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Regions & Regional Groups

I believe it is friendship that supports and sustains our call, and keeps alive our longing for that perfect friendship of the Parousia.
–Tina Lillig
(Life of the Catechist: The Necessity of Friendship for the Catechist, 2000 Journal)

CGSUSA Regions

From the first chapter of Genesis, when God created the world in seven days, the number seven in the Bible signifies perfection or completion.
In 2014, we identified seven regions where catechists are engaged in the work of CGS. The map shows the breakdown of our seven CGSUSA regions.
Pacific Coast
Rocky Mountains
Northern Plains
Great Lakes
Northeast
South / Southeast
Southwest
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Alaska

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

California

Northern California

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Greater Sacramento
www.youngsheep.org

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Greater Sacramento is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that supports the development of CGS in the Diocese of Sacramento, and offers catechesis to children up to age 12 through affiliation with the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Oregon

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Hawaii

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Washington

The Pacific Northwest Consortium for CGS Sustainability
The Sheepfold

Our Lady of Good Help CGS 
Serves catechists in the Inland Northwest (particularly North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana)
For more information, contact: [email protected]
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Colorado

CGS Rocky Mountain Region

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Idaho

CGS Rocky Mountain Region

Our Lady of Good Help CGS 
Serves catechists in the Inland Northwest (particularly North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana)
For more information, contact: [email protected]

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Montana

CGS Rocky Mountain Region

Our Lady of Good Help CGS 
Serves catechists in the Inland Northwest (particularly North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana)
For more information, contact: [email protected]

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Nevada

CGS Rocky Mountain Region

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Utah

CGS Rocky Mountain Region

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Wyoming

CGS Rocky Mountain Region

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

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Iowa

Regional Update 2022: Iowa Shepher’s Staff
Member of CGSUSA since 2010
PO Box 7808, Urbandale, IA 50323, (515) 778-4847, [email protected]
Website: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Facebook: CGS Chat-Iowa
Diocese of Des Moines
Diocese of Sioux City

Membership Office, CGSUSA
The CGSUSA Membership Office is located in Urbandale, Iowa.
7406 Roseland Drive, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
Phone: (515) 321-9440
Email: [email protected]

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Kansas

Regional Update 2022: Kansas
SonFlower
(Kansas and Northern Missouri)

2231 W. 97th St, Leawood, KS 66206

Website: SonFlower Region of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Facebook: SonFlower Region of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Heartland
Website: Heartland Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Minnesota

Regional Update 2022: Minnesota
Minnesota Catechists

1500 Franklin Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Missouri

Regional Update 2022: Missouri
Gateway Catechists

Facebook: Gateway CGS St. Louis

SonFlower
SonFlower Regional Group includes Kansas and Northern Missouri

2231 W. 97th St, Leawood, KS 66206

Website: SonFlower Region of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Facebook: SonFlower Region of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Nebraska

Regional Update 2022: Nebraska
Omaha Catechists

Archdiocese of Omaha, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Nazareth Hall, 3300 N. 60th St., Omaha, NE 68104-3402, 402.557.5610 ext 2101

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Diocese of Lincoln
Southern Nebraska Register

North Dakota

Regional Update 2022: North Dakota
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Bismarck, ND

Website: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Bismarck, ND

CGS Catechists of the Dakotas
Facebook: CGS Catechists of the Dakotas

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

South Dakota

Regional Update 2022: South Dakota
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD

Facebook: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Diocese of Sioux Falls

CGS Catechists of the Dakotas
Facebook: CGS Catechists of the Dakotas

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

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Illinois

Lake Michigan Catechists / Tina Lillig Formation Center
1218 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States, 708-557-6243

Facebook: The Tina Lillig Formation Center for The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
[email protected]

Facebook: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Peoria

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Indiana

South Bend
Facebook: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd West Michigan

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Michigan

Detroit
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd West Michigan

Facebook: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd West Michigan

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Ohio

Facebook: Ohio CGS Catechists and Friends

Cincinnati

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Association of CGS

Website: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Diocese of Madison

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

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Connecticut | Maine | Maryland | New Hampshire | New York | Rhode Island | Vermont

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Delaware

Holy Triangles
Holy Triangles is a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Regional Group connecting CGS catechists from New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Facebook: Holy Triangles

Massachusetts

Guild of the Good Shepherd
The Guild of the Good Shepherd is a regional group, which supports and promotes the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program to churches throughout the New England area.

Website: Guild of the Good Shepherd

Facebook: Guild of the Good Shepherd

New Jersey

Holy Triangles
Holy Triangles is a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Regional Group connecting CGS catechists from New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Facebook: Holy Triangles

Pennsylvania

Holy Triangles
Holy Triangles is a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Regional Group connecting CGS catechists from New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Facebook: Holy Triangles

Western Pennsylvania
Regional Group Western PA
c/o Celine Mitchell , 125 Buttercup Rd, Butler, PA 16001, (724) 482-2690, [email protected]

Washington, DC

Potomac
Potomac (Washington, DC) – Catherine Maresca, Center for Children and Theology, 3109 24th. ST. NW, Washington, DC 20018, (202) 250-5905, [email protected]

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Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Louisiana | Mississippi | North Carolina | South Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Puerto Rico

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama
Facebook: Catechist Forum / Birmingham, Alabama

Florida

Facebook: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Florida West Coast

Georgia

Atlanta
Facebook: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Atlanta

Formation Office, CGSUSA
The Formation Office for CGSUSA is located in Marietta, GA
4771 Old Timber Ridge Road
Marietta, GA 30068
Phone: 404-580-2960
Email: [email protected]

Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi
CGS Jackson Leadership Group

Tennessee

Memphis
Facebook: The Good Shepherd Center – Memphis

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New Mexico

Connect with the catechists in your region: Join CGSUSA and you will be listed in our Membership Directory.

