The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is an approach to the religious formation of young children. In the CGS, we present age-appropriate themes from the Bible and our Catholic liturgy with manipulative materials the children use in a space called an “Atrium.” Each Atrium is a calm and peaceful place. Considered “holy ground,” in the Atrium the children have the opportunity to respond in their own way to the material presented; which might be a parable, an explanation of the altar, liturgical vestments and colors, tracings, or the sacraments. The hands-on approach allows the children to work with three-dimensional maps, miniature environments and figures, art supplies and practical activities like pouring and sorting which help center the child for spiritual work.