In the Name of the Father...

Me: Gestures are actions we do with our body to send a message. This one is called the sign of the cross. (show gesture in front of mirror while saying in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit)

Child makes same motion while looking in the mirror

Me: What sign did we just make over our body?

Child: The cross

Me: What message do you think we are sending?

Child: The cross is over us so we remember Jesus has a home in our heart.

Getting to know the Saints

This is the time of year that we have the children sort through their bulging folders and take their work home. We sift through everything they have. During the month of November, one of the level III (grades 4-6) catechists introduced the notion of holy cards when discussing the saints. When going through work folders we made some interesting discoveries. Here are some samples of what the children came up with.

Prophecies: Small but Important

During Advent in the atrium at all three levels we delve into what the prophets had to say about the coming of the Messiah.  It's fascinating.

When discussing Micah 5:1 the catechist posed the question Why do think it was important that the Messiah be born in a such a small town?

A child's response, it's God telling us that even if you may be small you are still very important in the eyes of God. 

The Annunciation

Artwork - Reflecting the Sacred: 2

Note: In this quiet zone Jesus is present. See the "T"

Artwork - Reflecting the Sacred: 1

Father Abraham

The Lord brought Abraham outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’

~Genesis 15:5 

In level III (ages 9-12) we read the story of Abraham. When asked the question, what does this story mean for us today as we look toward Parousia (Jesus' Second Coming)?  A child responded:

At the end, at Parousia, it will be all of Abraham's descendants that are there.

* * *

When the Lord finally gave Isaac to Abraham he asked for the ultimate sacrifice. 

Spontaneous Prayer

This Kindergartner set up the altar and answered the call to stillness in prayer that the Good Shepherd was calling her to.

The Pharisee & The Tax Collector

In level II (ages 6-9) we have spent the week discussing the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector. A child brings her painting of parable to the drying table. When asked why she chose to include a rainbow in her picture she responded adamantly:

I put the rainbow over both the Pharisee and Tax Collector - even though the Pharisee has a bragging heart he is still one of the Good Shepherd's sheep.

...and the sea was no more...

Tonight during atrium, level 3 (ages 9-12), some questions about Parousia came up. So, as our closing reflection we read Revelation 21: 1-5. We read through it and each child shared what word or phrase touched them.

One child's response: and the sea was no more.

This started a lively conversation. When Jesus returns, and God is all in all, why will it matter that there is no sea? 

Sharks are in the sea. They are bad. You can drown in the sea. But what about Baptism? Water is good.

Then one child spoke up: If God is going to walk with humanity, there will be no seas because the seas cause distance between lands and people. 

Then another person chimed in:  the land will be such that everything and everyone is close together since God will be with everyone.


Parousia - that time when Jesus returns and God will be all in all - and the sea will be no more - so as to ensure no division and no unreachable distances.

A Very Special Container

After the presentation on the articles of the altar, a 6 year old girl decided to trace the ciborium. When asked about her drawing - what is this a picture of?  "This is the cup that holds Jesus in the Tabernacle. This cup holds Love"

Introducing Your Catechists

Back in August, all of your St. Dennis Catechists and Assistants got together for a day of reflection. During our time together we spent some time working in the atrium, just like the children. Also, during this time we talked about how much we love the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and how it affects our lives. Here are some of our reflections. 

Sundays

Shana Cavanaugh explores the
Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids.

Level I, Head Catechist: Shana Cavanaugh

I absolutely relish in watching the young child's joy, exploration and discovery of their new relationship with God.

Level I, Catechist Assistant: Kim Mayer

I love Catechesis of the Good Shepherd because the young child finds numerous means to articulate his/her relationship with God. As an adult I learn so much more about my faith through them and this program.

Kim Mayer reads The Plan of God.

Anita Kube works on the Bible Cabinet.

Level II, Head Catechist: Anita Kube

I have been a Catechist since 2005. The Atrium is special to me because the children grow in their relationship with God. there is a beautiful, peaceful presence in the Atrium. Each child is a gift. I love whenthe children learn that God is love and Love is everything. 

Level II, Catechsts Assistants: Mike Kube, Alexis Kube, Karyn O'Connor

I love working with the children in this peaceful environment and learning about God with them. 

~ Karyn O'Connor 

Level III, Head Catechist: Susan Bussey

What I love most about the atrium is that I am growing and evolving spiritually along with the children.

