Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
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"Let the children come to Me, and do not prevent them;
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."— Matthew, 19:14
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Catechesis for Ages 3 to 12Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based program, for 3- to 12-year-olds, developed to help children understand their faith and have a personal relationship with Jesus the Good Shepherd.
Sessions Begin
The start date for 2025-26 is the week of Sunday, September 21, 2025. Registration is now open.
Location
Saint John the Baptist Pastoral Center
1501 Virginia Avenue
Monaca, PA 15061Do you wish to register your child(ren)?
You can register your child(ren) by completing an online registration form (see below). When filling out the form, please be certain to select the correct level.
Level 1 for ages 3 (by September 1) to 6 (up to Kindergarten)
Level 2, ages 6 to 9
Level 3, ages 9 to 12
Once completed, please submit the form and make payment.
Registration Requirements:Your child needs to be fully potty trained. If the child is not fully potty trained, the child's parent/legal guardian or grandparent needs to be present.
All health-related protocols as required by the Diocese of Pittsburgh need to be followed.
Session Day/Time Schedule- Tuesdays, Level 1 — 2-3:30 PM
- Tuesdays, Level 2 — 2-3:30 PM
- Tuesdays, Level 1 — 4-5:30 PM
- Tuesdays, Level 2 — 4-5:30 PM
- Tuesdays, Level 3 — 2-3:30 PM and 4-5:30 PM
Session Capacity
These will be determined based on facility logistics/capacity.If you have any questions concerning registration or the program, you are welcome to contact the Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Sincerely,
Nicole Albanese, Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Phone: 724-318-2055
E-Mail: [email protected]
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An Introduction to
'Catechesis of the Good Shepherd' (CGS)What is an atrium? Why is it not called a classroom?
The Good Shepherd environment is called an 'atrium' because in ancient church tradition the catechumenate would meet in the atrium of the church. The atrium is a special room prepared with beautiful, hand-crafted, child-size materials. The room is specially prepared for Level 1 (ages 3 to 6, up to Kindergarten), Level 2 (ages 6 to 9) and Level 3 (9 to 12) children.
What do children do in the atrium?
The children fall in love with Jesus the Good Shepherd in the atrium. The experience in the atrium is the foundation of a lifelong relationship with Jesus, our Good Shepherd. This helps to spread and widen our community within the Church.
The core elements of the Catholic Faith are presented to the children, which will be built upon in upcoming years. The time spent with the appropriate-sized materials allows the child to meditate and pray on the concepts presented. -
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CGS Volunteers
If you wish to become involved in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as a helper/aide, or volunteer to woodwork, paint, etc., please contact Nicole Albanese at [email protected] by email.
Compliance with Diocesan requirements obligates everyone who volunteers for a parish activity to complete the Parish Volunteer clearance process. Please click the link below for more information.
If you have questions about Safe Environment, please contact Director of Safe Environment, Dana Havey, at [email protected].
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To Register Your Child(ren)
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The fee schedule for the 2025-26 CGS Program is as follows:One child: $45Two children: $40 eachThree or More children: $35Payment is to be submitted for CGS registration through the online registration form via e-check or credit card only.♦To begin the registration/payment process for 2025-26, please complete the online CGS Registration Form.
CLICK HERE
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