About CGS

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious formation for children, beginning at the age of three. It seeks to create and facilitate a sacred, “hands-on” space for children called an atrium, in which the children and the catechists can hear, ponder, and celebrate the most essential mysteries of the Christian faith as revealed in the scriptures and the liturgy.

Developed in Rome by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi over 60 years ago, the Catechesis continues to spread worldwide.

Level I

This course grounds the participant in the theory and praxis of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd while also concretely preparing her/him to develop and facilitate an atrium for 3-6 year olds. At the completion of the course (90 hours) the participants will be issued a Level I certificate by the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Course Objectives

• To explore with participants the general developmental and religious characteristics of the 3-6 year old child.
• To facilitate meditation on the biblical and liturgical themes of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
• To offer guidelines and assistance in setting up an atrium for the 3-6 year old child. To deepen the participants’ ability to observe and learn from children, while exploring avenues for deepening the parental and congregational ability to observe and learn from children.

(2023-2024 Formation Leader)
Kerri Mecke-Lozano has been involved with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd since 2010. She is certified in Level Toddler, I, II, and III, and is a certified formation leader by CGSUSA for level one. She has worked in atria in both the United States and in Haiti. She is the host of the CGSUSA podcast, The Good Shepherd and the Child Podcast. Kerri has a sociology degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has completed the CGS Heritage course from Aquinas Institute of Theology, St Louis, MO. She currently resides in the Hill Country of Texas with her husband, PJ, and their seven children.
 

(2023-2024 Formation Leader)
Lynda Catalano has been a catechist at Trinity Church in Fillmore, CA for 30 years. She works weekly in the atrium with groups of 3 to 6-year-olds, 6 to 9-year-olds and 9 to 12-year-olds. She has led Levels I, II, and II catechist formation throughout the United States and Internationally including serving on the national formation teams. Lynda is bilingual in Spanish and has also offered catechist formation in Spanish. She is a member of the Formation Leader Discernment Committee and served on teams for the Formation Leader Training Courses for the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Lynda is retired from teaching kindergarten and first graders in a public school. She has four adult children and three beautiful grandchildren.