Level III, Catechist Assistant: Donna Donohue

Donna Donohue explores
The Last Supper

What I love most about the atrium is seeing the children grow spiritually and become closer to God. Personally, I myself being part of the atrium, I feel a sense of closeness to God and the Church, more so than I've ever felt in the past. 

Tina Davidson reflects on
the Adoration of the Shepherds

Monday

Level I, Head Catechists: Tina & Mike Davidson

I love the way the children in the atrium develop their own personal understanding of a their relationship with the Good Shepherd.

Level I, Catechist Assistant: Donna Massey

I love the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd because it is a hands-on program for kids. 

Level II, Head Catechist: Sr. Peggy Wessel, CSJ

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is essential for my life - with God, in relationships, in community, with children...

Sr. Peggy is also the Head Catechist for St. Dennis School, 3rd Grade. 

Level II, Catechist Assistants: MarcieJo Kirby & Carmel Hoak

Mike Davidson explores the Plan of God.

Level III, Head Catechist: Venus Wozniak

I love journeying with the children through study of the liturgy and scripture. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is the perfect way to do this. 

Level III, Catechist Assistants: Ginny Bollinger, Carly Davidson 

I have been involved with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as a Catechist for 10 years. I love how the Good Shepherd has brought me closer to God through the eyes of children. My time in the atrium is truly a blessing in which I am very thankful.

~ Ginny Bollinger

Wednesday

Level I, Head Catechist: Venus Wozniak

Level I, Catechist Assistant: Kate Vallentine, Allie Boyer

When looking into religious education programs for my daughter so she can prepare for her first communion, I came across CGS at St. Dennis.  The Montessori approach to teaching and that younger children were encouraged to participate in the education programs was what interested me the most, along with the fact that St. Dennis seemed like a much more active church than the one we had belonged.   This year will be a growing and learning process for all us and I am very much looking forward to helping the beautiful children in my atrium grow in God’s love.

~Kate Vallentine 

Level II, Head Catechist: Jackie Sulich

Level II, Catechist Assistant: Jenny DiGiovanni, Sabrina Plebanek

Lisa Boyer calligraphs a Maxim.

Level III, Head Catechist: Lisa Boyer

I have been a Catechist in the Good Shepherd in Levels I, II, III for the past 12 years. The Good Shepherd has been and continues to be the answer to a prayer. The parable of the Good Shepherd is my favorite work that weaves through all three levels. We begin as very young children learning that God loves us unconditionally, knowing us each by name. He cares for us. As we grow we come to understand our role in God's Kingdom and how the Shepherd continues caring for us as we work and pray.

Level III, Catechist Assistants: Sue DiAmore, Jackie Bedore

In addition to being a wife, a mom of three (ages 17 through 12,) and Director of Campus ministry at Benet Academy, I have been a member of the CGS community for 14 years as a trained catechist in all three levels and as a level I national trainer for the Catechesis. The thing I love most about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is seeing the children spend time in quiet with God and knowing that his Word is at the heart of what we do.  What a precious gift we--no matter the age-- have been given!  

~ Jackie Bedore

I have bee helping with CGS for one year - last year with Lisa Boyer on Wednsday.   I love being around the kids.  Some have such a hunger for God and have taught me to see God on a different level than I would normally.  They have such a clear and uncluttered vision of Him.

~ Sue D'Amore

School Catechists

Amisu Estrada and Donna Massey
reflect on the Infancy Narratives
of Jesus' Life.

Level I, Head Catechists: MaryAnn Salek, Michele Pall, Lisa Boyer

Level I, Catechist Assistants: Midge Malinger, Jean Summins, Amisu Estrada, Kari Kinnard

My family is new to St. Dennis. I love the hands-on experience of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and the emphasis on how much the Good Shepherd loves His children. 

~ Amisu Estrada

Sr. Peggy engages in the
practical life work of flower arranging.

Level II, Head Catechists: Sr. Peggy Wessel, Michele Pall, Lisa Boyer, Venus Wozniak

Level II, Cateachist Assistants: Kari Aiello

I am in love with the Good Shepherd. 

~ Michele Pall

Level III, Head Catechists: Lisa Boyer, Michele Pall, Venus Wozniak

Passing on the Heritage of Faith

The Slide Show

Create your own free picture slideshow

Advent, Prophecies and Prophets

In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd during Advent we spend our time with the prophets. It is quite fascinating as a Catechist to explore what the prophets said about the Messiah  before he came. The children also find it quite exhilarating. These prophecies lend themselves to some great artwork.

