Starting the 3rd weekend of September!
Schedule 2018-2019 ♦ Registration Form/Application
Brochure ♦ Learn More – Consider Volunteering
- Please note that Blessed Sacrament Church is not set-up to receive e-transfers.
- Kindly provide cash or cheque (payable to ‘Blessed Sacrament Parish’) when submitting the Registration Form.
Thank you for understanding!
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children that is based on the conviction that God and the Child are in relationship. Our role as adults is to protect and nurture this bond. In the Catechesis we present age-appropriate themes from the Bible and our liturgy with manipulative materials the children use to internalize and ponder the great mysteries of our faith.
The Catechesis seeks to give children the guidance and vocabulary which enable them to become aware of their relationship with God and give expression to it. With the Catechesis we help each child to continue to fall in love with God while building community among peers.
Each level of the child’s work explores the fundamental theme of covenant, God’s call and our response, as reflected in the Bible and as lived in liturgy. At Level I the 3-6 year-olds have the capacity to receive and enjoy the most essential elements of our faith: the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, the announcement of God’s love given for us in the person of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. At Level II the 6-9 year-olds focus on the image of the True Vine, deepening their relationship with God, family, friends and the larger community as they prepare for and celebrate communion, broadening their understanding of Mass.
Children need their own place to work with these essentials and many other key elements of our faith. This place is called an atrium. Montessori coined this term recalling the part of the Early Christian church building where catechumens would gather in preparation to join the church. Each atrium is specially designed with child-sized furniture including a prayer table for gathering, a model altar, as well as materials to deepen their familiarity with more parables and the Mass itself. After being presented with new material in a small group, children are free to choose work which particularly speaks to them to foster the growth of their own relationship.
A recent article in the Prairie Messenger, featuring our dedicated and engaging Ruth Ann, captures how the Christmas Story is lived within the Catechesis of the Good – Read Here
Endorsement of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by Archbishop Prendergast
CGS Endorsement Letter
Press Release – July 10, 2018
A New Home Found for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Blessed Sacrament Parish in the Ottawa Archdiocese!
Effective Fall 2018, the Fulton J. Sheen Room at Blessed Sacrament Parish will become a new home for The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The atrium at St. George’s RC Parish will move from its current location into this beautiful space so that it may serve through a multi parish CGS model. Addressing the variety of needs and limitations of parishes, the atrium at Blessed Sacrament will offer an invitation to collaborate by sharing atrium space and materials, so that many more children from across the diocese will have the opportunity to fall in love with the Good Shepherd.
Currently there are six parishes offering CGS to over 150 children weekly in the diocese. The Blessed Sacrament atrium does not increase the number of atria, but does hope to improve access for families and maximize resources so that more children can (in the words of CGS parents) “experience Our Lord in a hands on, developmentally appropriate way and get closer to Him in a world where it is becoming easier to keep Him out of our lives.”
Ruthann_mcclure@rogers.com
Cell: 613-884-6007
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Faith Formation Director for Children
Further information may be found at www.cgsac.ca or www.fymottawa.com
CGS NEWS
On Friday, November 30th, CGS catechists met at BSP for their annual Advent Gathering to prepare their hearts and minds to receive Jesus at Christmas. This year we had a prayer service in the church that was beautiful!
Beginning in the darkened church, each catechist lit a candle from the altar railing, then together processed singing “Christ is Light,“ to the feet of Mother Mary where they set down their candle around a mound of blessed, sweet smelling, red rose pedals!
After an opening prayer and song, “Come Lord Jesus,” we heard Luke 1: 26-38, The Annunciation to Mary, followed by a reflection from the book Living in Joyful Hope, Advent and Christmas Meditations, by Suzanne M. Lewis.
A long silence was broken with singing “Hail Mary,” followed by Prayers of Intercession and one decade of the rosary. Our closing prayer ended with the St. Michael Prayer and song “O Come O Come Emmanuel”.
Catechists were invited to keep their candles and to fill a bag with SACRAMENTAL rose pedals, a tangible aid to grace as they pray with a sincere heart to Jesus through Mary seeking her intercession in the needs of their lives. Our Lady of the Cape ……Pray for us!
Fellowship followed in the Fulton J. Sheen Library and atrium until 10:30 pm.
