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Where we explore the spirituality of Christian children through the method of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Season 2 with new episodes of the podcast will begin in October of 2021.
God and the Child with Rebekah Rojcewicz originally aired on January 6, 2020
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,* you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 NAB
Does the child already have a connection with God? How can we, as adults, foster it? Why does an encounter with God create a peace and joy in the child and what does this look like? What about the children who have a hard time finding that peace and joy? What is a Metaphysical child?
Rebekah Rojcewicz explores with us the spiritual depth of the child that is discussed in the first chapter of The Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti. In this episode she helps us have a deeper understanding and respect for the hidden riches of the child. She lifts up the place of the adult as co-learner so that we can allow the true teacher, the Holy Spirit, to encounter the child.
You can purchase the NEW third edition of The Religious Potential of the Child today!
Rebekah is a catechist and formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd having completed her training in 1981 in Rome with Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi. She has translated several of their books and articles from the original Italian and has written and edited various parts of the CGS core texts. Her book, Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues, is due for publication in 2020. Rebekah is a catechist at her parish, St. Patrick Catholic Church, and for the Missionaries of Charity atrium in Memphis, Tennessee. She serves on the formation committee of CGSUSA, as well as on the International Board for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
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Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32
What is the mystery of Time? How does God speak to us through this mystery of time? How do we ponder the mystery of time in our work with the children in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
Autumn Domingue joins us on the podcast again today to ponder these questions. Autumn Domingue is a spiritual director, formation leader and Life Coach, whose greatest joy is journeying with those searching for greater meaning and purpose in their lives. In addition to her private practice, Autumn serves on two teams forming new spiritual directors and works as a national formation leader for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; a Montessori based religious education movement that seeks to honor the contemplative spiritual nature of the child. In her free time, Autumn enjoys yoga, painting, playing with her grandchildren, and taking long walks along the river at the summer camp where she resides.
To Purchase the 2nd Edition of Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old by Sofia Cavalletti, visit the CGSUSA Online Store today! Your purchase has purpose.
Listen to Episode 37 with Autumn: CGS and Spiritual Direction from Autumn Domingue.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
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Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
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Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:11
“It is possible to see a clear analogy between the mission of the Shepherd in the Church and that of the prudent and generous educator in the Montessori method, who with tenderness, with love and with a wise evaluation of gifts, knows how to discover and bring to light the most hidden virtues and capacities of the child.” Pope John XXIII
Anna Hurdle join us today to dive into the mystery of the second plane child, the 6-12 year old. We break open who this child is, what face of God they need, and how we can respond to their developing capacities. This episode goes with Chapter 3 of Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues by Rebekah Rojcewicz.
Anna is a practicing Montessori teacher (AMS 6-12) in a public Montessori school. She is Director of Children’s Formation coordinating Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in her parish, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she also serves as a catechist. Anna serves as a formation leader at three levels offering courses in the U.S. and Canada. She frequently serves on national CGSUSA formation teams. In addition, Anna is a member of the CGSUSA Episcopal Committee and the Formation Committee.
Purchase Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues from the CGSUSA online store today.
For information on the Life in the Vine Book Study, please take some time to read more today. The Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues Level II Book Study is a wonderful opportunity for catechists to gather in person or via Zoom, at the parish level, by region, or as a way to reconnect with fellow catechists from your time in a CGSUSA formation course.
We are grateful to Joann Terranova, Maria Muscado, Connie Moretti, and the catechists in the Sheepfold Regional Group in the state of WA for developing this process and sharing it with CGSUSA, and also to board member, Sussan Stuhhlsaaatz-Reese, who piloted a Zoom Book Study group this spring using this study. What you will find in this book study is an opportunity to read and share, to reflect on what resonated with you, and to ask questions and discuss the rich themes found in this text, alongside the child’s expression of those themes. For each chapter, samples of the child’s artwork will be shared, so that you may go deeper still to reflect upon the Mystery of the God and the Mystery of the Child.
Listen to Episode 33- Chapter 7 – Moral Formation with Rebekah.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” John 15:4
Today we begin our two part book study on Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues by Rebekah Rojcewicz. Today we dive into the short first two chapters of the book with Rebekah herself. Next episode we will dive into Chapter 3 with Anna Hurdle. We will not be doing all the chapters on the podcast because we would like this to be a springboard to help you get started on a book study with your friends. Chapter 1 dives into the 0-6 year old child, recalling who they are so that we can move towards to child in the second plane: 6-12 year old child. Chapter 2 lifts up the spiral method and how the essential, vital nucleus is the central format for what we do with the children.
Rebekah is a catechist and formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd having completed her training in 1981 in Rome with Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi. She has translated several of their books and articles from the original Italian and has written and edited various parts of the CGS core texts. Rebekah is a catechist at her parish, St. Patrick Catholic Church, and for the Missionaries of Charity atrium in Memphis, Tennessee. She serves on the formation committee of CGSUSA, as well as on the International Board for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Purchase Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues from the CGSUSA Online Store.
