Training opportunity

By Harriet Claiborne, Lead Formation Leader for Atrium 2 (grades 1-3).

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness… “ Psalm 100:1

The formation atriums (rooms) are closed for the summer, but that doesn’t mean things are stagnant.

The children’s prayers and art work still reverberate in the atmosphere, filling it with a sense of peace. The adults use summer to clean the shelves, sharpen the pencils, and reorganize the space. It can also be a time for our own formation.

The word, atrium, comes from Maria Montessori’s search to find a space between the church and the school where young children are introduced to God in such a way that they can fall in love with him. Every article in the room is essential, beautiful, and at a height a three-year-old could take off the shelf and use—with the help of a catechist.

But how does an adult talk to a three-year-old about the mystery of the kingdom of God?

In October, Saint Philip’s will join St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church to bring a special formation course to Tucson. It will be sponsored by the American Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

The course will include five monthly weekends of prayer, adult reflections on doctrinal content, and direct aim and scripture references that focus on sharing a common religious experience with children—especially when contemplation and enjoyment predominate.  

I attended my first formation course in 1992. I was looking for a meaningful curriculum for Saint Philip’s children and I went home with a new, child-like love for Jesus and all of his children.

If you are looking for new life in Christ, you are invited to join our course by contacting me at haclaiborne@gmail.com or Kate Appel at kate.appel@stphilipstucson.org.

Bless you!