Parables..

From the CGS National July newsletter for parents:

A Word About Parables: When we are in the Atrium with the children, we announce the parable, meditate with the children and wonder with them about the words of Jesus. We allow the child to work with the materials as part of their own meditation, as well as time for silence, prayer or song. The most difficult thing for us to do as adults is to simply stop and be still. We do not want to put ourselves between the Word of God and the child. In parables, we let the scripture do the teaching. We do not tell the children how to interpret parables, offer definitions of the parable, as no one formula or definition speaks to everyone at the same time.

When this methodology was in its infancy, Sofia sometimes referred to it as the 'Parable method.'  Until I began my own formation, I certainly did not comprehend the depth and value of this manner of teaching. In college, I appreciated the 'just the facts' type profs, although if I look back, I admit I learned much more as I went down various rabbit trails based on the snippets of information I was given in class. 

Notes I took during my first CGS formation more than a decade ago:

A parable offers images that help us to penetrate mysteries too deep to communicate in definitions, too rich to capture in just one definition.  There is no single interpretation, making them accessible to everyone.  Parables leave listeners with a sense of wonder and help us to see the splendor in  the ordinary – help us to see through this world into the mystery that lies behind it. Listeners are invited to search together for the meaning – the line between student and teacher is erased as we become co-wonderers.

Cavalletti says “The use of a definition betrays the reality that God is unfathomable.”  While a parable is the beginning of a conversation, a definition is a closed door.  Definitions do not stir any interior reflection or work in the child, instead giving a finished product and failing to draw the child into the process.  Parables help us enter into mysteries too deep to describe with mere definitions.

“Explanation is like the pin that immobilizes the butterfly.” Sofia

I often think about that last statement when I hear sermons detailing exactly what was meant by a certain parable. Personally, the parables say something different to me each time I encounter them and I marvel at the very aptly named "living word!"

As an adult, I'm privileged to share scripture both with other adults and with children. I think what has caught me most unaware, is the living aspect of the word of God. Every single time I encounter Christ through scripure He has something new to say to me. What a lovely gift that is!

~ Beate


Here are two of the parables we share with the children - can you see the tiny mustard seed that is lying on the card?

November Update from the Atria

It has been a year of changes for us at St. Thomas, some good and some sad. Last month we said "Good-Bye" to Janet Hernandez, who joined us in February to manage the traditional RE programs for the teens and adults. I know she will be missed, especially by the youths who were priviledged to attend a mission trip with her this past summer. We all pray for the repose of her soul and for peace and comfort for her loving family.

Our atria are bursting at the seams, especially Level 2! It is a joy to see Catechesis of the Good Shepherd embraced by the community. In fact, we've grown so much that it became necessary to open another time slot. Last month, we began meeting on Thursday afternoons between 4:30 and 6:00. We have a small group of children in all the levels, which makes for a peace-filled afternoon.

One little boy comes on Sundays and Thursdays, which has really helped him to enter deeply into the work. Last week he was pondering the Parable of the Leaven and chose to make two batches of dough, one with yeast and one without. At the end of the period, he contemplated the results with the catechist: "Look, it really is like the Kingdom of Heaven!" he exclaimed with delight and surprise. This little four year old has managed to reveal a bit of Heaven to the rest of us with his joy and acceptance.

The level 2 children have been revisiting the gestures of the Mass that are presented in Level 1 and placing them into the rite of the Mass. It's interesting to see the children's appreciation for the innate order of our liturgical life. The Thursday group is mostly new to the atrium, so now that we've looked at the big picture, we'll break it down into the moments. I'm looking forward to sharing the mingling of the water and wine with this group.

In Level 3, we've been unpacking moments of the Mass. Last Sunday a group of children worked with the Memorial, which traces the Eucharistic celebration from the Last Supper to today and into Parousia. Eventually, we'll study Exodus and trace those roots back even further. One student, new to the Church, was amazed to hear the prayers we looked at in class later on during Mass. It's a gift for the children to recognize the power of the words that we adults often just allow to wash over us without too much notice.

This is my work from yesterday - I wanted to meditate on the memorial it a bit. The words of Christ are on small cards which are moved down through the ages - it's hard to see on the phone photo. I'll have to bring the camera to work at some point.

You can see the Structure of the Mass chart behind the Cenacle (or Last Supper) work, not because that's where it belongs, but because a child left it out on Sunday in order to finish the work the next week :-)

~ Beate

Welcome Once Again!

I'm so happy to see many new and returning faces in our atria this year. My goal was to write out an nice orientation for you, but alas, time has once again slipped away from me so I'm linking to a blog post by fellow catechist Mandie DeVries in which she summarizes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and compares it with the traditional education most of us received.

http://allsaintscgs.blogspot.com/2010/09/parent-orientation-in-sum.html

Please feel free to call, text or email me if you have any questions or concerns.

Beate

Busy getting ready

We've been dusting, sorting, rearranging and taking inventory which leads to material making :-) If anyone feels inspired to join us, I'll be at the atria from 10-6 on Thursday.

Below are 6 little apostles, baked and waiting to be painted. 

Video Introduction of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The quote below is from an older video no longer available, but is still resonates :-)

"We just believe in this so much that we're willing to drive 30 miles, one way, to make sure that our children are getting the fullness of their faith."

This resonated with me, since I've been driving to one atria or another for the past 11 years! None of them were less than 20 miles away, but it's been such a beautiful journey.

Summer Catechesis??

While talking to parents about VBS, Sarah was told by several parents how much their children missed the atrium. It would be lovely to have enough catechists available to be able to continue throughout the year for the children who'd like to be there.

The atrium is such a treasure for both the children and the catechists who share the faith with them. Each week brings moments of pure joy into our lives. Even though my plate is full to overflowing, this is one thing that is necessary for my own relationship with Christ. It's a spiritual retreat amidst a life that is often chaotic and exausting and I'm grateful to the Holy Spirit for guiding me here.

In the peace of the Good Shepherd,
Beate

Parent Resource

Check out this wonderful new page at the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:

Resources for Parents

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19: 14

Each child is an important person to you as parents and to God. Parenting is a ministry, a service to life. You, as a parent, have the dignity of being the “original and irreplaceable”[1] person in your child’s religious journey. 

The family is the primary community in the faith journey of the child, it is the “domestic church,” because it is within the life of the family we find the first and privileged place of the Christian community lived. Here, you as parents are “the first heralds of the faith”[2]  Here “faith works through love” and a relationship with God can begin to be nurtured. You, as parents, have shared the gift of human life with your child, and through Baptism, have enriched your child with a share in God’s own life. Your faith, your attitude toward others, and your trust in a loving God strongly influences the development of your child’s faith.[3] We offer these suggestions to help you nurture your child’s developing relationship with God.

Read the rest here: http://www.cgsusa.org/parentresources.aspx