Catechetical coordinators visit the Atrium

Jul 10, 2015

PETALING JAYA (Herald Malaysia): The Atrium of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) at the Church of St Francis Xavier (SFX) was filled with excitement when about 30 Sunday school Coordinators and Asst Coordinators from various parishes of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur visited the CGS Atrium on Saturday, June 27.

The visit was organised by the Archdiocese Catechetical Commission (ACC). The event started with a short briefing, followed by a film presentation and Q & A, after which they went into the Atrium for a firsthand experience of what CGS is all about. The visit was an eye-opener for all who were there as they were unaware that there was a Montessori approach to religious education for children. Every single visitor was amazed that the materials in the Atrium were so aligned with scripture and liturgy, and many said that they were eager to start CGS in their parishes, and wanted to know more.

During the briefing, the CGS Team stated that there were two misconceived ideas about an Atrium: that a permanent room must be available, and that building an Atrium costs a lot of money.

The CGS Team shared that SFX has no room allocated for a permanent Atrium. The Team has to “set up” the Atrium every Saturday morning and “take it down” at the end of the day, when all the sessions are over. The parents are very dedicated in this and they are rostered to do the “setting up and taking down” of the Atrium once a week.

As for the materials for the Atrium, they minimised the cost in creative ways. Most of the materials were handmade by parents and catechists — papier m?ché, soft clay, cardboard and pieces of wood. Some of the parents were very creative, e.g. Mary’s house was made out of a shoe box. Some bulky materials were made by honorary carpenters. Only the more complex materials. e.g. the city of Jerusalem, were bought.

On Sunday, 28th June, the SFX-CGS team presented the Catechist of the Good Shepherd programme to over 30 participants including parents, children and Catechists at the Holy Rosary Church, Brickfields. They were invited by the Parish Priest and Chief Co-ordinator of Children’s Catechesis.

Apart from doing the Good Shepherd and Eucharistic presentations, the SFX-CGS team took the opportunity to exhibit selected materials from their Atrium such as the Cenacle from the Paschal Narrative, the Empty Tomb, Annunciation and Visitation from the Infancy Narratives, and the Liturgical Calendar. The session closed with questions and answers. The CGS Team were happy with the keen interest shown.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd uses the Montessori teaching principles to present the liturgy and the bible teachings to children from as young as three years old. The role of the catechists in the Atrium is to prepare an environment and make presentations that would evoke responses from the children, gradually if not immediately.