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 2nd graders who might otherwise attend the traditional religious ed program on Sunday mornings. We currently offer Level I for those 3 ½, 4 and 5, and Level II for 6, 7, and 8 year olds. Only those who have done at least one year 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. We are very fortunate to have personnel to cover 6 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.