Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
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Hi! My name is Mary Cassleman and I will be leading the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I class for children 4 year olds this year. I learned about the Good Shepherd program several years ago when it was still offered here at St. Mary’s. I undertook the 90 hour certification so that I could teach this beautiful program to my kids and their families, which includes 14 grandchildren. I am glad that I can share with children of our parish.
The philosophy of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is that even very young children have a religious life. God is present to them in their deepest being and they are capable of developing both a conscious and intimate relationship with God. We provide materials based on age-appropriate Scripture passages and liturgical signs that nurture their relationship with God. The program balances exposure to our liturgy and the richness of our communal sacramental life with reading the Bible. Our program begins with presenting the New Testament to the children. The youngest learn about Jesus and the beauty and wonder of the Kingdom of God through carefully chosen Bible verses that foster a deep love for Jesus. Classes are structured to offer a time of prayer and song, a time for the “presentation” and a time for individual work by the child. |
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