At a Glance
- Who it's for: Children ages 3–12
- Format: Weekly sessions during the school year in the atrium
- Contact: Jera Blanchard-Towns, [email protected]
Ministries
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
A Montessori-based faith formation program for children ages 3–12. Hands-on learning in a prepared space called the atrium.
About
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is different from a typical religious education class.
Based on Montessori principles, it respects the way children actually learn: through hands, through wonder, through quiet reflection. Sessions take place in a prepared space called the atrium, filled with child-sized materials: wooden figures for Bible stories, small altars for liturgical gestures, maps, models, and prayer corners.
Children aren't lectured. They're invited. They handle the materials, ponder the parables, and enter into the stories at their own pace. The emphasis is on relationship. The goal is helping children encounter Jesus as the Good Shepherd who knows them by name and loves them completely.
The program is designed for ages 3 through 12, with different levels for different developmental stages. What begins as simple wonder in the youngest children deepens over time into a mature understanding of Scripture, liturgy, and moral life.
Parents often notice the difference. Children come home singing the psalms, asking questions about Mass, playing "atrium" at home. Something takes root.
Get Involved
Contact Jera Blanchard-Towns at [email protected] to learn about registration, class schedules, and what to expect. Enrolling your child is an investment in their spiritual formation, one that can shape their faith for life.