History of the Catechesis of the

Good Shepherd
Level 1
Elizabeth Piper 2013
Maria Montessori
Born 1870, died 1952
Montessori's belief that "Liturgy is the
magnificent expression of the content of our
faith. The liturgy can even be called the
pedagogical method of the Catholic Church.
Origin of the word "atrium" - the space in the
ancient basilica between the street and interior
of the Church; a place in which the assembly
prepared itself to enter into the liturgy, where
catechumens were formed.
Elizabeth Piper 2013
Sofia Cavalletti
Born August 21, 1917,died August 23,2011
Development of CGS:
Cavalletti's extensive knowledge of scripture (much
derived from her study under former Jewish rabbi,
Eugenio Zolli) and her curiosity about the child's love
of scripture
collaboration with the Montessorian, Gianna Gobbi
who helped to provide a methodological approach to
more fully explore the religious potential of the child
emergence of two pillars of the CGS; liturgy and
scripture
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Gianna Gobbi
Born in Rome December 15, 1919, Died January
29,2002
At 20 attended the Montessori course for Children's
House held by Adele Costa Gnocchi and Maria
Antonietta Paolini.
Worked for 15 years in various Casa dei Bambini
schools together with Costa Gnocchi
Worked as an assistant for the national Montessori
Children's House courses.
Was introduced to Sofia in 1954 and they began to
collaborate on the work we now know as the
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Elizabeth Piper 2013

First English Publications
1929 The Child in the Church
1932 The Mass Explained to Children
Elizabeth Piper 2013
Beginning of a life long Collaboration
1950s Montessorian, Adele
Costa Gnocchi brought the
skilled Montessorian, Giana
Gobbi and the Theologian, Sofia
Cavalletti, together. These two
women who brought the seed, of
the spirituality of the Child,
planted by Maria Montessori
alive and nurtured to its growth
we have today
Elizabeth Piper 2013
Me with Sofia (Shameless)
Elizabeth Piper 2013
Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi
1954 - Sofia Cavalletti and
Gianna Gobbi began their work
with children. Sofia describes
their Collaboration


In my memory, it was Giannas work to take
the children by the hand and lead them to
the Word of God, while Sofia brought the
Word of God to the Children. In every
material that I look at, I see Giannas pencils
and pens, and also my saws. There is no
material that was only her work or only
mine.Essential Realities p.49

Elizabeth Piper 2013
Birth of the Association
1962: Maria Montessori Association for
Religious Formation of the Child
Luigi Capogrossi President: The experience of the
CGS came into being, not so much as a result of a
project imposed from on high and fine-tuned in a
sterile environment, but as the natural expression
of its leading figures, the Child. Essential
Realities p20
1984: National Association of CGS in the USA

Elizabeth Piper 2013
Developing CGS
1975: The First CGS training in the United
States in St. Paul,
Minnesota
1984: Pope John
Paul II visited
Rome Atrium
1996: Surge in
growth in the
Catholic Church
Elizabeth Piper 2013
Resources
Standing, The Child in the Church
Lillig, The Catechesis if the Good Shepherd: Essential
Realities, 1-61
Lillig, The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Parish
Setting, 3-13
Cavalletti et al, The Good Shepherd & the Child: A Joyful
Journey, 99-100
Cavalletti, Sofia, "Prehistory and History of the
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd", Journals of the
Catechesis if the Good Shepherd, 1998-2002,68-70
Garrido, Mustard Seed Preaching, 5-9
Grazzini, Camillo, "Obituary: Gianna Gobbi", NAMTA
Journal, Vol. 29. No.1, winter 2004, '247-'250
Elizabeth Piper 2013