At Sacred Heart Villa, we believe that God and the child have a unique relationship with one another, particularly before the age of six. We are convinced that there is a deep bond between God and the child which produces in the child the desire to draw near to God. For that reason, we have chosen the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as part of our curriculum.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was founded in the 1950s by two Italian women: Sofia Cavalletti, a scripture scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, an expert in Montessori education. Together they conceived of a simple, attractive method for sharing the richness of the Faith with children, who can accept the beauty of God's love.
At the Villa, the Catechist prepares an environment called the "Atrium" and makes presentations that "call forth" the child's response rather than "pour in" information. They listen with the child and together ask, "God, who are you? How do you love me?"
Once a week, the children are invited in small groups to come to the Atrium. After the theme has been presented, the child is free to choose an activity that makes possible the inner dialogue with "Jesus, the Interior Teacher." The Atrium is a place of quiet work which becomes a conversation with God.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is Mass-centered. The liturgical colors, the priest's vestments, and the objects used at Mass are part of the presentations. The children are also introduced to biblical and liturgical themes. Some of the materials include maps of Israel, the liturgical calendar, the baptismal font, and figures and dioramas used to tell biblical stories. They are introduced to the infancy narratives as well as the parables. The parable of the Good Shepherd, with its message of God's unfailing love, is central to the program.