Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechists who serve in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd approach are expected to undertake formation courses that are approved by the United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Therefore, the Diocese of Greensburg offers equivalency certification to those who successful complete their certification through The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGSUSA):

• CGS Level I Certification is the equivalency of both Basic and Standard Certification (with completion of the Basic Level Administration/Legal Course).
• Those who complete CGS Level II and Level III Certification receive equivalency of Advanced Certification (with completion of a seminar on practical skills for catechetical leaders offered by the Diocese of Greensburg).
• Those who are recognized as Formation Leaders by the United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd receive equivalency of Master Catechist Certification (with completion of a seminar on practical skills for catechetical leaders offered by the Diocese of Greensburg).
• Those who are recognized as Formation Leaders by the United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd are recognized to teach CGS Certification courses within the Diocese of Greensburg in accordance with the Speaker Policy of the Diocese

CATECHESIS FORMATION

“CGS is a common religious experience involving children and adults in which the religious values of childhood, primarily those values of contemplation and enjoyment of God, are predominant. This experience is shared in a place particularly prepared for the religious life of children called the Atrium.”  www.cgsusa.org

This type of catechesis, developed by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and her co-worker Gianna Gobbi, began in Rome in 1954 with the approval of the bishops of Rome, including Pope John Paul II.

Registrations are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I Formation Course being offered at Mother of Sorrows Parish, Murrysville, PA.  This Level I Formation Course has been opened up to individuals around the United States by the national organization for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Participants in this adult formation discover or rediscover their own unique personal relationship with God as they see presentations through the eyes of the child three to six years of age. This course fulfills several requirements for Basic Certification in the Diocese.

Not all of the parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg have an Atrium.  Please contact your local parish for information on CGS or for a referral to a parish in your area that offers CGS as part of their faith formation program.

If you need additional information or have any questions, please contact the Office for Faith, Family, and Discipleship at [email protected].

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Course Dates and Times

Saturdays 9:30 am — 4:30 pm Sundays 1:oo pm – 6:oo pm

Part 1: Oct 21 Nov 11, 12; Jan 6, 20, Feb 3, 17

Part 2: Mar 2, 3, April 6, 7; May 4, 5; June 8, 9

To register, please email Anita Wright with any questions, and fill out the form below: ​Register

Fees and Materials

Suggested Materials for Note-taking and Album Page Work:

• You will also want to bring a means of taking notes during the course. This may include a notebook, writing utensil and/or a laptop.
• Many have found a 3-ring 2” binder, 2 sets of page divider tabs and page protectors helpful in organizing their album page work.

Certificates

Upon completion of the Level I Formation Course, a certificate will be issued from the National Office and presented during the last session by the formation leader, to participants in the cohort who have fully participated in the course.
Catechists in the Diocese of Greensburg who obtain this Level I certificate will fulfill the first requirements necessary for Basic Certification in the Diocese and will satisfy varying levels of the Training and Catechetical Certification Process.

Formation Leader

Mary Beth serves as a catechist in all three levels of the atria at St. Thomas More University Parish where she is the Director for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Youth Ministry.
      A nationally recognized CGS Level I Formation Leader, she has permanent certification in the Diocese of Greensburg and has also obtained her master’s degree at Aquinas Institute for Theology in Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Mary Beth and her husband Phil have raised three children.

She continues to share the pure joy of this work with others as her journey continues.