St. Mary's Catholic Church

Altoona, WI

  • Welcome
    • COVID Updates
    • Mass Times
    • Staff
    • News
    • Events
    • History
    • The Catholic Church
    • Stewardship
    • Parish Endowment Trust
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation Prep (9-10th)
    • Holy Communion
    • Confession
    • Marriage
    • Priesthood
    • Deacons
    • Anointing of the Sick
  • Faith Formation
    • St. Mary’s Elementary School
    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3-6)
    • Family Faith Formation (K-5th + parents)
    • Middle School EDGE (6-8th + parents)
    • Confirmation Prep (9-10th)
    • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
  • Resources
    • Scrip
    • Bulletins
    • Mass Intentions
    • St. Mary Parish Pastoral Council
    • Spiritual Communion Prayer
    • Homilies
    • FORMED.org
    • Fr. Sakowski’s Blog
    • The Catholic Faith Explained
    • Online Resources
  • Ministries
    • Reserve a Room
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Church Ministries
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Faith Formation Ministries
  • En español
Home > Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3-6)

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3-6)

What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an atrium, a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use.

If an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might take a Bible, find the passage, and read it slowly again and again. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer.

But a little child, too young to read, needs another way.

In an atrium, the child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by taking the material for that text and working with it by placing wood figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. Older children who do read often copy parables from the Bible, lay in order written prayers from the rite of baptism, or label a long timeline showing the history of the kingdom of God.

After a long hiatus, we are so pleased to be able to offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) to a limited number of children for the 2021-2022 year. CGS will meet Thursday mornings throughout the school year at St. Mary’s, while parents (and younger siblings) are welcome to stay and meet or socialize together outside of the atrium. To ensure enough space and individual care for the children participating, there are only a very small number of spots available. If you are interested in having your child participate, please contact Jacqueline directly at 715-855-1294 x106 or Jacqueline@SMSRCatholic.com.

Quick Links

  • Bulletins
  • Online Giving
  • Scrip
  • Sign up for Email Updates
  • St. Mary’s Facebook Page

Sacred Triduum and Mass Times

Weekend Masses

Saturday Vigil | 4:00pm (Eng)
Sunday | 11:00am (Eng), 1:00pm (Spanish)

Weekday Masses

Wednesday | 5:30pm
Friday | 9:00am

Tuesday & Thursday | 8:00am (St. Raymond's)

Confession

Saturday | 10am to Noon (In the Confessional)

Thursday | 7pm-9pm (at St. Raymond's in the Confessional)

Parish Office Hours

Sunday | noon-3:00p

Monday | 9:00a to Noon

Tuesday | 9:00a to Noon

Wednesday | 9:00a to Noon

Thursday | 9:00a to Noon

Friday | Closed

Saturday | Closed

St. Mary's Catholic Church

715-855-1294
(Se Habla Espanol!)
1812 Lynn Avenue
Altoona, WI, 54720
Parish Receptionist | Shelli Julson
SJulson@SMSRCatholic.com
Find us on Facebook!

Pastor | Fr. Derek Sakowski

715-855-1294 ext.101

dsakowski@diolclergy.org

Parochial Vicar | Fr. Peter Kieffer
715-855-1294 ext. 140
PKieffer@diolclergy.org

 

Copyright © 2022 · Diligent on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in