Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

CFMS is one of the few Montessori schools to have a religious education curriculum. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a unique Catholic spiritual formation program using the Montessori method.The Catechesis was developed by Sofia Cavalletti, Scripture scholar and author of  “The Religious Potential of the Child,” through more than forty years of observing and working with children.  It is the joyful, peaceful response of the children themselves that has inspired and determined the content of this unique program.

The Catechesis fosters the child’s own relationship with God.  It uses materials the children can see and touch.  Through prayer and song, reading and listening to the Bible with the children, and giving the children time to work with the materials in each lesson, the Catechesis allows children to grow in their relationship with God.

The Atrium is the environment containing the beautiful materials, that focus on the Bible and the Liturgy.  While staff catechists present most of the lessons and materials in the Atrium, all of the classroom teachers are familiar with the materials and can assist the children in their use.
In addition to the work in each Atrium, there are several school-wide prayer services each year.  These liturgical celebrations are the Thanksgiving Liturgy, the Epiphany Liturgy (after Christmas), and the Liturgy of the Light (an Easter Liturgy).