Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The child between the ages of 3-6 is characterized by a natural attraction to God and prayer. This is the time when the child’s relationship with God takes root and begins to grow. The central image for this level is the Parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-21), which speaks to the child’s heart that God loves and cares for His sheep, protecting them and calling them by name. The child is also introduced to the Kingdom Parables, the accounts of Jesus life in the Gospels, as well as the articles and gestures of the Mass. It is a time for enjoying God and our relationship with Him.

The child between the ages of 6-9 is characterized by a developing reason and personal identity. Children at this age are presented with a deeper understanding of the Mass and the gift of the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confession.  The central image at this level is the True Vine (Jn 15: 1-9) in which we are invited to remain in intimate union with Jesus our Savior.

The children’s interest in right and wrong is nourished through the reading of moral parables like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37a), and the sayings, or maxims, of Jesus found in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5 – 7). Their imagination is fostered through presentations on the vastness of the history of the Kingdom of God.

The Plan of God is a central work for the oldest students in the atrium.  It inspires reflection on the many ways that human beings have cooperated with God throughout history to build unity among people and between Heaven and Earth.

Contemplation of the Plan of God throughout history, Scriptural typology, and the Jewish roots of the liturgy prompts the central questions of this level: How do all things fit into God’s plan?  What is my place in this plan?

As the child of the elementary years matures and the moral sense deepens, children begin to wrestle with the questions of sin and evil. This is a time when the more difficult moral parables, such as the Parable of the Debtors (Matthew 18:23-35) or the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), begin to interest the child, who is seeking to work out the realities of their own weaknesses and those they note in others. With guidance, they can begin to see and marvel at how God does indeed bring good out of evil.

Exploring the Rites of the Sacraments and the Cosmic dimension of the Mass fosters a more mature participation in the Liturgy as the source of grace and unity.

Meditation on the Parousia, when Christ comes again, becomes a source of hope for the child as difficulty will be resolved and all things are made new (Revelation 21:5).