Learn more about the Book Study today! The Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues Level II Book Study is a wonderful opportunity for catechists to gather in person or via Zoom, at the parish level, by region, or as a way to reconnect with fellow catechists from your time in a CGSUSA formation course.
We are grateful to Joann Terranova, Maria Muscado, Connie Moretti, and the catechists in the Sheepfold Regional Group in the state of WA for developing this process and sharing it with CGSUSA, and also to board member, Susan Stuhlsatz-Reese, who piloted a Zoom Book Study group this spring using this study. What you will find in this book study is an opportunity to read and share, to reflect on what resonated with you, and to ask questions and discuss the rich themes found in this text, alongside the child’s expression of those themes. For each chapter, samples of the child’s artwork will be shared, so that you may go deeper still to reflect upon the Mystery of the God and the Mystery of the Child.
Listen to Episode 33- Chapter 7 – Moral Formation with Rebekah
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
“He said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
Meagan Hofman joins the podcast today to help me share our story of how God helped us build an atrium in Haiti.
Meagan Hofman is president and founder of The Reveye Initiative, a non profit school in rural Haiti. The mission of Reveye is to awaken joy and wonder in education in Haiti. Meagan is trained in level 1 of CGS and has worked in atriums both in Haiti and in St. Louis. She is a former elementary school teacher and has a passion for education and mission work. Meagan lives in St. Louis with her husband and 5 month old son working to build their own little domestic church.
For more information about Reveye:
Or to see pictures of our atrium and CGS “to the streets”
Join CGSUSA for our Summer Book Study of the first few chapters of Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues! Purchase the book at the CGSUSA Online Store today!
The June 23rd Episode, we will be covering Chapter 1 and 2 with Rebekah, and the July 7th Episode will cover Chapter 3 with Anna Hurdle.
Learn more about the book in Episode 26. You may also listen to Rebekah discuss Chapter 7 on Moral Life in the Kingdom of God in Episode 33.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Acts 2:8
¿Cómo es que cada uno de nosotros los escuchamos en nuestra propia lengua? Hechos 2:8
Our experiences with children in the atrium show us a place where we can live a contemplative life with greater intention, permeated with an awareness of how to live as Sofia writes, "the whole of one's life," contemplatively. We, as catechists in the atrium, have the responsibility to help the child live their relationship with God with “the whole of one’s life.” In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we give the child time and space for prayer to develop this relationship. We recognize that we need to be using the child’s familiar language, their “mother tongue.” A bilingual environment takes a fundamental role in the prayer life of a child, where the child can live the contemplative life with greater understanding and intention.
Lourdes Santiago Vazquez joins us today to speak about our how we can assist the how we can be sensitive to in serving the child who is bi-lingual and what we need to consider in preparing a bilingual environment and the adults who will serve there so that we can work together as one community with two or more languages.
Lourdes began her work in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 1991 as a volunteer with the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. She helped to build the bilingual Atrium at St Anne’s in Gilbert AZ and welcomed many families and children at home and abroad. Lourdes works with all three levels of children and is a formation Leader in English and in Spanish. She has a bachelor’s degree from the State University of Phoenix, and holds a master’s degree in Theology from the Graduate Theological Foundation from South Bend, Indiana. She has served as a missionary in Honduras, Peru, The Philippines and Western Europe with the Missionaries of Charity. Lourdes continues to coordinate CGS in Spanish at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Gilbert, Arizona. She joined the staff of the National Association in 2006 and works as the coordinator for those in Spanish and bilingual communities. .Lourdes is from Puerto Rico. She has been a resident of Arizona since 1989.
This summer CGSUSA will hold a Zoom Servant Song Retreat regarding this "Child of Many Languages." This time apart will give you an opportunity to refresh yourself in prayerful reflection on the Gifts of the Spirit as they guide our understanding of the child who is bilingual. You are invited to share your experiences, listen to others' experiences and exchange ideas on serving bi-lingual or multi-lingual children in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium. As an association, we seek to bring our member catechists together for conversation in order to understand the needs of bilingual children who participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as well as the communities they are in so that as catechists we are better able to serve our children.
This Zoom event will be presented in both English and Spanish. We will have translators interpreting both languages so it will be important for you to let us know when you register whether you prefer English or Spanish. We invite everyone to join us for a zoom version of this retreat on July 23-24. The event will be translated into both Spanish and English. Read more about the Child of Many Languages - El Niño De Muchas Lenguas 2021 on our website.
Join us for our Summer Book Study of the first few chapters of Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues! Purchase the book from the CGSUSA Online Store today!
