We see children as participating members of the body of Christ, people who are just as able (if not more so) to relate to God as any adult; in fact, we can only know God rightly by becoming like a child. While the home is usually the primary place of formation for a child, as a parish we seek to offer children special opportunities of growth and formation that are appropriate to their specific physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is an approach to Christian Formation in which children and their teachers listen to God together and experience God’s gift of love through multi-sensory Scripture presentations, contemplative work, and times of prayer. CGS is rooted in the Bible and the Liturgy of the Church.
Children gather in a room specially prepared for them called an “atrium,” which contains hands-on materials that the children can work with and use, such as a model altar and dioramas of Jesus’ life. They also gather around a prayer table each week to listen and talk to God.
Catechesis for children ages 3-12 is offered on Sunday morning from 9:10-10:15AM in three separate spaces in the Sheepfold, our temporary classroom trailer:
- Level 1 for children ages 3-5
- Level 2 for children ages 6-8
- Level 3 for children ages 9-12
Level 1 Catechesis is also offered for children ages 3-5 during the 10:30 liturgy in the Sheepfold. Children will depart together toward the beginning of the service and return shortly before Holy Communion.
For more information on Children's Ministries at Christ the Redeemer, please contact Fr. Brian Barry, Director of Youth and Children's Ministries, (email).