early Level II presentations of the articles, prayers, and gestures of the Eucharist, gathering the moments together in proper order to form a whole, a synthesis of the Eucharist. They learn the Lord’s Prayer and study the sacraments. Communal Prayer is an opportunity for the children to prepare the prayer table and to lead in scripture reading and prayer.

Moral Development – Using the “keys of the Kingdom” that Jesus gives us to live well and happily, the Maxims, the children live into Jesus’ parables and begin to think about their place in the Kingdom of God.