Arizona

Arizona Catechists
7655 Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251Phone: (480) 874-3759

CGSUSA Offices
The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Offices are located in Scottsdale, AZ
7655-A East Main Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone #: (480) 874-3759
Email: [email protected]

Oklahoma

Archdiocese of Oklahoma, Ann Grim
Archdiocese of Oklahoma, Children’s Evangelization and Discipleship, Ann Grim, (405) 709-2752, [email protected]

Texas

CGS NW Texas
Facebook: NW Texas Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Corpus Christi

Regional Group Kit
The Necessity of Friendship for the Catechist

From the beginning of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, it has been a practice of catechists to spend a significant amount of time with each other after the children had left the atrium to discuss, with particular attentiveness, the religious life of the child. This practice has also built deep and sustaining friendships among the catechists. So often, when catechists gather, there is this feeling of “we have already met” that is experienced and celebrated. For this reason, part of the vision of CGSUSA is that “Regional groups will be encouraged in every part of the nation.”

Download Regional Group Guideline PDF

Questions to consider when forming a Regional Group

Regional Events

Regional Gatherings

The National Director travels around the country to various regions to meet with
our members, to listen about the work being done with our children, and to encourage a deepening of our understanding of the religious life of children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as we serve them.

Download Hosting Packet

Regional Book Club

Gather catechists from your region and choose a book from the CGSUSA Library to form your own regional book club.

Download Guidelines & Suggested Question

Regional Support for CGSUSA Events

Are catechists from your region attending National Events? CGSUSA would like to ensure that every region is represented at the Annual Meeting, Servant Song Retreat, National Level One, Level Two or Level Three courses and Formation Leader’s Training Courses. Now is the time to begin the conversation in your region about these events. Several of our regional groups hold fundraisers to help support their own local regional formation and to be able to send participants to National CGSUSA Events. See our calendar for upcoming events!

Support from CGSUSA
CGSUSA would like to assist your regional group in hosting a successful event. Contact Mary Heinrich at [email protected]

  • We invite you to contact CGSUSA when planning to let us know the theme, date, and location of the event. Once you have developed a flyer, we would like to promote your event on our website and via social media, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
  • CGSUSA would be glad to provide a Regional email list so that you may send invitations to the members of CGSUSA in your geographical area.
  • Could we create a Resources packet from CGSUSA for your event? We will include membership brochures, Welcome Brochure, etc.
  • For our Organization Members, we have additional gifts to send.

Regional Deepenings Workshops

These workshops were developed to encourage the regional groups of catechists to connect with one another. Facilitated by a local formation leader, these workshops have been prepared from our formation office with the formation committee. One such Regional Deepening Workshop that was offered focused on CGS Material changes as they relate to the revisions in the Roman Missal, Third Edition.

Download Host and Facilitator Packet

Regional Material Making Sessions

These sessions are a great way for catechists to get together and share resources. Some regions gather monthly or quarterly, inviting catechists to bring whatever materials they are working on; other regions offer specific workshops on sculpy, woodworking, painting and calligraphy. Even if your Atrium does not need materials, could your region help make materials for an Atrium in need?

  • Material Making Packet COMING SOON!
  • Contact Us with your Material Making Questions

Regional Encouragement Group

Providing a forum for catechists to share ideas and work on common difficulties. Some regions have monthly “catechist lunches” for interested members to gather and build relationships and support each other.

Newsletters
Send CGSUSA copies of your newsletter so that we can share your news and information with other regional groups. Email them to [email protected]

2019 Fall Sonflower Region Newsletter

Gateway Region Sample Newsletter

Sonflower Region Sample Newsletter

Great Lakes Region: Mary Mirrione visits Wisconsin Region, March 12, 2022

Northern Plains Region: Enriching the Heartland
Mary Mirrione visits the Heartland Region, for their Fall Meeting October 29, 20 2021

Northeast Region: The HeArt of the Child, Pittsburgh, PA
March 2019

Great Lakes Region: Wisconsin Inaugural Regional Gathering
March 15, 2019

Honoring the Artist: Celebrating the Centenary of Gianna Gobbi in Indianola, Iowa
August 24, 2019

Western Pennsylvania Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (WPACGS)
November 16, 2019

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Welcome to CGSUSA

We believe God and the child have a unique relationship with one another. Children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship. The growth of this relationship is assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child.

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What is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was born from the joy of the children’s encounter with God. It has been observed that children of the same developmental stage, even those from widely varying cultural backgrounds, respond to elements of the Christian message in the same way.

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In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd adults are given the opportunity to embrace a method of catechesis (or religious education) that will deepen one’s relationship with God. Catechist formation in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is both instructive as well as experiential. It captivates both the head as well as the heart.

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We read in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs, two by two; the journey was not meant to be a solitary one. It is essential for us as catechists to support one another as we prepare materials, work in the atrium, and observe the child. We come together in unity, as members of CGSUSA, to share the joy of this work.

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Through their joy, their wonder and awe, their capacity for love and prayer, and their radical simplicity, children offer us adults a glimpse of what it means to fall in love with God. This has been the work of CGSUSA for over 30 years: to advocate for the child’s joy.

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