Our children of Sacred Heart have the opportunity to receive two kinds of religious education. Catholic School Education and PSR (Parish School Religion).
Due to the very generous people of Sacred Heart, our children are able to attend area Catholic grade schools and Catholic high schools. The beauty of Stewardship is that all of us are able to give our time, talent and treasure to others for love of God and neighbor and especially for our children.
Every Sunday, during the school year, our children who attend public schools such as Halstead, Sedgwick, Burrton, Bentley and Moundridge also attend Parish School Religion (PSR) from 9:45am to 10:45am at Sacred Heart Parish Center. Breakfast is provided by the Knights of Columbus beginning at 9:15am. We are grateful for those who give of their time to teach our children through our PSR program.
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In the 2023-2024 school year, our pre-k, kindergarten and first grade program adopted Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS).
We have been given the great gift of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Sacred Heart and we are so excited to share it with you and your family! We know that this work is still new to our parish and looks different than many other forms of catechesis for children.
In the following talk, Father Pat York, Father Andy Walsh and Father Clay Kimbro speak about CGS in their parishes.
What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a reflective-based program of religious formation, a method of accompanying children, that helps a child to further develop his/her relationship with God in a developmentally appropriate way. It is rooted in Sacred Scripture, the Liturgy, and the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. This catechetical program is for children ages 3-12. (We currently serve pre-k, kindergarten and 1st grade.) We hope to have more grades adopt CGS but are needing willing adults to become formed catechists. Please prayerfully consider if this is something you are being called to.
What is the Atrium?
The space where the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd takes place is called an Atrium. The name comes from the place where people in the earliest days of the Church were prepared for Baptism. The Atrium in our parish is a place where children listen to the Good Shepherd’s voice in catechetical presentations and meditate on God’s Word while working with tangible materials. The Atrium is, first and foremost, a place of prayer; it can be compared to a retreat house. For the child, the Atrium is a place of preparation for involvement in the larger sacramental life of the Church.
We believe that God and the child have a unique relationship with one another; that growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God; that children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship; and that the child’s spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means. (cgsusa.org)
Just as talking about what one experiences at Mass or in prayer may be difficult, children may not be able to articulate their experiences in the Atrium. A typical day in the Atrium may include:
❖ A presentation on grace and courtesy, practical life, Scripture or Liturgy.
❖ A significant period of time for children to work with materials of their own choice (materials with which they have received a presentation).
❖ A gathering time of communal worship and prayer at the prayer table.
This kind of environment takes much effort from many hands. Possible areas of help:
- Simple woodworking
- Simple painting/staining of materials
- Sewing, embroidery, crocheting, surging
- Cutting & stapling
- Coloring and laminating
Contact Jackie Riddel, 785-366-6278, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help or have questions about CGS.
Click to see pictures of CGS at Sacred Heart
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