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Where we explore the spirituality of Christian children through the method of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Episodes
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
“By the mouths of children, babes in arms, you set a stronghold firm against your foes.” – Psalm 8:2
Today we are continuing a series of episodes covering different chapters from The Religious Potential of the Child. We have a new page on the website where you can find the podcast episodes that correspond with different chapters in this book to aid your own personal study or a book study with some friends or catechists! We hope you will make this your summer book study! Ppurchase your copy of the third edition of The Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti.
Katy Beedle Rice joins us on the podcast today to discuss Ch. 7 of The Religious Potential of the Child on Prayer. She speaks about how the 3-6 year old child prayer, how we as adults can foster that prayer life, the importance of Kerygma and silence and so much more!
Katy is a Level 1 and Level 2 formation leader with CGSUSA. She currently lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and three children, and volunteers as a catechist for children ages 3-12 in several atria in the Boise area. In May 2017 she graduated from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri with a Masters in Pastoral Studies with a concentration in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In 2021 Katy received her certification as a Montessori Guide for 3 to 6 year-old children.
Download study questions for Religious Potential of the Child for your book study!
Purchase Taste and See by Pam Moore
This week we are lifting up our Benefactor Member- Mustard Seed Training is a small group of home-based Christian artisans in Northeast Ohio who pray for the recipient while making these materials for children and families.
Mustard Seed Training has been approved by The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to partner as a vendor member.
All CGS materials are supplied unfinished allowing the catechist to finish them in accordance with the CGS Method. In addition, our artisans commit to the following:
- Use furniture-grade birch plywood
- Use 3/8" wood with joints instead of 1/4" for sturdier dioramas
- Keep popular materials in stock for faster shipping (for example our 2D & 3D figures)
- Ship unassembled when possible to save you on postage
- Produce made-to-order items within 6 weeks when not in stock
- Choose eco-friendly shipping and printing supplies
“We hope the materials available here will assist you in completing your CGS atrium! It is an honor to serve your ministry.”
Feel free to contact Meagen Farrell at learn@mustseed.org or 216.973.4977 for:
- Custom requests
- Specific deadlines
- Bulk items for retreats or materials making workshops
Find out more about CGS:
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 27, 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
“You prepare a table before me.” -Psalm 23:5
Today we will start a series of episodes covering different chapters from The Religious Potential of the Child. We have a new page on the website where you can find the podcast episodes that correspond with different chapters in this book to aid your own personal study or a book study with some friends or catechists! We hope you will make this your summer book study! See below to purchase your copy of the third edition of The Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti.
Ruth joins us on the podcast today to help us go deeper into Ch. 4 of The Religious Potential of the Child on Christ the Good Shepherd and the Eucharist. She speaks about the connection between the Bible and the Liturgy, the “Sacrament of Gift” and so much more.
Ruth Ohm Sutherland is a catechist in Levels 1-3 (currently involved in CGS Infant-Toddler Catechist Formation) and a Formation Leader for Level 1. She has started the CGS in several cities, most recently in Wausau, Wisconsin; she offers atrium sessions at all three levels in Wausau. Prior to moving to Wisconsin, Ruth taught Sacred Scripture at St. Patrick's Seminary & University in San Francisco.
Download study questions for Religious Potential of the Child for your book study!
This week we are lifting up our Benefactor Member: The Catechists Husband
A message from The Catechists Husband: We would like to wish everyone a happy Easter. We hope everyone had a good lent and Easter. It's time to start looking toward the summer and we would like to remind everyone that supply chain issues are impacting everyone. Please give your vendors and local craftsmen as much notice as possible for next year. You don't want to wait until the end of the summer to order your materials for the new year. To find out more about the Catechists Husband and to see the handcrafted materials for purchase, go to https://thecatechistshusband.com/
Find out more about CGS:
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 13, 2022
Wednesday Apr 13, 2022
“This is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for many.” Mark 14:24
Marty joins us on the podcast again today to dive into Chapter 3 of Ways to Nurture the Relationship with God as a way for us to enter the Paschal Mystery during Holy Week and the Easter season. We explore the connections between the Passover Meal, Last Supper, the Paschal Mystery, and the Eucharist.
