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Formation Courses for Catechists

registration brochure for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level IIi adult formation
A formation experience for Catechists working with children ages 9-12.
Dates:
July 27-31, 2023
November 16-18, 2023
January 11-15, 2024
March 7-9, 2024
July 25-27, 2024
Hosted by:
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
203 Commercial Ave
Lake Arthur, LA  70549

Level III Formation

CGS  Level III formation builds upon the foundation of the Level I work with the 3-6 -year-old children and Level II work with the 6-9-year-old children.  Catechists who have completed Levels I & II formation are invited to participate in this next formation level.

Level III Course Objectives:

  • To explore the religious nature and most vital religious needs of the 9-12 year-old child
  • To present the methodology and guiding principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the 9-12 year-old child
  • To delve into the mystery of God's covenant relationship with us through Sacred History, still lived in liturgy
  • To consider the latest revisions to the Level III typology presentations and other materials
  • To equip the catechist to create and facilitate a 9-12 year-old atrium
  • To offer an opportunity to begin making materials for a 9-12 arium & to begin work on one's Level III album
Certification for successful completion of this Level III Formation will be issued at the end of the course.  Tuition includes the certificate fee paid to the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Successful completion involves course attendance or comparable session makeup as approved by the formation leader and some observation in a Montessori/atrium elementary environment.
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.  In addition, formation leaders will offer guidelines and assistance in making the catechist's 9-12 album.
Adult Reflection  & Discussion
There will be opportunities throughout the course for group discussions of the theological and pedagogical background of the presentations.  These will be in part based upon reading from Religious Potential of the Child, 6-12 years, The History of the Kingdom of God, Parts 1 & 2, and Ways to Nurture the Relationship With God.
Material Making
In addition, participants will have the opportunity to receive guidance for and time to make some of the Level III materials.  Before the beginning of the course, participants will receive correspondence regarding materials they may wish to purchase from the National Office before the start of the course, so as to be able to work on them during the course.
Small Group Album Page Work
Participants will each be expected to complete one album page in a small group during the course that will be handed out to the group on the last day of session.  Other album pages will be completed individually, though the formation team will give assistance with this process daily during the course.
Lunch
You will be responsible for your own lunch.  After registering, a list of local restaurants & grocers will be emailed.
Your Invitation
You are invited to participate in this Level I Formation which will prepare you to work in an atrium with children ages 3-6 years-old.

Part 1 of Level I will meet September 2-5, 2022 and November 19-22, 2022 at the Oustalet Center, 203 Commercial Ave, Lake Arthur, LA.

Part 2 of Level I will meet January 13-16, 2023 and March 16-19, 2023, also at the Oustalet Center.

Full days will be 9am to 5pm, Sundays, 12pm to 5pm and the last day of each session, 9am to 3pm.

Location

The course will take place at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church's Oustalet Center which provides three full atria with additional space for material making and socializing.  OLL is located in Lake Arthur, Louisiana, near Lake Charles & Lafayette Regional Airports.  For those needing lodging, please request a list of area hotels from our registrar, Mary Ellen Sweeney at ollparish@bellsouth.net

Tuition

* Tuition for the entire course is $425 per person. Payment of the entire tuition must accompany your registration form and is due by July 10, 2023.
*For those who have begun the training elsewhere and need to make up sessions, the cost is $200 per session. 
*For parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake, and for those who will serve here as a catechist, there will be no charge for Formation, however donations toward Formation expenses would be appreciated. 
 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.)
Hosting coordinator for this formation is Mary Ellen Sweeney.(ollsecretary@bellsouth.net)

Formation Leader

Jo Ann Padgett
Reserved for upcoming Level I & level ii formations

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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