The Good Shepherd and the Child

• Episode 141. Normalization with Sister Maria Teresita and Claire Paglia

  “A tranquil mind gives life to the body” Proverbs 14:30a NAB    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Sister Maria Teresita and Claire Paglia join us back on the podcast to continue to explore tools to help us in the atrium and in our lives establish freedom and discipline.  We explore the Montessori concept of Normalization so that we can be further equip to have true freedom and responsibility with children.   Sister Maria Teresita is a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia. She currently serves as an upper-elementary guide at St. Philip Learning Center, a Catholic Montessori homeschool enrichment program in Franklin, TN, a catechist for Levels 2 and 3 in a parish setting, and a formation leader for CGS Levels 1 and 2. Sister holds an AMI diploma at the Elementary level, a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Aquinas College, Nashville), and a M.A. in Montessori Education (Loyola University, Maryland). She has enjoyed nearly 20 years serving children as a classroom teacher in both conventional and Montessori settings and 14 years as a catechist of the Good Shepherd in all three atria levels. Sister began her Montessori journey as a child in a Montessori school where she developed a deep love for learning. She is a convert to the Catholic faith and delights in every opportunity to “listen to God with children.”    Claire Paglia is a child of the atrium. As an adult, she is an AMI-trained guide who has been in the primary environment for 12 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in Montessori from Loyola University, Maryland. She worked for a year as a course assistant for the primary training center. In 2012, she received her Level I formation and has been a catechist at her church in varying capacities since then. She enjoys spending time with her family and particularly enjoys preparing Montessori-friendly spaces at home for her three children.    Episodes to help you further explore Freedom and Discipline:  Episode 4 – Normalization with Gabriela Perez  Episode 30 – Freedom and Discipline with Claire Paglia  Episode 133 – Freedom and Responsibility with Sr Mary Teresita  Episode 134 – Freedom and Responsibility for the First Plane Child  Episode 135 – Freedom and Responsibility for the Second Plane Child        BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month:  Bulletin Items - 4 bulletin articles for each month. We have a library of 4 years of bulletin items available on the CGSUSA Website.  Catechist In-Services to download TODAY and offer your catechists. We have six in-services available on the website.  Assistant Formation - prayer service, agenda, talking points, and handouts.  Seed Planting Workshop - prayer service, agenda, and talking points.  Family Events: downloadable, 1/2 day events for Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, and Lent.  Catechist Prayers and prayer services  and so much more!  Click Here to create your Organizational Membership!      AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child’s spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

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• Episode 140. Feed My Lambs with Mary Mirrione

  "When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ ” John 21:15    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Mary Mirrione joins us on the podcast to ponder the scripture from John 21 with Peter and Jesus. We sit with this scripture in light of the Easter season we have just entered and the many gifts it has to offer us.  Mary Mirrione began working with CGS in 1992. She and a team of catechists and parents built atria at St Anne’s in Gilbert, Arizona for their 1800 children. She has been a formation leader since 1997 serving as such at home and abroad. She also works with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity throughout the United States and around the world. Mary served on the Board for CGSUSA and is a graduate of the first cohort at Aquinas Institute of Theology to receive a Masters in Pastoral Studies with an emphasis in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She is a faculty member of Kino Catechetical Institute in the Diocese of Phoenix. Since 2010, she serves as the National Director for the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.    Growing Seeds     Become a Growing Seed Donor HERE      Items from the Store You May be Interested In:    Purchase the Religious Potential of the Child HERE    Nurturing the Whole Child      Podcast Episodes about Easter:    Episode 11 – Were Not Our Hearts Burning Within Us  Episode 61 – The Roots of the Easter Season and the Eucharist  Episode 84 – The Family in Easter         BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month:  Bulletin Items - 4 bulletin articles for each month. We have a library of 4 years of bulletin items available on the CGSUSA Website.  Catechist In-Services to download TODAY and offer your catechists. We have six in-services available on the website.  Assistant Formation - prayer service, agenda, talking points, and handouts.  Seed Planting Workshop - prayer service, agenda, and talking points.  Family Events: downloadable, 1/2 day events for Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, and Lent.  Catechist Prayers and prayer services  and so much more!  Click Here to create your Organizational Membership!      AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child’s spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

