Within the Atrium materials are often returned to in a variety of ways. One example of this "spiral method" is the sheepfold. As a 3yo this material is used alongside the Parable of the Good Shepherd, focusing on how the Good Shepherd (Jesus) knows His sheep by name, calls them, and they follow Him. He lays down His life for His sheep, giving them all of His love, His time, His care, and His attention. The following year, as a 4yo, the exact same material is used as the Parable of the Found Sheep is read. In this Scripture we are invited to ponder how much love the Good Shepherd (Jesus) has for each of HIs sheep, searching for one that is lost, lifting that sheep on His shoulders and carrying it home with His own strength, and, overflowing with joy, inviting others to celebrate with Him. There is so much love and rejoicing!! At some point around the age of 5, the sheepfold is presented again to the child, with some additional materials. There is a second circle, also the sheepfold, which is called the church. The Good Shepherd calls His sheep to the church and they follow. Here He feeds them with the very best food and drink, giving them all of Himself to them. After enjoying the great gift of the Good Shepherd present under the signs of bread and wine on the altar at the church there is a question asked. This question is the same one that has ended every previous presentation. "Who is the Good Shepherd? Who said, 'I am the Good Shepherd?' Jesus, right?" "But who are these sheep that are known by name and are loved and cared for in such a beautiful way?" It is only when the child can answer this question that the second moment of this new way of using the sheepfold is shown. After coming to the realization that we are the sheep of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and having enjoyed the sheep around the altar table with the little Good Shepherd statue in between the signs of bread and wine, we introduce a box containing people with which we replace the sheep around the altar. The final sheep is held back as this sheep has a special role and if this sheep is not present then the Good Shepherd will not be with His sheep in this particular way, hidden under the signs of bread and wine. It is this sheep who has been given the gift and the role of saying the same words Jesus said at the Last Supper, "This is my Body. This is my Blood." It is the priest who is one of us, the sheep, and yet has such an important role within the sheepfold. What a gift that there are men who have said "yes" to bringing us such a great gift as the Good Shepherd, present under the signs of bread and wine in the midst of His sheep!
In the Atrium I was looking at a picture of the Good Shepherd with a sheep on His shoulders with a 4.5 year old girl:
This same child had a conversation with her mom, also a catechist, during the following week:
After sharing the L1 children's thoughts on Psalm 23 last week, I thought share the extended pondering of some 1st grade L2 children:
Psalm 23:1-3a
Psalm 23:1-3
Psalm 23:1-4
Pondering Psalm 23:1:
Pondering Psalm 23:1-3a:
Psalm 23 is a favorite Scripture in the Atrium from the time it is first introduced in Lent of the 3yo's first year in the Atrium. This copy of Psalm 23 was written and illustrated by a 3rd grader. There are a number of elements of the drawing which are noteworthy. You see the green border which indicates that Psalms are part of the Liturgy of the Word as well as the bright yellow sun shining down on the scene. The vine branches (laden with much fruit) weave around the words of the Psalm, indicating a connection to the True Vine. The mountains seem to be beyond the fence of the sheepfold which speaks to the reality of the dark valley and yet the protection offered by the Shepherd.
This past Sunday's Gospel included the beautiful Parable of the Good Shepherd. The oldest Atrium children read this Scripture together last week in order to ponder, anew, what God was revealing. It was interesting to listen with those who have been hearing this parable and working with the Good Shepherd material for the past five to nine years. They heard new insights and also brought up past experiences as we read through Jesus' words together again. E1: 3rd grade: -“The Good Shepherd took the sheep to still waters and good pastures.” -“There was a wolf and a stranger. The stranger went off and the wolf came but then Jesus came and laid down his life.” -“I remember he took the sheep the Mass and then they were people, but they were people from all around the world.” -“One side of his staff is to keep the sheep safe, and the other is to punch the enemies.” E2: 4th-6th grade: -“He calls his sheep by name and leads them to clean water and fresh grass, and he cares for them. If one is lost, he will go and find it.” -“The sheep only listen to him.” -“He had 100 sheep and he lost one and he left the 99 sheep and went to find it. He had fortitude.” -“He had all those sheep and he looked for that one sheep. It shows that we are the sheep and that’s how he cares for us.” This week in the Atrium the Level I (Children's House) children were asked which materials helped them to listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd. They responded...
- The Baptism Area - Gathering Crosses and Crucifixes - The Gestures Altar - The Model Altar - The Good Shepherd - The Prayer Table The parable of the Good Shepherd strikes to the heart of what it means to be in covenant relationship with God. The Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name and they listen and follow where He leads. The children have shown that this parable touches them profoundly and offers an opportunity for them to experience His deep, intimate love from a very early age. This parable also lends itself to growing with the children. A year or so after first encountering the parable, the children are read the parable of the Found Sheep. Here they hear of the persistence of the Shepherd and the joy with which He is reunited with the sheep that has been lost and is now found. Last year an adult who had come to observe in the Atrium left a note saying that a child had been sitting at the prayer table, slowly turning the pages of the Bible and whispering, "The sheep follow Jesus and if something comes and scares them the Good Shepherd is with them." This understanding of the care of the Good Shepherd for the sheep continues to expand into the elementary or Level II Atrium when more of the parable from John 10 is read, and the children are introduced to the wolf and the hired man. Recently, three first grade boys were introduced to this expansion of the parable. At the end, as they were pondering, one child said, "The wolf is the darkness but the Great Light is stronger." A the end of the presentation, the Good Shepherd is left standing between the sheep and the wolf. One of the children said, “He’s like the shield.” Another said, “But he’s not really there. He’s inside.” This led to a conversation about how the Sign of the Cross can help to remind us that the Good Shepherd is there even when we can't see Him. Each one of the boys returned, individually, to the material the following week. Clearly, the Good Shepherd had, again, spoken deeply to their hearts.
This week in Level I (Children's House) we pondered the prayer card, "Holy, Holy, Holy." When asked, "Could you think of something that is holy?" they responded... - Jesus' Blood - Jesus' Body - The chalice - Holy Water - Baptism - Us - Grandmas - The Light - The Holy Bible - The Holy crucifix - Crosses and crucifixes - Everyone - Baby Jesus - The Good Shepherd - The Church - The school - Heaven When the Level II (1st and 2nd graders) were asked, "What does 'holy' mean?" they answered...
- Precious and like God - Special - Blessed - Used for good things - Precious and speaks the truth |
Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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