Rachele, your video popped up after I was watching another video about CGS. I told my son, who was watching with me, "I know her! I met her in Italy." Your doing awesome work! I'm working with another mom to bring CGS to our area.
Hey Melinda! How are you! Ha, that’s so funny. Ahh our Italian days! Feels like ages ago! Yes, CGS is such a wonderful program! That’s so wonderful that you’re bringing the program to your area! So much work, but so rewarding! The families in your parish will be so grateful!
As a certified formation leader and longtime catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, I take exception to the statements made about supposed "gaps". For example the Trinity is presented beginning at an early age including presentations of the Sign of the Cross and Baptism and perhaps less explicitly in the infancy narratives and Pentecost. In fact, our whole catechesis has been described as Christological-Trinitarian.
Thanks for the comment Susan, and your experience as a catechist! The question was asked specifically to help parents who may have reservations about the program. This seems to be a common question that sometimes holds parents back from considering this lovely program for their kids. The video was meant to highlight the beauty of CGS and possibly correct any misunderstandings out there. You’re right about introducing the concept of the Trinity through the Sign of the Cross presentation! Great point!
Clearly this was done with great love and best intentions. Communities that have worked on conformity with diocesan guidelines usually do so as a team that includes those formation leaders who train catechists. It is easy to miss all that the presentations offer. The method highlights the connection between Bible and Liturgy including finding the prayers of the church in the words of scripture. My answers to questions of parents have changed as my understanding of the method has grown through working with the children and observing how they respond.
There are indeed some “gaps” as compared to diocesan requirements and to other programs - but they are not the essentials to the faith. Sometimes it’s just a case of the concepts are taught but the terminology is saved for the older child. Trinity - rooted in so much in the atrium. But how often do we use the word with the children in the atrium? But when I learn it later, they’ll know the concept. Prayers: Hail Mary is learned through the infancy narratives. The Our Father is analyzed at both level 2 and 3. Other prayers are brought in at various times, usually through communal prayer and Scripture-based prayers. Ten Commandments - deep dive into Moses typology in level 3 provides much more depth than if we’d done it in level 2 (where we have personal connections with the greatest commandment and the maxims first). No one faith formation opportunity has everything. It couldn’t. CGS is no different in that regard. We just get to go deeper with richer content and form the soul’s relationship with God, as well as nourish the constant seeking for answers (whether spiritual or intellectual).
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Rachele, your video popped up after I was watching another video about CGS. I told my son, who was watching with me, "I know her! I met her in Italy." Your doing awesome work! I'm working with another mom to bring CGS to our area.
Hey Melinda! How are you! Ha, that’s so funny. Ahh our Italian days! Feels like ages ago! Yes, CGS is such a wonderful program! That’s so wonderful that you’re bringing the program to your area! So much work, but so rewarding! The families in your parish will be so grateful!
As a certified formation leader and longtime catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, I take exception to the statements made about supposed "gaps". For example the Trinity is presented beginning at an early age including presentations of the Sign of the Cross and Baptism and perhaps less explicitly in the infancy narratives and Pentecost. In fact, our whole catechesis has been described as Christological-Trinitarian.
Thanks for the comment Susan, and your experience as a catechist! The question was asked specifically to help parents who may have reservations about the program. This seems to be a common question that sometimes holds parents back from considering this lovely program for their kids. The video was meant to highlight the beauty of CGS and possibly correct any misunderstandings out there. You’re right about introducing the concept of the Trinity through the Sign of the Cross presentation! Great point!
Clearly this was done with great love and best intentions. Communities that have worked on conformity with diocesan guidelines usually do so as a team that includes those formation leaders who train catechists. It is easy to miss all that the presentations offer. The method highlights the connection between Bible and Liturgy including finding the prayers of the church in the words of scripture. My answers to questions of parents have changed as my understanding of the method has grown through working with the children and observing how they respond.
@@StFrancisXavierCGS Thanks for your wisdom, Susan! I’ll keep this in mind when speaking to parents! Thanks for watching 😊
Excellent interview. Very informative. Thanks
There are indeed some “gaps” as compared to diocesan requirements and to other programs - but they are not the essentials to the faith. Sometimes it’s just a case of the concepts are taught but the terminology is saved for the older child.
Trinity - rooted in so much in the atrium. But how often do we use the word with the children in the atrium? But when I learn it later, they’ll know the concept.
Prayers: Hail Mary is learned through the infancy narratives. The Our Father is analyzed at both level 2 and 3. Other prayers are brought in at various times, usually through communal prayer and Scripture-based prayers.
Ten Commandments - deep dive into Moses typology in level 3 provides much more depth than if we’d done it in level 2 (where we have personal connections with the greatest commandment and the maxims first).
No one faith formation opportunity has everything. It couldn’t. CGS is no different in that regard. We just get to go deeper with richer content and form the soul’s relationship with God, as well as nourish the constant seeking for answers (whether spiritual or intellectual).