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Click here to enroll in Volunteer Scheduler Pro, the scheduling app for parents and helpers for our CGS Program. If you have an iPhone or Android, you can also download the app for free.
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Faith Formation Registration
Sessions begin September 6, 7, & 8, 2022
Depending on total registration, some of these sessions may not be scheduled. If you register for a session that is not held, your child will be placed in the second preferred session. (See registration form.)
Space Is Limited
Registration is open to children 3 to 12 years old. Space is limited, so your child may not be placed in the class on the day of the week of your first choice. 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 2. Children returning from the 2021-22 year 3. Children from Our Lady of the Lake families 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 Communion. Since that preparation begins in CGS at the earliest age, children 4 to 7 years old will need to be enrolled from 2022-23 until they turn seven in order to make their First 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.
If a child 4-7 years of age 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 atrium life, which is very different than a typical school routine. As the year progresses, consistent attendance 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. We ask that you please commit to bringing your child to weekly CGS sessions.
Parental Assistance Parental assistance is required for a child's enrollment in CGS. Either parent must help for a total minimum of 6 hours per atrium year. All parents who help during atrium time & where children are present will be required to be Safe Environment Certified through the Diocese of Lake Charles. Childcare will be available for parents who help during atrium sessions. The following are just some ways parents and/or grandparents can help:
Safe Environment
At least one parent of each CGS family must be Safe Environment Certified as part of their child's (children's) CGS registration. And, any adult who is helping in any atria and/or anywhere where children are present must also 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.
If you have ever been Safe Environment Certified, but can't remember your user name or password, please click on that link. If this is your first time certifying, click on "Create New Account". Children's registrations will be placed on hold until the office receives confirmation of at least one parent's SE Certification. The child's place in line for a session will not be lost while waiting unless it is not completed until after sessions begin, so please begin the process as soon as possible! SE Certificates are automatically emailed to the office when the course is completed. The course typically takes 20 - 45 minutes to complete. It must be completed on a computer; it will NOT work on a smart phone. Please call the office if you have any trouble. You may also use an office computer to take the course. Helper Training
ALL parents are very strongly encouraged to attend the upcoming Helper Formation, whether or not you plan to or will be able to help in the atria. (Childcare is available!!) It will give you a very helpful background of the CGS method that will help you understand your child's experiences in the atrium, as well as help you bring the atrium experience into your home!
Helper Formation will be held Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5 at the Oustalet Center, from 9am to 4:30pm Friday & Saturday, noon to 4:30pm Sunday, and 9am to 3pm on Monday. (Childcare is available!) This is the first session of the Level I Catechist training. Attendance at this first session is sufficient for being a helper, but don't be surprised if you want to continue attending the other sessions in November, January & March! We would love to have you finish the complete course and become a trained catechist, even though you only want to be a helper in the atrium! Childcare during Formation/Training and during the Atria year
Childcare will be available for those attending any of the training sessions and during regular atria sessions for parents who would like to help in the atria (classrooms.) Please indicate on your parent inventory (page 3 of your child's registration form) if you are in need of childcare so that we can make arrangements.
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Questions?
For questions regarding CGS at Our Lady of the Lake, 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!
“That is the most beautiful homily I have ever witnessed.” |
Introduction to catechesis of the good shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is based on the conviction that God and the child are in a relationship that can be deep and intense; while a 4-year-old may not be able to be a theologian, he or she can be a saint in communion with the triune God. The child has a deep need to experience and has a special capacity to enjoy the presence of God. The task of the adult is to help the child live fully this encounter with God and to help develop the precious religious potential present in every child: the capacity to love God and be loved by Him.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a method of religious formation rooted in the Bible, the Liturgy of the Church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an "atrium", a room prepared for them, which contains simple, yet beautiful and often homemade materials used to lead them into the life of the Church.