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• Episode 139. What to Try When it Seems to be Failing? With Cathy Johanni

  "I can do anything through Him that strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Cathy Johanni joins us back on the podcast to share her experience, wisdom and strategies about what you can try when you feel like you are failing.  Cathy Johanni lives in Columbus, Ohio where she has enjoyed accompanying children on their spiritual journeys for more than two decades. She is recognized as a formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at levels I, II, and III.  She has been involved in Montessori education for a decade, working with children ages 5-14.   A member of the editorial committee for the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Annual Journal. Cathy has authored articles and contributed to The Roman Missal Third Edition and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Changes to Materials . She holds a Bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Princeton University, a Master’s degree from The Ohio State University and Montessori Elementary certificates. Married for 31 years, she is the mother of five.    Growing Seeds     Become a Growing Seed Donor HERE    32 Characteristics of CGS otherwise called the 32 Points of Reflection    Items from the Store You May be Interested In:    Purchase the Religious Potential of the Child HERE    Nurturing the Whole Child      Podcast Episodes With Cathy:    Episode 54 – Human Needs and Tendencies  Episode 67 - Anthropological Catechesis  Episode 124 - The Work of the Second Plane Child    Podcast Episodes about Freedom and Responsibility    Episode 30 – Freedom and Discipline  Episode 133 – Freedom and Responsibility  Episode 134 – Freedom and Responsibility for the First Plane Child  Episode 135 – Freedom and Responsibility for the Second Plane Child        BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month:  Bulletin Items - 4 bulletin articles for each month. We have a library of 4 years of bulletin items available on the CGSUSA Website.  Catechist In-Services to download TODAY and offer your catechists. We have six in-services available on the website.  Assistant Formation - prayer service, agenda, talking points, and handouts.  Seed Planting Workshop - prayer service, agenda, and talking points.  Family Events: downloadable, 1/2 day events for Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, and Lent.  Catechist Prayers and prayer services  and so much more!  Click Here to create your Organizational Membership!      AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child’s spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

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• Episode 138. CGS and Ignatian Spirituality with Fr Joseph Hill

