CATECHESI DEL BUON PASTORE Consigl io Internazionale EASTER FOGLIETTO 2015 Dearest Ones, I am writing to you on Palm Sunday; the day Jesus had thought perhaps that the announcement of the Kingdom might have been received, that the dissenting voices might have become voices of praise For us, this is the time of beginning the preparations which come closest to the First Communion of many children. Here, in our atrium, there is already the roster of names: 4 so far. They are the younger ones (around six years); the older ones (seven to eight year olds) are still pondering it But today I would like to say something about courses for adults. How true it is that these courses are not very different from the encounters with the children! Here I have copied the text message sent to me by a future catechist in the very moment that she was going down the stairs with the others after a course session: You should see us going down the stairs slowly and silently, with dream-like expressions on our faces. Thank you! Doesn t it seem like an expression of that same quality of joy which Sofia spoke of regarding the children? And this happens because the formation experiences with adults are celebrative, as are the formation experiences with the children; both take place in the atrium; both breathe in that atmosphere I believe that this could be the precise reason why it does not seem possible that one can be formed in our catechesis through recordings, videos, and correspondence courses transmitted via the internet!!! Do you agree? In the International Consiglio we have re-affirmed this. Page 1 of 12
In Italy we have published an anthology of Sofia s writings on the Catechesis; it is a publication we felt was necessary. We formally presented it at a lovely occasion in the presence of many friends, ex-bambini, catechists, Augusta Luigi Capogrossi (the president of our Association) And then a review of the book appeared in the Vatican newspaper: The Roman Observer. Here is a photograph of the book s cover. A translation of the book review is attached to this document. Now, as Easter greetings, this Foglietto again includes a beautiful text of Sofia s, consisting of brief points regarding the principle stages of our history. She helps us to understand many important things, beginning with the very first date entry: in 1944 Sofia first understood that the Catechesis is not a catechism! I hope you will take time to savor it, beginning with the 1944 entry, through to its conclusion with the 1998 entry. (You will see that I have added some notes to shed light on particular references.) It is truly precious! Francesca From Sofia: 1944 (?): Irma 1 (pre-history [of CGS]); it is during the war years; Irma has been relocated from Cisterna 2 and is living in the tenement housing of Tor di Quinto 3. She needs to make her First Communion; I tried using the catechism but, in spite of her desire to learn, it was impossible. I brought the Gospel and she listened with tears in her eyes. Costa Gnocchi (We are drawn in.) March, 1954: the first encounters at Via degli Orsini: Paolo P (we must give him the True Vine); Massimo N. Gianna arrives. November, 1954-1956: the beginning of the work at Palazzo Teverna, Adele Costa Gnocchi s center 1 An older girl needing help. 2 A small place in the countryside near Rome from which Irma and her family had been evacuated because of the war. 3 A popular borough of Rome for the evacuees (persons who, because of the war had had to leave everything behind) Page 2 of 12
1955: Eugenio Zolli speaks to the children about the prophets. May [1955]: our First Communion takes place at the Sisters convent on the Gianicolo hill; Eugenio Zolli speaks to the children. October, 1955: first contact with Father Temofonte 4 : I am very taken by your initiative. November, 1957; we begin at Via degli Orsini. Conversation with the diocesan office by Father Temofonte and Don Giulio Salimei 5. 1958: rejection of the definition mode of the catechism as indicated by Sergio, Massimo, and Rita 6. 1960: first presentation of the maxims for the oldest children (1979: another selection chosen for the middle-aged children) 1961-62: beginning course for adults at Via degli Orsini. (It will take place at the diocesan center from 1967-1972.) The interest in the Preface us born. 1961: G. Gobbi and S. Cavalletti s Religious Education, Liturgy and the Montessori Method is published (Ed. Paoline). 1962: Massimo L. and the drops of water 1962: Already the three points of the history of salvation are clear: creation, redemption, parousia. But it is all dependent on the spoken word; there is not yet a material. The joy around Confession; Father Trameri is hugged and kissed. We have spoken about Confession as being like a new baptism. How beautiful it is to go to Confession! 1962-63: the first attempts at typology; we already have the charts but are using them in a somewhat didactic way; we are not offering the children the possibility of real work (they are too dependent on us for what they are to learn. Familiarity with Parousia begins to emerge. Already by 1962 the meeting of the communicants is too short. 7 The Virtues material is ready. 4 A priest who was very close to Sofia. 5 Director of the diocesan Catechetical Office of Rome. 6 The first group of children. 7 This is according to the children. Page 3 of 12