Learn more about the book by listening to Episode 26, and listen to Rebekah discuss chapter 7 on Moral Life in the Kingdom of God in Episode 33.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday May 12, 2021
Wednesday May 12, 2021
“The unfolding of your words gives light.” Psalm 119:130A
Spiritual direction is, “help given by one believer to another that enables the latter to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship.” (The Practice of Spiritual Direction by William A. Barry and William J. Connolly)
In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd we say that the catechist is not the teacher but Christ is. In both Spiritual Direction and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd we respect the primary role of God communicating to the individual and each person’s unique response. Autumn Domingue joins the podcast today to speak about this beautiful ministry of Spiritual Direction and its parallels to our work with children in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Autumn Domingue is a spiritual director, formation leader and Life Coach, whose greatest joy is journeying with those searching for greater meaning and purpose in their lives. In addition to her private practice, Autumn serves on two teams forming new spiritual directors and works as a national formation leader for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; a Montessori based religious education movement that seeks to honor the contemplative spiritual nature of the child. In her free time, Autumn enjoys yoga, painting, playing with her grandchildren, and taking long walks along the river at the summer camp where she resides. Autumn would love to hear from you and can be reached through email at autumn@autumndomingue.com or through her website at autumndomingue.com where you can also schedule a complimentary spiritual direction or life coaching session.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” John 15:4
For True Vine Sunday, we hear the beautiful parable of the True Vine. In this parable, we find that Jesus has invited us to a relationship that is even closer that the relationship between the Shepherd and his sheep. He is the Vine, we are the branches, so close, sharing the same risen life. And it is His Father, the Vinedresser who is the one taking care of the True Vine and all the branches. We are called to remain and then we know we will bear fruit. Rebekah Rojcewicz referred to this parable as the “linchpin” parable for children nine to twelve, in her book “Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues.” What this means is that from these two parables everything that we do in our atria, and therefore in our spiritual lives, we are able to build off from these two parables. Over the last 60+ years in the atria the children have revealed to us the importance of these two parables in all of our spiritual lives.
We have invited Tim Bell to join us on the podcast today to speak about his work tending vines to shed new light on this important parable.
Tim Bell has received formation in all levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, including participation in the seminal Infant-Toddler formation in Wales. He has primarily served as a level 3 catechist in St. Helena, CA. His wife, Jennifer Bell, is a catechist and formation leader, and his daughter, Emma, has also served as a level 1 catechist. Tim also was blessed with the opportunity to assist his wife at a level 1 formation in Rome given to the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity in 2019.
Tim's vocation is winemaker. He has made wine in Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, and the Central Coast of California. Currently he is winemaker at Dry Creek Vineyard. You can find some of the fruits of his labor at www.drycreekvineyard.com. Tim and Jennifer live in Santa Rosa, CA, and love immersing themselves in nature, especially when paddling their kayaks.
Links to purchase the following books
Life in the Vine and Ways to Nurture the Relationship with God are both available for purchase from the CGSUSA Online Store.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
“When we were baptized, we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so
that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new
life. If in union with Christ we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his
resurrection.” Romans 6:4-5
Baptism is a beautifully dense sacrament with layers of signs and meaning. There are
ample connections and “golden threads” that we can find throughout scripture. Like
many themes we reflect on in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we could have an in-depth study just on this sacrament alone. Donna Turner joins us on the podcast today to begin to scratch the surface of this layered and beautiful sacrament.
Donna Turner has been involved in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd since 1994. She has been a catechist of children of all ages, most particularly serving as a Level III catechist for the past 21 years. In addition to being a catechist at her parish, St. Philip Episcopal Church in Memphis, she is also a catechist at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Dyersburg, TN. Donna serves CGSUSA as a member of the Formation Committee, Episcopal Committee, and Methodist Committee. She is a wife and mother and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild in May.
Get a copy of Baptism is a Beginning (Bautismo es un Comienzo) from our Online Store today!
If you would like a copy of The Religious Potential of the Child, the Third Edition, by Sofia Cavalletti, you may order it from our Online Store as well! Chapter 5 specifically speaks about Baptism.
Remember that every purchase from our CGSUSA eStore has a purpose! Our eStore
helps financially support the work of CGSUSA and we appreciate our loyal customers!
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:24
We have entered into Holy Week and are about to encounter the culmination of our faith and the Good Shepherd’s total gift of self within the Paschal Mystery. Carolyn Kohlhaas joins us to ponder this great mystery and how it is celebrated in all three levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Carolyn Kohlhaas is a catechist and formation leader for CGS at all three levels of formation as well as an AMI certified Montessori guide for children ages 3-12. She holds an undergraduate degree in theology and religious education from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a master’s degree in Elementary Montessori Education from Loyola University, Maryland. Carolyn works with area parishes in their implementation of CGS.
Look at the Light Words on Loss and Love from Sofia Cavalletti and The Religious Potential of the Child 3rd Edition are available from the CGSUSA online store.
Review resources for CGS in the Home and the Parent Page on The Paschal Mystery.
Learn more about formation in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Follow us on Social Media-
Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”
Instagram- cgsusa
Twitter- @cgsusa
Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA
YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd