If you are interested, please email your name and phone number to: Jenna Jackson, Jenna@olmc-sandiego.org.

In Brief
We are looking for individuals who are interested in assisting our young children (3-5 years old) as they encounter God and grow in their faith through essential and age appropriate contemplative practices through our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation.  This will be approximately a 3 hour weekly commitment that requires assisting the catechist in preparing and providing a clean, quiet, prayerful, and loving environment for the children, observing children as they work, speaking softly and sparingly so as not to disrupt the work of the children, assisting the children with materials and works after the catechist has presented them and only when the children ask, and taking children to the restroom when needed. Volunteers will choose one of the weekly session to assist in through the year.  The commitment for this is a minimum of one year.  Session times are as follows:
Monday 10:00am – 11:30am
Monday 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Tuesday 10:00am – 11:30am
Wednesday 10:00 – 11:30am

Purpose 

1. To serve God and the child in their special place of encounter, the atrium; to be a helper and guide.
2. To assist the catechist in providing a quiet, prayerful, and loving environment for children to encounter the Good Shepherd.
3. To observe the interaction between the Holy Spirit and the children. 

Responsibilities  

1.  Prayer: Personal as well as for the children
2.  Listen to God with the children; sitting with children (silently) during presentations and prayer time.
3. Speaking sparingly and softly while moving in a slower, more careful way. Speaks to one or very few children at a time.  Refrains from adult conversation while in the atrium.
4. Assists the children in their individual work: practical life activities (including personal care needs), lighting candles, reading scripture, restocking supplies, checking (stopping) negative, harmful, or disruptive behavior.
5.  Assist the catechist, or request, in setting up, and maintaining the environment and in record keeping.
6. Interacts with parents but refers them to catechist for the primary communications.
7. Be in frequent contact with the catechist, especially regarding the schedule. 

Time Commitment: 3 hours weekly; 85-100 hours yearly (29-33 weeks a year) 

Length of Commitment:  Minimum of one year 

Weekly Requirements 

1. Spend time in prayer prior to class.

2. Day of Class:

            * Arrive a minimum of 15 minutes prior to class.

            *  Assist the catechist in conducting the session as needed.

            *  Assist in set up before class and clean up after.

Before Class: Put out folders, fill wine vessel, put matches in pocket, check candles, refill collage tray, check drawing supplies, check brass & silver polish, check polishing materials, clean and restock rice & bean container, prepare flowers, and prep and fill water station.

During Class: Assist catechist by being available to children as needed & assist children when they ask for help.

After Class: Put folders away, check & restock supplies, clean tables, dump water station, make sure all candles are extinguished. 

            *  Notify the Coordinator of any needs for materials, additional curriculum, etc.

Requirements 

1. Must be or in the process of becoming a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation).

2. Participate faithfully in the sacramental life of the Church.

3. Lead a life that is doctrinally and morally consistent with the person of Jesus and the teachings of the Church (ex. Married person’s marriage must be recognized in the Catholic Church).

4. Approximately 12 hours per month, which includes lesson preparation and class time.

5. Interact well with others and desire to be a contributing member of the Faith Formation program.

6. Be acquainted with the developmental abilities of the children you will be working with.

7. Acquaint yourself with the expectations of, benefits to, and CGS Program commitments.

8. Complete the Safe Environment training as required by the diocese of San Diego.

9. Commit himself/herself to ongoing formation through cgs readings/studying, and receive training from catechist. 

*Some content taken from
Rojcewicz, Rebekah. (1997; Edited August, 2000).  Guidelines for Atrium Assistants, The National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.