Marty O’Bryan began her formation in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with Sofia Cavalletti in 1983 and has been a catechists since 1985. She conducts adult formations at Levels I, II and III throughout the United States. A retired speech and language pathologist, Marty holds a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies with an emphasis on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from Aquinas Institute of Theology. Currently, she works with children in Level I, II, and III atria in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
Ways to Nurture Your Relationship with God – Chapter 3
This week we are lifting up our Benefactor Member- Mustard Seed Training is a small group of home-based Christian artisans in Northeast Ohio. We prayed for you while making these materials for children and families.
Mustard Seed Training has been approved by The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to partner as a vendor member.
All CGS materials are supplied unfinished allowing the catechist to finish them in accordance with the CGS Method. In addition, our artisans commit to the following:
- Use furniture-grade birch plywood
- Use 3/8" wood with joints instead of 1/4" for sturdier dioramas
- Keep popular materials in stock for faster shipping (for example our 2D & 3D figures)
- Ship unassembled when possible to save you on postage
- Produce made-to-order items within 6 weeks when not in stock
- Choose eco-friendly shipping and printing supplies
We hope the materials available here will assist you in completing your CGS atrium! It is an honor to serve your ministry.
Feel free to contact Meagen Farrell at learn@mustseed.org or 216.973.4977 for:
- Custom requests
- Specific deadlines
- Bulk items for retreats or materials making workshops
Find out more about CGS:
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 30, 2022
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
"I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land." Ezekiel 36:24
Betty Hissong has been a Montessori teacher, having started the second Montessori school in the United States in the mid-1960s, a Montessori teacher-trainer, a Good Shepherd catechist, and a formation leader for more than 40 years. She is in Cleveland, Ohio. Now, at almost 95 years old she may be the oldest CGS catechist and formation leader. She shares some of her stories about her early years in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Our Vendor Organization Members are organizations, companies, or individuals who create and sell goods that support catechists in preparing Atrium materials for children. They go through an approval process and are formally recognized as vendors our members can trust.
Materials offered for sale by Vendor Members must follow the guidelines for materials identified by the International Council (Consiglio) in the “Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and must sell products that are safe under the regulations of the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission. Vendor Members of CGSUSA are an important part of our CGSUSA members’ ministry with children. CGSUSA strives to build connections between our catechist members and our vendor members.
We are grateful to Catechist Husband, a Benefactor Vendor member, for all the help and support that have shared with us over the years.
The Catechists Husband would like to remind you that it's not too late
to order your Easter materials. We have Cities, tombs and Cenacles in
stock and ready to ship. Shop Here
Find out more about CGS:
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 16, 2022
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
“O Lord, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! I will sing of your majesty above the heavens with the mouths of babes and infants. – Psalm 8:2-3a
“If we let ourselves become involved in the Word of God with children, we, too, can discover some fundamental values of the religious life.” – Sofia Cavalletti (Journals, Winter 1985)
“We do not lose childhood as that which recedes ever further into our past, that which remains behind as we advance forward in time, but rather we go toward it as that which has been achieved in time and redeemed forever in time. We only become the children whom we were because we gather up time – and in this our childhood too – into eternity. Throughout our entire life span… childhood may always remain open. And we may still have to go on living through our own childhood in our life taken as a whole because it always remains an open question for us.” Karl Rahner, “Ideas for a Theology of Childhood,” Theological Investigations, vol. 8
Ann Garrido joins us on the podcast today to speak about her new book Preaching With Children. Preaching in congregations with many children is one of the most difficult challenges many preachers face. Whether you are a priest, deacon, catechist, or prayer leader, this book offers practical help in crafting specific homilies for children. Drawing on insights gleaned within the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Garrido helps preachers understand key characteristics of childhood and children’s spirituality and presents ways to reflect on Scripture through the lens of the young child. Preachers will discover that they are preaching with children, rather than preaching to them.
Ann Garrido is associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO and founding director of the school’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program with an emphasis on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (MAPS-CGS). She has served as a catechist with children ages 3-12 since 1996. Ann is also a formation leader with the U.S Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for twenty-one years and a member of the association’s formation committee. She is the author of eight books, including Mustard Seed Preaching (LTP, 2003) and A Year with Sofia Cavalletti (LTP, 2017).