March, 1963: birth of the [Roman] association with Adele Costa Gnocchi, Luigi Capogrossi, Rosa Jervolino, etc. January, 1965: first communications with Don Giulio Salimei concerning our producing a book of catechesis for the 5 elementary classes The official representative for the diocesan center came in April, 1955 after several encounters with a commission for the parishes The publication of Io Sono il Buon Pastore begins; there will be 5 books for the children and 5 guidebooks for the catechists. 1966: initially 3000 copies are printed and then 10,000 copies of the 1 st volume of Io Sono il Buon Pastore. 1964: with Michel Lanternier, we searched for key words connected to the gestures in order to give the essence of the Mass. We found and, in November, 1964, tried out with the children [a presentation of] the gesture of offering. It will not be until 1971 that the epiclesis and the gesture of peace will show up [in the atrium]. August, 1965: catechesis with a small group of children in Ein Karem (Jerusalem), partly in Hebrew and partly in French; August 20-25 a seminar with adults in Nazareth on the Mass and salvation history (typology) November, 1965: The presentation of two maxims to the oldest children makes clear the power of the Word for them. Close the door means to withdraw into love. 1966: Don Angelo De Angelis comes; an atrium is opened in Colonna (Roma) 8 1967: We begin to note the sameness of children s responses, particularly through the experiences of Teresa Duso and then through those of the Sisters doing the course at the diocesan center. 9 Brief experiment with the gypsies of the Mandrione in Rome 10 October 27, 1967: first course session at the diocesan center 1968: 250 registrants; the students observe and are struck by the unitarity of the program; May 14: presentation with the children which lasts almost the whole 2 hours on the BREAKING OF THE BREAD. Spontaneous reference to the True Vine. 8 A small town near Rome. 9 These persons were working in settings which were very different from that of Via degli Orsini. 10 A borough on the periphery of Rome where there was a group of Romanian gypsies. Page 4 of 12
1969: Cardinal Vicar confers the diplomas to those who have completed the two years 1968: Lucia Cremona leaves for Chad [Africa] where she will stay for 10 years; when she presented the True Vine, a young man asked: Why haven t we been told this before? 1969: a group is formed spontaneously which organizes the Sunday family Mass at Nostra Signora dei Miracoli [Our Lady of the Miracles] (in Piazza del Popolo). They will continue for 5 years. 11 June 29, 1969: Father Temofonte dies. 1973: Don Angelo De Angelis leaves for Brazil, where he will stay for 5 years, dedicating himself to the catechesis of the little ones; he will return sick with leukemia and will die at the Gemelli hospital in Rome on May 14, 1979. 1970: Sofia gives a seminar at Ateneo Salesiano, Catechetical Insitute to a group of 25 priests including one bishop. 1971: The preparation for Easter takes shape, beginning with You are light in the Lord and the armor of light, and reflection on the maxims. December, 1971: a first presentation of the Mystery of Faith, but we have concentrated on the As we await your coming [in glory] At the end of the year, after having given the little ones the presentation of Epiclesis, is was clear to us that, given the great familiarity the children have with the Holy Spirit, this gesture serves well in arriving at the essentials of the Mass, beginning with Epiclesis. 1972: We are convinced that even the little ones are capable of penetrating the essence of the Mass, beginning with the Epiclesis; they need/want to go beyond nomenclature regarding the model altar. At the end of 1972, the three essential points of the Mass are clear. 1972: first initiatives in the preparation of the celebration of the Mass as we do it now January, 1972: an attempt concerning the history of the kingdom, gathering with the children the parables that speak of the kingdom and setting afire those which indicate that the kingdom has a history: the children suggest the yeast, the mustard seed, and the seed of grain We attempt a synthesis on the rug, with these parables on the right, the Paschal candle in the center, the Good Shepherd and sheep on the left, and with many people around the bridegroom and the True Vine. 11 The group was formed by various family friends, parents of the young people involved in the catechesis, and the young people themselves. Page 5 of 12
