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Formation Courses for Catechists

registration for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Level IIi adult formation
A formation experience for Catechists working with children ages 9-12.
Dates:
Part 1:  May 22-25, & 28-31, 2024
Part 2:  May 21-24, & 27-30, 2025
Hosted by:
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
203 Commercial Ave
Lake Arthur, LA  70549

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious formation for children that seeks to create and facilitate a sacred, "hands-on" space for children called an atrium.  Both the children and their catechists can hear, ponder, and celebrate the most essential mysteries of the Christian faith as revealed in the Scriptures and the Liturgy.  Originally developed in Rome by Sofia Cavaletti and Gianna Gobbi over fifty years ago, the Catechesis continues to spread worldwide and is used with adaptation in various Christian traditions.

Level III Formation

The  Level III course builds upon the foundation of the Level I and Level II courses.  The course will continue to ground the participant in the theory and praxis of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd while also concretely preparing him/her to develop and facilitate an atrium for 9-12-year-old children.  At the successful completion of the course, the participant will receive the certificate issued by the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the Level III Catechist.

Level III Course Objectives:

  • To explore the general developmental characteristics and most vital spiritual needs of the 9-12-year-old child.
  • To meditate on the Biblical and Liturgical themes presented to the Level III child with a focus on sacred history, sacraments, moral formation, and typology studies.
  • To expand the catechist’s ability to observe and learn from the upper elementary age child, and nurture, with sensitivity, the child’s spirituality.
  • To offer guidelines and assistance for preparing the 9-12 atrium environment and making the catechist’s album and Level III materials.
  • To present and discuss the basis of this work in the Roman Catholic tradition and including an awareness of material adaptations in the Episcopal tradition if needed as well as other traditions.
If we want to help the child draw nearer to God, we should with patience and courage, seek to go always closer to the vital nucleus of things.  This requires study and prayer.  The children will be our teachers if we know how to observe them. -Sophia Cavalletti

Course Format

Presentations
Conducted within a prayerful environment, this formation will include all presentations given to the 9– 12-year-old child in a three-year cycle as developed by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi.  Photographing the materials is encouraged.  Videotaping presentations is not permissible, but audio taping for personal use, if helpful, is fine.  If you plan to bring your laptop for note taking, be sure to bring your power cord and an extension cord as electrical outlets may not be close to your seat.  Wi-Fi will be available.
Album Pages
The formation leader will offer guidelines and assistance in making the catechist’s 9-12 album.  She will be available for album page consultation throughout the course.
Adult Reflection  & Discussion
There will be opportunities throughout the course for group discussions of the theological and pedagogical background of the present-ations. These will be in part based upon reading from Religious Potential of the Child, 6-12 years (2nd ed.), The History of the Kingdom of God, Part 1; The History of the Kingdom of God, Part 2; and Life in the Vine:  The Joyful Journey Continues.

All required texts are available through the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at cgsusa.org.  In addition to these texts, you will need to bring your Bible.  Other readings and resources will be recommended during the course.
Material Making
Participants will have the opportunity to receive guidance and time to make some of the Level III materials. Rulers, glue, paper cutters, scissors, hole-punch, staplers, and some markers will be available.  Plan to bring favorite markers, felt tip pens or any other favored material-making equipment.

Course Expectations

  • Certification from successful completion of Level I & Level II Formations
  • Attendance at all course sessions
  • Group work to complete a Level III album
  • Observation in an upper elementary Montessori classroom and in a 9-12 atrium

Meals

A light breakfast will be provided each day.  Coffee and water will be provided throughout the day as well as snacks. Please feel free to bring a snack, treat or dessert to share with the rest of the attendees. Lunch will not be provided. A list of local restaurants (some within walking distance) will be provided upon registration for the course.

Location and Time

The course will take place at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church which provides three full atria in the Oustalet Center with additional space for material making and socializing.  Our hours will be 8:30am to 5pm. 

Our Lady of the Lake is in Lake Arthur, Louisiana near Lafayette and Lake Charles with flights into those airports.  For those needing lodging please request a list of area hotels from our registrar, Mary Ellen Sweeney at [email protected].

Tuition

* Tuition for the entire course is $450 per person.  (Tuition is waived for those who will be catechists at Our Lady of the Lake.)  A payment of $450 must accompany your registration form and is due by May 22, 2024.

*The National Association of the Good Shepherd certificate fee of $35 is included in the tuition for this course.  We encourage participants to join the National Association if they have not already done so.  Membership will provide access to the online materials manuals.  Visit www.cgsusa.org for more information.

* For those who have begun the training elsewhere and need to make up sessions, the cost is $125 per 4-day session.  

*To audit the entire course the cost is $250. Contact Mary Ellen Sweeney for details at  [email protected]

* Limited scholarships for tuition may be available by applying to the CGS Fund. Please see the CGS website for more information: www.cgsusa.org.

