Principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Underlying the entire Catechesis of the Good Shepherd are the following principles:

• God and the child have a relationship that catechesis seeks to serve with reverence and respect.
• The child is capable of perceiving the greatest realities of faith, and must never be talked down to.
• The catechist is a servant of a message that is not his or her own, and together with the child must humbly listen to God’s word.
• The child must be given the opportunity to discover the truth on as deep a level as possible.
• Prayer, contemplation, and silence are natural components of the child’s religious life, and must be honored.
• Providing a joyful journey for the child and the adult is the essence of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Reprinted with permission from the booklet “The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”, published by the National Center for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Oak Park, IL. For more information, see www.cgsusa.org