Catechesis 6 to 12

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the Elementary Child

*Portions of this text have been reprinted with permission from "The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd," published by the National Center for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. More complete information on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd may be found at www.cgsusa.org.

The elementary child is captured by the image of the True Vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.” The proclamation responds to the deep need of the older child to know better their relationships with God, family, friends, and the larger community.

Children at this age seek guidelines. The moral parables offer a model for comparing their behavior with that of Pharisee, the Tax Collector, or the Good Samaritan. The Found Sheep, the Found Coin, and the Prodigal Son are examined as the children prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The proclamation and meditation stress God’s love, which is constantly forgiving.

The elementary children see the parts of the Mass – the Liturgy of the Word, the Preparation of the Gifts, the Eucharistic Prayer, and Communion – as one unity. The children participate in a three- to four-day retreat prior to the celebration of First Eucharist. Preparation of personal missals filled with illustrations and prayers is a process that deepens their love and understanding of the Eucharist.

The imagination of the older child and his agility with the concept of time are powerful stimuli to explore the past and the future. The first time line, a ribbon fifty meters long, focuses on the high points in the history of salvation from creation through the redemption to the parousia. Another presentation focuses on the many gifts we receive from God – rocks, minerals, flowers, fruit, friends, family – culminating in God’s gift of His own divine life, in the person of Jesus, a gift which will pervade the whole universe at the completion of history.

With the older child (ages 9-12) a third presentation of the history of salvation focuses on the plan of God in history as a plan of communion, a plan which links all people together. The emphasis is on our response to this unfolding generosity of God and the responsibilities that come with receiving God’s great gifts. “What is the kingdom of God and my place in it?” is a query which begins to lay the foundations for a life’s commitment.