Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

LEVEL 1 TRAINING FOR ADULTS

Working with 3-6-year-old children

Part one

July 7-13, 2024

St. George’s Episcopal Church

For more information, Registration and Cost

Click Here

or contact Children's Educator Director Gaby Gastelum at ggastelum@stjohnstroy.org

518-274-5884

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 

Albany, NY. Christan school. 4th-grade Spanish Class. This child's drawing of the Good Shepherd after a bilingual presentation of the Good Shepherd. The girl wrote in the center of the drawing using the new Spanish words she recently learned: "El Buen Paistor...gracias for your ama and llamas mi nombre everyday" (The Good Shepherd...thank you for your love and calling my name every day).

St. John’s is excited to offer our children the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (GCS). The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy, and Montessori methods. As this method was developed, children of various ages were presented with many elements of liturgy and scripture.  The initiators of this method wanted to know how children experience and develop a relationship with God.  What is the mystery of God that children most want to hear at various ages?  What brings them joy, peace, and deep contentment? The responses of the children governed the development of this approach. As the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd spread, it became apparent that children around the world possess great spiritual capacities to know God, beginning with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep, calls them by name, cares for them, gathers them together, and lays down his life for them.  Given the right environment, the young child can fall in love with God, and the older child can know how the mystery of God meets the expanding world that is coming into the child’s view. 

Saint John’s provides an “atrium,” a specially prepared environment for religious formation, containing beautiful materials introduced by the presenter and used by the children.  These materials enable the children to understand, hands-on, various elements of Scripture—the parables, the life of Jesus, the history and geography of Israel, the moral life—and liturgy, especially the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism.  These attractive, hand-finished materials are accessible for the children to choose from any time after they have received a presentation with them. 

It is with immense joy that we announce that we will continue to offer the three levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 season along with extended liturgical and family events such as Liturgy of the Light Celebration, Trunk or Treat, Pancake Shrove Tuesday, Beyond the Sheepfold Saturday gatherings and more (ages 3 to 12), along with extended liturgical and family events such as the Christmas Pageant & Lessons and Carols. 

For additional information, access the following links :

Level I Adult Training CGS by Age    A day in the Atrium    Curriculum     Children's Work    Educator's Testimonial 

CGS USA

Videos

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 

CGS Sunday Mornings 9:30 AM -11:15 AM 

Open House - September 10, 2023, 11:15 AM.

The atrium is located on the second floor of the parish house, which adjoins the Church.

Meeting with Parents - September 17, 2023,11:15 AM to 12:00 PM (Atrium)

** First Day of Atrium - September 24, 2023, 9:15 AM to 11:15 AM (Atrium)

CGS Thursday After-School 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM 

Open House - September 10, 2023, 11:15 AM

The atrium is located on the second floor of the parish house, which adjoins the Church.

Meeting with Parents - September 21, 2023, 4:00 PM AM to 5:00 PM (Atrium)

** First Day of Atrium - September 28, 2023, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM (Atrium)

**Our CGS program follows the church's liturgical calendar.  Please see St. John's Church calendar to learn more about the CGS schedule.  For more details, contact our Children's Christian Education Director, Gaby Gastelum, at ggastelum@stjohnstroy.org.

Cost

Free for parishioners and Clergy families

*Non-parishioner families (all are welcome)

• $50 One child per year
• $40 Two children each per year
• $35 Three or more children each per year

* The money goes directly towards materials and supplies for the atrium.  Financial assistance is available. No child will be excluded due to inability to pay.

To register, please use the following link:  CGS Registration

Beyond the Sheepfold

First Saturday of the Month     9:00 AM to 10:00 AM - Class  / 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Volunteer at the Food Pantry or Thrift Store

Calling all children! What do science, art, animals, sports, and religion share?  Join us to find out while enjoying hot chocolate and donuts.  After the program, you are invited to volunteer at the Thrift Store of the Food Pantry to deliver joy to our neighbors.

Program Events

*Please note that the program will start at 10 AM

Cost

Free.  All are welcome!

To register, please use the following link or register at the office     Beyond the Sheepfold Registration

Preparation for Confirmation

We are inviting children to a series of morning CGS meditations. Interested in registering your child? Contact Children's Christian Education Director Gaby Gastelum at ggastelum@stjohnstroy.org or call the office at 518.274.5884. 

Holy Eucharist Morning

We are inviting children and youth to a series of morning CGS meditations. Interested in registering your child? Please get in touch with Children's Christian Education Director Gaby Gastelum at ggastelum@stjohnstroy.org or call the office at 518.274.5884.  

Family Events. Save the Date! 

Garden Scavenger Hunt

Friday, May 24, 2024

Free and Fun for all children, families, and adults. Find all the hidden treasures in our beautiful garden and win a prize!

Father's Day Ice Cream Social Sunday

June 16 after 10 AM Service. 

Join the children to celebrate our fathers and grandfathers of St. John's.

We need your help!  

Children & Youth Ministries would appreciate volunteers on a weekly rotation to observe in the atrium since two adults are required in the room to have classes. If you are interested, please contact Gaby Gastelum at ggastelum@stjohnstroy.org. 

Other opportunities to collaborate: Atrium observer, catechist assistant, and making materials for the CGS presentations.

Have you considered being trained in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Formation in this work is like a retreat, a time set apart to listen to the voice of the One who calls us each by name.  For Many people trained in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, this is an opportunity to walk through one's own childhood in the company of God, being renewed and remade. 

Adult Level I formation course from July 7 to July 13, 2024

For more information and Registration, please use the following link Level 1 training

or contact Gaby Gastelum, Christian Education Director at St. John's, Troy at ggastelum@stjohnstroy.org 

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