Registration for our Religious Education programs will be sent out in early August once we launch 
our new pastorate website.

Family Info Night and Open House:  August 24th at 6:30pm at St. Lambert

Kick-off for Ignite and CGS:  September 10th and 11th

CGS: Meets weekly during a scheduled atrium time lasting 2 hours.  The sessions are available at both locations.  There are after-school and evening sessions available on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  The time slots are listed below.  Your options for times are not limited to those at your respective parish, and you are free to choose any time(s) that work best for your schedule.   Atriums have limited spots, and are filled on a first come, first serve basis. 

CGS ATRIUM SCHEDULE:

No Atrium:

Week of November 25-29 (Thanksgiving)

Christmas Break (December 24-January 1)

Weeks of March 4-5 (Ash Wednesday)

The Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

• The child, particularly the religious life of the child, is central to the interest and commitment of the catechist of the Good Shepherd.
• The catechist observes and studies the vital needs of the child and the manifestations of those vital needs according to the developmental stage of the child.
• The catechist’s role is to create an environment that allows the child to build a personal relationship with God. 
• We use scripture and liturgy to “call forth” the children’s response rather than “pour in” information.
• Children work with unique, handmade materials designed specifically to help them grow closer to God.

What is the “religious life” of the child?
 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd gives primary focus to the relationship with God through Jesus and offers a sacred place where the child can be initiated into the religious life.  God and the child have a unique relationship with one another, particularly before the age of six.  Through the proclamations of the Word, this relationship is affirmed for the child and assists in helping the child to draw nearer to God.  To speak about the religious life of the child is to speak about how the child dwells with the mystery of God.
 
 How does Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and the Atrium assist the religious life of the child? 
 The atrium allows the child space to draw closer to God.  It is a place where the child can listen to the proclamations of the Good News from the Word of God; meditate on the Word of God and begin to live it according to the child’s own rhythm.  It is a place for the announcement of the Word of God, a place for celebration and also a place for work.  It is an environment in which work becomes meditation and prayer.  The child’s expression of the religious life is manifested through prayer responses whether silent or aloud, in contemplation, and through artwork.

To help supplement the cost for these programs, please refer to the fee scale below:

• Registered Parishioner within the St. John the Baptist Pastorate: $75 per child

• Non-Parishioners: $100 (Pastorate members are able to register first.  If there are spots left, those openings will then be made available to non-pastorate members.)

• Registered Parishioner & Pastorate Family Cap: $200

• Scholarships are available for registered parishioners, contact the office for more information. No one will be turned away for inability to pay.

• Assistants in the Atrium are ½ price and the fees for Catechists and small group leaders are waived.

• Any child preparing for a Sacrament (Holy Communion/Reconciliation, Confirmation): Additional $20.00 per child.