The Good Shepherd program is based on Montessori principles and uses a prepared environment, the Atrium, for its sessions. The Atrium is not a classroom, but resembles a small church where many activities take place dealing with various topics, such as, practical life, geography, the infancy narratives, the Good Shepherd, the kingdom parables, baptism, and gestures of Eucharist.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an option for PreK through 3rd graders who might otherwise attend the traditional religious education program on Sunday mornings. We currently offer Level I for those 3 ½, 4 and 5 years old, and Level II for 6, 7, and 8 year olds. Only those who have done at least two years of Level I and are enrolled in Assumption Religious Ed can participate in Level II.

People who lead an Atrium must be certified by the International Good Shepherd Organization. At this time, we are very fortunate to have personnel to cover six separate groups of Good Shepherd which meet on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Ministry Center. For further information, please contact Tara Speer at (973) 267-5638 or Tara.Speer@assumptionparish.org.