The Bible Bookshelf

 In the Level 2 Atrium the children really start to become interested in the Bible.  From Enthroning the Bible in Level 1 and from reading it with their catechists, they know that the Bible is the Word of God, given to all people in all times and places.

At age six the children start to ask more questions as their brains begin to travel in time and space.  They're ready to find out more about the Bible, how was it written, when was it written, how is it organized?

One of the first materials we introduce to the children in the Level 2 Atrium is the Bible Bookshelf.  Once the doors to the cabinet are opened, the children can see how the Bible is divided into sections:  The Old Testament and the New Testament and how these sections are further divided up:  Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, the Prophets, the Gospels, The Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of Paul, the Epistles, Revelation.

The work of the child is to take out each of the small blocks (each one signifying a book of the Bible with it's name written on it) and then to put them back in order.

There's something very satisfying about this material.  It begins to unpack the richness of the Bible for the children, and as they become more familiar with it's structure it becomes more and more their book.

Recently two 2nd grade boys had a great time going through all of the books of the Bible and finding the names of their friends:  Micah, Samuel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Mark, John, Isaiah . .  . Each discovery came as a new gift.  "I know Joel!  I wonder what he wrote about?"  Let's find out!

Enthroning the Bible

This past week the catechists in the Level 1 Atrium organized a procession for the children to participate in.  Each child was given an item to carry to the prayer table--the cloth to cover it (green for ordinary time), a statue of the Good Shepherd, the prayer candle, the crucifix, and finally the Holy Bible.

This book, which can seem daunting to present to young children, actually speaks deeply to them.  In the Atrium, catechists take the time to show the children how to handle the Bible with care and reverence and the children are excited to be entrusted with it.

Enthroning the Bible can be done in your own home.  Find a place where your Bible can be accessible to every member of the family.   With your child, choose items that will decorate the area where the Bible is enthroned--a candle, a beautiful cloth, a piece of sacred artwork, some flowers . . .

The first verse we usually share with the children in the Level 1 Atrium comes from the Gospel of John:

Again Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."  

John 8:12 

Education to Prayer

 When the children come to the Atria on Sunday mornings and Monday afternoons, they take a moment to prepare themselves to enter into the classroom.  They hang their coats on hooks in the hall, get a drink from the water fountain, and greet their friends in the hallway.  When they are ready the children come to the door of the Atrium and bless themselves with holy water from the fount hung at child-level.  

Our Catholic faith provides us with rich symbols and rituals to help us to enter into the mystery of our relationship with God.  Children are particularly attuned to these symbols and rituals.  When the catechists and I forget to refill the holy water, the children invariably remind us.  The ritual of blessing themselves is important to them.

Children love actions, and this action speaks to them of who they are and who they are called to be.

The Good Shepherd Atrium

The Good Shepherd Atrium, for our 3 to 6 year-old children, is often characterized by activity and joy.  Children in this age group are ready to fall in love with God.

Work in the Good Shepherd Atrium includes simple activities for our youngest children to gain small motor skills,  liturgical activities to aide in fuller participation in the Eucharist, and core Biblical passages such as parables and events in the life of Jesus. 

A 5 year old poses while working with the Good Shepherd materials.  

A four-year old sets the model altar with a crucifix, paten and chalice.  

Traveling in Time & Space

And we're off and running!  Sunday dawned and by 9am we had catechists and children ready for a new catechetical year.  Because all of the Atria are multi-age (Level 1: 3 to 6 year olds; Level 2:  6 to 9 year olds; Level 3:  9 to 12 year olds) each child moves through the Atrium over a period of 3 years.  For the children entering a new level, it's a moment of excitement and realization of growth.  Those who are returning for their 2nd or 3rd year in a level come with experience to share and also excitement knowing that, now they are older, there will be new things waiting for them.

Children in the Level 2 Atrium--the 6 to 9 year olds, are entering a period of development where there is an explosion in learning.  Their minds are newly oriented to the realities of time and place and for the first time they are able to travel in history.  One of the big "works" in this Atrium is called the "Fettuccia"(Italian for ribbon).  It is a long ribbon used to show the unfolding nature of time and our place in it.  The first year in the Atrium the children are oriented to the ribbon, the 2nd year they are introduced to a timeline on the wall that includes text, pictures and quotes from the Bible which give a framework for God's work of creation and redemption, all leading to the moment of Parousia when God will be "all in all."

