Shepherding the Next Generation on a Journey of Faith

This year, Mount Marty is hosting Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), an approach to the religious formation of children using the Montessori method of education. 

The program was founded by two Italian women, Sofia Cavaletti and Gianna Gobbi, in the 1950s and has different levels for ages 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12. "God and the child have a unique relationship with one another, particularly before the age of six," according to an excerpt from the CGS website. "The growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult but is directed by the Spirit of God. And children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship." That place is the atrium where work and study spontaneously become meditation, contemplation, and prayer. 

"CGS is not your typical 'religious ed' program," said Johanna Jablonoski '14, director of alumni and family relations at Mount Marty and a CGS catechist. "Instead of a classroom, the program takes place in a space called an atrium. In the ancient church, an atrium was the place where catechumens, or those preparing to enter the church, received instruction. As Cavalletti, one of the founders, said, '[The atrium] is not a place of religious instruction, but of religious life.' The atrium can be compared to a retreat house facilitating recollection and silence, where children can enjoy a relationship with God." 

In 2023, the St. Martin of Tours Pastorate — which includes parishes in Yankton and the surrounding area — began a CGS pilot program in the coatroom of St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Yankton. Jablonoski explained, "[The coatroom] was the only space available! The parish was excited about the program, but we didn't know if it would take off. By the end of the year, we knew we had tapped into something special and would require a larger space for more children and more materials, which our parish buildings just don't have at the moment." Through many prayers, doors for the program kept opening — one of those doors being a classroom in Bede Hall, the main administrative and academic building at the university. "In all my time at Mount Marty as both a student and staff member, I had never stepped foot into Bede 204. But when I saw it for the first time, I immediately knew it could be a space for our atrium. It just had the right feel!" The atrium moved into Bede Hall over the summer.  

"What I love about CGS is that the catechist is not me or any adult," said Jablonoski. "The Catechist is Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who is already at work in the hearts of our children." The catechist's job is to prepare the environment so the children can listen and speak with God in a space that fosters that relationship. Part of preparing the environment is creating tangible materials for children. Jablonoski shared, "If an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might take a Bible, find the passage, and read it slowly again and again. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer. But a little child, too young to read, needs another way." In a CGS atrium, the child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by working with handmade materials, for example, placing wooden figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. 

Currently, the Yankton CGS program is hosting two sessions on Wednesdays. "If you're interested in touring the atrium or observing a session; if you're interested in becoming a catechist or an assistant; or if you're interested in enrolling your child or grandchild — contact us! We love sharing this beautiful work."

You can contact the parish at 605-664-6214 or email Jablonoski at johanna.jablonoski@mountmarty.edu with any interest in or questions about CGS. 

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.