Level One Formation Course for Adults

100 Etta Ave,Steubenville OH 43952

28 February, 2022

Description

Certification course for anyone who wishes to be a Good Shepherd catechist. This course will meet on Mondays, 6pm-9pm, throughout the school year. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children, 3-12 years of age, based on the conviction that God and the child are in relationship. Inspired by Montessori methods, this catechetical approach had its beginnings in 1954 when Sofia Cavalletti, a Scripture scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator, founded the Good Shepherd Atrium in Rome, Italy. The goal of Level One (ages 3-6) of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is to help the child enjoy and be in love with God, first proclaimed as Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Such a relationship is the strongest possible foundation for life-long spiritual growth and moral living. Children hear the Gospel by working with sensorially rich, but simple materials, keyed to scriptural or liturgical moments. Central to this program is the Atrium, a sacred space prepared for the children. A place of beauty, the atrium is designed for being with and enjoying God, listening to God’s Word, and praying. Course Objectives The course is designed to attune participants to the religious life of children at 3-9 years old and to provide specific methods and materials to foster their spiritual life. The Level One course is foundational for all three levels of CGS. + To explore the religious nature and the most vital religious needs of the 3-6 year old child. + To present the methodology and guiding principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. + To broaden the catechist’s ability to observe and learn from children, to listen with children to scripture and to deepen the catechist’s enjoyment of God’s presence. + To offer guidelines and assistance in preparing the “atrium” environment, developing the catechist’s teaching album, and making catechetical materials. + To meditate on the scriptural and liturgical themes presented to the 3-6 year old. [The first two sessions, on February 28 and March 7 will be offered free of charge and will serve as training for anyone who wants to work as an Assistant in the atrium] It is with great joy that we announce the work of our nonprofit corporation, Revolution of Tenderness! Since 2011, we have been providing engrossing and relevant programming, through the work of the Pittsburgh Encounter and the Youngstown Marian Pilgrimage, in Pennsylvania and Ohio. We offer exhibits on myriad topics, expert speakers on every subject to do with culture; and classical, jazz, and contemporary music concerts. The leadership at Revolution of Tenderness has successfully produced such diverse and well-attended projects as the Religious Sense Symposium, which took place at Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2011; the Pittsburgh Encounter, which offered speakers, exhibits, and concerts during three separate cultural festivals; and now the Festival of Friendship, which is in its fourth year. Meanwhile, we have also begun work on a new literary journal, titled Convivium Journal; a new publishing house called Mandylion Press; and we have numerous other exciting initiatives in the works! Our mission is to offer cultural, religious, and educational events and publications inspired by our tireless openness to all that is lovely and good; convinced, moreover, that human freedom only flourishes within a tenacious faithfulness to communion, our programming always seeks out and privileges unity in ourselves, within our world, and in our community.