Formation Leader

Mindy Longwell is the director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Mesa, Arizona. She is a sought after formator for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for all three levels and has traveled extensively helping catechists and catechetical leaders form children in this amazing method. She has been a director and catechist for  30 years in CGS and in many different settings including formation in the Holy Land in the Melkite Catholic rite. Her experience with the children in her own community as well as the catechists and children from other parts of the world reflect a unique quality to her teaching of adults. If asked what her favorite part of being involved in CGS is, she will tell you it is being able to hear the sweet voice of the Good Shepherd through the child.
Help us, O God, to enter into the secret of childhood so that we may know, love and serve the child in accordance with the laws of thy justice & following thy Holy will.  Amen.
- Prayer of Maria Montessori
Registration for catechesis of the good shepherd
Level I  adult formation
A formation experience for Catechists working with 3 to 6 year-old children.
Dates:
Part 1:  June 26-29, 2024
Part 2:  July 10-13, 2024
Part 3:  July 24 & 25, 2024
Hosted by:
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
203 Commercial Ave
Lake Arthur, LA  70549
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Course
 Format
Location &
Time
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offers Christian formation for children ages 3 through 12.  Through this experience, children are helped to form an authentic, faithful relationship with God.  The Catechesis is grounded in scriptural and liturgical study framed by Montessori's principles of education.  This gives children the opportunity to hear the Gospel and absorb its message through the use of sensorially-rich materials and the work of their hands which is very appropriate to their developmental needs.
This method of catechesis began in Rome, Italy in 1954 by Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew and Scripture scholar, and her colleague, Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori trained educator. Both women were Roman Catholic.  In their observation and engagement with children, they sought to discover what face of God children most needed to see in order to grow in their knowledge and love of God. Children need the sensitive guidance of the adult and the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit to nurture this relationship. The adult prepares a sacred space, called the atrium, which allows children a prayerful place to learn to listen to and respond to a relationship with God through Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
The atrium is a place of community and worship - to be with God, enjoy Him, listen to His Word, and to pray.  It is designed to reflect the beauty of His creation and God's abiding love. It is also a place to begin to learn and recognize the signs and symbols that speak of Him through the liturgies of Baptism and Eucharist.
The National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was formed in 1984 with the purpose to “involve adults & children in a common religious experience in which the religious values of childhood predominate.”  This course will give you the background information as well as the skills to create a prepared environment, an atrium, and make presentations that enable the child to draw near to God.

Course Objectives
The Level I course is the foundation for all three levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
The objectives of this Level I formation include:
  • To present the guiding principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd;
  • To explore the religious nature and the vital religious needs of the 3-6 year-old child;
  • To offer the adult time to prayerfully reflect and personally consider the Biblical and liturgical themes presented to the 3-6 year old child;
  • To broaden the adult’s ability to observe and learn from children’s spirituality;
  • To cultivate the capacity to deeply listen to and enjoy with children the Word of God;
  • To offer guidelines and assistance in preparing the atrium, making the catechist's album, and materials.
This course is a spiritual formation experience for adults as well as instruction in this method of catechesis for children. The pace of the course is retreat-like, allowing for its contemplative nature to be a prayer experience for adults as well as model the atrium experience for children. 
Presentations are given from scripture and liturgy in the same way they will be given to the children. Adults will receive background information on selected themes, including a foundational study into Maria Montessori’s work with children, and will be encouraged to read the core CGS texts throughout the course.  Time will be allocated for making materials used in the atrium and discussing and writing album pages for presentations.  Successful participation of this course will result in a certificate from the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

If we want to help the child draw nearer to God, we should with patience and courage, seek to go always closer to the vital nucleus of things. This requires study and prayer. The children will be our teachers if we know how to observe them.
     -Sofia Cavalletti
Formation Team
Lisa Brett-Reeves, Formation Leader
  • Director/Coordinator of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, St. Jerome Catholic Church, Largo, Florida
  • CGS Level I Adult Formation Instructor
  • Certified CGS Catechist for Levels I, II & III
  • Catechist since 2009 with experience in working with children at all three levels
  • Trained in CGS Infant/Toddler (0-36 months)
  • AMI 0-3 Assistant Certified
  • St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Board of Directors - Currently
  • CGSUSA Board of Directors 2016-2017

Cecilia Burke, Formation Leader Assistant
  • Trained in CGS Infant/Toddler (0-36 months)
  • Certified CGS Catechist for Levels I, II & III
  • Catechist since 2015 with experience in working with children at all three levels
"That is the most beautiful homily I have ever witnessed."  - Pope St. John Paul II, after visiting an atrium in Rome
 The course will take place at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church which provides three full atria in the Oustalet Center with additional space for material making and socializing. Our hours will be 8:00am to 4:30pm, & 12pm to 4:30pm on Sunday.
Our Lady of the Lake is in Lake Arthur, Louisiana, near Lafayette & Lake Charles with flights into those airports.  For those needing lodging, plase request a list of area hotels from our registrar, Mary Ellen at [email protected].

