We are often asked about how the themes that are found in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd correspond with relevant Church Documents:

CGS and Corresponding Church Documents (Level One, 3-6 Year Old Child)

CGS and Corresponding Church Documents (Level Two, 6-9 Year Old Child)

CGS and Corresponding Church Documents (Level Three, 9-12 Year Old Child)

30. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offers its services to the diocese and therefore works in communion with the bishop.

– The Characteristics of  the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – the 32 Points of Reflection

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd featured on EWTN News In Depth

Mary Pat Heelen, Associate Director
Office of Religious Education for the Diocese of Worcester, MA

“The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an amazing approach to a contemplative catechesis for children, as developed through the work of Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi. “CGS” is more than a catechesis for children. I believe that it is one of the new renewal movements for the Church, given to us by the Lord… allowing us a new way to receive and experience the gifts of the Lord through a contemplative listening of the Word and an active participation in the Sacraments of His Presence. I was introduced to this work while pastor at Saint John Neumann and it has affected my own spirituality in a powerful way. Please allow me this personal request… to come and see how the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd may be a blessing in the lives of your people… the children and the teens and the adults of your parish community.”

The Most Reverend David P. Talley, M.S.W., J.C.D.
Bishop of the Diocese of Memphis

Additional Pastoral References:

• The Most Reverend Michael Mulvey, Bishop of Corpus Christi
• The Most Reverend Thomas J.Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix
• Letters of Alignment from the Archdiocese of Seattle
• Letter of Endorsement from the Orthodox Diocese of Sitka and Alaska
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Catechist Formation in the Archdiocese of New York
• Letter of Approval from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas
• Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
• Catholic Diocese of Green Bay

“Children, by virtue of the grace of their baptism, are privileged members of the Kingdom of God, just like adults. As children of God, they have a right to respect and to be helped as they mature. We are mandated, as church, to provide catechesis for young children…”  GDC 177

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by Fr. Giancarlo Pani, S.J.

CGSUSA is delighted to share a beautiful and important article on the foundations of CGS, written by Fr. Giancarlo Pani S.J. Fr. Giancarlo is the Deputy Director of  Civiltà Cattolica and has served on the faculty of “La Sapienza”of the University of Rome. He first met Sofia Cavalletti in 1971, on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in which she served as guide. Father Giancarlo became a priest in 1974 and then, in 1976, began a collaboration with Sofia and Gianna at the atrium of Via delgi Orsini in Rome. In addition to celebrating Mass throughout the atrium year, he heard the confessions of the children and assisted with the retreats and celebrations of their First Communion. He was one of our keynote speakers at our International Retreat in 2014.

 

This article was published in La Civiltà Cattolic, a highly respected digital Catholic journal from the Vatican in Rome that reviews present issues alive in the Church and the Church scholars interpreting the history, politics, culture, science, and art in the light of the Christian faith. It was also published in “Avvenire,” the Italian daily newspaper of The Italian Episcopal Conference.

We thank Fr. Giancarlo for his words of wisdom and Francesca Cocchini for sharing this article with us.

Please read Fr. Giancarlo’s article here.

 

CGS Conformity with the CCC:

From time to time, in the association’s national office, we are asked if the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is approved by certain Diocesan Offices or the Office for the Catechism. Sometimes the question is very simple:“Is it on the approved list?” At other times we are asked if the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd matches a particular Catholic diocese’s guidelines or “scope and sequence” document. Bishops, pastors, and religious educators ask, “Are the children learning what the church teaches?” and “Are the catechists orthodox? Have they been prepared?” and “How can we get the parents to come to Sunday Mass and bring their children?”

The following documents can help to answer these and other questions:

• CGS and Conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• The Conformity of Catechetical Materials with the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Criteria and Applicability
• USCCB Office of the Catechism Letter on CGS (2002)
• CGS and Corresponding Church Documents (Level 1, 3-6 year old child)
• CGS and Corresponding Church Documents (Level 2, 6-9 year old child)
• CGS and Corresponding Church Documents (Level 3, 9-12 year old child)
• The Faith Formation of Children, Are We Asking the Right Questions?
• Foundations of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• CGS: Method Serving Content
• The Call and Formation of Catechists: Evangelizers with the Spirit – The Call and Formation of Catechists by Mary Mirrione

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd especially honors the spiritual values of childhood and wishes to nurture the formation of a consciousness which is oriented to the construction of the history of salvation in justice and solidarity.
The Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, #28

The catechesis of children, of young people and of adults has given rise to a type of Christian who is conscious of his faith and who acts consistently with it in his life. In such Christians this catechesis has encouraged: – a new and vital experience of God as merciful Father; – a more profound rediscovery of Jesus Christ, not only in his divinity but also in his humanity; – a sense of co-responsibility on the part of all for the mission of the Church in the world; – and a raising of consciousness with regard to the social obligations of the faith.
General Directory for Catechesis 24