Becoming Acquainted with CGS
One of the most challenging things about being a part of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is the training.
Aside from the fact that formation for each level costs around $600 and requires 90+ hours of time, for most of us, the commitment also entails the management of a lot of other details: lodging, travel, finances, childcare.
Despite the (sometimes disheartening) hurdles it presents, I wholeheartedly believe in the rigorous requirements for training in CGS. I believe that thoughtful and intentional spiritual formation of children is worth pouring money and time into. I have (not without some grumbling) committed myself to the method’s rigorous requirements and can attest to tangible, breathtaking outcomes from the atrium as a result.
That said, I often find myself at a loss to be winsome when it comes to explaining the atrium and its value to parents and volunteers. It is a tactile work and follows that it would need to be experienced to be understood. But there is another way:
CGS masterminds Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi left us a road map to follow in the thoughtful, engaging books that they wrote through and about their process of developing CGS. These are the texts for CGS training, but they are available—and helpful!—for anyone willing to pick them up.
Reading these texts will not only help you understand Cavalletti and Gianna’s methodology and the reason CGS is so effective for the spiritual formation of children (and adults!), they will incite deeper faith growth and love of the Good Shepherd in your own life.
Whether or not you intend to pursue training for CGS, the writings by the method’s developers have much to offer the spiritual walk of any reader who undertakes them (and bonus! if you do pursue training later, you will have accomplished the reading beforehand!).
If you are interested in reading these texts and want companionship and accountability, check out the Book Club details below and contact me before the RSVP deadline!
You are cordially invited to
a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
BOOK CLUB
Join us as we read works from the minds that developed the children’s spiritual formation method Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS).
Meeting the second Monday of every month from 8-9 P.M. (EDT)
Starting June 10, 2024 at a location TBD (possible virtual options available).
Contact Laura Fissel at lauraellenfissel@gmail.com or via text at (336)420-0825 with questions and/or your RSVP by 5 P.M. on May 20, 2024
All over the world, people are experiencing rich spiritual formation through CGS. This tactile, life-changing work is available to anyone
curious about the character of God and His posture towards His creation
desiring increased depth of personal faith in and love of Christ
interested in familiarizing with the essential beliefs at the heart of Christianity
seeking tools for offering spiritual leadership in their home and/or community
intrigued by Christianity
called to share to Gospel with others
made in the image of God.
Yes, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is for everyone.
For over 60 years, this experiential work has inspired a deeper knowledge of and love for the God of the Universe, but it can be difficult to understand the method from the outside-in (or describe from the inside-out!). This year, we will spend time seeking to understand and form a connection to CGS through two enlivening texts, written by the women who developed Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:
The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey, and
The Religious Potential of the Child (3rd Edition).
It’s hard to make space for even the most worthy things, but we hope you will choose to join us in pursuing a deeper love of our Good Shepherd through this incredible work.
