by Catherine Maresca
In response to these and other situations, we gathered catechists together in June for a CCTheo Conversation to talk about sharing space, materials, and formation in various ways. We discovered additional ways to serve a locality together, and some helpful practices for any group to begin a community atrium.
“Our resources multiply when we work together.”
For example, Kay leads a community atrium for the children from eight Catholic parishes in New Haven, CT. The parishes each provide adults to work in an atrium. They share formation, space and materials to serve these parishes together. Enrollment increased by 50 percent in the first years, a sign that families saw the fruit and of the work and wanted to participate.
Elizabeth, in Lancaster County, PA, gathers with local catechists for book study, formation, mutual support and a small council to serve 230 children of five Catholic parishes.
Caroline runs an independent, non-profit atrium that serves the children of parishes where WV, MD and VA come together. This atrium started in a chicken coop, and now charges a fee to rent commercial space for atriums run by volunteer catechists.
Amanda, in northern VA, furnished a 3 level atrium in her home and served local children of her independent Catholic community and other local denominations for many years.
Jodi-beth is the lead catechist at Christian Family Montessori School in Washington DC, serving children in the elementary atrium from multiple denominations as well as other faith traditions.
Near Albany, NY, two Episcopal parishes and a Catholic school joined forces to begin a Level 1 formation course this summer, sharing materials, staff support, and an additional site for practice with materials.
“The essentiality of CGS brings us all together … it is connective tissue across difference.”
These examples of service together show us that difficulties related to our current cultural or church developments can be overcome by catechists of the community working together. Larger groups of adults can serve more children, save money on materials, share space and strategize for ongoing formation. Other possible benefits include serving different language groups, homeschooling families, interdenominational groups or multiple groups of different denominations, and strong integration of children with disabilities or neurodiversity.
The conversation pointed to three components of community atriums:
We focus on what children have in common as observed by Maria Montessori, Sofia Cavalletti, and Gianna Gobbi. The heart of our faith can serve children of every denomination, language group, abilities and disabilities, and circumstances.
Programs serving more children leads to more efficient use of space, material, volunteers, and leadership.
As priests retire, churches combine, congregations dwindle, and budgets shrink a larger group of catechists and parents can creatively respond to continue to serve their community’s children.
There are no rules for community atriums, as they each meet very different needs or challenges. CCTheo will provide space online and conversations to share stories and wisdom to encourage others and offer useful strategies to develop their ministry of nurturing children’s relationship with God.
One unexpected gift of our June conversation was when two catechists who live in the same city met eachother in a breakout room. What serendipity!
What other connections can we make to work together? Are you working on a community atrium? Do you see a need or opportunity for one in your community? Do you have stories to share? We are collecting stories of how people work together in community atria, as research and to help others. Please reach out to Jodi-beth McCain jodi-beth@cctheo.org if you have as experience to share.
One Response
I recently attended the USCCA Conference in DePaul U in Chicago and received a set of free booklets of 5 for children in Chinese. Just had the opportunity to read them and found them very inspiring and helpful. How can I order several
sets for my little relatives? Please advise.
Want to thank Genelda and Stephen Waggon and Alicia Jewell for their beautiful writing, translation and illustrations.
May the Holy Spirit continue to bless you in your work for Him and His sheep.