Essentiality

We had a wonderful talk today by Rebekah Rojcewicz.
(I will be adding to this post later in the week when I have more time, but wanted to post this bit)

She challenged each of us to walk around the atrium; look at each material; and state the ONE main teaching. This is the *most essential* teaching and is the one thing you want the children to know, if you teach them nothing else (and we probably do NOT want to teach anything else because the message could be lost in the multiplicity of words and ideas!).

This is what we call one HUMONGOUS map of Israel.
Perhaps too big? Yikes! 

She used the story of a man coming to visit your atrium. He knows nothing about the faith, but this is your ONE HOUR with him. What is the deepest, most essential message that you will give him about each material as you tour the atrium with him.

Suggestion: Land and Water Globe
Of all the many places on this vast earth, God chose one tiny place to come to us as a man, to be born, to live, to die, to return to life and ascend into heaven: Israel.


This exercise can be done in every atrium. I look forward to doing this in all three levels as soon as I get back home :)

Beginning of the Chronicles

Over the years, I have not kept a journal of my experiences in the various atrium settings that have blessed me so much... I have notes here and there, but I look back now and wish I had a true journal of my journey.

Well, I can start this one anyway :)

I have been doing some level 3 presentations in my home for the past 3 years and have assisted in a level 3 atrium at a Catholic Montessori school in Cincinnati, but this year, I begin a new journey: level 3 catechist at our local parish for grades 4, 5, and 6. I have two sessions each week, with different children each time.

I will also be catechist for a combined level 2 and level 3 atrium for homeschool children at said Montessori school. Many of these children are brand new to the atrium, so this combination atrium will be fantastic. I have accepted a small number of kindergarteners who turn 6 early-ish in the year as well. More on this group in another post :)

I look forward to documenting and sharing my experiences in each of these sessions. I will NOT be sharing names or photos of the children's faces. In my posts, I will use their first initial only.


A quick summary of the levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:

Level 1 - ages 2 1/2 - 6: establishing the reality of a current relationship with the Good Shepherd who knows me by name, loves me and will do anything for me that is for my benefit of remaining with Him. This is both enough and far more than enough.
God gave us His life, His Light, His joy in abundance.

Level 2 - ages 6 - 9: The Good Shepherd, the True Vine, asks for a response: Remain in Me. Explore the ways that we Remain in Him: sacraments, actions, choices. Emphasis on REMAIN.
God has given us so many gifts, even those of the earth. We have nothing without Him. Nothing. We want to remain in Him.

Level 2 introduces us to the Blank Page - the present day moment of the History of the Kingdom of God that is being written RIGHT NOW by God together with people, in the same way the Bible itself was written. We truly delve into this History.

Level 3 - ages 9-12 and into adulthood ;) : Now we deepen our exploration of this "response". It is more than a passive remaining now. It is an active seeking. An active response in thanksgiving for the great gifts that God has bestowed upon us, for the reasons He created us and loves us. What will fill my blank page? How will I respond to the gifts of God? God has a Plan - how do I fit in and how can I help it move along towards the final moment of the Parousia?
We explore the History even further: the Jewish People, Typology of Creation, Sin, Flood, Abraham and Moses/Exodus; Parousia when "God will be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28).


What a fantastic journey!