Tuition
  • For parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake, & those who will be a catechist here, there is no charge for Formation, however donations toward Formation expenses would be appreciated.  For all others, the Formation fee is $125. 
  • The National Association of the Good Shepherd certificate fee of $35 is included in the tuition for this course. 
  • Membership in the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, www.cgsusa.org, is highly recommended for each participant and will allow access to the Level I Materials Manual.  ($50/year.) 
  • If you need to attend only part of the formation, the cost for each 4-day session is $75, & for Part 3, $25.
  • The audit fee for the course is $60.

Meals
A light breakfast will be provided each day.  Coffee and water will be provided throughout the day as well as snacks.  You are welcome to  bring a snack, treat or dessert to share with the rest of the attendees.  Lunch will not be provided, but you are strongly encouraged to either bring your lunch or enjoy your take out at the Oustalet Center with the group for continued community building while we eat.  A list of local restaurants (some within walking distance) will be provided upon registration for the course.
“The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a way that adults and children can live the spirituality of the child.  It is not a program. What I found was a way I could live out the gospel command to become like little children. To become like little children is to enter into a deep simplicity and great joy and peace. It is a gift to come to the heart of Jesus, the heart of the church and enjoy the presence of God“ – a catechist
registration for catechesis of the good shepherd
level II adult formation
A formation experience for Catechists working with 6 to 9 year-old children.
Dates:
Part 1:  July 2-3 & 5-6, and
                  July 28-31, 2024
Part 2:  July 21-25, & 28-30, 2025
Hosted by:
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
203 Commercial Ave
Lake Arthur, LA  70549
Course
Description
This 96-hour course is especially designed for those who are interested in or already involved in caring for the spiritual lives of children, in a home, parish or school setting. This course is open to all who have already completed the Level I Foundations Course. It is a prerequisite for further adult formation courses in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Certificate Program (Level III).
This course is a spiritual formation experience for adults as well as instruction in this method of catechesis for children. The pace of the course is retreat-like, allowing for its contemplative nature to be a prayer experience for adults as well as model the atrium experience for children.  Presentations are given from scripture and liturgy in the same way they will be given to the children. Adults will receive background information on selected themes, including a foundational study into Maria Montessori’s work with children, and will be encouraged to read the core CGS texts throughout the course.  Time will be allocated for making materials used in the atrium and discussing and writing album pages for presentations.
Successful participation of this course will result in a certificate from the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Course
Objectives
  • To explore the general developmental characteristics and most vital religious needs of the 6-9 year old child.
  • To meditate on the Biblical, doctrinal & liturgical themes presented to the 6-9 year old as provided by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi including the scriptural meditations for sacramental preparation.
  • To present the methodology and guiding principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for this age child.
  • To offer catechists an in-depth understanding of the discoveries of the child at the second plane made by Maria Montessori and how these discoveries link to the atrium work and experience of the Level II child.
  • To further the catechist's ability to observe, listen & learn from the child.
  • To offer guidelines and assistance to the catechist in preparing the atrium and in making catechist album pages & materials.
  • To deepen the adult’s prayer life and relationship with God.
"That is the most beautiful homily I have ever witnessed."  - Pope St. John Paul II, after visiting an atrium in Rome
Times &
Location
 Location:  The course will take place at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church which provides three full atria in the Oustalet Center with additional space for material making and socializing.  Our hours will be 9am to 5pm.

Our Lady of the Lake is in Lake Arthur, Louisiana, near Lafayette & Lake Charles with flights into those airports.

For those needing lodging, please request a list of area hotels from our registrar, Mary Ellen at [email protected].

Tuition
  • For parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake, & those who will be a catechist here, there is no charge for Formation, however donations toward Formation expenses would be appreciated.
  • For all others, the Formation fee is $150. 
  • The National Association of the Good Shepherd certificate fee of $35 is included in the Formation fee for this course.
  • Membership in the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, www.cgsusa.org, is highly recommended for each participant and will allow access to the Level I & II Materials Manual.  ($50/year.)
  • Limited scholarships for formation fees may be available by applying to the CGS Fund.  Please see the CGS website for details:  cgsusa.org.
Meals
A light breakfast will be provided each day.  Coffee and water will be provided throughout the day as well as snacks.  You are welcome to  bring a snack, treat or dessert to share with the rest of the attendees.  Lunch will not be provided, but you are strongly encouraged to either bring your lunch or enjoy your take-out at the Oustalet Center with the group for continued community building while we eat.  A list of local restaurants (some within walking distance) will be provided upon registration for the course.

Formation Leader
Sister Theresa Josephine Do, OP is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province based in Houston. She holds certifications in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in Level 1, 2, and 3, and is recognized as a Level I and Level II formation leader.  Sister Theresa Josephine has been a Catechist serving various levels of youth and children from 1992 to the present.   In the last twelve years, her focus has been on guiding children to Christ through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, helping the children she serves develop their religious potential, encounter God & develop a profound relationship with Him.

Questions?

For questions regarding CGS Level I, II or III Formation, please contact Mary Ellen at 337-842-9896, or email her below.

CGS National

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