Garrido, Ann. A Year with Sofia Cavalletti (Chicago: LTP, 2018)
Garrido, Ann. Let's Talk about Truth (ND: Ave Maria Press, 2020)
Ann Garrido’s personal website
Find out more about CGS:
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 02, 2022
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
“God is love.” 1 John 4:8
Claudia Margarita Schmitt joins us on the podcast today to discuss the depth of the Examination of Conscience. She speaks about how moral formation should be a response to the child’s already established relationship with God. A foundation rooted in them knowing how loved they are by God and their response to that love.
Claudia Margarita Schmitt lived in many different countries throughout her life. She has discovered over time that her roots are first in her Roman Catholic faith and also in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Everywhere she goes she recognizes the same language being used to discover the mystery of God. As an international formation leader for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She constantly has this experience of finding her roots. She has been a catechists for 33 years and a formation leader for 32. She lived for 8 years in Rome studying and working with Gianna Gobbi and Sofia Cavalletti. She describes this time as precious and that they taught her many things but first to be humble.
Resources to Continue Pondering the subject of Moral Formation:
Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti -
Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old by Sofia Cavalletti-
The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey-
Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues by Rebekah Rojcewicz-
Episode 33 – Moral Formation with Rebekah Rojcewicz -
Find out more about CGS:
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 Feb 16, 2022
Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
“I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” John 15:15 NAB
Tina Lillig has been described as a visionary religious educator, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. She was instrumental both in bringing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to her community in Oak Park, IL and also in the growth of the United States Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She was a dear friend to so many in our work and so on this week of Valentine’s Day we would like to remember our Valentina. There are many many people who loved Tina and who have stories to share about her and so today we would like to share with you a few of those starting with her beloved husband, John.
As John spoke about, we have the Tina Lillig Memorial Fund to financially support the growth of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It is a source of scholarships and grants for missionary outreach to organizations working to open atria in under-served regions in the United States. To learn more about applying for funds from the Tina Lillig Memorial Fund or if you would like to financially support the Memorial Fund please read more today.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Parish Setting Revised by Tina Lillig
Life of the Catechist: The Necessity of Friendship for the Catechist from the 2000 Journal by Tina Lillig
A Celebration of the Life of Tina Lillig from the 2011 Journal by Barbara Schmich Searle
Tina from the 2011 Journal by Carol Nyberg-Caraviotis
Find out more about CGS:
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 Feb 02, 2022
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Montessori Series “Wrap-Up” with Claire Paglia
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
“Freedom is understood, in a very elementary fashion, as the immediate release from oppressive bonds; as a cessation of corrections and of submission to authority. This conception is plainly negative, that is to say, it means only the elimination of coercion. From this comes, often enough, a very simple reaction: a disorderly pouring out of impulses previously controlled by the adult’s will. To let the child do as he likes when he has not yet developed any powers of control is to betray the idea of freedom. The result is children who are disorderly because order had been imposed upon them, lazy because they had previously been forced to work, and disobedient because their obedience had been enforced.” Maria Montessori, Absorbent Mind
Claire Paglia joins us again today to discuss this Montessori Series with us in light of Freedom and Discipline. Claire Paglia is a child of the atrium. As an adult, she is an AMI-trained guide who has been in the primary environment for 12 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in Montessori from Loyola University, Maryland. She worked for a year as a course assistant for the primary training center. In 2012, she received her Level I formation and has been a catechist at her church in varying capacities since then. She enjoys spending time with her family and particularly enjoys preparing Montessori-friendly spaces at home for her three children.
Books about Montessori or her work available through the CGSUSA bookstore:
In the 2021 Journal, we seek to offer a rich study and deeper understanding of Montessori’s work, which is so integral to CGS.
NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD BY GIANNA GOBBI
COMMEMORATIVE JOURNAL: GIANNA GOBBI 1919-2002
MONTESSORI: ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THE CHILD IN THE CHURCH (SOFTCOVER)
SILENCE IN THE SHADOW OF SPEECH
Previous episodes about Montessori and her work:
Episode 4 on Normalization
Episode 28 Montessori’s Epiphany
Episode 30 on Freedom and Discipline
Through their joy, their wonder and awe, their capacity for love and prayer, and their radical simplicity, the children offer adults a glimpse into what it means to fall in love with God. This has been the work of CGSUSA for almost 40 years now: to advocate for the child’s joy. Each year, CGSUSA provides catechist formation, publishes new books for continued study and contemplation, and continues to support catechists and religious leaders across the nation and the world in helping children find their own path to God’s love. We humbly ask for your continued help and support in this effort, please give to our Annual Appeal. Please donate so the work may continue.
