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Become a Formation Leader
The sheep listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, and He calls His sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His sheep, He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him, because they know his voice… I came that they might have life and have it to the full.
John 10:3-4, 10b; Little Gospel text
Thank you for your interest in the Formation Leader Discernment Process with the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGSUSA). On behalf of the Formation Leader Discernment Team, we look forward to getting to know you!
The application window for receiving new applications has now opened for the 2026 cohort and will remain open until June 12, 2026.
If you are discerning that you would like to begin the Level I, Level II, or Level III Formation Leader Discernment Process, please select the Application button on this page.
The Criteria for Determining a Catechist’s Readiness to Begin The Formation Leader Discernment Process is below. This will offer guidance as you prepare to enter discernment. As always, the Qualities of a CGS Formation Leader remain essential.
Formation Leader discernment begins with you and includes the CGSUSA Formation Leader Discernment Team. We join with you to discern your readiness to take on this important role of sharing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Although many people drawn to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd seek to serve children, not all who become catechists are called to be formation leaders. If you have read this far, you have already begun your own prayerful discernment about becoming a formation leader; therefore, we want to encourage you to continue listening to how God is calling you to this role. I’m happy to serve you in this process and look forward to getting to know you.
Grace and peace to you in Christ,
Karen Maxwell, Director of Formation
Criteria
1. It is best to begin this discernment process after you have been actively serving children as a catechist in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at any level for at least seven years. The more experience you have gained in this work the better your readiness will be to begin as a formation leader. It is valuable, if possible, to gain experience working with children at all levels. The discernment process may take two to three years as it involves various experiences preparing for this role. Ultimately, this is still a discernment process, and the discernment is with the catechist, the Formation Leader Discernment Team, and even the community the catechist serves.
2. Every applicant will begin their Formation Leader discernment for recognition as a Level I Formation Leader. Like catechist formation in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I is foundational for all other levels. It is also true for those who desire to become CGS Formation Leaders. Recognition as a Level I Formation Leader includes demonstrating that you have had at least three consecutive years serving children as a Level I catechist. Your experience needs to be within the most recent seven years. It is valuable to see the full three-year cycle of working with the children. This criterion -at least three consecutive years working with children – will also be true for recognition as a Level II or Level III Formation Leader. More years with the children in the atrium is always beneficial.
3. You must maintain an annual individual membership in the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
4. You must have completed all three levels of CGS catechist formation (Level I: 3-6, Level II: 6-9, and Level III: 9-12) and received a certificate from CGSUSA. If it has been more than ten years since you completed Level I catechist formation, it is wise to consider auditing Level I catechist formation again. This is also true for Levels II and III should formation leader recognition be pursued at these levels. A new addition to this is also identifying the completion of the Infant-Toddler Catechist Formation.
5. Your album for the level at which you seek recognition as a formation leader must be personally written and read by either the formation leader you had for that level or another CGSUSA-recognized formation leader. You do not need to complete all three personal albums at once in order to be recognized as a Level I Formation Leader. However, you will need to have your Level I personal album completed and read by a Level I formation leader as part of the Level I Formation Leader Discernment Process. Recognition as a formation leader at each level requires completing this criterion.
6. You will provide photos of the atrium environment at the level you are discerning recognition. The Formation Leader Discernment Team will look to see how well you have prepared and arranged the atrium environment and how the materials are prepared in light of the Materials Manual.
7. Observation experience in a Montessori school environment. It is valuable for a potential formation leader to have had some experience observing in an Association Montessori Internationale accredited Montessori School (AMI) or an American Montessori Society accredited Montessori School (AMS). Observation hours can be from 1 to 3 hours. Although we understand that observing in a Montessori school may not be feasible in some areas, providing information on any of the ways you have deepened your knowledge of Montessori’s principles of education regarding the child through reading her books, attending seminars, courses or viewing online webinars is helpful to know.
8. Successive Levels of Recognition – Level I Formation Leaders need to have experience leading or co-leading two full Level I courses before seeking recognition as Level II Formation Leaders. Similarly, Level II Formation Leaders need to have experience leading or co-leading two full Level II courses before seeking recognition as Level III Formation Leaders. Only recognized Level I Formation Leaders may apply for recognition as Level II Formation Leaders. Only recognized Level II Formation Leaders may apply for recognition as Level III Formation Leaders.
Preparing to begin the Formation Leader Discernment Process
What you can do if you do not yet meet the application criteria or while the application window is closed.
Gain experience as a catechist: Continue to gain experience working with children in the atrium.
Audit another CGS Catechist Formation: If you completed your catechist formation ten years ago at the level you would like to be recognized as a formation leader and received a CGSUSA certificate, consider auditing another course at that level.
Write your personal catechist album so that it can be ready to be reviewed by a mentor formation leader.
Observe in a Montessori primary (for Level I) or elementary (for Levels II and III) at an AMI or AMS-accredited school. (Take notes. Montessori Observation Form)