Religious Education Registration

for

Catechesis (cat-uh-key-sis) of the Good Shepherd
or

"CGS" for short

If you would like your child's name to be placed on a waiting list, please continue reading and then complete the registration form.  Thank you! 

Confirmation Prep classes:   please use the registration form below and choose Wednesday as your first choice.   Thank you!

Sessions for 2024-25 begin with 

Orientation for Parents & Children

August 26, 27, 28, & 29, 2024

4pm - 5:30pm, or 6pm - 7:30pm

Registration is open to children 3 to 14 years of age.  

Classes (atria) will take place in the Oustalet Center on:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
(Your child(ren) will only need to attend on ONE of those days.)

Space is Limited

Depending on total registration, classes (atrium) may not be held on some of these days.  If you register for a session that is not held, your child will be placed in  your second preferred session. (See registration form below.)   If all classes are filled, your child's name will be placed on a waiting list.  Priority will be given to:

1. Children preparing for First Communion & Confirmation from registered Our Lady of the Lake parishioners.
2. Children of Catechists and Helpers
3.  Children returning from the 2023-24 year

 All CGS classes are offered during the school year.

First Communion

Full participation in the CGS Program is mandatory for children who are preparing to make their First Confession and First Holy Communion.  Since that preparation begins in CGS at the earliest age, children 4 years-old will need to be enrolled from 2024-25 until they are ready to make their First Holy Communion. 

Parents of 3-year-olds have the option of enrolling their child in CGS, in consultation with the catechists, to determine if their child will be comfortable in the atrium environment.  Their enrollment is strongly urged, but it is not mandatory at that age for First Holy Communion prep.

(If a child 4-7 years of age and/or who is preparing for their First Communion is placed on a waiting list, their mandatory participation will be waived until room opens for them in the program.)

Attendance

Consistent attendance at weekly CGS sessions is very important for your child:

  • Especially at the beginning of the year, it will help your child settle into the CGS environment, which is very different than a typical school routine. 
  • It will ensure that they receive the presentations they see their peers work with, and not feel left behind, or out of place in the atrium. 

Please make their religious education a priority over extra curricular activities and commit to bringing your child to weekly CGS sessions until the last session in May 2025.

Safe Environment - For All Parents

In order to complete your child's CGS registration, at least one parent of each CGS family must be Safe Environment Certified. It is free and available online through the Lake Charles Diocese website here:  https://lcdiocese.safeenvironment.org/login/index.php, but it must be completed on a computer, NOT a smart phone.

Please begin the process of SE Certification as soon possible so that your child(ren)'s registration is not held up*.  SE Certification takes about an hour and is good until June 30, 2025.

*Child(ren)'s registrations will be placed on hold until the office receives confirmation that at least one parent has begun their SE Certification.  The child's place in line for a session will not be lost while waiting for SE Certification to be completed, unless it is not begun until after August 18th, when registration closes.

If another adult (grandparent, aunt, etc.) will be helping our program in your place, please forward this information to them. Any adult who is helping in any atrium (classroom) and/or anywhere where children are present must also be Safe Environment Certified. 

Please call Cindy at 337-774-2614 if you have any questions. Thank you!

Childcare for Parent Volunteers

Childcare will be available for parents who can help during CGS atrium (classroom) sessions!    Please indicate on page 1 of the registration form below if you will need childcare in order to help.

Questions?

For questions regarding CGS at Our Lady of the Lake, please contact Mary Ellen at 337-842-9896, or email her below.

CGS National

If you would like to learn more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, click below!
“That is the most beautiful homily I have ever witnessed.”
–Saint John Paul II, while visiting a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium
If you have any difficulty registering through a mobile browser (with your phone), you can try: 1. registering on a computer instead of your phone, or 2. requesting the desktop version of the site on  your phone.   Please call  337-842-9896 if you need any assistance in registering.