Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

 This is the completion of the first year of the Atrium that I helped start at our church.  We had an overwhelming response and had to break the class into two groups that alternated every other week.   

The children really responded to their faith in wondrous ways. The children learned to make silence so to listen to their environment and the beginning of a prayer life. 

At this prayer table we met and prayed and grew in our faith.

Michael was drawn to the Altar Corner to prepare the altar as Father would in church.  He kept his hands on his lap and spent time in quietness looking at the lit candles.  I wonder where his thoughts and prayers took him.

The children all learned how to snuff a candle with the "snuffer".  We lit a candle for Jesus' light as we met and prayed together and read from the Bible.  This was a favorite for most of the children, Michael really enjoyed it too.

As I think back over the year and reflect on the progression our Atrium has taken I am most struck by the complete faith and earnest prayers the children shared through out the year.  In a beautiful room we gathered to proclaim Jesus, the Good Shepherd who takes care of his sheep.