Help us support catechists, parents, and others in the church and beyond!
One Time Donation
No gift is too small, a donation of any size can make a difference. Donate in your name or your organization’s name to support CGSUSA
Sustainable Giving
CGUSUA offers automatic, flexible giving plans so you can support the mission all year long. Join a loyal group of monthly donors committed to the religouis life of children.
Tina Lillig Memorial Fund
The Tina Lillig Memorial Fund was created to support the growth and development of CGSUSA through catechist formation, missionary outreach, and our work.
Tribute Gifts
Honor someone special, a special occasion or the memory of a loved one or friend by making a donation to CGSUSA in their name.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Endowment Fund
Tending to the work of CGSUSA
In 2007, our first National Director of CGSUSA, Tina Lillig, in concert with the board of trustees, had the wisdom and foresight to establish The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Endowment Fund (CGS Endowment Fund) through the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation.
Today, we benefit immensely from their wisdom. In abundant times, the endowment allows CGSUSA to extend its purpose with depth and breadth. In difficult times, the endowment protects the work of catechesis from drastic curtailment, while continuing to serve our members, who advance the mission and vision of CGSUSA.
The CGSUSA Endowment is managed by the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, an educational foundation. This designation makes the CGS Endowment Fund eligible for corporate matching funds.
If you would like to make a “Forever Gift” to our endowment, please contact Molly Murphy.
Other Ways to Give:
tHeART of the Child
Help us present this traveling lecture series and art exhibit that displays the artwork of the child to thematically spotlight the meeting between the mystery of God and the mystery of the child.
“Graphic figures are the child’s expressive vocabulary.”
Tilde Cocchinni“Numerous drawings demonstrate how the children enter the parables message and how it resounds within the; the most apparent effect they derive from it is a serene peace, which is why they exclaim: ’With the Good Shepherd everything is fine‘, why they pray: ’You are good because you guide us with goodness‘.”
Sofia Cavalletti
The purpose of these exhibits is:
- to deepen our understanding of the child’s relationship with God
- to share what we are learning from the child with adults in and beyond the Church
- to broaden the CGSUSA constituency base for the purposes of increasing financial support beyond the catechist community
The art exhibits and lectures are created and offered by CGSUSA. The format within which these are made available and the subsequent planning efforts, will be determined in collaboration with specific regional hosts.
Buy the HeArt of the Child Book2017 JOURNAL – DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?2017 JOURNAL – INSPIRING ART EXPRESSION IN THE ATRIUM2001 JOURNAL – ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF THE CHILDREN IN THE ATRIUM
Learn more about the different options for supporting CGSUSA:
Who is Tina Lillig?
Tina Lillig (1945 – 2009), was our association’s first national director. Tina helped to nurture the seed of this association so that it could put down deep roots and spread wide branches. Even now, her spirit is alive in our work and is particularly known through many of our publications and our annual Journal. Whether she authored articles or books herself or worked behind the scenes in editing or shepherding the production of publications or the Journal, Tina’s gifts greatly contributed to the ongoing growth of CGS. Read a tribute to Tina here.
What is supported by the Fund?
To these ends, the Tina Lillig Memorial Fund offers a source of financial aid (in the form of partial scholarships) to applicants who would find paying the full tuition of a course to be a hardship.
The Tina Lillig Memorial Fund is a source of grants for missionary outreach to organizations working to open atria in underserved regions of the United States.
The Tina Lillig Memorial Fund also supports the purpose, mission and vision of the National Association through direct support to the Association and its Endowment fund.
Where does the money come from?
Monies for financial aid and grant awards come from direct donations to the Tina Lillig Memorial Fund from members of the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGSUSA) and others who are interested in supporting this aspect of the work.
Your gift is a thoughtful and essential way to show you care while making a difference in the religious life of children, their families, and communities. We will send a personalized card acknowledging your thoughtful donation to the recipient of your choice. Each card features artwork by a child in Atrium.
Make a donation today and dedicate it to a friend, loved one or even to a parish doing good work in the world today. These cards make wonderful holiday, birthday, baby shower, or celebration gifts. Unlike traditional gifts, a tribute card has a profound impact. It not only shows that you care about your recipients but that you are actively participating our mission to assist the involvement of children and adults in a common religious.
When you participate in the Sustainable Giving program, you choose the both the amount and the frequency (monthly, quarterly, or annually) of your recurring donation. Your credit card is billed at frequency you select. Sustainable Giving helps CGSUSA plan annual expenditures and allows donors to select a donation amount that is predictable and fits their budget needs as well.
“Thank you for the wonderful HeART of the Child exhibit. It was well done. What struck me is the way that God speaks to children; and then, how through the children, He speaks to us. They awaken us to the mystery of God’s presence and love in refreshing ways. The art itself has a freshness to it; many of us who don’t work daily with children appreciate the help of you or others to help us see all that is there.”
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
DOWNLOAD A GREETING FROM BOARD MEMBER PATTI FRANZ
A Committee is forming…
A committee is being formed to explore and recommend how CGSUSA might implement this new venture. Here are some of the gifts we are looking for in our committee members. If you can help with any of these (see below), please contact Mary at marymirrione@cgsusa.org.
- An understanding of the mission and culture of CGSUSA and/or heart for children and an interest in advancing a dialog in our society about a child’s spirituality
- Event planning experience
- Graphic Art and/or industrial design background
- Familiarity with computer and iPad apps
- Digital or media design
- Interest in marketing and PR
- Archivists, curators, and conservators