Many have wondered how these materials help the religious life of the child. When an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might pick up a Bible, find the passage, and read it slowly again and again. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer. But a little child, too young to read, needs another way. In an atrium, the child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by taking the material for that text and working with it, placing wooden figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. Older children who do read often copy parables from the Bible, lay in order pre-written prayers, or label a long timeline which shows the history of the Kingdom of God.
This catechesis was begun over 50 years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti, a Catholic scholar with an expertise in Hebrew Scripture. Sofia was asked by a friend to prepare her 7-year-old son for First Communion. Knowing nothing about working with children, Sophia nevertheless began, opening the Bible to Genesis 1:1, reading bit by bit and reflecting with the boy on what they were reading. Seeing the joy, peace and satisfaction on his face led her to imagine the awesome spiritual potentials of the child. She began a collaboration with Montessorian Gianna Gobbi, who understood childhood development. Together with the children, these two began developing the materials you see in our atrium today. Sofia continued her work with children in her home atrium in Rome until her passing in 2011.
CGS has grown, and today children ages 3 to 12 are served in atria throughout the world, from remote rural areas to large urban cities. At each level, the curriculum is based on what Sofia and other catechists discovered, through careful observation over the course of many years, to be the most central, absorbing, resonant work for the children.
In Level I, 3-6-year-old children develop a relationship with a loving God, a God who calls His sheep by name, a God who will look for lost sheep. The children reflect upon many aspects of the Mass; the gestures and prayers they have seen so many times are named, discussed, and practiced. They learn new words, care for themselves and the environment, observe carefully, and respond with joy. The work of the 3-6-year-old child is primarily solitary work involving much repetition.
In Level II, the 6-9-year-old children are introduced to a God who directs the unfolding of salvation history with the aim of bringing all of creation into a deeper communion with Him. The children consider God's work of Creation and celebrate Christ's work of Redemption. Through the prophecies, they are offered a vision of the Parousia. A longing for harmony and the coming of the Kingdom and an end to all that is bad in the world surfaces. The children see beyond themselves, exhibiting concern for the world as a whole. In marveling at God's gifts, they begin to take stock of their own response. They look to Jesus' words and parables to help them know what is right; moral formation begins. They prepare for the Sacraments. They begin to read Scripture themselves. They create their own missals. They enjoy working in groups. They plan and lead prayer services.
In Level III, the 9-12-year-old children journal; they wrestle with moral questions as a group. Like the Level II children, they plan and lead weekly prayer, which grows more complex and may echo the Liturgy of the Hours. Their work on salvation History becomes more detailed, as the great "Plan of God" offers them a theoretical framework for all they learn in history and science at school. They wonder what their own contribution to this history will be. Vocation is a theme they explore, through the loves of prophets and saints. Level III children explore the elements of the Sacraments in more detail. They examine the miracles of Jesus. The children delve into the Old Testament typology and discover parallels between the stories there and the stories they have already learned from the New Testament. They continue to strive to find harmony in their world, showing a keen interest in justice and an emerging interest in service.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a method of religious formation rooted in the Bible, the Liturgy of the Church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an "atrium", a room prepared for them, which contains simple, yet beautiful and often homemade materials used to lead them into the life of the Church.
Many have wondered how these materials help the religious life of the child. When an adult hears a beautiful passage from the Bible, the adult might pick up a Bible, find the passage, and read it slowly again and again. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer. But a little child, too young to read, needs another way. In an atrium, the child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by taking the material for that text and working with it, placing wooden figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. Older children who do read often copy parables from the Bible, lay in order pre-written prayers, or label a long timeline which shows the history of the Kingdom of God.
This catechesis was begun over 50 years ago in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti, a Catholic scholar with an expertise in Hebrew Scripture. Sofia was asked by a friend to prepare her 7-year-old son for First Communion. Knowing nothing about working with children, Sophia nevertheless began, opening the Bible to Genesis 1:1, reading bit by bit and reflecting with the boy on what they were reading. Seeing the joy, peace and satisfaction on his face led her to imagine the awesome spiritual potentials of the child. She began a collaboration with Montessorian Gianna Gobbi, who understood childhood development. Together with the children, these two began developing the materials you see in our atrium today. Sofia continued her work with children in her home atrium in Rome until her passing in 2011.