Above you can see three 8 year-olds from the Monday level 2 class working on recreating the timeline with text cards and pictures.  The children were particularly interested in the part of the timeline called the "blank page."  This phrase refers to the time in history in which we live, where we, along with God, decide what will happen.  Children at this age are beginning to develop a moral conscience.  They are excited by the idea that their choices and actions make a difference in their world.  Sofia Cavalletti & Gianna Gobbi, the founders of CGS, called these lessons an "education to hope."  What a gift to give our children as they begin to discover the brokenness of our beautiful world.

The Invitation is Love

It is the eve of Catechetical Sunday, when the Church in the United States celebrates and recognizes the work of catechesis. 

Ever since I became the DRE at the Cathedral, school year jitters hit me mid-September and on a Saturday.  I wonder, will they come?  I hope so.  We've cleaned the classrooms, built new materials, and the catechists are ready.  Will they come?  

Yesterday, going through some artwork that was left behind from last year I found this piece done by a 7 year-old girl in our Level 2 Atrium.  She traced the line drawing of the Good Shepherd and added the one word on the bottom which says it all.  I think they will come--because it is the Good Shepherd who calls them by name, and they recognize his voice as love. 

A Prayer to Begin the Catechetical Year

Icon of the Good Shepherd
Deacon Charles Rohrbacher

Blessed are you, Lord God,
Creator of body and mind and heart;
you have sent the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge
to guide your people in all their ways.

At the beginning of this new catechetical year
we implore your mercy:
bless the children, parents and catechists of the Cathedral,
that together we may grow in faith, hope and love
as we learn from you and each other
how to follow your Son, Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Expand the horizons of our minds,
that we may grow in wisdom,
understanding and knowledge;
deepen our commitment to seek the truth of your ways;
and enliven our faith to reach out to those in need.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Adapted from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers 

Creating a Home Prayer Corner

The Younger child (toddler to 6 years of age)

            The center of each Atrium is the Prayer Corner.  This corner is made up of a small table which the children set with prayer objects.  Creating a prayer corner or area for your own home is one way you can nurture your child’s spiritual life. 

            For younger children (toddler to 6 years old) the objects should be simple and beautiful.  Do not overwhelm your child with too many objects to choose from.  Some ideas are:  a Bible; a white cloth; a prayer card with a single word or phrase on it:  Amen, Alleluia, Hail Mary, Our Father, etc.;   a simple wooden cross that a child can easily hold; a candle, and a few pieces of religious art such as pictures or statues.  Keep these items in a basket by the prayer table and invite your child to decorate the table as they would like.  In our Atrium we have a “singing bowl” which the children can ring to summon everyone to the prayer table.  You might want to include a bell with your prayer items so your child can call you to prayer once they have set the prayer table.

            Prayer services for the young child are all about enjoyment and thanks.  You can invite your child to share something they are thankful for, or take time in silence or in song.  Children love simple songs such as “This Little Light of Mine” or songs they have heard in Church (the Alleluia, Gloria, and other response songs we sing at Mass are wonderful). 

The Older Child (6 to 12 year-olds)

            As children get older, they are more interested in planning and leading communal prayer.  Each session in the Level 2 & 3 Atria, two or three children will take on the job of planning that week’s prayer service.  They will choose songs, prayers and readings.   The older child is also developing his/her moral consciousness and is much more interested in the world around them.  As issues come up in our world and society (wars, famines, natural disasters, etc.) and our children hear about hem in the news, the children can take them to prayer in the Atrium or at your home prayer corner.

            Older children are also ready to learn the prayers of our faith.  Prayer cards with the Our Father, Hail Mary, Magnificat, Rosary, etc. are wonderful to add to the prayer area for this age child.  

CGS in the Life of the Parish

                        Children are important members of our faith community.  We welcome them at all parish liturgies and events.  Besides our weekday and Sunday Masses, here are some other events which take place throughout the year which we would love to have your family join us for:

Parish Nights

            On the Wednesday following the second Sunday of the month in October through April we have “Parish Nights” at the Cathedral.  These evenings begin with a potluck supper in the upstairs hall at 5:30pm.  At 6pm there is a program for adults and children on a topic of our faith.  This year the dates of Parish Nights are:  October 17^th, November 14^th, December 12^th, January 16^th, March 13^th, and April 17^th.

