I came across this short notice in The Catholic Sunthat the co-founder of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Sofia Cavalletti died in Rome yesterday. Cavalletti was 94 years old. 

Cavalletti, a Hebrew and scripture scholar, began her work with children in 1954 after a discussion with children over a passage in the Bible. She began her work with colleague and Maria Montessori educator, Gianna Gobbi.  

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The two set out to observe and discover what teaching method would suit children in their faith formation.

Her insights are documented in many of her books, such as “The Religious Potential of the Child,” “Six to Twelve Years,”and “The Good Shepherd and the Child,”to name a few.

Cavalletti's work will be well-known to anyone who has had a child in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It is a wonderful program that draws children into the biblical story (and stories) at their own pace and according to their own needs. Many children were introduced to the Gospel through the work of Sofia Cavalletti and her program continues to thrive all over the world. On a personal note, my wife brought my youngest son to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd even before we had joined the Catholic Church and she was later trained in the teaching methods of the program. It was, indeed, an impetus for our family joining the Catholic Church. A true child of God, may she rest in peace and eternal light.

John W. Martens

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