Many of us are celebrating Pentecost with the children in the atrium and are witnessing their excitement about finally having a red cloth on the prayer table! They are delighted to see seven red candles lit, eager to light one of their own. Even the youngest children carefully choose one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, lighting their candle from the one representing that gift. I am always amazed at how they ponder which gift they want and how many of them even choose "Fear of the Lord" which we also know as "Wonder and Awe," a gift they have naturally which has been nourished throughout the year in the atrium. So many candles! So much Light! So many gifts!
We at CGSAC have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit for the entire year. Many visitors have expressed their joy, wonder, and awe when touring the atria. Catechists who participate in our courses express their gratitude for being able to see the spiral method with the progression of the materials from Level I through Level II and culminating in Level III. As we conclude Level I and II courses, we are preparing to host the July course for Level III part 1 with national formation leader Donna Turner and catechists from 10 different states including local catechists from Pittsburgh and Greensburg. Workshops and CGS study group sessions will be announced soon as well as registrations for CGS fall sessions for children. We are tremendously grateful for the dedicated volunteers and growing staff at CGSAC. To keep up with our growth and future plans, we trust that God will provide for our needs. We invite you to ponder how CGS has been a gift in your life and how God is calling you to share your gifts with children, families, and other catechists. Will God be working through you? Which gifts of time, talent, and treasure is God asking for you to share? In Christ, ~Celine *For details about how you can help at CGSAC, please click here.
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As we strive to enhance the support we provide to our dedicated catechists, your insights are invaluable to us. We invite you to share your experiences and thoughts through a brief survey. Your feedback will directly influence the resources, events, and support we develop to better serve you and the children in your atria.
Please take a few moments to fill out the survey here. Your participation is crucial in helping us nurture and build a strong CGS community. Recently, participants in the CGS Level II Formation Course gathered for a group sacrament retreat at the Good Shepherd House of Prayer in Butler, PA. The retreat provided a serene and supportive environment, ideal for reflection and learning. Participants engaged in various activities designed to enrich their knowledge and application of the principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, focusing particularly on the sacramental aspects. This gathering not only reinforced their commitment to their spiritual and educational roles but also fostered a sense of community and shared purpose among all who attended.  The first graduating cohort at our center consisted of seven participants who successfully received their certificates after completing the Level 1 CGS formation course. This marks a significant milestone as the first group to achieve this accomplishment at CGSAC. What a blessing!  The April open house welcomed families and those interested in CGS for a day of information and formation. It was beautiful to watch the children and adults alike be drawn towards the atria, full of wonder and questions. Several of the children had a chance to experience the atrium for the first time and were able to reflect and do works. Some were given the Good Shepherd presentation and recognized the readings from Mass. “ I am the Good Shepherd; I call them by name...” was echoed joyously.  The Lent for Little Ones sessions at CGSAC marked a significant milestone as our first-ever offering for children in the atrium, welcoming little ones from 20 months up to 3 years of age along with their caregivers. These sessions were thoughtfully designed to immerse the children in prayers, songs, and hands-on activities in a specially prepared environment. The curriculum was rich with materials related to the life of Jesus and the Holy Mass, crafted to engage and inspire our youngest members. The program culminated beautifully in an interactive bread-baking activity, followed by a shared meal, echoing the significance of communion and the Last Supper Jesus shared with his friends. This gathering was not only a spiritual journey but also a heartfelt opportunity for our community's youngest to connect with the foundational stories of faith through sensory-rich experiences. Be on the lookout for information on more offerings for children coming soon! Last Saturday's Advent Retreat, "Walking in the Light," was a beautiful morning of prayer and reflection at the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Apostolate Center. The event began with a warm welcome and a light breakfast, setting the tone for a morning filled with spiritual enrichment. Deacon Nick Clinton, the keynote speaker, led an inspiring reflection on the true meaning of Christmas. His insights provided a deeper understanding of the Advent prophecies, setting the stage for the breakout sessions that followed. The retreat offered sessions tailored to both Level I and Level 2 prophecies, allowing participants to delve into the teachings that resonated with their spiritual journey. Led by Lale Virostek, Beatrix Stickney, Allison Kliber, and Gretchen Homer, these sessions explored various aspects of Advent prophecies, art, and music. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Deacon Nick Clinton and all the facilitators who made this spiritual journey a memorable and enriching experience. Save the date for future events, and continue "Walking in the Light"! The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Apostolate Center recently celebrated its Open House and Dedication and is now ready to begin sharing the beautiful culture of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with families, communities, schools and parishes. Last month, on October 22nd, we welcomed over 100 guests to tour the center and participate in a special dedication and blessing by Bishop Waltersheid. The day began with an Open House, where guests had the opportunity to explore all 4 of our Atria. At 2 o'clock, Bishop Waltersheid led us through a special service where he blessed the entrance, hallways, and each atrium with Holy Water. He then incensed the hallway as the guests sang hymns of praise. Pope St. John Paul II was chosen as the center's patron and a special prayer of consecration was recited by the board members along with Bishop Waltersheid . The dedication ended with the hanging of a blessed crucifix in the main hallway and the veneration of an embroidered image of St. John Paul II. A lovely reception with plenty of charcuterie and homemade baked goods concluded the day's celebration. Thank you to all who attended this special event! So much work has gone into transforming the former St. Joseph school space, and we are very excited to begin hosting more workshops, courses, retreats, and more! View a copy of the service here: Photo Credit: Scott Stickney