  "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Fr Joseph shares with us about how he got involved in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and a few of the parallels he sees between CGS and Ignatian Spirituality.  Fr. Joseph Hill, SJ was born in Phoenix, AZ, raised in a Catholic family with his three brothers. At nine years old his family moved to England, where he attended Catholic schools and then the University of Oxford, earning a BA in theology in 2003. In 2004 he entered the Jesuit seminary in south Louisiana. Taking religious vows after two years, he was sent to study philosophy at Fordham University in New York, graduating with an MA in 2009. He then spent three years teaching theology at Jesuit High School, New Orleans. In 2012 he was sent to study theology at FAJE in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, earning a MA in 2014. Then he returned to Boston, earning a MEd at Boston College in 2015. He was ordained a Catholic priest on June 13th, 2015. For one year he worked at Parroquia San Ignacio in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and served as chaplain of Academia San Ignacio parish elementary school. It was in Puerto Rico that he became familiar with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. With the help of two excellent catechists and the school leaders, they implemented CGS Level I in the school. In August 2016 he moved to St. Louis, where he taught and worked in campus ministry at St. Louis University High School. During this time Fr. Hill, SJ completed a Doctor of Education degree from Vanderbilt University. Since July, 2021 he has lived in Tampa, FL, working as a Province vocation promoter.    Growing Seeds     Become a Growing Seed Donor HERE    Growing Seed Donor Form.  Access will also be granted to all existing recurring donors as of January 15, 2025. The recordings will be available through June 30, 2026.  Be sure to click the checkbox: “Show my support by making this a monthly donation.”       In 2024, The United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd began celebrating 40 years of being an association of catechists who listen to God with children in the United States and around the world.     In honor of our 40 years of remaining with children, we are launching a new sustainable giving program at CGSUSA: Growing Seeds.     As part of Growing Seeds, your regular, automatic gift is simple and convenient, allowing you to spread your philanthropy over time.  It also provides CGSUSA with a more predictable source of income so we can focus on sustaining and supporting the religious life of children and those who serve them.     For a minimum gift amount of $15 per month ($180 per year), you will automatically be recognized as a CGSUSA Growing Seeds donor, giving you one year of access to the recordings from Between Memory and Hope: 40th Anniversary Celebration as our way of thanking you for your generosity. Please be sure you are logged in to your CGSUSA Membership account and complete the online giving form.     Access to the video recordings is available to Growing Seeds donors until June 2026, at which point we’ll have a new gift for you. For less than $5 per week, you will be able to access all the video and audio recordings from the Between Memory and Hope plenary sessions and workshops, including the full recording of Fr. Joseph Hill’s presentation, “CGS and Ignatian Spirituality,” as well as “The Metaphysical Child: To Live and Move and Have Their Being,” “Observations Serving Toddlers in the Atrium,” and “Memories of Sofia and Gianna with the Children.” These presentations would make wonderful topics for catechist retreat days, parent education sessions, and other continuing education for those who serve children.     Thank you for joining us in sustaining CGSUSA with a recurring gift.      Items from the Store You May be Interested In:    Purchase the Religious Potential of the Child HERE    Preaching with Children      Podcast Episodes With Priests:    Episode 29 – CGS and Christian Unity with Bishop Talley  Episode 32 – A Priest in the Atrium  Episode 125. A Priest in CGS with Fr Kevin Douglas    BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month:  Bulletin Items - 4 bulletin articles for each month. We have a library of 4 years of bulletin items available on the CGSUSA Website.  Catechist In-Services to download TODAY and offer your catechists. We have six in-services available on the website.  Assistant Formation - prayer service, agenda, talking points, and handouts.  Seed Planting Workshop - prayer service, agenda, and talking points.  Family Events: downloadable, 1/2 day events for Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, and Lent.  Catechist Prayers and prayer services  and so much more!  Click Here to create your Organizational Membership!      AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child’s spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

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• Episode 137. The Challenge of Lent as Gift- A Catechist Journey with Jo Thornley Cox

  “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:24    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Jo joins us on the podcast to ponder Lent as gift which is a different way of looking at Lent for most of us.  Through the lens of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd she helps us look at Lent with new eyes.   Jo Thornley Cox has been in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd since 2001. She is certified in all three levels and is a formation leader recognized by the U.S. Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in Levels I and II. She is grateful to have worked on formation teams in Missouri, Kansas, North Dakota, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Ottawa, Canada. A graduate of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, Ind., she also earned a primary certificate from the American Montessori Society. Among other positions, she worked as a Montessori directress in a Catholic school in Duluth, Minn., and a parish director of traditional religious education in Kansas City, Mo., before discovering CGS. As a charter member of the SonFlower Region of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, she served on its board many years. She is co-director of CGS at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish/School in Kansas City, offering CGS in all three levels. This is the sixth iteration of her atria and hopefully the last! Jo and her husband, Jody, have three children and a granddaughter.    CGS Lent Resources for Families  San Damiano Crucifix Parent Page    Items from the Store You May be Interested In:    To Dance with God  Paschal Candle Set      Podcast Episodes About Lent:  Episode 31- Even Now- a Lenten Reflection  Episode 58- Examination of Conscience   Episode 83- Merciful Parenting  Episode 83- The Family in Lent  Episode 110- Learning to Love  Episode 136- CGS Lent in the Home    BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month:  Bulletin Items - 4 bulletin articles for each month. We have a library of 4 years of bulletin items available on the CGSUSA Website.  Catechist In-Services to download TODAY and offer your catechists. We have six in-services available on the website.  Assistant Formation - prayer service, agenda, talking points, and handouts.  Seed Planting Workshop - prayer service, agenda, and talking points.  Family Events: downloadable, 1/2 day events for Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, and Lent.  Catechist Prayers and prayer services  and so much more!  Click Here to create your Organizational Membership!      AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child’s spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

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