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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Introduction

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a catechetical programme especially for pre-school learners (3-6 years old) based on the approach of Maria Montessori. She believed that young children needed to know God and feel secure in His love. Her approach was adopted by Dr Sofia Cavaletti and Gianna Gobbi in the development of a religious formation program known as "CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD".

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Through their interaction with the Catechist and a specially prepared environment known as the Atrium, children experience an authentic and personal relationship with God

Even from their earliest years, they experience the love and care of the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for His sheep.

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How is CGS Different?

 
 
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori approach to faith formation that is profoundly biblical, sacramental and prayerful - where the young child embarks on a joyful journey to know and love Jesus.

CGS believes in the inherent relationship between God and the child “before you were born I knew you, before you were born I consecrated you”(Jer I:5), and nurtures that innate relationship.

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The Atrium is the place which enables the child to build an authentic and deep personal relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

CGS introduces Jesus as a real person,

living at a real time, in real place on our planet earth.

CGS tells the child stories of the life of Jesus using three-dimensional figures, which the child sees, touches and feels.

These stories are told not in the catechist’s own words but the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit, who is the Teacher in the Atrium, brings the Word to the heart and mind of the child.

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CGS gives the child time to grow in meditation and contemplation: using the Montessori principle of self- discipline, whole-person education, respect of the individual, to help the child prepare his body and mind for contemplation.

THE ATRIUM

 
 

Walk into a CGS Level 1 (L1) Atrium and you will see a room filled with child-sized catechetical materials and furniture neatly arranged.

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Atrium Environment respects and cultivates the 3-6- year old needs, capacities, and level of development in terms of the child’s physical and spiritual formation.

It invites the child to move closer to see, to touch, to feel, to imagine, and to ‘work’.

It is the place where the spiritual life of the child is nurtured, a place of work that becomes prayer and conversation with God,

a place where the child grows in the knowledge of Jesus and His love. 

Atrium is not a classroom, it is a place of worship - a spiritual environment. 

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The children dust, sweep, clean, scoop, walk slowly, speak softly... in the Atrium.

Not only are these useful for everyday life; there is a spiritual dimension in these activities.

The child engages in these activities with concentration, peace, and contentment, which are key attributes of prayer and meditation.

As the child's capacity for concentration grows, so does his/her ability to listen to presentations and meditate on the aspects

of the Bible and the liturgy in the Atrium.

Level 1 ATRIUMS

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Please note: You can click on the Button and be directed to their Google Maps.

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CHURCH OF OUR MOTHER OF
PERPETUAL HELP (OMPH)
ATRIUM (Ipoh) from
PENANG DIOCESE

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Team Members

Coordinator

Jessica Retnasamy

Treasurer

Thong Soak Tai

Core Team

Secretary

Auselia Lee

Jacqueline Lean

Peggy Goh

Find out more about this marvellous program for young children
and reach out to our CGS team today!

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Archdiocesan Catechetical Centre

 Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur

03 - 2026 6466 / 2020 0000

Archdiocesan Catechetical Centre

c/o Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre

No. 5, Jalan Robertson

50150 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Copyright © 2023 KL Archdiocesan Catechetical Centre

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