At the Fray Luis de Leon School in Queretaro (Mexico), education is not only limited to the transmission of knowledge, but becomes a spiritual, interior and experiential experience. An eloquent example of this is the project “The Atrium of the Good Shepherd”, an initiative that combines the Montessori method withAugustinian pedagogy and spirituality, thus promoting an integral formation of the heart and thought.
This atrium is a carefully prepared space for primary school children where, through sensory materials, liturgical symbols, thematic corners and moments of prayer, the little ones discover and deepen their understanding of the life of Jesus, the sacraments and the liturgy.
Professor Sandra López Sarmiento, one of the people in charge of the project, explains:
“This is the Atrium of the Good Shepherd with Montessori system, it is the same system internationally, founded in Italy by Sofia Cavalletti. Although this is a worldwide Montessori method, we adapted it to Augustinian pedagogy.”
Indeed, this adaptation is not superficial. The atrium also celebrates the feasts of Augustinian saints and presents content that helps children to “see with the heart,” in keeping with the spirituality of St. Augustine, who taught that true knowledge is born of love.
The space is organized in different thematic corners:
- Practical life corner
- Infancy of Jesus
- Parables and the Word of God
- Prayer and Mass
- Liturgical calendar and Last Supper
- Baptism and Easter Sirius
- Biblical geography with a model of Jerusalem
Each corner has its own specific material, which is presented closed to awaken the child’s desire to explore, touch and contemplate.
“They work with the pieces and arrange them according to the biblical reading to be worked on,” says Sandra, emphasizing the importance of the sensory approach at this stage of development.
One of the most outstanding elements is the Good Shepherd material, which gives the project its name.
“We are with the reading of the Good Shepherd… how the Good Shepherd calls his sheep and the child works with them because he is in his sensory stage,” she explains. Thus, through symbols and gestures, the children become familiar with God’s tenderness and learn to listen to his voice in the depths of their hearts.
In the Mass corner, students learn about everything from the liturgical calendar to the sacred objects on the altar:
“They go about making their altar with objects, they work and make their prayer. They become familiar with the gestures of the Mass.”
All this work integrates head, hands and heart, and is completed with moments of prayer before the Virgin of Guadalupe, always present in the atrium, as well as with the understanding of the liturgical colors and the preparation of the priest for the celebration.
In addition, the children copy cards with the names of liturgical objects, which reinforces their religious language and attention to detail.
This project is part of the commitment of the Colegio Fray Luis de León with the Augustinian pedagogy, which seeks to form free, responsible persons capable of finding God within themselves, in others and in history. As St. Augustine taught, “do not go outside, return to yourself: in the interior of man dwells the truth”.
With initiatives like this, the school not only educates, but also forms hearts capable of loving, seeking the truth and living the faith deeply from childhood.