The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level II
November 04, 2008 - Level 2, Issue 1 |
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| Dear CGS Level II Parent |
Since the first catechesis sessions in October this year, Level III parents have been receiving e-newsletters as part of an experiment to improve parents' connection to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Catechists often hear from parents that they don't quite "get" the program. Fair enough! CGS is dramatically different from the typical CCD programs we parents experienced growing up.
The feedback from Level III parents has been positive, and we now want to expand the effort to cover all three CGS levels. Generally, we will e-mail one newsletter every other week in keeping with the catechesis schedule. Newsletters will be level-specific, although certain common articles will be included, as well. For those of you with children in multiple levels, please just skim through "repeat performances" of common articles. Also, please know that this first, introductory newsletter is a bit lengthy because there is much to cover at the beginning. Future ones will be shorter.
We hope these newsletters will help parents gain insight into what happens within the Atrium. We thank you for your commitment to catechesis for your child(ren). Know that the Level II catechists pray these children will deepen their relationship with God through Jesus.
Peace,
The Level II catechist team:
Liza Bloomer, Kathy Murdock on Tuesdays
Jane Karpinski-Ott, Myrna Gomez on Wed.
Barb McHugh on Thursdays
and Lina Hilko (editor)
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| Remain in My Love |
The Level II child is changing and maturing. The 6-9 child begins to understand time and space and seeks to find his place in reality. The child develops a strong sense of social justice and fairness. If in Level I a central aim was to help the child fall in love with God, then in Level II a unifying theme is to help the child remain in Jesus' love. This is a time to deepen and build the relationship with God through the child's own joyful responses to God's gift of love.
The central proclamation given to the 3-6 children is the parable-allegory of the Good Shepherd found in John 10:1-18. The young children are drawn to the Good Shepherd, who helps address in a profound way the child's questions of, "Who am I? And who is Jesus?" And the Good Shepherd materials will continue to be present and used in Level II.
In Level II, the image of the Good Shepherd is integrated with the image of Jesus as the True Vine. The complete text is John 15:1-10. The Level II children may just focus in on verses 1, 4-5, and 9.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. As the father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love." The word "remain" is repeated ten times in the first ten verses of John 15. It is a beautiful expression of both an announcement and an invitation. The invitation to remain is preceded by the reality (an announcement) that we are already in relationship; we are already in Christ. The 6-9 child is expanding from his original (3-6) supreme enjoyment of love and relationship to enjoyment combined with response. The child's response to God's gift of love is compared to the fruit borne by the branches. |
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The True Vine |
The parable of the Good Shepherd contains the words: "I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father ...." The parable of the True Vine says, "As the father loves me, so I also love you." Both parables are about relationship, but each offers a unique image of relationship.
The Good Shepherd has a very close relationship with his sheep. Nonetheless, the shepherd is definitely distinct from the sheep. He is a shepherd; they are sheep.
In the parable of the True Vine, we are offered the image of a plant. But not just any plant. Jesus chose a vine. Think about a vine. If you have one, go take a close look. What is the main trunk? Where do branches begin? Can you tell? Is the demarcation clear and exact? Does "vine" refer to the main trunk or to the whole plant?
Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches." Are the boundaries between Jesus and ourselves clear? How does the image of the True Vine speak to you? |
| On Presenting Parables |
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One of the harder things a catechist must do is to stop themselves from interpreting, explaining, or defining parables - to simply proclaim and facilitate the children's joyful discovery of meaning and purpose. Parables speak uniquely to each individual. The same parable can provide a different message at different points in one person's life. But the power of a parable can only work within a person if the catechist humbly steps down and leaves space and silence. Parents, too, though eager to know what their child is "getting out of catechesis" must respect, with faith, the slow work of the Holy Spirit in their child. |
| Introduction to Presentation Schedule |
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In the next section, we show the presentation plans for the entire 2008/2009 Level II year. This provides a starting framework for each session. However, the catechist may choose to present a different or additional material to subsets of the complete group. If your child has already received the main presentation planned for that day, your child may be offered the choice to work on something else during the main presentation. Each CGS level is designed as a three-year cycle. The catechists keep track of the presentations received by each individual child and work to provide all the Level II presentations over the course of three years.
Even though subsequent newsletters will describe the main presentation planned for that session, you need to be aware that your specific child may have a "tailored" experience in the Atrium that given day. Please keep this in mind when talking to your child about their Atrium experience.
Parents must be patient in order to see the overall plan unfold or emerge. Despite the help of a newsletter, you still may not "get" the CGS program. Even as catechists, we don't fully see the fruits of this work. After all, this is God's work through the Holy Spirit. And we each must walk by faith and not by sight. |
| Schedule of Presentations |
Session T,W,Th Date Presentation
1 10/14*,8,9 Introduction to the Atrium
2 10/21,22,23 History of the Gifts
3 11/4,5,6 Work and Prayer Day
4 11/18,19,20 Land and Cities of Israel Booklets, Pin Maps
Advent begins 11/30
5 12/2,3,4 Prophecy of the Shoot of Jesse
6 12/16,10*,18 Synthesis of the Infancy Narratives
Christmas season 12/25 - 1/10/09
7 1/6,7,8 Christmas Ceremony / Epiphany
8 1/20,21,22 The Summary of the Law & the Maxims
9 2/3,4,5 Parable of the Sower
10 2/17,18,19 The Pharisee & the Tax Collector
Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent) 2/25
11 3/3,4,5 City of Jerusalem - Expanded
12 3/17,18,19 Origin of the Eucharist
Palm Sunday 4/5
13 4/7,8,9 Meditation on the Passion Narratives
Easter Sunday 4/12
14 4/21,22,23 Rite of Baptism
15 5/5,6,7 Synthesis of the Mass
16 5/19,20,21 Pentecost
Pentecost 5/31
* Denotes "off" schedule weeks due to space conflicts. | |
Please share your opinions or comments about this newsletter effort with Sarah Coles, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education, and/or Lina Hilko, a catechist who is serving as editor for this effort. Their respective e-mail addresses are SEColes@gmail.com and LHilko@aol.com. Thanks! |
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