A Sacred Space

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Christian formation process for children aged 3 to 12 years, in which they experience and form an authentic, faithful relationship with God. The Catechesis is grounded in scriptural and liturgical study framed by Maria Montessori’s principles of education. This allows children to hear the Gospel through the use of sensorial rich materials. The children are free to work with these materials that represent essential proclamations of the Christian message.

The adult’s task is to prepare the sacred space for the children, called ‘the atrium’, so that they can respond to this holy relationship, first proclaimed to them through Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
The atrium is a place of community and worship rather than a classroom for academic study. It is a place to be with and enjoy God, listen to the Word, and to pray. It is designed to reflect the beauty of creation and God’s abiding love.

“If we want to help the child
draw nearer to God,
we should
with patience and courage
seek to go always closer
to the vital nucleus of things.

 This requires study and prayer.
The children will be our teachers
if we know how to observe them.”
Sofia Cavallatti