The work below is from CGS level III children of St. Dennis Parish and School

Isaiah 9:6

from Numbers 24

In Level III we also spend sometime learning about the prophets who left us these prophecies. Who were these people? Why did God choose them? How did God choose them? What was special about them?

The drawing below is one child's depiction of the Call of Isaiah. 

You can read the account here

Altar Work

In order to participate more fully in the Liturgy, we present to the children the articles of the Mass so that they come to know the names of these objects and their purposes. There is a three year cycle in which we show the children the different objects used during the Liturgy. Recently, the children in both Level I (ages 3-6) and Level II (ages 6-10) have been spending time with the works of the Altar. Notice how the pieces of this work are real (not representations) and they are an appropriate size for smaller hands.

The children review the articles presented in years past: altar cloth, paten, chalice, candles and crucifix. In level I they are introduced to new articles: lectern, lectionary, tabernacle, ciborium, sanctuary lamp.

The children learn that Christ is present with us in the tabernacle and in the word. The words in our lectionary are taken directly from scripture. After learning the names and the purpose of each of these articles, we spend a moment in reverence at our altar. Children learn to set out these articles in our atria in prayerful reverence.

When you go to mass with your  children this weekend, we encourage you to point out these articles and discuss their uses.

Parables: The Lost Coin

I did The Found Coin with my 6-9 group on Sunday morning. We were discussing the ways that God (the woman) might find us when we are lost. One of the older ones in the class said, "Redemption."

I responded, "What a beautiful thought: that he gave His only son so that we can be found and rejoice eternally with the saints."

************
Susan Bussey

Catechist

6-9 atrium

Sunday Morning

The Plan of God: As Explained by Our Children

The first month of work in the level II and level III atria we focus on the Plan of God. We reflect on the fact that God does indeed have a plan, it is revealed to us in the Bible, and we have a part in the plan. Below you will find some artwork and reflections of the children. 

Chaos into Creation - 6th Grader

The story of Creation starts with chaos. God created the Universe, rocks, minerals, plants, and animals. Then he created humans.

God gave people the hand so they could create different things. It's special because other animals didn't have this. People made tools and other things.

6th Grader

Symbol of Redemption - 5th Grader

The next major event in The Plan of God is Redemption - the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. After Jesus ascended into heaven, history continued. The part of history we are in now is the Blank Page.

The Blank page is the part of the Plan of God between when Jesus rose and Parousia. My part is to be the messenger of God and deliver His words.

5th Grader

The Blank Page is right now. It is our role to make it a good future. God expects us to try to live good lives and to learn and teach about him so that people who come after us can live like us. God wants us and everyone who lives after us to praise him and go to heaven with Him.

6th Grade

I think the blank page is that it is our turn to make history by doing what God tells us to do. My role in God's Plan is to believe in him and to further extend the kingdom.

6th Grader

The final event in The Plan of God is Parousia. God will be all in all.

There will be peace forever. There will be victory over death.

7th grader

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, 

for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Your Catechists: Celebrating the Call to Serve

Back in the summer all of us catechists gathered to prepare for the new catechesis year. We each went around the circle to introduce ourselves and how it was that we came to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Two themes came forth during this time:

1. Each of us felt called by the Good Shepherd to be listening to his voice with children.
2. Each of us were deeply aware of the profound wisdom the child has to offer through his/her prayer with the Good Shepherd.

How blessed is St. Dennis to have such a joyful, faith-filled group of catechists to serve our children. God is so Good!

Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them. What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive god's kingdom like a little child will never enter it.

 Matthew 10:14-15

Level I Catechists - Amy Allison, Cris Bentey, Karyn O'Connor (Asst.), Dennis Boisevert, Lisa Boyer, Anna-Marie Forbes (Asst), Michele Pall, Tina Davidson, Mike Davidson, Mary Ann Salek (not shown) Divina Cruz (not shown)

Level II Catechists - Christen Morris, Lisa Boyer, Jackie Sulich, Susan Bussey, Teresa Monos, Michele Pall, Ginny Bollinger (not shown) Anita & Mike Kube (not shown)

Level III Catechists - Lisa Boyer, Venus Wozniak, Michele Pall