Staff Member: Bonnie Schoofs
Bonnie Schoofs
Director of Children's Ministry - serving 3K - 5th Grade
Phone: 262-628-1141
Email: Click Here to Email
My husband Andy & I are lifelong members of St. Hubert/St. Gabriel Parish. We, along with all three of our children, are graduates of St. Hubert School/St. Gabriel School. I have had the honor and privilege to have taught at St. Hubert/St. Gabriel School for 16 years in the areas of Middle School Religion, Social Studies, Literature, all school Music & Art.
When I decided to retire from teaching in the spring of 2015, I wasn’t quite sure what I would do with my “time,” but I felt sure that God had a different plan for my life, and did He ever! I was shocked when Fr. Tim approached me and asked me to prayerfully consider a new position in the parish as Coordinator of Children’s Ministry, now Director of Children's Ministry. I am more excited than ever about my relationship with Jesus and sharing that with the children and parents of our parish!
In the summer of 2018, I had the opportunity to become trained in an incredibly engaging method of passing on our faith to children called, “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.” Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or CGS was developed over 60 years ago by Sofia Cavalletti. Together with Dr. Gianna Giobbi, they developed a program for 3-12-year-olds based on Church doctrine, the Bible, and the Holy Mass with a hands-on approach using the Montessori method. Children are grouped based on age, with three different levels.
Unlike other “programs” Catechesis of the Good Shepherd focuses on helping children develop a relationship with Jesus--getting to know Him by spending time with Him! The trained catechist serves as a mentor to help direct the children by providing a positive environment in which the child can do this. Instead of a “book”, the child comes to know Jesus through interactive “works” within a special room called “The Atrium.”
When I shared Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with our catechists they fell in love with it too! In fact, four of our catechists have taken on the responsibility of being trained in CGS. and serving on our “Visioning Team” and bringing CGS. to St. Gabriel!
If you would like to help bring this amazing method of Catechesis to our youngest children 3-6 yrs, please contact me at bschoofs@stgabrielhubertus.org.
