The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I 
February 2, 2010 - Level 1, Issue 09
In This Issue
Lavabo
Developmental Stages of Moral Formation
Feed My Sheep During Lent
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Dear CGS Level I Parent,    
The Good Shepherd
 

The Level I children will receive a presentation on a ritual (a gesture and prayer) of the mass called the "Lavabo."  This is one of a set of Level I presentations which help the child connect more fully with the mass.  And like all Catechesis of the Good Shepherd presentations, there are hidden treasures within this seemingly simple presentation.  Read more below.

 

On Sunday, I saw that someone had disposed of their Christmas tree in the alley.  And driving around last night, I still saw houses decorated with Christmas lights.  So, it may surprise you that this newsletter already encourages parents to think about Lent.  It's true, though.  The next time this newsletter is sent, it will be the week of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  So, in this newsletter we encourage families to start thinking about their Lenten observances.
 
Peace,
The Level I catechist team:
   Betsy Peterson, Martha Garcia Barragan on Tues.
   Kathy Murdock, Donny Wallenfang on Wed.
   Anne Edwards, Sylvia Pelini, Erin Walsh on Thurs.
and Lina Hilko (editor)
Lavabo

The Lavabo is the time in the mass, just before the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, that the priest washes his hands.  The articles used for the lavabo are a cruet with water, used to pour the water; a bowl used to catch the poured water; and a towel to dry washed hands.  The catechist will slowly model this ritual to the children.  The catechist will speak the words that the priest says during this gesture:  "Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."  The catechist can define some of these words and the group can think about this gesture.  What is the priest doing?  What is he asking of God?  Then, the catechist asks if the children would like to perform this gesture.  This, then, becomes a work in the Atrium that children can choose to repeat whenever they want.

 

"Lavabo" is the Latin word for "I shall wash."  These words come from Psalm 26: 6-8:

 

I will wash my hands in innocence and walk round your altar, Lord, lifting my voice in thanks, recounting all your wondrous deeds.  Lord, I love the house where you dwell, the tenting-place of your glory.

 

Parents can help their child notice the lavabo during mass.  Perhaps your child is friends with or acquainted with one of the altar servers on a given day.  It could be as simple as a quick whisper, "Do you see what Sam is helping Father Frank to do right now?  That is called the lavabo."  Helping your child take notice of any of the gestures they have received in Atrium, not every single time but just from time to time, is helpful to building the bridges between Atrium, mass, sacraments, and every-day life.  Such moments of noticing, learning, and making connections are truly the privilege of the parent - this is something the catechist can't do because the catechist isn't there at the most opportune learning moments.

 

You as a parent may choose to think deeper and to find connections between the lavabo gesture/prayer and some other part of our faith.  How can it connect with the sacraments?  Does the lavabo remind us of Baptism (cleansing waters; white garment) or the gift of God's forgiveness through Reconciliation?  Psalm 26 says, "I love the house where you dwell."  Does this mean the physical church building?  Or does God dwell in other places?  In the bread and wine?  In our bodies?  When you as a parent take time to make connections, you'll be more apt to hear your child if and when he or she starts making connections.  Maybe it's something as simple as your child saying, "I wash my hands before I eat."  That may be an indicator that your child is understanding that the Eucharist is a meal, a feast.  These connections come slowly, so don't push or rush anything.  But do be awake and aware so you can catch the little things, so you can experience and share in your child's unfolding wonder.

 

One of the blessings at then end of the Rite of Baptism prays for the parents who "are 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.  Amen."

 
 
Developmental Stages of Moral Formation

The Level III newsletter contains an article on the approach of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd toward moral formation throughout the Levels of the program.  Because moral formation is an aim that moves through each of the CGS Levels (from Level I to II to III), it is important for parents to see the big picture of CGS's nine years.  You, as a parent of a Level I child, can benefit especially from understanding your child's developmental stages from this earliest time.

 

Please take time to learn about moral formation within Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Click here to access the Level III article.  Always feel free to ask questions about what you read if there's anything we can clarify.  Sarah Coles, our Director of Religious Education, or your catechist want to support you in your understanding.

 
Feed My Sheep During Lent
If you read about the developmental stages of a child's moral formation, you see that concepts of repentance and reconciliation do not appeal yet to the Level I child.  So, when considering Lenten observations that you can share with your 3-6 child, it is useful to think about works that build or strengthen relationships and/or are practical life works.
 
One of the best ways that children learn about a healthy relationship with the Good Shepherd is by experiencing good examples of loving, caring, and forgiving human relationships.  So, consider Lenten observations which invest in relationships.  For example:
 
  • regularly share a family meal beginning with a prayer of thanksgiving;
  • establish a meaningful bedtime routine that includes reading, singing, talking about the day, and/or praying;
  • regularly visit with or write a "thinking of you card" to someone who is sick or elderly or lonely;
  • regularly pray together for someone whom you love and who especially needs prayers right now;
  • strengthen a relationship with a church friend, e.g., make a play date with a child from Atrium or that you know from your mass.
 
The other suggestion was around practical life works.  "Practical life" is a Montessori term for tasks that are directly useful to daily life, such as washing your hands, sweeping or dusting, washing dishes, or cleaning your room.  The 3-6 child is typically drawn to practical life works because this child is finding his or her place within family and society.  Consider practical life works that at the same time convey to your child that St. Teresa's is a very important and treasured community to your family.  When you are a good steward of God's gifts, one of which is our parish, your actions are expressing your gratitude.  Some ideas (just a drop in the bucket!):
 
  • Can you and your child take time to tidy the pews after mass (for a reasonable section, not the whole church)?  You can pick up orphaned bulletins, place Gather hymnals in their slots, and make sure the contribution envelope holders have at least one envelope in them.
  • Do you enjoy refreshments after 9AM mass?  Does the table at which you sit look as clean after you are done as when you first arrived?  Work with your child to pick up and throw away the crumbs from the table and each chair.  Your child can wipe the table and chairs with a damp towel.
  • Did you know that volunteer parishioners host the refreshments after 9AM mass?  Is that something your family would like to do?  Your child can help to collect and wash used coffee mugs or wipe tables.  In so doing, your child is helping to make ready the Parish Center for the 10:30 community.  In Atrium, the final step of each presentation is always a demonstration of how to restore the materials to make them ready for the next child.
  • I bet our beautiful Atria could use some regular care on the weeks that we do not meet, such as vacuuming, dusting the tops of the shelves, or watering the plants.  Maybe there are other regular tasks, such as bringing flowers for flower arranging or cleaning dead flowers in off weeks; washing dishes or linens.  Sarah Coles would be the best source to work with if you would like to find a regular way to be a dependable steward of our beautiful new space dedicated to children's faith formation.
  • Look for other opportunities, such as cooking for a parish family that could use a helping hand or baking goodies for Loaves and Fishes or the Food Pantry's "special treat" table.  Young children love cooking!  To do this, you'll want to coordinate with someone from these ministries to understand needs and rules.
  • The Food Pantry's special treat table also likes distributing books.  Could you and your child clean the house of extra books?  If your child isn't in full-time school yet, maybe they can come to Friday distributions and work the goody table.
 
I hope these ideas get your creative juices flowing on age-appropriate Lenten opportunities.
 
Feel free to comment on this information to Lina Hilko, LHilko@aol.com, the editor and/or Sarah Coles, SEColes@gmail.com, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education.  Thanks!