During the Easter Season, at times the older children extend their enjoyment of the Resurrection by looking up Scriptures which are about light. In the following images a 3rd grader copied Matthew 5:16 and Isaiah 60:1 and then drew an illustration on the back of his paper. The cross forms the center of the flower which has "light" as its petals. I am reminded of the saying "the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians" as we see the light and life which comes forth as a result of suffering and death in the life of Jesus, and in our own lives, depicted in this simple drawing.
During the final work time of the year two second grade girls took time to draw and write. The following are images of their work. "Dear Jesus, I will follow you always and promise to obey you. Hail Mary..." The image of Our Lady which accompanies this prayer reveals the child's understanding of Mary as perfectly living what the child is expressing to God. In the image of Mary we see the child Jesus held in her arms, a huge smile on her face, beautiful roses growing at her feet, and stars surrounding her. "I am the true vine. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes and those bear more fruit but every one that does not falls off." The text on this card is not an exact copy of Scripture but comes from the child's memory of the passage. She has illustrated this parable with an image of a tree producing beautiful fruit of many colors, surrounded by blue sky and healthy green grass.
In the Level 2 Atrium the children have an increased desire and capacity to express the prayer of one's heart in written words. The following two images both come from second grade girls who took time in the Atrium to express a moment of their personal conversations with God. "Two pleasing things to God" 1. Prayer. Prayer is a time where we talk to God and he talks to us. A good place to pray is also by a cross. 2. Confession. Confession is a time we tell the priest our sins but we are actually talking to God." The words of this illustration show the child's internal work of articulating how Confession is one form of prayer. Below are pictured prayer cards written and illustrated by several different children in the Level 1 Atrium.
The Atrium is a place of prayer, but the prayer of the child often looks different from the prayer of the adult. In addition, the prayer of each individual child is unique as is the prayer of each individual adult. While prayer is often unseen, taking place in the intimacy of the inner room of the soul, in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd we recognize that the art responses of the child often offer a glimpse into their inner life of prayer. This summer I would like to highlight some of these responses of the children, lifting up aspects they have explained/articulated or that seem to shine forth in their work. While there is no "exam" to become a catechist, it has been said that interpreting the prayer art of children might well be a fitting exercise in evaluating our own understanding of the work of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I hope you are blessed by their artwork, as I have been. One of the first "prayer art" opportunities given to the youngest of children comes when they are introduced to writing prayer cards. After copying the text of the prayer card the child is invited to think about how they might "show" this word or phrase of prayer. Below are pictured a booklet of prayer cards written and illustrated by a kindergarten boy.
As we celebrate the end of the school year we also prepare to celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. Last week we ended the Atrium year by pondering and enjoying the work of the Holy Spirit, Who we celebrate during this beautiful solemnity. The children were introduced to or recalled anew the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. The Level 2 and 3 (E1 and E2) children then gathered materials from the Atrium which have helped them to know and enjoy the work of the Holy Spirit. Finally, all of the children were invited to choose a particular gift - having received all seven of them in Baptism - to ask the Holy Spirit to stir up within their hearts and souls. Come, Holy Spirit, and stir up in us all that we need to live well in your Kingdom. Amen. The Second Years have completed their Missals! Throughout the year they have taken time to copy the most essential prayers of the Mass and have illustrated them. After ordering and enjoying these prayers week after week we pray that they are not just written on paper but also have been written more deeply on their hearts. They received their finished Missals on their Second Year Retreat. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to grow closer to Our Lord and, for some of them, as they prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time this spring!
Each year at The Way of the Shepherd we take a moment at the beginning of Lent to ask God’s blessing on the 2nd Year children who will be taking extra time away to grow even closer to the Good Shepherd over the next few months. Some of these children are also preparing to meet Jesus in a new way as they prepare to receive His Body and Blood for the first time during the Easter Season. On Ash Wednesday as we began this special time of preparation, by inviting all of the 2nd Year children to come forward at the end of Mass, carrying a cross which will accompany them in their time of deeper reflection on God’s many gifts. These crosses, after being blessed, were hung in the Atrium where they will remain until Easter as a reminder to all who spend time in that space to support these children in prayer. On the day of the 2nd Year Retreat these crosses will be decorated with images and words by each child as they synthesize how they have been fed and strengthened in their relationship with God through this time.
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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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