February 14, [1972]: A child in [the atrium of] the parish of Nostra Signora de Lourdes does a beautiful work on the Father as a sculptor, with a rough draft on the left, which is then completed in Christ in the middle and in the people in Parousia in the upper part of the page One of the older ones says: the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Eucharistic meal are three ways of saying the same thing: Jesus together with the people. 1973: the First Communion children: When we are good on the True Vine, it is always spring. November, 1974: We try out the Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd. December 15, 1974: presentation of the Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd to Bishop Ragonesi at Nostra Signora di Lourdes 1974: The spontaneous group disbands. 12 We take an action regarding the crisis at Via degli Orsini, where very few children have been coming; in a meeting on December 6, the parents insist that they want to continue, so we try to reconstruct a group of parents and children at L Instituto don Orione alla Camilluccia; it began on December 15 but was poorly attended. We have presented the Preface and, together with the children, we have drafted a form [for a material], specifying the many reasons there are to give praise. July 11: in the parish of N. S. di Lourdes, the Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd with Mons. Ragonesi. I ask the children what is there to do, standing in the presence of the Shepherd; a child of four and a half says: We thank him for giving us himself, and he takes a sheep in his hands and looked upwards; then the other children do the same. With a voice full of emotion, the bishop said to the children: You have given me goosebumps [as we might say in English]; you have given me what I have not succeeded in giving older people, and you have given it in such an essential way. July 24, 1974: a conversation with Bishop C., director of the national catechetical office, after the publication of the national catechism. Surprising that our work had made it all the way to him. If we want to be on the same page, you need to add a little page referencing [the catechism.] 13 1975: the first course in the USA in St. Paul, MN, at the invitation of Alberto Joosten. Among the participants who later continued in the work were: Patricia Coulter, Sheila Sentiff ( My 12 She s speaking of the group that had prepared and celebrated Sunday Mass together. 13 Sofia is reporting a bit tongue-in-cheek the Bishop comment on the necessity of adding a little page. Page 6 of 12
children would never do what Sofia has said her children do. 14 ), Carol Dittberner, Alicia de Arrocha (Mexico), Anna Guida, Genoveva Torres 1975: Patricia [Coulter] is the first foreigner to come to Rome for the course. She stays for 2 years. The presentation of the history has been consisting of a synthesis sort of work: placing objects on the rug, but it is too abstract; the children do not understand. 1976: Anna Guida is the second foreigner to come to Rome. 1976: first course in Mexico; among the participants are Nora Bonilla (Santa Lucia, then Colombia, begins the work in Argentina), Maria Christlieb of Chihuahua, Lupita Palafox, Ignatius Feaver. Children: Juanito helps to build the atrium; Gustavo says of the parable of the talents: It helps us continue working ; First Communion, the consignment of the white garment with Father Jose. 1975: research begins on how to present the history of the kingdom in its globality; the Fettuccia is presented for the first time in February, 1975; typology [material] already existed. We had tried to present the globality of the history before by putting various materials on the rug (including the Good Shepherd and sheep), but the children became very fatigued, trying to perceive the length of time. December 5, 1976: a meeting with Father Mongillo, Gianna Gobbi, the Cocchini s, Silvana and Sofia in which we reflect on the catechesis as being like a sacrament, meaning not just concretized in the Word. 1977: the little ones and the water mixed with the wine: When the children had exchanged the sheep figures for people figures in the Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd presentation, it was asked: Where are the sheep? The children answered: In the chalice, because the water is there. April, 1978: A seminar is given in Toronto by Sofia and Patricia Coulter. January 12, 1978: first presentation of the Plan of God. Profound enchantment. 1978: Rebekah at the Montessori convention at the Hilton in Houston, Venetian Room, and then she comes to Rome [in 1979] 14 Sofia is repeating what Sr. Sheila had said. Page 7 of 12
1978: course in Houston (where the Fettuccia is presented by Sheila and Ignatius ) January 11, 1979: first presentation of the History of the Gifts to the older children, but then we realize it is best suited to the middle-aged children 1979: The first edition of The Religious Potential of the Child is published by Citta Nuova in Rome. December 7, 1979: During a meeting with former students the first version of The Synthesis of the Mass is drafted, which will remain in the same basic form. 1980: Synthesis of the Mass material November 3, 1981: the presentation of the colored base material on the Mass; it lasts almost an hour without the children getting tired 1981: The History of Israel proves to be too complicated (It would finally be simplified in 1990.) 1982: first presentation of The Prayers of Intercession January 25, 1983: For the first time I see the children working truly well with the typology, so independently, with such concentration 1983: Gianna presents the Seed of Grain [The Mystery of Life and Death] to the little ones for the first time; unless one dies, one remains alone ( just a single grain ) February 13, 1983: Pope John Paul II made a pastoral visit to the parish of Nostra Signora di Lourdes at Tormarancia 15 (Rome) and went to see the children in the atrium, remaining with them for 20 minutes. At the conclusion of his visit he said: I have never heard such a beautiful homily. This is a confirmation that the kingdom of God rests with the children. 1983: We focus on the Eucharistic Prayer, the Mystery of Faith; it is presented to the middleaged children for the first time on January 18, 1983; it will not be until 1998 that we will arrive at an objective presentation, according to the rules of mystagogy. The Story of a Bread, the Prayers of Intercession come in 1982; in 1998, there is the Preface and its completed material, including a guide booklet and an appropriate selection of prefaces. It is a joy to see the children working on their missals. 1985: Herminia [Wasserzug] begins in Argentina in a course with Nora Bonilla. 1985: In the course in St. Paul, MN there are three Episcopalian participants. 15 A very popular borough of Rome; the atrium there was begun by Tilde Cocchini. Page 8 of 12
1988: Claudia Schmitt arrives in Rome. I had given previous seminars in Dusseldorf, Germany at the invitation of Schultz: to Bendorf at the invitation of the German Montessori Institute, Professor Neise (president). January, 1989; I have finally received the response to the [presentation of] history for which I had waited for years; a response that is impassioned, serious, with much desire to continue working with the theme, a response which is manifested in the personal work of the children (this is the truest response); the children are true worker bees. We must learn to be patient and not lose hope. June 9, 1992: It is the Sunday of the Mustard Seed: it is decided that Claudia will go to Tanzania. 1992-94: Alessandra Bonetti takes the catechesis to Uruguay. June, 1993: seminar in Zagreb given by Gianna, Sofia, and Claudia 1993: The little penguins, meaning the little sisters of Croatia, arrive 16 : Jelica Duzel and Domagoia Leovic; they are in Rome for two years and then begin their work in a school in Dakovo in 1997. February 22, 1993: mystagogy with the children October 16-24, 1993: first international gathering in Rome; about 40 persons, both Catholic and Episcopalian February 17-24, 1994: reflections on time with the older ones 1994: Claudia gives the first seminar in Salzburg, Austria. 1994 and 1995: Panama, the work has been initiated by Herminia Wasserzug (the first course consisting of upper middle class participants, who vanish in 1995; then, in January 1996, Alessandra Bonetti goes deeper into the first level and prepares the atrium for the children; the course participants come from modest social backgrounds and are profoundly engaged in the catechesis. 1995: first national gathering in Mexico; 600 persons present. Gianna and Tilde have attended. 1995: Poland: Bugumila Pistelok, who did the course in Rome for two years, with trepidation gives the first course; Barbara Surma falls in love with the catechesis; 1997 Claudia gives a seminar there; Barbara comes to do the course in Rome 1997-98, 1998-99. 16 Sofia called them little penguins because of their black habits. Page 9 of 12