Celebrations

            Part of the work in the Level 3 Atrium is to plan community celebrations for Thanksgiving and Easter.  These special prayer services, organized and led by the children in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, are open to the entire community and take place outside of regular Atrium time.  Proposed dates are Wednesday, November 21^st & Wednesday, April 3^rd.  These evenings will start with a potluck dinner in the Parish Hall at 5:30pm. 

Liturgies

            At Christmas Eve family Mass (5:30pm on December 24^th) children sing in the choir, lector, and bring up the figures for the crèche.  Throughout the month of December we practice for our parts in the liturgy during regular Atrium time.  

Welcome to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Where a child can fall in love with God 

Glossary

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:  The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is an approach to religious formation of children.  It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the Church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori.

Atrium:  Children gather in an “atrium,” a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials they use to help absorb the most essential proclamations of the Christian faith.  The Atrium was the name used for the entry to ancient Christian basilicas, the space where catechumens were prepared for baptism.  The plural is “Atria.”   

Materials:  The interactive objects in the Atrium which children use in their spiritual growth. 

Class Levels

The classes are divided into multi-age levels as follows:

            Level 1:  3 to 6 year-olds

            Level 2:  6 to 9 year-olds

            Level 3:  9 to 12 year-olds

Class Sessions

In our Atria we strive to have a child/teacher ratio of 6 to 1.  Our classrooms ideally hold about 12 students and 2 catechists.  Extra class sessions may be added throughout the year as needed.  Currently classes are offered at the following times:

Sunday mornings 9am to 10:45am

            All 3 Levels meet at this time period

Monday afternoons 3pm to 5pm

            Levels 1 & 2 are offered.   

Wednesday mornings 9:30am to 11:30am

            Level 1 is offered.

Class schedules

Sunday classes:  In general, Sunday sessions do not meet on the 2^nd Sunday of the month, when the Knights of Columbus hold their Pancake breakfast.  Families are encouraged to attend the breakfast instead.  Sunday sessions also do not meet between Christmas and New Year’s or on Easter Sunday. 

Monday classes:  Monday classes follow the Juneau School District schedule and will not meet when there is a school district holiday.  Monday classes will also not meet on the Monday following Easter.  

Wednesday classes:  Wednesday classes follow the Juneau School District schedule and will not meet when there is a school district holiday.     

Dropping your child off & Picking them up

            As much as possible, we like the children to know that this is their space and to minimize adult conversations.  Please drop your child off at the door to their Atrium.  A catechist will greet them and help them to settle in.  If your child is nervous about being in the Atrium, we welcome you to come in with them.  Please find a place to sit.  If your child would like to sit on your lap or by you and observe until they feel comfortable, that’s fine.  The catechists will also invite your child to join in with the Atrium activity when your child is ready.  We are always happy to have adults in the hallway to act as hall monitors as well.  If your child would feel better by knowing that you are close by, please let Katy or Rhiannon know and we will set you up with a chair in the hallway.

Sacramental Preparation

            Please let us know if your child needs to prepare for Baptism, 1^st Communion and or 1^st Reconciliation at the beginning of the school year.  Sacramental preparation can take place in the Atrium, with extra class sessions as needed. 

What you can do to help

                        We welcome parent involvement as catechists, aides, hall monitors, and with assistance in special events.  We can also use help with our materials—cutting out collage pieces, wood-working, sewing and/or painting.  Let us know what your talents are! 

            We believe that catechesis should be available to all children.  We do not charge tuition.  Our program is made possible through the generous donations of parishioners as well as parents.  Please consider making a donation to our program if you are able.  Checks can be made out to “The Cathedral” with CGS written in the memo space.  They can be placed in the Sunday collection or dropped off at the main Cathedral office or the religious education office.  We also accept donations of non-perishable snack items. 

Parent Resources

            This year we have started a parent lending library in the hallway outside the classrooms.  Included are books on parenting, marriage and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.             The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has a Facebook page for parents and family members.  Please let Katy or Rhiannon know if you would like to join this group.

            This year we are also starting a blog for our program http://viewfromtheatrium.blogspot.com.   On it you can find information about the program and updates on what is happening in our Atria. 

Contact Us

            Katy & Rhiannon are always happy to assist you!  You can contact us at: cathedraldre@acsalaska.net, (907) 586-1713 or Katy’s cell (907) 209-1713.

Thank you for entrusting your child to us!  We are privileged to be a part of your family’s spiritual journey.