 Read Allison's beautiful reflection below: Allison Kliber Stickney, CGSAC Founding Board Member
A wife and mother of four, Allison has been active in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Holy Sepulcher Parish since her oldest daughter was a toddler. CGS has formed and informed her parenting and the religious education of her own children, and she is overjoyed to share this work with other catechists and families. She has completed CGS level 1-3 formation and is a nationally recognized formation leader for level 1. Currently, she is a catechist in a level 1 atrium. Prerequisite: None Date: Saturday. November 18, 2023 Time: 8:30am-12:00pm Location: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Aposolate Center Cost: $20/person Please join us for a morning of prayer and reflection with the CGS Advent prophecies, featuring Deacon Nick Clinton, keynote speaker along with the following presenters: Gretchen Homer is a recognized CGSUSA Level I Formation Leader, trained in Levels 1-3 as well as a Developer and Lead Montessori Guide at Saints Martha and Mary Catholic Montessori. Gretchen is also a certified therapeutic foster parent and mother of three grown boys, two grandchildren, and married to Deacon Clifford Homer. Allison Kliber is a recognized CGSUSA level i Formation Leader trained in levels 1-3. She is a level 1 catechist at her home parish Holy Sepulcher (St. Mark the Evangelist). She is a founding member of the CGS Apostolate Center board. A wife and mother of four children, she loves time with her family and friends. Beatrix Stickney is a senior costume design and technology student at Penn State. She is active in her Newman group on campus. As a child of the atrium, she has grown up with the prophecies. When she is not making a three piece suit or a modest wedding dress for a friend, you will find Bea reading or writing in a cozy corner. Lale Virostek, Family Ministry and Sacrament Preparation at Regina Coeli Parish, has 4 adult children and a granddaughter. Her love to share God’s Word has been a part of her life since she was young. In her time as a Good Shepherd catechist, she has been formed and worked in level 1-3. Currently, she is a catechist in level 1 and level ll atriums. She delights in being with the children and helping them come to know God themselves, and endeavors to bring their families along as well. Deacon Nick Clinton grew up in Allison Park, Pennsylvania and went to Hampton High School. He converted to the Catholic Faith from no religion in 2015. He attended Grove City College and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Philosophy and Political Science. He entered Saint Paul Seminary in 2017, and currently attends St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, where he was president of students at both seminaries. His current parish assignment is Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish located in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Deacon Nick was ordained a deacon on June 3rd of this year and will be ordained a priest (God Willing) on June 29th of next year. Nick is the youngest of four, with a brother and twin sisters. He has 11 nieces and nephews. CLICK HERE to Register   PLEASE NOTE: The start date for Level II has been moved to Nov. 10/11, 2023. 
We are so very grateful to the amazing helping hands and hearts at the Center this summer! Their donations of time, talent and treasures have transformed the rooms and hall of our Center. Nancy Amarose has been using great energy to clean and spruce the rooms to provide a prayerful orderly environment. We are also grateful to her husband Jim and his company for dismantling all the "extra stuff" that we couldn't use and donating comfortable chairs and counter with files for our adult discussion room. They also donated the new carpeting for our future toddler atrium. With Robin Mauser's creativity, our bulletin boards have been transformed into beautiful works of art reflecting the life of the Church and the parables of Jesus. Robin's other skills of organization and neatness have been put to great use in cleaning and organizing the many shelving units and supplies. Sandy Zaremski has helped not only with all the cleaning and organizing, but also because of her vast experiences in the atrium, she has helped to set up the Level I atrium with the many materials related to the life of Jesus in Scripture and the Liturgy. She donated our beautiful sacristy cabinet which is a copy of Sofia's cabinet in Level I. Special retired friends, Mark Close and Dan Joscak, left their golf clubs for a few days and switched to paint brushes and rollers to paint two of the rooms. The large rooms with 11' ceilings and many nooks and cubbies were a bit challenging even for these expert painters. We are also grateful for the support of family and friends in many other ways, from small donations of items, financial contributions, renting trucks, moving, etc. May God continue to bless all of you as we watch the "work of our hands" producing much fruit for God's Kingdom.  We've been busy preparing our spaces at CGSAC! We are so thankful for the tremendous support we've received and are particularly grateful for our dedicated volunteers who have cleaned, organized, painted and refurbished our area in anticipation of the open house and upcoming formation courses coming up soon. Details forthcoming! It's official! We're all moved into our new space at 825 2nd St, Verona, PA 15147 (formerly St.Joseph's School ). We'll be busy setting up the atria and getting ready to host formation courses soon. Stay tuned for updates! |
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