Find out more about CGS:
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 Jan 19, 2022
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
“So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:21
Today we are continuing our season 2 journey of exploring all things Montessori as a way to understand the underpinnings and influence Maria Montessori’s discoveries of the child had on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by diving into her philosophy of Cosmic Education
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 Masters degree in Elementary Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland. Carolyn works with area parishes in their implementation of CGS.
Books and Articles on Cosmic Education
Chapter 9 - Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues
Religious Potential of the Child 6 – 12 Year Old (2nd Edition)
To Educate the Human Potential by Maria Montessori
The Spirit of the Liturgy by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Maria Montessori’s Cosmic Vision, Cosmic Plan, and Cosmic Education by Camillo Grazzini
Books by Maria Montessori
The Secret of Childhood
The Child and Society
A New World and Education
Find out more about CGS:
Books about Montessori or her work available through the CGSUSA bookstore:
In the 2021 Journal, we seek to offer a rich study and deeper understanding of Montessori’s work, which is so integral to CGS.
NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD BY GIANNA GOBBI
COMMEMORATIVE JOURNAL: GIANNA GOBBI 1919-2002
MONTESSORI: ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THE CHILD IN THE CHURCH (SOFTCOVER)
SILENCE IN THE SHADOW OF SPEECH
Previous episodes about Montessori and her work:
Episode 4 on Normalization
Episode 28 Montessori’s Epiphany
Episode 30 on Freedom and Discipline
Through their joy, their wonder and awe, their capacity for love and prayer, and their radical simplicity, the children offer adults a glimpse into what it means to fall in love with God. This has been the work of CGSUSA for almost 40 years now: to advocate for the child’s joy. Each year, CGSUSA provides catechist formation, publishes new books for continued study and contemplation, and continues to support catechists and religious leaders across the nation and the world in helping children find their own path to God’s love. We humbly ask for your continued help and support in this effort, please give to our Annual Appeal. Please donate so the work may continue.
Find out more about CGS:
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 Jan 05, 2022
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Today we are continuing our season 2 journey of exploring all things Montessori as a way to understand the underpinnings and influence Maria Montessori’s discoveries of the child had on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by diving into her philosophy of Human Needs and Tendencies.
Cathy Johanni lives in Columbus, Ohio where she has enjoyed accompanying children on their spiritual journeys for more than two decades. She is recognized as a formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at levels I, II, and III. She has been involved in Montessori education for a decade, working with children ages 5-14. A member of the editorial committee for the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Annual Journal. Cathy has authored articles and contributed to The Roman Missal Third Edition and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Changes to Materials . She holds a Bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Princeton University, a Master’s degree from The Ohio State University and Montessori Elementary certificates. Married for 31 years, she is the mother of five.
The Human Tendencies and Montessori Education by Mario Montessori: https://amiusa.org/product/the-human-tendencies-and-montessori-education/
Books about Montessori or her work available through the CGSUSA bookstore:
In the 2021 Journal, we seek to offer a rich study and deeper understanding of Montessori’s work, which is so integral to CGS.
NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD BY GIANNA GOBBI
COMMEMORATIVE JOURNAL: GIANNA GOBBI 1919-2002
MONTESSORI: ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THE CHILD IN THE CHURCH (SOFTCOVER)
SILENCE IN THE SHADOW OF SPEECH
Previous episodes about Montessori and her work:
Episode 4 on Normalization
Episode 28 Montessori’s Epiphany
Episode 30 on Freedom and Discipline
Through their joy, their wonder and awe, their capacity for love and prayer, and their radical simplicity, the children offer adults a glimpse into what it means to fall in love with God. This has been the work of CGSUSA for almost 40 years now: to advocate for the child’s joy. Each year, CGSUSA provides catechist formation, publishes new books for continued study and contemplation, and continues to support catechists and religious leaders across the nation and the world in helping children find their own path to God’s love. We humbly ask for your continued help and support in this effort, please give to our Annual Appeal. Please donate so the work may continue.
Find out more about CGS:
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