Summer,1995: Linda Kaiel gives the first course (Part I of 3-6) in Brisbane, Queensland (Australia). November, 1995: The German Association is formed and includes Germany and Austria. 1995: The work begins in Chile with Herminia Wasserzug. 1996: publication of The Religious Potential of the Child, from Six to Twelve, Ed. Citta Nuova, Rome. October 21-26, 1996: Meeting to construct the International Consiglio of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which is formally established on October 25. 1997: Finally, the material for the Preface seems to me to be in order; I rediscover the first mention of the Preface presentation in the notes of 1961, to be offered as a prayer of praise. 1997: first seminar in Norway requested by a group of Lutherans and given by Claudia Schmitt September 7-12, 1997: an international retreat for Good Shepherd catechists in Assisi, Italy, through the initiative led by US catechists: Barbara Fleming and Monica Halloran; about 200 persons from many countries in the America s and in Europe; strong Anglican [Episcopalian] presence, with their Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, sharing leadership of the retreat with us. 1998: complete restructuring of the Origin of the Liturgy of the Word, having realized that in the original material (dating back to 1962) we had unknowingly included the theology of substitution! June, 1998: first course in Ecuador, given by Nora Bonilla and Tere Lopez July 27, 1998: Brazil has asked again for a course (they had first asked in 1993). What to do?! Then, the Gospel at Mass that day was what? The Mustard Seed and the Yeast: It is God who makes it grow! Immediately then, I sent a Fax to Herminia to tell them yes. Herminia, Claudia, and Nora will give the course. (characteristic of our work: first do, later understand) Tina is contacted by the Episcopalians and has the sensation of having always known them and, at the same time, to be doing something new with them. There are numerous inter-confessional atria in the US and Germany (Feldafing). Page 10 of 12
And now, some news from the world. From the USA: In your presence there is fullness of joy..." Psalm 16:11 Our hearts are still filled with joy as we remember our time in the desert this past October when six hundred catechists from twenty-two countries came to Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate the 60th of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. We are so grateful to all who came and shared in the celebration. It was a feast of collaboration between so many from around the world! We extend our deepest thanks to all who worked to prepare and celebrate, to all those who came and to all those who joined us through the live-streaming and through prayer In August of 2014 our US association acquired much needed office space in Scottsdale, Arizona. Committed to the spirit of essentiality and poverty which are at the heart of CGS, our board of trustees have carefully and prayerfully made the very difficult decision to close the work of the Oak Park, Illinois office and move it all to the Scottsdale site. We are grateful for the many individuals and the community which nurtured our organization in its infancy in the Chicago area and helped it mature into an organization with international reach and national responsibilities. Our beloved Tina Lillig, our first national director, once shared her wisdom that in the future, when a new director led the organization, its national office would need to be moved in order to provide daily oversight for its daily work. This time has come. We ask for prayer as we work through this significant change. Our new mailing address is: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 7655-A Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA. Our new phone number for the National Office is 480-874-3756. Our Formation Office will remain in Marietta, Georgia with Karen Maxwell. Please e-mail Mary Mirrione with any questions or concerns at: marymirrione@cgsusa.org. Dal Messico: The great gift for catechists and children, are the guides and albums of Io sono. This modality in Mexico is a beautiful reality. Sofia and Gianna with their essentiality in which always invited us, also guided us by the hand to live the christian message with the children, With the same depth and joy that they experienced themselves; today we discovered that in their thoughts they always had in mind "the child", and recognizing that we cannot have an atrium in all parts of the world, they took the care and delicacy of thinking in those children. They spent time, work and effort to leave us a legacy in the Io Sono albums and the guides so that way the Good Shepherd could reach more children of the world. Now a days, the Io Sono is Page 11 of 12
a reality in Mexico, Latin America and other parts of the world.thank you, Sofia and Gianna for walking with us the way of the Good Shepherd. We share with you the joy to celebrate the second national course with Guide and Album I; from July 19-25, 2015 in Leon, Guanajuato. Dinorah Melchor Aguascalientes Mexico. Italian Translation by Rebekah Rojcewicz Spanish Translation by Lourdes Vasquez Page 12 of 12