History of the Kingdom of God is Present NOW

Since the beginning of time, a plan has been present in the mind of God to give mankind His life in His kingdom. 

Parousia is a hidden, not yet happened moment - that we have some clues for, but which we do not as yet fully comprehend. 

God will be all in all.

And His kingdom will have NO END. 

What will my child learn in the atrium?

These charts show the progression of themes experiences throughout the three levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium.

Sources: 

This image represents our three main sources. The two key sources highlighted the most often are the Bible and the Liturgy, remembering that the new universal Catechism of the Catholic Church is recent. 

Level 1 - ages 3-6

At this age, everything centers around the experience of Jesus Christ in the world. 

Level 2 - ages 6-9

Level 2 condenses and deepens level 1 while adding in some components, including history.
Creation - purple here represents the Old Testament (preparing for Jesus to come); gold for the time of Christ; "gray" (to off-set the white background) for the current time or the blank page, including the way that we see Jesus today - on the altar; and gold again for the time we are awaiting: Parousia, when God will be all in all. The colors used in the atrium have tan for the "Old Testament" time period, but we have already introduced the children to purple for preparation with the prophecies in level 1 and learning the colors of the liturgical season, thus I chose purple for my purposes on this chart. 

Level 3 - ages 9-12+ (appropriate for teens and adults too!)

And at this level we really highlight the "golden thread" that connects all of Salvation History. 

This post gives something of a quick overview of each level as well: 

Beginning of the Chronicles

Interested in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation courses ("training") - or interested in knowing what the catechists study in their 90-120 hours courses to be a catechist at any given level? 

UPDATED January 2020

3, 2, 1 - Atrium!!!

3 AWESOME ladies!

2 brand new level 2 atrium spaces!

1 fantastic week!


This is not even *all* the material making done by these 3 awesome ladies during our recent level 2 formation course. We covered all of the Kingdom of God presentations, all of Moral Formation, all of Incarnation which includes the level 2 prophecies, level 2 geography, and level 2 Infancy Narratives), and all of Paschal Mysteries.

Whew.

Given these ladies worked through the several evenings as well, this is still a phenomenal feat to have most of the new materials done for these presentations already!

They even did more after this - decoupaging their maxims tablets and Greatest Commandment tablets, drilling one last hole in a pin map, additional layers of polyurethane, probably some more nail filing too!



Want to join us for an upcoming Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation course?


Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Course
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Lafayette, Indiana
Part 1: June 6-10
Part 2: July 25-29

$300 includes all course fees, overnight accommodations, 2 meals a day, some small materials, lots of prayer time and learning by all!
Books purchased separately (the required book list will be e-mailed to you)

Overnight accommodations provided on-site (in the old convent above the parish offices) - 2 single beds (with all needed linens) per room, shared bathroom, multiple shower stalls; access to a kitchen; snacks, lunch and dinner provided; on-site wireless internet access.

No experience required to begin! Just an open heart!

Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd focuses on the child who is 2.5 years old through their 6th birthday or the school year they turn 6. Many of the principles involved are universal through all stages of life and all periods in time.

Part 1 will focus on the foundations of CGS and on the 3 year old child (first year in the atrium).

Part 2 will focus on the work and experiences of the 4 and 5 year old children.



Montessori Essentials Course for all Montessori adults! 
       Catechesis of the Good Shepherd *assistants*
       Montessori Homeschoolers
       Montessori Classroom Assistants
June 6 8a-5p
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Lafayette, Indiana

Learn the basics of Montessori that apply to all environments, along with the following:

• History of Montessori
• Exercises of Practical Life - preliminary skills, care of the environment, care of self and more
• Grace and Courtesy lessons
• Walking on the Line
• Silence Game/Activity
• Basic art lessons

$50 for the day (evening-before lodging available only as space permits)

NB: While the focus of the whole course is on the religious potential of the child as seen through a Montessori whole-child perspective, this first day will primarily focus on the universal aspects of the Montessori approach to life; thus anyone of any faith background who wants to utilize or learn more about the Montessori approach will benefit.



Level 2 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Course
Dover, Indiana
Part 1: June 20-24 
Part 2: TBD
$200 for Part 1

The level 2 course focuses on the 6-9 year old - includes review and more intense depth of all level 1 concepts while initiating exploration of Salvation History, focusing on conscious moral formation, and formal preparation for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation.

Limited on-site overnight accommodation may be available. Nearby lodging options available for an additional fee.

Contact: Jessica Welsh for more information