Children's Formation

“Help Me Come Closer to God Myself”

This is the inner plea of the young child as he or she is drawn to the divine life. At St. Matthew’s our aim is to respect and nurture the child’s growing relationship with God. Following the Montessori-based approach to children’s religious formation known as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our primary aim is providing a time and a place (the atrium) where children can grow spiritually.

Sometimes spoken, often not, the three most basic questions all human beings ponder and which children ask in succession throughout the stages of childhood are: Who are you, Lord? Who are we? Who am I?

The Atrium is conceived as a carefully prepared, sacred space where the child encounters God and carries on his or her own internal dialogue through his or her work with the catechetical materials. These materials are beautifully made and arranged to convey the preciousness of the Word being proclaimed and received. They include such things as dioramas of the historical events in Jesus’ life, as well as the parables Jesus told, model furnishings from the church – an altar and baptismal font – and the work of daily living – sorting objects, drawing, arranging flowers. After being shown how to use the materials, the children are free to choose whatever material they wish to use during each atrium session. Also, following the Montessori approach, the children are grouped in three age ranges as follows:

The Good Shepherd and Mustard Seed Atriums
Preschoolers and kindergartners

The True Vine Atrium
First, second and third graders

The St. Francis Atrium
Fourth and fifth graders

Very young children (those under age six) possess what Sofia Cavalletti calls a mysterious knowledge of God. The child at this age knows there is “Another” – One who is above all and in all, who knows me by name and loves me more than anyone else does. This child wants to know the name for the One who is already a reality in the child’s life. It has been observed the world over that this child responds with serene joy upon hearing Jesus’ proclamation, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

Around age six children become aware that life is complex and that human beings have a choice: They can either enrich the world by their life and work or they can diminish it. Those who have experienced the love of Jesus the Good Shepherd want to respond with equal love. Jesus’ proclamation, “I am the True Vine and you are the branches,” addresses the interrelatedness of all people, events and issues.

By age nine, children are making concrete choices about their present and future lives, actions, behaviors, and habits. This child is actively discerning his/her place in the world and role in the Kingdom of God. St. Francis of Assisi is one role model for older children, and the work he did in the world and in the name of God. The children who know themselves to be called by name by Jesus the Good Shepherd are earnestly seeking out the particularities of their vocations in terms of the Kingdom of God.

Ms. Pam Moore, Director of Children’s Formation info@stmatthewsevanston.org 847-869-4850 Ext. 4

Children & Worship

Children and their formation are at the heart of St. Matthew’s life. We are committed to the inclusion of children as full members of the congregation in all respects, with deliberate attention given to children’s progressive participation in the liturgy.

Children are always welcome at the Eucharist, receiving Communion along with the adults. A Children’s table at the back of the church has various activities and books for children to use as they absorb the sights, sounds, smells and rhythm of the ritual that is central to our life as Christians.

If your child participates in our Children's Formation programming, you may accompany him/her to the assembly room or to his/her atrium upstairs before making your way to your own activity. At the conclusion of the Children’s Formation program, the children will be escorted by their teachers to the church (generally, after the sermon) where children will join their families for Communion.

Sunday for Children

9:30-10:00
Family Choir with Nancy Churchill
For families with children third grade and younger.

9:30-11:15
St. Francis Atrium for fourth and fifth graders.

10:00-11:15
Atrium time for children three years old through third grade.
These children join their parents at the Eucharist at 11:15.

Please note:

Since our aim is to respect and nurture the child’s growing relationship with God by providing time and space for children to grow spiritually, it is important for the children to be present for the entire atrium session. Therefore, those arriving after 10:05 are asked to take their children to the church or the nursery instead of the atrium.

Atrium Registration and Orientation

Contact Ms. Pam Moore, Director of Children’s Formation, to register your child for our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums (there is no fee).

info@stmatthewsevanston.org or 847-869-4850 Ext 4

Since the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a non-traditional approach to children’s religious formation, an orientation to the atrium for both child and parent is necessary before a child joins in the Sunday atrium sessions. Pam Moore is happy to make arrangements for your orientation.

The Nursery

The Nursery, located on the second floor of the parish house along with the atriums, is open every Sunday throughout the school year from 9:30 until 12:00 noon. It is staffed by three professional nannies, who eagerly tend to the needs of our littlest ones as well as the preschoolers and kindergartners whose families attend the Eucharist only.

Family Choir

Family Choir is the name given to the gathering of families from 9:30 until 10:00 each Sunday for singing and general fellowship. It is a way of giving everyone a segment of time in which to arrive. Those who arrive early benefit from the full experience of lively music, and those who arrive later are easily assimilated. Either way, everyone has a chance to arrive and settle down a bit before going to the atrium or to worship.

Over the years this music experience has grown, so that at the present time this group sings at the Sunday worship service twice a year. However, even these events maintain a rich yet relaxed atmosphere. Family Choir is made possible through the gentle, imaginative and enthusiastic direction of Nancy Churchill.

Seasonal Family Celebrations

Seasonal Family Celebrations are offered at the start of each of the principle seasons of the church year – Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. The Family Celebrations generally occur on a Saturday evening and include a potluck dinner, hands-on activities and a brief prayer service. These evenings are designed so that parents and children can grow together in their faith and have some symbols and rituals to carry home with them as they live each season as a family.

The Catechists

The Catechists are those adults who listen to God with the children in the atriums. They are more like guides than teachers, wondering with the children at the various ways God’s loving presence is revealed to us in scripture and liturgy. Being a catechist or an assistant in the atrium requires training, for as Montessori points out, “The prepared environment is useless without the prepared adult.” Training for assisting in the atrium is offered periodically. Contact Pam Moore if you are interested in serving in this capacity.

Pam Moore , Director of Children’s Formation, has been on staff at St. Matthew’s for seven years, and she has specialized in the Catechesis of the Good Shepard for sixteen years. Pam is always available to answer questions, lend support, or offer suggestions.

Ms. Pam Moore, Director of Children’s Formation info@stmatthewsevanston.org 869-4850 Ext. 4


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