We will be starting up Catechesis of the Good Shepherd again on September 12th, and in order to give the children more time in the atrium, it will be taking place after the 10 a.m. service from now on. You can learn more about the specifics and register your child here. As we’re leading up to this time, our Lead Catechist, Leah Wall, has some thoughts to share. This is the first part of her two-part blog series on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Redeemer. You can find the first part here.

Here at Church of the Redeemer, we have a unique and truly wonderful opportunity for our children. It’s called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the child, particularly the religious life of the child, is central to the interest and commitment of our adult staff and volunteers. These catechists seek to observe the children and invite them into a relationship with the Good Shepherd by echoing the Shepherd’s words. As a catechist, we live a shared religious experience according to the teaching of the gospel: “Except you become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 18:3). 

When the children come to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we use a unique name for our gathering space—it is the atrium. The word “atrium” actually means “porch entrance to a large house.” The atrium was a term chosen by Maria Montessori because in the ancient church, the atrium was a gathering space between the Church Proper and the street. It was the place where those preparing for initiation to the Church, would receive instruction. 

The atrium has a similar purpose for our children. It is a place to help them enter into full, conscious and active participation in the liturgical and communal life of the Church. 

The atrium is a community in which children and adults share a religious experience which facilitates participation in the wider community of the family, the church and other social spheres. The atrium is a place of prayer, a place of work, and a place of study. In this way, a true catechetical formation is experienced as they move through their childhood years.

The children are divided into two groups—ages 3 through 6 years and from 6 years through 3rd grade. We embrace Maria Montessori’s vision of the human being and, because of that, the attitude of the adult regarding the child; and prepare an environment which aids the development of the child’s spiritual life. When we gather, the majority of the time is reserved for the personal work of the children. Acknowledging that the true Teacher is God, the children AND adults place themselves in a posture of listening before his Word and seek to know the mysteries of the liturgical sacraments and liturgy.

The themes presented in the atrium on Sunday mornings are taken from the Bible and the liturgy—the prayers and sacraments. We believe these are fundamental sources for creating and sustaining Christian life at every age and developmental stage. Our atrium life is in harmony with the universal church, following the liturgical year. The Eucharist & Baptism are central to the life of the atrium at every level.

In the atrium, we proclaim the Word of God in the most objective manner possible, so that the words of the adults do not get in the way of communication between God who speaks and God’s children who listen.  The only aim of the words of the adult is to serve the listening to God’s Word, in accordance with Jesus’ own statement in the gospel: “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me.” (John 7:16)

As brothers and sisters in our faith community, you are welcome to come see for yourselves the way that Catechesis of the Good Shepherd seeks to honor the spiritual values of childhood and nurtures the formation of a consciousness which is oriented to the construction of the history of salvation in justice and solidarity. We would love for you to walk through during our Open House on August 29 after the service and see the beautiful atrium. Please pray, also, for these children and the families in our faith community. The true beauty of the atrium is seen in the work of God in the lives of those who worship there. Please reach out to me if you’d like to hear more about worshiping with the children in this space. 

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

-Isaiah 11:6 

-Leah Wall