The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is based upon the belief that young children can and do experience God. In fact, the deepest mysteries of faith are proclaimed to the youngest children. The aim of the catechesis is “inamoremento”, falling in love. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd uses concrete materials to help the child fall more deeply in love with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who is the Risen Christ.

Through the proclamation of the Gospel, exploration of parables, and celebrations of liturgical events, the spiritual life of the child is carefully nurtured. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is as much about spiritual formation as it is about Christian Education. All materials in the atrium lead to prayer. Singing, prayer, and silence, which are integral to the atrium experience arise naturally, initiated by child or adult.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is unique in that it involves adults and children in a common religious experience in which the religious values of childhood are predominant. The adult who works with the child is called the catechist, meaning one who holds out the faith, and the specially prepared environment is called the atrium, a place which links the church and the outside world.

Catechists at St. James’:

1. acknowledge that opening the heart of a child to the unseen is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit.
2. believe the encounter between God and each of God’s children is unique, and deeply personal, and observe this relationship with deep respect.
3. trust the images of scripture to speak to all ages in all times.
4. seek to avoid stamping their own personal interpretations upon scriptures.
5. desire to support the God-given dynamic of growth and unfolding, seeking to present different aspects of the faith at the appropriate age and moment.
6. understand their role to be that of opening the great storehouse of the church’s riches (sacred story, liturgy, and parable) to the children so they may have at their disposal the tools for reflection and response.

Ages Three through Five

Catechesis for the three to five year old child explores the ever-present love of the Good Shepherd for His sheep. Joy and wonder are evoked as they discover the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven and the beauty of the Light that came into the world at Jesus’ birth. In time, they discover that they are precious sheep, that the Kingdom grows within them and that Jesus’ Light becomes theirs at Baptism. The major themes for this age group are Gift, Light, and Protective Love. These themes find expression not only in parable and sacred story, but also in liturgy. Eucharist becomes the Sacrament of Gift; Baptism becomes the Sacrament of Light.

First through Third Grade

Catechesis for this age child explores the unity of the History of the Kingdom of God as we discover God’s action in Time, Nature, and the Bible. Moral issues are explored through meditation on the parables and maxims of Jesus. The emphasis moves from the Good Shepherd to the deeper perspectives of the True Vine. The moments of creation, redemption, and parousia are introduced and deepened as the children meditate on God’s plan to bring all of creation to God’s Self. Time-lines are used to depict the unity and vastness of God’s Kingdom and to help the child discover his or her place in Salvation History.

A major theme for the whole of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is our covenant relationship with God. In the lessons for children three through first grade, the children learn about God’s love and commitment to them; in the lessons for eight through ten year olds, they begin to consider their response to God, which is their part in the covenant. The expression of this relationship through Liturgy is a thread that winds throughout the seven years of catechesis.

Holy Communion Classes & Holy Communion Retreat

Included in the 2nd cycle of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a series of meditations that helps the child better appreciate the gift of Eucharist. The classes are targeted for second and third graders, though the invitation is extended to older children. Offered every other year in the Spring, the five meditations occur over five consecutive Wednesday afternoons and are followed by a Saturday day long retreat. The retreat is a full day of preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which occurs in the afternoon with a priest. Parents and godparents are invited to the final celebration of the day which is the reaffirmation of Baptismal vows. Both the meditations and the retreat are held off the St. James’ campus.

Fourth and Fifth Grades

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
A major theme for the whole of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is our covenant relationship with God. Over a two year period, the fourth and fifth graders explore Salvation History, the history of God’s redeeming presence throughout time. Building on the understanding of the Bible as one book and one history, the children study the Old Testament stories of creation, the fall, Abraham, Moses, Exodus, and the prophets. Echoing throughout the presentations is the proclamation that “from the beginning of time a plan has existed in the mind of God to bring all people and all of creation to God’s self.” Now, in late childhood, the upper elementary child ponders his response to God, and begins to ask the questions, “What is my place in the kingdom of God?” and “Do my actions further or hinder the spread of God’s kingdom?”

Seasons of the Spirit
The Lectionary Class for fourth and fifth graders uses “Seasons of the Spirit” an Episcopal based curriculum which engages the children in Scripture, prayer, reflection, sharing, and creative response. Ritual and creative response come together as the children read the lectionary each Sunday and respond to the great Biblical truths through a variety of art media. This class weaves into the curriculum an array of children’s literature which is linked to the liturgical year and often to the Gospel or Old Testament reading for the day.