Are you called to be a catechist?

In the atrium, we are led by the children's desires for relationship with God/Jesus and to know what is going on during the Mass.  Areas of interest include practical life, geography, articles of the Mass, Baptism, Prophecies of the Child, Infancy Narratives, Paschal Narratives, and Kingdom Parables.  For the older children, the atria also include materials on moral formation, Salvation History and the Sacraments.  We celebrate seasons as the Church does, drawing our presentations from the Scriptures most engaging to the children.

One of the books that guides our catechesis is "Listening to God with Children" by Gianna Gobbi.  This approach allows the children to come to their own realizations and answers in their own time.  The child who begins as a 3-year-old tends to absorb the Word of God with great delight at the words themselves and the pictures they bring to mind.  In the second year, the child begins to connect parables to the liturgy.  In the third year, this child may begin to create artwork demonstrating the unique understanding that resides in the heart of the child.

Questions?

For questions regarding CGS Level I or Level II Formation, please contact Mary Ellen at 337-774-2614, or email her below.

CGS National

If you'd like to learn more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, click below!
In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, adults are given the opportunity to embrace a method of catechesis (religious education) that deepens your own relationship with God in ways you never imagined.  Catechist formation in CGS consists of instruction, spiritual formation and lived experience in a sacred space called the atrium.  Certification in each level of the atrium requires formation which includes time for instruction, contemplation and, most importantly, prayer.

 We are blessed at Our Lady of the Lake to have three atria serving children from preschool to seventh grade.  As our program grows, so does our need for certified catechists.  Unlike other religious education curricula, CGS knows that there is nothing more important than helping children grow closer to Christ.  Therefore, all catechists receive training in a way that is "retreat-like", giving them time and space to absorb the richness of what it means to live one's baptismal covenant and grow in the love and knowledge of God.  The Level I course is the foundation for all three levels of CGS.
CGS strives to captivate the head as well as the heart of our students and our catechists.  There is a very holistic approach to adult formation, enriching the adult in a background of scripture and liturgy, theology and prayer, as well as understanding the developmental readiness of children.  These help the catechist to see what face of God the child most needs at various ages to grow in their relationship with Him.

The wonderful part of this formation is that the only prerequisite is a love of Christ and a desire to share that love with children!
Top 5 Reasons to become a trained catechist:
  1. To build social relationships with like-minded people.
  2. Catechist Formation is a retreat in which you will come to know more about, understand, and love our Catholic faith.
  3. To help Our Lady of the Lake provide CGS to all our children.
  4. To directly help grow the Kingdom of God through evangelization.
  5. So your own children or grandchildren can learn about their Catholic Faith and the Bible through CGS!

Could the Lord be calling you to follow the Good Shepherd and share His love with the children of our parish?  Would you like to learn more about CGS here at Our Lady of the Lake?  Please reach out; I would love to show you around our atria and answer any questions you may have.  If you're ready to sign up for our upcoming Level I Formation to become a catechist, just click here for  details.

In Christ,
Mary Ellen