CGS has grown, and today children ages 3 to 12 are served in atria throughout the world, from remote rural areas to large urban cities. At each level, the curriculum is based on what Sofia and other catechists discovered, through careful observation over the course of many years, to be the most central, absorbing, resonant work for the children.
In Level I, 3-6-year-old children develop a relationship with a loving God, a God who calls His sheep by name, a God who will look for lost sheep. The children reflect upon many aspects of the Mass; the gestures and prayers they have seen so many times are named, discussed, and practiced. They learn new words, care for themselves and the environment, observe carefully, and respond with joy. The work of the 3-6-year-old child is primarily solitary work involving much repetition.
In Level II, the 6-9-year-old children are introduced to a God who directs the unfolding of salvation history with the aim of bringing all of creation into a deeper communion with Him. The children consider God's work of Creation and celebrate Christ's work of Redemption. Through the prophecies, they are offered a vision of the Parousia. A longing for harmony and the coming of the Kingdom and an end to all that is bad in the world surfaces. The children see beyond themselves, exhibiting concern for the world as a whole. In marveling at God's gifts, they begin to take stock of their own response. They look to Jesus' words and parables to help them know what is right; moral formation begins. They prepare for the Sacraments. They begin to read Scripture themselves. They create their own missals. They enjoy working in groups. They plan and lead prayer services.
In Level III, the 9-12-year-old children journal; they wrestle with moral questions as a group. Like the Level II children, they plan and lead weekly prayer, which grows more complex and may echo the Liturgy of the Hours. Their work on salvation History becomes more detailed, as the great "Plan of God" offers them a theoretical framework for all they learn in history and science at school. They wonder what their own contribution to this history will be. Vocation is a theme they explore, through the loves of prophets and saints. Level III children explore the elements of the Sacraments in more detail. They examine the miracles of Jesus. The children delve into the Old Testament typology and discover parallels between the stories there and the stories they have already learned from the New Testament. They continue to strive to find harmony in their world, showing a keen interest in justice and an emerging interest in service.
Life in the atrium
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.
As the child's capacities for exploration and socialization expand during the Level II years, the connections made at Level I are deepened and broadened. The Kingdom of God, which had been introduced through parable and liturgical symbol, is now seen in its historical context. God is encountered as the Giver of gifts and initiator of the covenant relationship. The child's emergent moral sensitivities are nurtured as he considers his responses to God's invitations.
These themes are explored even more deeply with 9-12-year-olds, who look at the rise and fall of nations and cultures as part of the plan of God. They spend considerable time thinking about their roles in that plan. In-depth Old Testament work is complemented by detailed study of the Gospels. Both are enriched by delving more deeply into the Sacraments. In these ways, the themes and methods of Level I - especially respect for the call of the child's personal journey and his membership in a loving community - continue to shape the child's growing spirituality.
During an atrium session, the catechist presents material to the children, for instance, proclaiming the words from Isaiah 9:1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." Together with the children, the catechist discusses what it is like to be in darkness, how we feel when we see the light, what Isaiah might have meant when he said the people walked in darkness, what this light might be. It is the children themselves who eventually make connections between the light Isaiah proclaimed and the light given to each child at Baptism, the candles on the altar, the darkness that descended upon Jesus' death, the light of the Resurrection, and so on. Children are invited to work with any and all materials which have been presented to them.
Through CGS, children are given language for prayer, language to describe the Mass, opportunities to imitate/re-create what they've seen in Mass, exposure to Scripture, a time and place for developing their own spiritual life and much more.
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.
As the child's capacities for exploration and socialization expand during the Level II years, the connections made at Level I are deepened and broadened. The Kingdom of God, which had been introduced through parable and liturgical symbol, is now seen in its historical context. God is encountered as the Giver of gifts and initiator of the covenant relationship. The child's emergent moral sensitivities are nurtured as he considers his responses to God's invitations.
