The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Levels I and III May 18, 2010 - Level 1&3, Issue 16 |
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| Dear CGS Parent, | 
This coming weekend, the church celebrates the feast of Pentecost. This celebration marks the end of the Easter season and is considered the "birthday" of the church. Both Level I and Level III will hold Pentecost Celebrations in Atrium this week, and so, we are providing a combined newsletter. The newsletter is designed to help parents to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The experiences in Level I will necessarily differ from Level III.
Please support your child's catechetical experience by helping to connect the Atrium events of this week with the celebration of Pentecost at mass this weekend. Take notice of the change in liturgical color from white to red. Please wear red to church this Sunday to support your child's learning and add to a noticeable celebration. If you think you might forget, get your child in on the plan - make post-it notes as a reminder for Sunday.
We are still seeking catechists for the upcoming year. You should have received an e-mail about this from Sarah Coles. If you are even just wondering about the opportunity, please reach out to Sarah or a current catechist to learn more. You are not "on the hook" just because you ask questions and do some digging. An important requirement for catechists is their ability to commit to consistent Atrium attendance. That being said, there is opportunity for flexibility around training and commitments outside the actual Atrium times. If you think you are interested but are concerned about time, at least let us know what you are thinking. We have either weekday or Sunday options this year and have three age levels from which to choose according to each person's talents and interests. St. Teresa depends on many adults (15-20?) to help our children meet, walk with, and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. And the really good news is that when you listen to God with children, you inevitably grow in your own relationship with God.
Peace and joy,
The Level I and III catechist teams
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The Pentecost Celebration
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The Pentecost Celebration provides a peaceful atmosphere for children to understand and celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The catechist will light one white candle and read a scripture passage or passages recounting Jesus' promise to send the disciples an Advocate (the Holy Spirit) when Jesus went back to Heaven. From this one candle, the catechist will, in series, light seven red candles. Upon each lighting, the catechist will read the name of a gift of the Holy Spirit and its (age-appropriate) explanation. After quiet reflection, the catechist will invite each child to light (or have lit) their own individual votive candle from one of the seven gift candles. Each child may choose which gift they especially want to think about or pray about during the celebration. (This step is adapted as appropriate to the abilities of a given Atrium so as to provide a meaningful, peaceful, and safe experience.)
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The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
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The gifts of the Holy Spirit are derived from Isaiah 11:2-3:
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
An explanation of each gift is given below, with the gifts ordered as composed by Pope St. Gregory the Great: "Through the fear of the Lord, we rise to piety, from piety then to knowledge, from knowledge we derive strength, from strength counsel, with counsel we move towards understanding, and with intelligence towards wisdom and thus, by the sevenfold grace of the Spirit, there opens to us at the end of the ascent the entrance to the life of Heaven" (Homiliae in Hiezechihelem Prophetam, II 7,7).
- Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe) - The gift of Fear of the Lord* instills in us deep respect for the glory and eminence of God. God is perfection: perfect love, perfect goodness, perfect knowledge, and perfect power. Through Fear of the Lord, our deepest desire is to remain connected to God.
- Piety (Reverence) - The gift of Piety instills in us a deep sense of respect for God and the church. A pious person recognizes his or her total reliance on God and comes before God with love, trust, and humility.
- Knowledge - The gift of Knowledge enables us to know the will of God, especially as expressed in the life and words of Jesus. A desire for knowledge drives us to always learn more about the Word of God and the traditions of our faith.
- Fortitude (Courage) - The gift of Fortitude strengthens us to act according to the will of God, as followers of Jesus, even in the face of rejection, harm, temptation, or fear. Fortitude strengthens us to work positively for the Plan of God.
- Counsel (Right Judgment) - The gift of Counsel enables us to distinguish right from wrong and to choose to do what is right. When we are receptive to God's counsel, we avoid sin and live according to the values taught by Jesus.
- Understanding - Understanding enables a person to gain certitude about the mysteries and truths of our faith, penetrating deeply to develop insight and intuition far beyond knowledge.
- Wisdom - The gift of Wisdom instills in us the desire to direct our whole life and all our actions toward seeking and building the Kingdom of God. Through wisdom a person sees that the wonders of nature and all creation; all historical people, events, and inventions; and the successes and challenges of daily life are all connected to God's Plan for loving cosmic communion.
* Sometimes people dislike or misunderstand the term "fear." This is a "filial" fear, such as the fear a child would feel toward disappointing their parent because the child truly loves and respects their parent. This is in contrast to a "servile" fear, which stems, not from a loving relationship, but from a fear of punishment.
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Does Order Matter?
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The expanding order of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as presented by Pope St. Gregory the Great strikes an interesting connection with the expanding order of development in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. You may recall that the central aim of Levels I and II is to nurture and solidify a deep, loving relationship with God. In Level I, CGS provides the time, environment, and experiences for the child to fall in love with God through the discovery and building of a relationship with His son, the Good Shepherd. In Level II, the central proclamation is that of the True Vine, a parable-allegory in which the child is entreated to "remain" in relationship with Jesus.
It is good to read words from Mustard Seed Preaching by Ann M. Garrido:
Children have a deep desire and capacity to be in loving relationship. Relationship - children teach us - is the most essential, the most beautiful, and the most real thing in the universe. It is their deepest need and, when it is met, it is their greatest joy. Because their capacity for relationship is so large, it can be difficult to satiate. The children's great hunger to love and be loved offers perhaps the best testimony we have to the foundational principle of Christian anthropology that humans are ultimately "wired" to be in relationship with God. For, only in God, does the child's need and capacity fully meet its match.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd emphasizes relationship first. An emphasis on knowledge and moral formation comes later, finally building toward the time when the child begins to understand that he or she is called to write a page in God's Plan. Read again the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Can you see how their unfolding order connects beautifully with the unfolding order of the three levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
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Remain!
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This marks our last week of the catechetical year. We wish all families a safe, relaxing summer filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Isn't summer perfectly suited to experiencing awe and wonder at God's amazing creation and abundant gifts? Make a commitment this summer to fill yourself and your child with joy in the face of God's gifts. Remember to ask yourself and ask your child, "Who made all this? Who prepared all this for us?" And remember to express gratitude for these gifts. There are many different ways we can express gratitude for God's gifts, not just through words but through actions.
Fr. Frank, Sara Coles, and all the catechists know deeply that parents are always the first and best teachers of faith to their children. During summer break, parents are especially entrusted to help their child remain connected to Jesus, the Good Shepherd and the True Vine. Enjoy!
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Please feel free to talk to Lina Hilko ( LHilko@aol.com) or Sarah Coles ( secoles@gmail.com) with your questions, comments or concerns about this e-newsletter. |
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