The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Method Serving Content

In the past sixty to seventy years, as Montessori education has begun to influence our country’s understanding of new educational possibilities, a Montessori-based method of religious education, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been traveling a similar path. This paper examines the development of this method of religious education alongside the changes in educational philosophy within the Catholic Church resulting, primarily, from the Second Vatican Council. In many ways, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd provides an educational methodology which aligns with the catechetical ideals set out by the documents produced by the Catholic Church in recent years, particularly as found in Catechesi Tradendae and the General Directory for Catechesis, which call for the use of methodology which is at service to the content of the deposit of faith. As awareness of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd continues to spread throughout the world, its development and demand are expanding as well. In addition, its impact on religious education in general is beginning to broaden beyond the young children it was originally developed to serve