CGS in the Orthodox Tradition

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is actively implemented in many Orthodox parishes in the USA. It first came to Orthodoxy in 2003 at St Athanasius Orthodox Church in Goleta, California. In 2010, the first Orthodox Formation Leader, Seraphima Sierra Butler, offered two courses in Santa Barbara, California and Franklin, Tennessee. Several Orthodox women participated and began atria in their parishes; St John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska; St. Vincent of Lerins Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, Canada; St Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN, St. Elizabeth the New Martyr in Murfreesboro, TN and Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL.

Since that time, CGS has grown in Orthodox parishes nationwide as more and more people discover this beautiful method of spiritual formation for children. Many Orthodox people have participated in Nationally recognized formation courses. Two Orthodox women are recognized by the National Association as Formation Leader and offer courses, Shelley Finkler of St John’s in Alaska and Anne Marie McCollum of St. Ignatius in TN. Both women have offered formation courses that included discussion and demonstration of Orthodox translated presentations. Nationally recognized courses are also taught annually at St Herman’s Orthodox Seminary in Kodiak Alaska. In May 2017, St Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary in New Canaan, PA, also offered a Nationally recognized course that offered discussion and demonstration of Orthodox translated presentations.

There are several online sources of information about the use of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Orthodox parish. The first is a nice overview at St Athanasius Orthodox Church in Goleta, CA. The second is a closed Facebook discussion group for trained Orthodox Catechists.