Lent: February 22 and 26

Level I (3-6 years)
Presentations:
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed continued
- For Lent we added the works of the "Empty Tomb" and "The Cenacle" (which means Last Supper).  Returning students are working with these and new students will be given the presentations throughout the season.
-Parable of the Found Sheep and Psalm 23

We introduced the children to the lenten season with a short prayer service and discussion of the color purple.  They should all know that purple is a symbol for "preparation" and that we're preparing for Easter.  During Lent we also start a few new works, including the Last Supper, the Empty Tomb, the Parable of the Found Sheep, and the Geography of Jerusalem.  These all help the children understand the story of the Passion.

Level II (7-9 years)
Presentations:
- The Parables of the Lost Coin, Forgiving Father (Prodigal Son), Found Sheep, and Good Shepherd
-A presentation about the Eucharistic presence of Christ that stems from the Good Shepherd parable
- More detailed geography and stories about the passion narratives

Notes: On Ash Wednesday Level II had a prayer service and received ashes.  Reception of ashes does not require a priest, so with our smaller staff of priests and with encouragement from Fr. Pat we had the catechists distribute ashes.

Level III (10-12 years)
Presentations:
-

Notes: Updates coming this Wednesday!

Ask the Right Questions, Get the Right Anwsers

One of our parent catechists suggested an idea for the blog.  She remembers that when she would ask her kids “what did you learn today at catechesis?” they wouldn’t seem to have much of a response.  After taking the catechist training and learning the language specific to CGS, she started asking a different question.  When she asked “what work did you do in the atrium today?” they would tell her all about what they’d done.  Thinking along those lines, here are some good questions and words to use with your children:

·        Did an adult/catechist show you a new work today?

·        What materials did you work with?

·        Which works did you do today?

·        Did you pray today?  What about?

As you can see, we don’t use the words “lesson” or “activity”, but instead talk about materials, works, and prayer.  Maybe these words will trigger better responses from your children.

Here’s what’s been going on:

Level I (3-6 years)
Presentations:
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed continued
- Altar II was presented to some students (Altar II introduces the tabernacle, ciborium, genuflection, bread and wine, and the idea that Jesus is present in the bread and wine.
-Preparation of the Cruets

We’re about to start the “parable of the leaven bread”, which is a huge favorite among the kids.  Once Lent starts we’ll be looking more at the parables and begin talking about baptism.

Level II (7-9 years)
Presentations:
-

Notes:


Level III (10-12 years)
Presentations:
- The Vocation of the Prophets continued
- Wednesday night’s class has been putting together a prayer service to celebrate and remember Clint Hunsche.  This will take place on Wednesday, Feb 8.

Notes: The students on Sunday night have been creating their own materials to reenact stories of the prophets that they’ve been studying.  I’m tentatively promising photos of this in the next post… These presentations on the prophets will continue in Level III for at least another week.

January 29th and February 1st

Level I (3-6 years)
Presentations:
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed
- A few remaining Advent parables (visitation of the magi, the presentation in the temple, etc.) were given to children who missed them in December.
- The Liturgical Calendar was presented to the older children

Sunday Notes: Behaviorally, the last two Sundays have gone much better than the first session after Christmas break.  Much thanks to the assistants who have helped tremendously to keep the children focused and to parents who have picked their children up earlier on weeks they’ve been restless.

Wednesday Notes: Last week the assistants were all catechists in training so we were able to start the session giving four different presentations at the same time.  This was an enormous help, as it let Diane work with the older children on a more advanced lesson.


Level II (7-9 years)
Presentations:
- Liturgical gestures
- Books of the Bible
- The “moral” parables (Lost Coin, Prodigal Son – called “The Forgiving Father” in CGS, etc.)

Notes: At the parent meeting for First Communion, we discussed when our children should memorize the traditional Catholic prayers (Hail Mary, Our Father, Apostle’s Creed, Act of Contrition, etc.).  Usually, this happens during the second grade year, so I encouraged our First Communion parents to work with their children on these prayers at home.  Level II does cover parts of the Hail Mary in the “Visitation” presentation, but it is not explicitly memorized.  The “Lord’s Prayer” or “Our Father” does not appear in CGS until Level III.


Level III (10-12 years)
Presentations:
- The Vocation of the Prophets, specifically Amos

Notes: The students on Wednesday night have been creating their own materials to reenact stories of the prophets that they’ve been studying.  I’m tentatively promising photos of this in the next post…  These presentations on the prophets will continue in Level III for at least another week.

CGS Topics Jan. 15 & 18

Level I (3-6 years)
Presentations:
 - Cruets (mixing of the water and wine)
* The Sunday session was rather difficult this week because a few children refused to follow directions.  We only had one trained catechist, which makes it difficult to give lessons to over 20 children.


Level II (7-9 years)
Presenations:
 - Books of the Bible
 - Mass parts (Julie tells me this was an especially good presentation)
 - Liturgical gestures


*On Sundays our focus right now is the Bible works, consisting of several lessons on the origin of the Bible and it's books, as well as Bible study.  We also attempt to highlight the Kingdom Parables (at Level II we explore them on a deeper level than Level I).  We always leave room for individual choices and many of the children like to explore the works that speak to them.  Some of them have produced their own booklets and stories and take a lot of pride in presenting what they have done to the group when we gather at the end of class.  Last week, a group wrote and illustrated about the crucifixion and going to church. Our focus will shift toward the maxims and moral parables as we get closer to Lent.


Level III (10-12 years)
Presentations:
 - The Voatcion of the Prophets, specifically Isaiah


*The presentations on the prophets will continue in Level III for at least two more weeks, covering multiple prophets incluing Amos, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

A New Year in St. Peter's CGS

What better way to start the new year than in gratitude?  Over the past few days I've been talking with parents of students in our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program to find out their feelings of the program - both what they like and what could use improvement.  I am so grateful for the honest and genuine responses of the families who have shared insights into the blessings and challenges of catechesis at St. Peter.  Your feedback helps us to improve the program, often in ways we would not have imagined otherwise.

This blog is a product of those conversations.  Parents said they'd love to know more about what their children are learning each week, so this blog is an attempt to communicate which lessons and songs are used in each level every week.  Presentations are given multiple times over the course of two or three weeks so that every children (in attendance) will receive each one.

Here's an example for the last week in December:

Level I (3-6 years)
Presentations:
  - The Annunciation
  - The Nativity
  - The Visitation

Songs:
   -"Light One Candle"
   -"Bright Morning Star"
   -"Come, Lord Jesus"

Level II (7-9 years)....

Each level's presentations and activities will be outlined like this.  If I can find them online, I'll link song lyrics to the blog as well.

I hope this helps you connect with what your children are learning every Sunday and Wednesday.

+ Peace - Mark