The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level II
October 6, 2009 - Level 2, Issue 01 |
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| Dear CGS Level II Parent |
(Note, the welcome letter is the same in each Level newsletter.)
Welcome to the 2009/2010 catechetical year. The catechists of St. Teresa are especially overjoyed to welcome the children this year into our new space. St. Teresa's Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been on quite a journey to find a suitable place to devote to our children - space in keeping with the needs of a Montessori learning environment and space that conveys to our children their importance to this community and the importance of sacred time and space to meet and know God. We hope your children feel how special this place and time is. This truly is holy ground, and great things will happen here.
As we did last year, we once again will provide e-newsletters each week that CGS meets. The newsletters are generally Level-specific because the developmental needs of the children and the presentations usually differ greatly amongst the three age groups (3-6 for Level 1; 6-9 for Level 2; 9-12 for Level 3). From time to time, the same message is appropriate for all Levels, in which case the message will be repeated in each newsletter. If you have children in various Levels, we trust you will patiently scan for such repeated information. Also, as this is our second year for the newsletter and because CGS Levels cover three years each, sometimes articles will seem familiar to you if you are in the second or third year of a Level. Presumably such articles are included because the information is important. One thing we know about children is that they learn and perfect skills through repetition. This is actually true at all ages. So, even if something seems like repetition, read it with ears open. You might hear something different each time you read.
These newsletters are intended to help parents to live out their own baptismal vows, as well as the baptismal responsibilities they accepted for their children. One of the concluding blessings of the Rite of Baptism is over the father and mother, who "will be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. May they also be the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord." The community of St. Teresa has shown very concretely this year that it seeks to support parents in their role as first and best teachers.
May your whole family feel joy as you journey with the Good Shepherd this year!
Peace,
The Level II catechist team:
Megan Wallenfang and Liza Bloomer on Tuesdays
Jane Ott, Vanessa Hernandez, and
AmyMcCue on Wednesday
Barb McHugh and Myrna Gomez on Thursdays
and Jane Ott (writer) and Lina Hilko (editor)
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| Introduction to the Atrium |
This week we introduce the children to our Atrium, the place where we will be open to meet, listen to, and learn about God. The children will participate in forming the "rules or guidelines of the Atrium." How should each person act in the Atrium so that it can be a place of prayer, work and contemplation? After we go over some guidelines, each child will work on decorating the outside of a manila folder given to them. The folders will hold their personal work in the Atrium throughout the year.
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| History of the Kingdom of God |
Level II begins the year with two successive presentations on the History of the Kingdom of God. This week, the catechist will present the story of the History of the Kingdom of God spanning from Creation to Parousia. We begin at the very beginning, reading from the Bible simply, "In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth." As the story unfolds, the vastness of the History is revealed. For example, it is explained that the formation of plants and animals were on this earth long before human beings. With all the different moments of this history, there is one constant or one unifying factor--God is actively present in all moments. The children are introduced to three particular "moments" in this great history: Creation, Redemption (Jesus' Birth, Death and Resurrection), and Parousia (the time when God will be All in All). This history is great, and it is not yet finished. We continue to write this story with God until the day God will be all in all. The children are told that this great history that began withCreation, culminated in Redemption, and is completed at Parousia is called the History of the Kingdom of God. And this history is told in the Bible.
The catechist is able to explore with the children in more detail the History of the Kingdom of God the next time Atrium meets (October 20-22). A long ribbon called The Fettucia helps the children begin to envision the vastness of the History and picture the three particular moments. The Fettucia is 50 meters long!
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| Cosmic Education |
Maria Montessori conceived of the idea of Cosmic education, and it is this approach which places the child in the greatness of God's plan. In To Educate the Human Potential, Montessori said, "Since it has been seen to be necessary to give so much to the child, let us give him a vision of the whole universe. The universe is an imposing reality, and an answer to all questions. We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity. This idea helps the mind of the child to become fixed, to stop wandering in an aimless quest for knowledge. He is satisfied, having found the universal center of himself with all things."
You might think that setting the whole universe in front of the child is too big a bite to chew. But from their earliest time in the Atrium, the children have learned, such as through the Parable of the Mustard Seed, that God works with and through the very small to accomplish great works.
The goal of Cosmic education is not for the child to learn facts about creation, but rather to spark awe and deep interest in understanding and embracing our role in this great, unified history. Through Cosmic education, we can begin to help the child answer their deep question, "Who am I?" and its sister questions: "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" Ultimately, Maria Montessori, who was a deeply spiritual person, believed that world peace could be attained through the Cosmic education of children. So, we offer up the belief that if all people could understand and value and revere the interconnectedness and beauty of Creation, then we, through the life of Jesus Christ in us, could build Parousia.
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Please provide comments about this newsletter to Lina Hilko, the editor, at LHilko@aol.com and/or Sarah Coles, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education, at SEColes@gmail.com. |
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