These themes are explored even more deeply with 9-12-year-olds, who look at the rise and fall of nations and cultures as part of the plan of God. They spend considerable time thinking about their roles in that plan. In-depth Old Testament work is complemented by detailed study of the Gospels. Both are enriched by delving more deeply into the Sacraments. In these ways, the themes and methods of Level I - especially respect for the call of the child's personal journey and his membership in a loving community - continue to shape the child's growing spirituality.
During an atrium session, the catechist presents material to the children, for instance, proclaiming the words from Isaiah 9:1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." Together with the children, the catechist discusses what it is like to be in darkness, how we feel when we see the light, what Isaiah might have meant when he said the people walked in darkness, what this light might be. It is the children themselves who eventually make connections between the light Isaiah proclaimed and the light given to each child at Baptism, the candles on the altar, the darkness that descended upon Jesus' death, the light of the Resurrection, and so on. Children are invited to work with any and all materials which have been presented to them.
Through CGS, children are given language for prayer, language to describe the Mass, opportunities to imitate/re-create what they've seen in Mass, exposure to Scripture, a time and place for developing their own spiritual life and much more.
The Catechetical year
In the prepared environment of the atrium, the catechist aids the children in developing a balance between the freedom to do the work that is most attractive to them and their responsibility to the community.
As the year begins, the children will be introduced to the atrium. They will learn that the atrium is a special place, prepared just for them, and that they must, "walk gently, speak softly, and listen for God's voice." They will learn to ask permission to watch another child work. They will learn where the paper, scissors, glue, work mats, and so on are kept and how to prepare a work space for the next child. The children will learn songs that are sung in the atrium. They will gather at the prayer table.
As the year progresses, they will celebrate the changing seasons with Advent Processions, and by changing the colors for Christmas, Ordinary Time and Lent. They will "bury the Alleluias" and resurrect them most joyously at our Easter Liturgy of the Light. They will celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
As the year begins, the children will be introduced to the atrium. They will learn that the atrium is a special place, prepared just for them, and that they must, "walk gently, speak softly, and listen for God's voice." They will learn to ask permission to watch another child work. They will learn where the paper, scissors, glue, work mats, and so on are kept and how to prepare a work space for the next child. The children will learn songs that are sung in the atrium. They will gather at the prayer table.
As the year progresses, they will celebrate the changing seasons with Advent Processions, and by changing the colors for Christmas, Ordinary Time and Lent. They will "bury the Alleluias" and resurrect them most joyously at our Easter Liturgy of the Light. They will celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The parents' Role: Awaiting glimpses of the kingdom
The child's work in the Atrium is their prayer. It is their developing relationship with God.
The work of your child in the Atrium is very precious. Some hold that work very closely - perhaps not feeling comfortable yet with the language that explains it. Trust that discussion will come when your child feels ready to share.
Be patient! Ideas have been planted; children ponder greatly. When your child is ready, you will hear about the Atrium. Your young child may "set an altar" at home or begin to ask permission to watch a sibling do something. You may hear snippets of a song and can ask a Catechist to give you a copy of the song so you can sing at home. Your older child may engage in conversation with you; you'll both learn from these talks.
In each Atrium, each child has a personalized folder in which to store sacred artwork in progress or completed. Any artwork your child chooses to create will be sent home a few times per year. We suggest you take some quiet time to study the contents, asking your child to interpret and teach you about it. A child might like to see a special drawing framed and displayed in his room or may prefer to keep the whole folder in a safe place. Reverence their work according to their lead.
There will be children with thick folders, children with slim folders and children who discover their folder is empty. Children with empty folders have simply been involved in other work (meditating over how the wise men knew where to find Baby Jesus, dressing the altar, setting the prayer table, and so on.)
There are many ways for parents to become involved in CGS. Parents are given the opportunity to visit and observe in the Atrium once the year is underway and routines are established. Parents or volunteers can assist in the Atrium, volunteer as a door monitor, and provide support in replenishing consumables, repairing materials, and constructing or shopping for new materials.
