Before sharing some recent pictures of the children at work, I want to share an experience I had this past week that spoke volumes to me about the families at our school and the formation they give their children, supported through the Atrium and the academic learning environments at The Way of the Shepherd. Several years ago a decision was made to attempt to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to our school children at least once during Advent and once during Lent. This decision came after a good deal of conversation and discernment because all involved felt that this Sacrament was best received surrounded by family at one's local parish. However, knowing that this opportunity might provide access to the Sacrament of Reconciliation for a few children who might not otherwise be able to receive it, the decision was made. Last Thursday was our scheduled Lenten Reconciliation opportunity. During our Atrium sessions I mentioned that Father was going to come early for Mass so that anyone who would not have the opportunity to go with their family between now and Easter could receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Several times I emphasized that if they could go with their families, that would really be the best choice. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, I took time to approach each child in 2nd - 6th grade to ask if they would like their name to be put on the "list" of children desiring to go to Confession the following day. EVERY CHILD who could receive the sacrament, excepting five children who were going to Confession during their Faith Formation classes that very evening and a few I encouraged to check with their families, asked to have their names put on the list. I even had several children who were not Catholic ask if they could go in and speak with Father when he came, althrough they knew they could not receive the full Sacrament. The following day, several children, after speaking with their parents and discovering they would be able to go to Reconciliation as a family in the near future, asked to take their names off the list. Even so, we started Mass more than fifteen minutes late because of all of the children desiring to live more fully in the Light of Christ. How often do you try to discourage children from going to Confession because you have too many desiring this beautiful Sacrament?! Thank you, families, for all you do to share the joy of this Sacrament with your children. How beautiful to experience their desire for and understanding of this incomprehensible gift of mercy, forgiveness, and love from our Good Shepherd who lifts us up and carries us home, rejoicing!
While discussing Scripture typologically, the children often share insights which are beyond their years, insights which clearly come from their deep, intimate knowledge of the Good Shepherd. Before sharing some of their follow-up artwork of the Creation study done several months ago, here are some of their ponderings during a more recent discussion regarding Genesis 3, the account of The Fall or Original Sin.
"God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil." (Genesis 3:5) - 3rd grade boy: "They wanted to be more like God but they did what God didn't want so now they are really less like God." "To the woman he said: I will intensify your toil in childbearing..." (Genesis 3:16) - 3rd grade girl, after discussing how before Adam and Eve sinned there would have been no fighting and no unkind words and only goodness: "If there wasn't anything bad you wouldn't have that much fun 'cause if you make peace, then THAT'S happy." "He expelled the man, stationing the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword east of the garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life." (Genesis 3:24) - 3rd grade girl: "He wants them to die. He doesn't want them to live forever or their sin will go on and on." "Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates." (Revelation 22:14) - Five 3rd graders (two boys, three girls) discussed this passage, relating the following: - The Robe is: "us," "the white garment of Baptism," "washed in Reconciliation" - The Tree of Life is: "Parousia," "Holy Communion," "the Body and Blood," which was followed by "Yeah! Jesus said, 'Eat this and you will live forever.'" - Gates of the City: "the Garden of Eden," "Heaven," "The Mass - the Church is like our home." Creation follow-up work: (Note the "hand of God" on the drawings and the "holiness" of God's resting...!!) This Lent, all of the children will be pondering Psalm 23 in the Atrium. Those in Children's House have begun by listening to "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," and will continue adding a phrase each week until they have heard Psalm 23:1-3a. The E1 (1st - 3rd grade) children have heard the first three verses of Psalm 23 during prayer and we will ponder the remaining verses throughout the rest of Lent. The Level III (4th - 6th grade) children did a synthesis of Psalm 23 as their prayer during the first week of Lent. In Level III, we began this pondering of Psalm 23 by distributing and ordering the phrases which make up the Scripture passage, a task the children accomplished quite quickly! Next, we read a set of verses and then the children were invited to think about a material that they associate with that portion of the Psalm. When they had identified a material, they gave a brief explanation of that association and then brought something to the mat to represent the moment of liturgy or passage of Scripture they had been thinking of. It didn't take long for the mats to be filled with materials from the Atrium!
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Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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April 2024
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