Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

CGS Update for the 2026/27 Year

This year, we are pausing CGS sessions to reevaluate and prepare to bring the gifts of this catechesis to the entire Parish Family. This little work began at the desire of Fr Tim Ralston, with most everything in the space generously donated or handmade. Our atrium room at St. Peter’s served 5-8 children per session from 10 families. It ran because of the love of two trained catechists and four adult volunteers from our parishes. More families are interested in participating each year, which leaves us with a waitlist. We updated the “Angel Room” at St Peter’s for parents and children to enjoy during sessions or to use during parish events. The work of planting and watering seeds for the Holy Spirit to grow in these children has been a gift. This past year, our coordinator worked to bring some elements and the heart of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to the children preparing to receive the sacraments of reconciliation and communion, alongside our Coordinator of Family Evangelization.

CGS calls us to announce the gospel with all its fervor to each child, focusing on the most essential realities, to carve out a prepared space and time for children to encounter the love of God.

CGS in the Future

We hope to offer a means for more parents and children to interact with the atrium materials, bring elements of CGS into your own home, and continue to encounter children through the sacraments, to encourage a living faith!

Reach out to us!

for children ages 3-6

Contemplation and Enjoyment of God

Stella Maris Parish Family offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) to meet the child’s spiritual needs through a Montessori-inspired hand, head, and heart faith formation. This approach seeks to nurture the relationship between each child and God, and through the prepared space allows the child time to enjoy that relationship. The CGS experience takes place in a prepared room called the atrium, which is filled with handcrafted child-sized materials. Here, children are invited into prayer, given individual or group presentations based on Scripture or the liturgy, and allotted time for individual work. The catechist is attentive to each child’s unspoken desire: “help me come closer to God by myself.”

The Atrium at Stella Maris

CGS takes place within the permanently prepared space appropriately called the Atrium; an old phrase used to describe the place where religious life was actively lived and developed, just outside the church. We seek to create this same place for our children to live this active religious life with Christ.

Everything is set at the child’s level and was lovingly handmade or donated by our parishioners. Each material follows the national CGS curriculum, which guarantees it 1) is prepared with the children’s intuitive work in mind, 2) is time-tested to effectively engage the child, and 3) communicates the most essential truths of the Catholic faith.

Session Times

This year, Stella Maris will offer one session for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:

Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30AM

Sessions will run weekly from October 3rd, 2025 through May 1st, 2026.

To deepen a child's communion with god

The Aim of CGS

Through Catechesis (faith formation) in the Atrium, in union with parents and the whole parish family, we work to prioritize the relationship that already exists between every child and God and through the prepared environment to enjoy that relationship. This reality is our model. Christ reminds us all through this catechesis “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). We seek to transform as a parish family to become first and foremost children in a loving relationship with God.

how can you assist this good work?

Help with the Atrium at Stella Maris

Pray

There will be many invitations to pray, both individually and alongside the children, as in the Liturgy of Light at the end of the year. Email us to be added to the prayer chain.

Teach

Training is a retreat. Our goal: to provide training for you with a two year commitment to teaching/helping in the atrium. This is personally formative and life-giving work.

Donate

Offer something small from your home, purchase from our registry, or donate monetarily.

*Registry Password: CGS

Create

Give your time to hand-make a CGS material. Use your talents for the church. Many talents are needed to build this Atrium space, both physically and artistically.

Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3-6) Pre-registration Orientation Form: Stella Maris Family of Parishes

Sessions: The sessions for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will run weekly from October 3rd, 2025 through May 1st, 2026. All sessions will take place in our CGS Atrium, located in the undercroft of St. Peter’s Church. (Full schedule to be emailed upon registration.)

Stella Maris will offer one session time for CGS this year:

Fridays from 9:30 until 11:30AM

Parental responsibility: Parents (at least one) will be expected to attend an individual initial orientation with their child to determine readiness for the Atrium. Please review this document for the criteria we use to evaluate a child’s readiness. Additionally, one parent is required to attend two CGS sessions throughout the year.

Cost: Following orientation, you will be emailed a link before the first day of CGS, where you can finished registering your child with a cost of $100/child ($300/family cap). This fee helps cover the supplies for the year, training of catechists (email mcsmith@stellamarisfamily.org if you are interested in being trained), and includes access to any family of faith events held by Stella Maris.

We do not want finances to affect your family’s ability to participate in any of our family faith offerings this year. If you need a discount or registration fees waived, please reach out to our Coordinator of Youth and Family Evangelization, Courtney Smalley (csmalley@stellamarisfamily.org).

If you would like to have your child attend, but they don’t exactly meet the 3-6 age requirements, they may still be able to attend based on availability. Please contact us at mcsmith@stellamarisfamily.org to learn more. Everything is set at the child’s level and was lovingly handmade or donated by our parishioners. Each material follows the national CGS curriculum, which guarantees it 1) is prepared with the children’s intuitive work in mind, 2) is time-tested to effectively engage the child, and 3) communicates the most essential truths of the Catholic faith.

Have questions about CGS?

Contact Mary Clare Smith

Mary Clare Smith is our coordinator of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. You can reach her at mcsmith@stellamarisfamily.org.