Welcome to the St. Catherine-St. Colman Religious Education Program. Thank you for considering us to work with you in the religious education of your child. We offer classes at 6:30 pm on Wednesday evenings for students in 1st through 8th grade at the parish school on site. In addition to an Archdiocesan curriculum for each grade level, we provide sacramental preparation for 2nd and 8th grade students. Please note that for a child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or First Eucharist (First Holy Communion), the child must have completed two years of Religious Education prior to receiving the sacrament. This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of New York. If you would like your child(ren) to join our program, there is a registration form on our site that should be completed and returned for each child being registered. Additionally, we will need a copy of each child’s birth certificate, as well as any additional sacramental certificates the child may have.

Our registration fees are as follows:

• $70 for each student ($20 book fee, $50 student registration).
• 2nd Grade Sacramental preparation is an additional $20.
• 8th Grade Sacramental preparation is an additional $70.

All registration fees must accompany the registration form to be considered registered.
​If you have any questions, please call 845-382-1133 or 845-594-4683.
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a hands-on method of faith formation based on the Montessori method of learning. Unlike book-based curriculums that use a workbook model with minimal teacher training, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd utilizes a dedicated prepared space for children called the “atrium” and extensively trained catechists.  The atrium is filled with child-sized furnishings and manipulative models of people, places, and objects found in scripture and liturgy. 

These materials are introduced to the children throughout the year. Each week, the children choose materials to continue their meditation about particular Scripture texts or signs from the liturgy. Because children learn by using their hands, working with materials allows them to enter more deeply into meditation, nurturing their relationship with God.

The deep religious potential of children first captivated two Italian laywomen, Sofia Cavelletti, a Hebrew scripture scholar and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator, over 60 years ago. It is the joyful, peaceful response of the children themselves that inspired and determined the content of this unique program. Guided by the children’s own choices and work, Sofia and Gianna were able to select for each age group those Scriptures and liturgical signs that are the best developmental match.

Over time the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd spread, first coming to the United States in the 1970s. Today, it is used in many dioceses and denominations across the nation, and in 37 countries.

from the website of the Center for Children and Theology

We are very proud of the Good Shepherd program here at St.Catherine/St.Colman and it is the program that is used to prepare our children (2nd grade) for their First Communion. On Sundays we have the atrium open to 3 to 6 years old.  We currently have four of our fellow parishioners and catechist who have their Level I certification and one with Level II.  There are also five catechists who are actively participating the Level I course to provide this program for our children. 

We offer the Good Shepherd program to our children through the 6th grade.  7th and 8th grade move to the traditional classroom for Confirmation preparation classes. 

EWTN recently showed a video of this program as it is done in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, but it is of course essentially the same as we have here.  To see the video, please go to: https://www.cgsusa.org/catechesis-of-the-good-shepherd-featured-on-ewtn-news-in-depth/

You may also visit the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd website at: http://www.cgsusa.org/ for more information.

If you are interested in having your child participate in this wonderful program, please contact;

Coordinator of the St. Catherine-St. Colman Religious Education Program:

Carla Maraglio
​Phone: 845 594-4683
[email protected]