Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

In fall of 2023 St. Benilde Catholic Church officially began offering Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to our St. Benilde school and parishioners in grades PK3, PK4, Kindergarten and 1st. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was created in 1954 in Rome, Italy by Sophia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi. Inspired by the work and insights of Maria Montessori, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a comprehensive approach to the faith formation of children which recognizes the tremendous religious potential of a child.

 The program is based on the conviction that God and the child are in a relationship that can be both deep and beautiful; while a 4-year-old may not be able to be a theologian, he or she can be a saint in communion with the triune God as seen by the lives of canonized saints such as St. Dominic Savio and St. Therese of Lisieux. The child has a deep need to experience and has a special capacity to recognize and enjoy God's presence. The task of the adult, then, is to accompany and help the child live fully this personal encounter with God.

 The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is based on the sound teaching of the Catholic Church's Tradition. It beautifully reveals the Good News of Sacred Scripture, exposing the children to and cultivating in them a love and reverence for the richness and sacredness of the Liturgy. You can learn more about this beautiful program by visiting www.cgsusa.org.