For more information on the CGS approach, please visit cgsusa.org.
For more information about Our Lady of the Lake's CGS program, please contact Mary Ellen at ollsecretary@bellsouth.net or 337-774-2614.
The work of your child in the Atrium is very precious. Some hold that work very closely - perhaps not feeling comfortable yet with the language that explains it. Trust that discussion will come when your child feels ready to share.
Be patient! Ideas have been planted; children ponder greatly. When your child is ready, you will hear about the Atrium. Your young child may "set an altar" at home or begin to ask permission to watch a sibling do something. You may hear snippets of a song and can ask a Catechist to give you a copy of the song so you can sing at home. Your older child may engage in conversation with you; you'll both learn from these talks.
In each Atrium, each child has a personalized folder in which to store sacred artwork in progress or completed. Any artwork your child chooses to create will be sent home a few times per year. We suggest you take some quiet time to study the contents, asking your child to interpret and teach you about it. A child might like to see a special drawing framed and displayed in his room or may prefer to keep the whole folder in a safe place. Reverence their work according to their lead.
There will be children with thick folders, children with slim folders and children who discover their folder is empty. Children with empty folders have simply been involved in other work (meditating over how the wise men knew where to find Baby Jesus, dressing the altar, setting the prayer table, and so on.)
There are many ways for parents to become involved in CGS. Parents are given the opportunity to visit and observe in the Atrium once the year is underway and routines are established. Parents or volunteers can assist in the Atrium, volunteer as a door monitor, and provide support in replenishing consumables, repairing materials, and constructing or shopping for new materials.
For more information on the CGS approach, please visit cgsusa.org.
For more information about Our Lady of the Lake's CGS program, please contact Mary Ellen at ollsecretary@bellsouth.net or 337-774-2614.
Learn More about becoming a catechist
-----Are you called to be a catechist?-----
The Top 5 Reasons to become a trained catechist are:
The wonderful part of becoming a catechist is that the only prerequisite is a love of Christ and a desire to share that love with children!
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.
In Christ,
Mary Ellen
- To build social relationships with like-minded people.
- Catechist Formation is a retreat in which you will come to know more about, understand, and love our Catholic faith.
- To help Our Lady of the Lake provide CGS to all our children.
- To directly help grow the Kingdom of God through evangelization.
- So your own children or grandchildren can learn about their Catholic Faith and the Bible through CGS!
The wonderful part of becoming a catechist is that the only prerequisite is a love of Christ and a desire to share that love with children!
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.
In Christ,
Mary Ellen
Children's CGS REGISTRATION 2022-23
If the registration form does not display below, click on "CHILDREN'S CGS REGISTRATION 2022-23" to collapse the box, then click on it again. It should then display correctly, but if you continue to have trouble, please call the office to register by phone during office hours. Thank you!
-----The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered in 3 Levels-----
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Level I is offered to children ages 3-6 years old. The children visit the atrium once a week, and are given individual presentations with sensorial materials. They are then free to work independently in the environment. The focus in Level I is God as our Good Shepherd. We come together as a group at the prayer table for prayer and song at the beginning and end of class. Level I works through a three-year cycle. Each year the child is introduced to new materials, or deeper lessons on materials with which they are already familiar.
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Level II is offered to children 6-9 years old. The children spend time in the atrium session once a week. Their presentations are given either individually or in small groups. They are also encouraged to work independently or in small groups to explore each lesson on a deeper level. The presentations in Level II center on God as the True Vine. Older students also work together to plan and lead a prayer service for the group. Again, Level II is arranged in a three-year cycle of lessons, so each year offers new lessons and new materials.
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Level III is offered to children 9-12 years old. The Level III children also spend time in the atrium each week. In Level III, the focus of the lessons is "God in Time". There are more in-depth Scripture studies of the Old Testament, and they dig into timeline work, seeing how God has acted in time, in the present, and what He says about the Parousia... when God will be all in all.
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